iii||iliilii!|g|iii!li^-^i.;P:. 


L  1  B  RA  R.Y 

OF   THE 

U  N  IVER51TY 

or    1  LLl  NOIS 


977.365 
P268 


RUNoiS  HiST&RiCAL  SURVEY 


THE 


PAST  AND  PRESENT 


OF 


VERMILION  COUNTY 


LLINOIS 


ILLUSTRATPCn 


CHrcAGo: 

The  S.  J.  Clarke  Publishing  Co. 

1903 


m^ 


"Biography  is  the  only  true  history."— EMERSON. 


INDHX. 


PAGE 

Abdill.  Edward  C 9^3 

Acton,   William   M JlJj 

Adams,   Ellis   1047 

Ailams,    Harvey    C 22y 

Adams,   L.    P 84J 

Aldridge,   Mahlon    544 

Alison.  Rev.  M.  M 518 

Alldrcdgc.    \V.    R S.'8 

Allen.   Giarlcs   A 70 

Allcrton,   S.'  W 1024 

Allhands,   F.    M 49^ 

Allison,   Alfred   1145 

Anker.   William  J 1005 

Arnold.   N.   M 9^6 

At  wood,   .Mfred    53^ 

Auer.   Rev.    Mclchior I ijt 

Ay  res,  Fred  H h^7 

BalKixk.  Dr.  H.   S 998 

Bailey,  Joseph  730 

Bailey,  J.  P -38 

Raiky,   M.   B 2^5 

Baird,  G.   W 7.10 

Baird,  Joseph   1013 

Baird,   J.    F 719 

Baird.   W.   I 375 

Baker.   H.   S 818 

Baldwin.   John   M 475 

Baldwin,   Lyciirgus    looi 

Barnhart.   Ephraim    413 

Barton,  R.  T 060 

Batim,  Samuel   W 130 

Baum,  W.   F 784 

Beard,  David 1054 

Benjamin.  \.  B 7.;6 

Bennett,  Thomas 056 

Benson,  O.  C 887 

Berhalter,  A.  A.  yS 


PACE 

Bever.   William.   Sr 904 

Bo>-er.  M rs.  Mary 583 

Black.  Samuel   270 

Blackstock.  W.  J 351 

Blair,  Mrs.  Mary  J 1077 

Blankenburg,  Ernst  234 

Block.  R.  A 483 

Bogart.  C.  J 653 

Bollcs.  H.  H 944 

BcKirdo.  Elijah  J 409 

Brandon,  D.  C 748 

Branhani,  Esther  E 298 

Bratton,  T.   .-X 429 

Brewer.  Daniel  694 

Bridgett.  William  M 152 

Briggs.  CM 311 

Bristow.   S.   .■X 790 

Brothers,  Stephen 685 

Brown,  Daniel  11 11 

Brown,  Dr.  W.  A 955 

Bnckmgham,  George  T 75 

Buhl.  Charles 3'2 

Busby.  C.  F 627 

Butlerfield.  Murry  J 1051 

Buy.  Fred   1122 

Callioim,  W.  J 1042 

Callahan,  Simeon  995 

Cameron,  L.  A 69 

CamplH-ll,  F.  M 659 

CamplK'll.  Joseph ^zt, 

CamplK-ll.  J.   D 602 

Camplwll.  J.J 1 108 

CamplK'll.  Rev.  W.  L 1099 

Cannon.  Hon.  J.  G 968 

Carnahan,  Gen.  R.  H 616 

Carson,  John   490 

Carson,  John  .M 576 


Carter.  W.  H 

Castleman,  T.  B.  . . 
Cathcarl,  W.  G.... 
Catilicrvvood,  \.  T. 
Catherwood,    Mrs 

Hartwell    

Catherw<M5d.  J.  S 
Cat  loft.  Herald  .. 
Catlelt,  Hiram  H 
CluimlK-rlin.  O.  P 
Cheslcy,  C.  E... 
Giesley,  John  L 
Chcsley,  L.  A.. . 
Chesley.  RolKrt  V 
Christnian.  J.  S.. 
Christmaii.  T.  F. 
Church.  William  A 
Clark,  Judge  S.  M. 

Clapp,  A.  R 

Clements,  Col.  Isaac 
Clinc,  Spencer  .... 

Clingan.  J.  W 

Clitigan.  L.   .\ 

Cloyd,  Dr.  Frazier 
Cloyd.  Dr.  R.  A... 

Clutter,  A.  H 

Coburn,  G.  F 

Cochran,  Dr.  W.  A 
Oxkcrton,  George  I 
C^ddington,  A.  E. 
Cole,  Ge<irge  S. . . 
Collins.  Neville  A 
Collison,  F.  A. .. . 
Collison.  Sanniel  . 
Collison,  Thomas  F. 
Commercial  Tnist  & 

Bank 

Cook,  B.  F 


M: 


Savings 


r.\Gi! 
171 
867 

'157 
1148 

208 
206 
630 
947 

581 
378 
7^1 

1 1 14 
172 

1102 

38 

802 

841 

S88 

85-2 
1117 
1030 

385 
667 

525 
-■«4 

2<)l 

ii7 

I3S 
I109 
1089 
1078 

132 
61 

158 

1103 

SS2 


927 1 95 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Cook.  Enos 88i 

Cook,  James  P 161 

Cosat,  John  J 775 

Cossairt,  William  414 

Courtney,  J.  B 94i 

Cox,  J.  A 1073 

Craddock.  William 567 

Cromwell,  Jackson  1058 

Cronkhite,  B.  E 1015 

Crow,  Charles  F 495 

Cruzan,  Alpheus  1023 

Current,  Isaac   3-6 

Current.  W.  H.. 283 

Cunningham^  E.  E 149 

Cunningham,  Joseph  41 

Cunningham.  J.  A 45 

Cunningham,  William  T....  66 

Custer,  John  M 125 

Dale,  John  W 16 

Daniel.  O.  M 600 

Darr,  George  W 763 

Davis,  F,  L 1032 

Davis,  Henry   1050 

Davis.  Ira  Grant 859 

Davis.  James   615 

Davis,  J.  T 601 

Davis,  I\I.  C 610 

Davis,  W.J 422 

Davison,  Jamics 1076 

Deal,  John 777 

DeLong,  C.  B 78 

Dice,  James  H 433 

Dickinson,  John  A 574 

Dickson,  James  A 812 

Diehl.   John   W 492 

Dillon.  George 372 

Dohhins,  W.  G 949 

Dodge,  Gen.  A.  G.  P 978 

Doney,  B.  T 151 

Donnelly.  Edward 482 

Dougherty.  James  M 112 

Dougherty.  J.  M 1083 

Douglass,  Dorman  B 906 

Douglass,  J.  M 546 

Duffiu,  Thomas  554 

Dukes,  John  H 1098 

Dulcy,  W.  W 1016 

Duncan,  Darius 436 

Dwiggins.  Dr.  Walter 28 

Dye.  W.  W 905 

Eadcr.  I'.  R 203 

Elliott,   Milton  635 


PAGE 

Ellsworth,  C.  E 900 

Ellswortlh,  J.  P 963 

F.nglisli,  Charles  L 96 

English,  J.  G 196 

Erikson,  Ludvig  999 

Evans,  Judge  D.  D 57 

Everhart,  Benjamin  401 

Fairchild,  Francis  M 712 

Fairchild,  Harrison   402 

Fairchild.  N.  R 769 

Fairchild,  Seth 368 

Fairhall,  Dr.  Joseph 388 

Fares,  F.  C.  V 1092 

Faulstick,  August 681 

Finley.  Dr.  J.  L 896 

Finley,  Watts 650 

Fisher.  John  VV 35 

Fithian,  Elisha  C.  B 228 

Fithirn,  Dr.  Paul  E 662 

Fuhian,  Dr.  William 825 

Fleming.  .A.  H 789 

Fleming.  J.  A 973 

Flint.  W.  .\ 411 

Fox.  Dr.  A.  L 919 

Fox,  J.  W 1155 

France.  H.  S 1119 

Frazier,  Jay  M 1093 

Frazier,  John,  Sr 458 

Frazier,  Perry  1091 

Friends  in  Vermilion  county.  848 

Funk,  Carl    333 

Games,  Francis  286 

Garner,  James  M 1003 

Gass,  L.  D 138 

George,  Thomas  J 1 1 16 

Gerrard,  John 569 

Giddings,  Frank  A 1018 

Gillespie,  C.  H +28 

Gilmore,  James  939 

Gones,  Thomas   451 

Goodner,  Mrs.  Linea  E 883 

Goodv.'ine,  James   804 

Goodwine,  John.  Jr 267 

Goodwine,  J.  W..  Sr 636 

Gravat,  Oscar  B ii34 

Greenebaum,  Gus  M 82 

Gregory,  A.  S 782 

Griffith,  Linn  H 49i 

Gustin,  F.  M 1068 


Hacker.  Frederick 
Haggard.  D.   R.  .. 


.531 
254 


PAGE 

Hahn.  Leonard  J 634 

Hamilton,  John  L 625 

Hanly.  Dr.  G.  M 1153 

Hanson,  William  T 987 

Harris,  H.  W 242 

Harrison,  George  1144 

Harry,  S.  A.  D 644 

Hart.  Charles  B 515 

Hart,  Samuel  1 130 

Hart,  William  266 

Hawkins,  W.  C 753 

Healy,  J.  J 299 

Hebel,  Andrew   484 

Henderson,  Olen 781 

Henry,  George  W 1003 

Henton,  Dr.  C.  D 879 

tierron,  John  H 22 

Hester,  Mrs.  Rhoda  M 400 

Hessey,  William  853 

Hilleary,  George  F 11 32 

Himrod,  David   827 

Himrod,  Patten 965 

Hinshaw,  Dr.  D.  C i77 

Hodges.  Rev.  Sylvester 442 

Holloway.  Capt.  G.  W 74i 

Holmes,  Robert  : 246 

Honeywell,  Alba  84 

Hoopes,  Thomas 62 

?Ioover,  James 834 

Hoskins,  George  W 975 

Howard,  J.  J 674 

Howard,  Thomas  A 124 

Hubb,  William    I94 

Hubbard,  N.  E 394 

Hughes,  Tboma.s 214 

Huni'phrey,  Dr.   S.   -A 75° 

Ingle,  G.  W 668 

Ingles,  Dr.  J.  A 291 

Irwin,  Capt.   S.  S 961 

Jewell.  W.  R 950 

Johns,  John   529 

Johns,  Levi  590 

Johnson,  A.  L 884 

Johnson,  Fred  H 1071 

Johnson,  John  H 1035 

Johnson,  W.  C loii 

Johnston,  David   539 

Johnston,  W,  T 26 

Jones,  Arthur 552 

Jones,  Mrs.  Charlotte 709 

Jones.  C.  E 794 

Jones.  C.  P 993 


INDliX. 


Jones.  Dr.  G.  B 
Jones,  George  T .  . . 

Jones.  G.  \V 

Jont<,  Ira  G 

Jones,  Dr.  LcRoy. , 

jiuly.  .\.  B 

Jnvinall,  V.  M 

Juvinall.  Janics 


K.<iu.v.   \V.   F. 

Kicslar.  J.  \V 

KiUcy,  Micl>ael  . .. 
Kcsplcr,  fildward  C 

Kcsi.lcr,  F.  F 

Kotcr,  M.  B 

Kinihrough.  Or.  A.  H 
Kimbroiigli,  F.  R.  E 

KniKlit,  James  

Knipht.  Johnson  F.. . 
Kiivkenilall,  \V.  V 


l-;i!icaslcr,  Mrs.  Mary  Jane 

Lane,  Jesse  

I.ane,  I..  I> 

I.inc.  W.  \ 

I  arsf in.  Peter 

U:uli,   B.   F 

I.eeka.  Dr.  Jesse 

I.ieinon,  John   

Lceninn,  R.  A 

Leitzb.ich,  Dr.  A.  J. 

UNevc,  .\.  N 

lx-.\eve,  Saninel   P. 

Leonard.  B.  F 

Li-seurc,  Ernest  X. . 
Le>eiire,  Prosi>er  .. . 

IA•^eure.  Victor 

Leverich.  J.  G 

Lewis,  Charles  ^L. 
Lindley,  Frank 
Littler.  John   .\ 
Loriii({.  A'ilmry   .... 
Lottnian.  Dr.  W.  .X 
I.ont/.enhiser.  .A.   .N 
Love.  I-a.ic  .\. 
Lynch.  William 
I  yon.  Jolham  . 


McCalK?.  J.  M 
.McClenathan.  C  \  . 

Mcford,  O.  L 

McCoy.  J.  F 

MoCray,  George  M. 
McCnskcr.  Edward 


PAGE 

1065 
065 
704 
860 
74-' 
I07<) 
11.11 
1074 


'(.•;4 
-55 
u6 

.187 
510 
278 

2()2 
16.1 

127 
I  I  I 


(J.M 
879 
778 
1038 
1 135 
718 
420 

i6<) 

570 

4(>4 

47 

996 

921 

896 
1067 

478 

555 
77-J 
1019 

149 
.|6.^ 

7j8 

MA 
'■96 

.145 

J05 
511 
722 

III.', 


PAGK 

McF.lhancy.  B.  F 1034 

McFarland.  John   lOJi 

McFarland.  O.  A 77o 

McFerren.  J.  S 30 

Mclnlosh.  Dr.  J.  H 165 

McMillin,  William  M in.- 

McNeill,  Milton  M 701 

Mc  Reynolds,  W.  C 340 

.Mahoncy,  George  C 622 

Mann.   .Miraham,  Jr 303 

Mann,  .\braham,  Sr 294 

Mann,  J.   B 434 

Mann.  John   T iob 

M.irlin,   Edwhn    543 

Martin,  Patrick .^64 

.Martin.    P.   T 761 

Matti.  R.   H... 44.? 

Maxon.   Oscar   F 112S 

Maylingh.  John  977 

Meade,   l>avid    79f> 

Mcnii;,  George  F 894 

Messner,  L.  C 1006 

Muhacl,  Dr.  O.  W 501 

Miller.   Dr.   Earl 379 

Miller,   George  W 9.12 

Miller.  J.   W 10S5 

Miller,  Jolin   W 562 

Miller.   St.icey   1046 

Moore,   Dr.    Samuel 1137 

M<«ire,  William    104 

Moore,  Dr.  William  J 8o<) 

Moraii.  Charles  A>^< 

Mozier,  A.   H .l8o 

MiiKany.  Oiristophcr 5.H7 

Mnrphy.   Roy  I ^3 

Myers.  L.  R                        Mf> 

Nash,  Dr.  W.  R 477 

Neville.  Norliourn  27 

Ncwion.  John  W 594 

Newman,  Mrs.  A.  L 8,33 

Norris.  L.  C 98S 

Oakwood,  Thomas 70-^ 

Odiiert.   F.   N I156 

O  Haver.  Dr.  J.  W 890 

Olmsted,   A.   G. .  221 

Olmsted,  W.   C 338 

O'Neal,  James  377 

OslHirn.   F.   R 142 

Osiivin,  John  W 9'>7 

Pamter,  LL   H 457 

Palmer.  E.  H . . .  45^ 


r.M.i. 

Parle,   Sylvester   ii2«) 

Pastenr,  Mrs.  Ida  J 176 

Payne,   Lincoln    85.S 

P.iyne,   W.   J 503 

Payton,  JanK?s  G 688 

Pc-irson.  G.  C 13 

Pearson,  Judge    I<.Iin 11 

Perry,  Thoinns                      . ,  1066 

Peterson,  Henjaiiiui  to86 

Pcttegrcvv,  J<ihn    H.,  lotj 

Phillips,   John    A ;f>S 

Poland,   Dr.   B.    I...  .  1  .v 

Porter,   Dr.   Wdliam  D 856 

Porlerlicld,  M.   I" 247 

Powell,  Or    111                      .  lofv 

Prathvr.  C   \\  504 

I'ralher.  Janu-s    I  143 

Pnit'her.  Jonalh.mi  195 

Price,    A,    S -'6j 

Price.   George    ~73 

Price.   W.    n '>22 

1'iikIi.  Monroe  810 

Purnell,  {I.-ory.-   W I140 

I'ntman.  C    I  I'H) 

Ray,  Cleorge  T  2.17 

Redden,   William    11 7<'> 

Redmond.  Dr    T.   B 899 

Rees,  N.iac  M 871 

Rcilly.  (leorge   W 118 

Reilly.  William  io</i 

Revctil.   W.    N 680 

Rhoten,   J.    II 305 

Rice,    B     S                                 .  1041 

Rice,  J.  J                                 .  .166 

Rideout,   Dr.   J.   L.  lot 

Rol)erlson,   ls;iac  ...  •S40 

Robertson.  Zachariah   276 

Rogers,  S.  A.  D 1123 

Rouse,  Edward  184 

Runyon,   Dr.  T.  H O08 

Rusk,  Josiah    5*7 

Rnsling.   Mrs.    Frances 743 

Samuel.   A.   R 55.1 

Samlnsky.  Josiah    2.56 

.Sandusky-.   W.   T...  352 

Sandusky,  William   ISS 

Siinford,  Frank  470 

Schario,  Andrew   986 

Sconce,   Harvey  J 183 

Sconce,  James   S 178 

Scott,    G.    M 927 

Shankland.   D.    M 109S 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Shea,  John  G 369 

Shedd,  James  G icx)2 

Sherrill,   Darea  II47 

Short,  R.  A 1033 

Sibrel,  A.  J 1105 

Silver,  W.   M 232 

Sloan,  James   874 

Smalley,  R.  C 6+2 

Smith,  A.  B 248 

Smith,  Mrs.  A.  E 285 

Smith,   A.   G 956 

Smith,  E.  C 943 

Smith,   George   G 94 

Smith,   Henry   472 

Smith,  James  L 648 

.Smith,  John  R 34 

Smith,  Joseph   1031 

Smith,  R.  H 1139 

Smitfh,   VV.   M 392 

Snapp  &  Sons.  L.  E jy 

Snider,  Charles  1 103 

Sodowsky,   Harvey    331 

Songer,  A.  M 917 

Sowers,  Noah   D 920 

Spang,  C.  B 103 

Spang,  T.  H 997 

Sperry,  EH   S 1052 

Sperry,   Wallace   29 

Sprouls,  John   877 

Stearns,  J.   C 584 

Stevens,  Qiarles  E 811 

Stevens,  William  T 831 


PAGE 

Steward,  John  L 319 

Stewart,  Dr.  John  C 202 

Stewart,   William   865 

Stites,  B.   F 686 

Stratman,  William,  Jr 711 

Swank,  John   P 117 

Tanner,  George  191 

Taylor,  A.  A 654 

Terrell,   Robert   754 

Thompson,  John   R 1060 

Thompson,   L.    M 744 

Thompson,  M.   W 20 

Tilton,   George   R 643 

Tilton,  George  W 723 

Tomlinson,   F.   D 170 

Trego,  A.  H 50 

Trent,   J.    B 1097 

Vance,  J.   C 310 

Van  Etten,  Frank  H 1120 

Vinson,  Henson   593 

Vinson.   Levin   524 

Voorhees,    Peter 988 

Ward,    A 245 

Warner,   C.   W 360 

\\^^tson,  -M.   H 762 

Watson,   S.  A 682 

Watson,  Thomas   (iT2 

Weaver,   Michael    99 

Webster,  Rev.  W.  H 934 


PAGE 

Werner,  Joseph  1012 

White,  William 317 

Whitham,   Eugene  H 928 

Wilkin,  Judge  Jacob  W 1087 

Wilkins,  Dr.  J.  M 358 

Williams,   A.   S 981 

Williams,  C.  C 1150 

Williams,  James   343 

Williams,  John  868 

Williams,  Thomas  147 

Williams,  William  854 

Willison,   E.   B 1 143 

WilUus,   John    B 354 

Wilson,  S.  G 50 

Wilson,   Dr.   W.   R 897 

Witherspooai',   L.   M 334 

Wolcott,  Albert   1084 

Wolter,   William  1124 

Woodbury,  J.    C 629 

Woolverton,  Thomas   240 

Worthington,  R.  R 1 142 

Wray,  J.   M 1009 

Wright,   M.   M 1057 

Wysong,  O.  B 100 

Yapp,  Jacob  579 

Yeager,   Mangus  787 

Yeomans,  George  B 496 

York,   W.   H 371 

York,   Will   H 1102 

Zerse,  A.   S 1037 


PAST  AND  PRESENT 

OF 

VERMILION    COUNTY 


By   G.  C.  Pearson. 


"The  Past  and  Picscnt  n\  N'ennilion 
County  with  tliat  nf  Danxillc  its  C'i)UiUy- 
seat"  is  an  excellent  title  lor  a  vDlunie  de- 
voted to  iiistorical  facts  as  well  as  to  Ijio- 
graphica!  sketches  of  those  who  were  promi- 
nent in  founding  ami  shaping  the  conditions 
existing  at  present.  I'ew  realize  the  true 
significance  oi  what  the  i)ast  emhraces  in  a 
field  no  wider  than  that  of  WMniiJiim 
county.  We  need  go  no  farther  than  the 
fall  of  1819.  when  a  conii)any  of  five  men, 
Hlackman.  Beckwitii.  Treat,  Allen  and 
Whitcomb  located  at  Salt  Springs,  a  few- 
miles  west  of  the  present  city  of  Danville. 
They  were  pioneers,  ])romoters,  and  specu- 
lators, in  search  of  what  was  at  that  time 
ninie  esteemed  than  gold  or  silver — salt — 
since  it  was  an  essential  in  the  domestic 
economy  of  the  early  settlers  and  was  ditii- 
cult  to  obtain. 

It  is  not  our  |)urpose  to  offer  ;i  detailed 
narrative  or  repeat  that  which  has  l)een  so 
well  presented  by  a  historian  of  acknowl- 
edge<l  ability  and  research,  who  in  his  able 
w<irk  lias  rendered  it  easy  to  follow  the  dis- 
coveries anil  e;irly  explorations  of  the 
French  missionaries,  the  first  Europeans  to 


invade  the  vast  territory  drained  by  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  and  liv  the 
chain  of  lakes  ;uid  ri\evs  from  (Jiicago  aiul 
Duliith  to  Quelx'c. 

Illinois,  Vermilion  (.ouuiy  .md  Danville 
are  especially  considered  in  the  history  re- 
ferred to  which  furnishes  matter  of  special 
local  interest,  'fhesc  I'rench  missionaries 
were  in  many  respects  remarkable  for  ilieir 
tenacity  of  purpose  in  making  geographical 
exi)lorations  and  gaining  a  knowledge  of 
the  country  and  in  securing  the  coveted 
wealth  in  tin-  large  amount  of  peltry,  which 
thev  obtained  of  the  Indians,  at  prices  dic- 
tated i)y  themselves.  Another  motive  which 
stimulated  them  greatly  was  that  of  extend- 
ing their  church  propaganda,  by  which  they 
hoped  to  Christianize  and  control  the  numer- 
ous war-like  tribes  of  Indians  who  were 
never  at  [leace.  but  were  continually  carr)'- 
ing  on  wars  which  resulted  in  the  extermi- 
nation of  one  or  both  contestants,  .\nother 
and  no  doubt  as  great  a  stimulas  proiuoted 
these  explorations.  It  was  that  by  tlie  right 
of  discovery  the  vast  expanse  over  which 
they  travelled  as  well  as  all  contiguous  terri- 
tory vvas  theirs  or  rather  their  soveriegn's  or 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  VERMILION  COUNTY. 


ruler's,  who  could  control,  convey  and  dic- 
tate terms  relating  to  these  territories  re- 
gardless of  tlie  rights  of  tfie  aboriginal 
owners  who  were  dispossessed  of  their 
homes  regardless  of  justice  or  equity. 

Is  there  in  the  catalogue  of  crimes  an\'- 
thing  comparing  with  the  treatment  and 
dealings  of  the  civilized  white  man  with  the 
aboriginal  ljarl)arian,  from  the  first  landing 
of  the  Christianizing  Sjjaniards  in  the  \\'est 
Indies  to  the  present  congressional  donation 
of  rights  of  way  to  railroads  and  opening 
up  for  settlement  by  whites  of  the  lands  in 
Indian  reservations  to  which  they  had  been 
assigned  when  dri\en  from  their  birthright 
homes,  east  of  the  Great  River?  Injustice 
and  robbery  of  the  Indians  has  been  the  rule. 

Illinois  as  it  is  at  present  bounded  was 
admitted  into  the  L^nion  December  3,  1818, 
bv  an  act  of  congress  April  18,  of  that  year. 
The  first  state  constitution  was  adopted  that 
year  remaining  in  force  until  Alarch,  184S, 
when  a  new  one  was  adopted.  The  most 
important  feature  of  this  was  a  clause 
ordering  an  annual  two  mill  tax  to  pay 
off  the  state  debt.  This  constitution 
answered  for  twenty-two  years,  when 
August  8.  1870,  the  organic  law  was  adopted 
when  radical  changes  followed,  which  .have 
l>eeu  of  great  value  to  the  people.  With 
fifty-six  thousand  square  miles  of  land  in 
her  Ijoundaries.  Illinois  has  one  hundred  and 
two  counties.  Vermilion  county  ranks 
fourth  with  a  thousand  square  miles ;  La 
Salle  county  with  a  thousand  and  eighty 
miles  is  next:  lro(|uois  with  one  thousand 
and  one  hundred :  and  McLean  with  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  square  miles 
is  the  largest. 

\'ermilion  county  topographically  con- 
sidered as  well  as  agriculturally  is  not  sur- 
passed by  any  portion  of  the  state  which  is 


noted  for  its  superiority  in  these  respects. 
With  the  artesian  out-pour  of  pure  water  in 
unlimited  cpiantities  in  the  northwestern 
portion  of  the  county ;  with  two  and  three 
six  and  seven  foot  veins  of  excellent  bitumi- 
nous coal  underlaying  the  west  and  south- 
west portion  of  the  county ;  clay,  sand  and 
rock  deposits  favorably  situated  for  utiliz- 
ing at  minumum  e.xpense,  all  well  distributed 
throughout  the  county,  such  advantages 
are  to  be  considered  when  determining  upon 
locations  for  manufacturing  and  the  invest- 
ment of  capital  and  enterprises,  the  success 
of  which  depends  upon  economical  material 
and  tlie  conversion  of  same  into  what  is 
desired.  \'ermilion  county  is  especially 
favored,  in  regard  to  its  freedom  from 
climatic  extremes.  The  reason  for  this  is 
that  located  as  it  is  midway  in  the  thermal 
jjelt  between  the  thirty-ninth  and  fortieth 
degree  of  latitude,  outside  of  the  great  air 
currents  which  follow  the  mountain  ranges 
on  both  sides  of  the  continental  valley 
through  which  flow  the  water  arteries  north 
and  south  from  the  .\rctic  circle  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico — there  is  a  lessened  liability  of 
barometrical  disturbances  which  variations 
in  pressure  are  primarily  the  cause  of 
tornadoes,  cyclones,  gales  and  all  of  the 
variously  named  winds  which  benefit  or  in- 
iure  mankind.  The  relation  of  climate, 
more  especially  the  weather,  to  health,  is  an 
inquirv  deserving  of  consideration.  It  will 
be  found  from  statistics  that  this  section  of 
the  state  compares  with  the  most  favored, 
not  only  as  regards  diseases  of  the  respira- 
ton-  svstem  but  is  free  from  annual  malarial 
diseases  resulting  from  marshes  and  poorly 
drained  alluvial   soils. 

In  the  early  part  of  1827,  Guy  W.  Smith 
and  Dan.  W.  Beckwith  donated  land  to  the 
county   for  a   county-seat.      Danville  occu- 


PAST  AND   rKESliNT  01-    \EKMILION  COL-NTV. 


pics  that  ami  imicli  iiiuro  land  at  present. 
It  was  a  turtimate  as  well  as  an  ideal  lo- 
catiiin.  As  the  i)lainsineii  have  it.  "there 
was  an  ahnndance  i>f  wood,  water  and 
prass"  all  easily  olnainahle.  Xn  danger  of 
rtiMids.  matters  nut  if  a  repetition  of  Xoah's 
time  nccnrcti;  excellent  and  eciMiomical 
drainajfe.  yet  easily  accessible  from  all  di- 
rections. Evidences  of  the  Indian's  api^re- 
ciation  of  the  heanty  and  advantaijes  of  this 
site  was  to  be  seen  by  the  pioneer,  their 
campings  sjronnds  and  former  village  sites 
extending:  from  the  crescent  hanks  of  the 
main  X'ermilion  river  on  the  sonth.  alons;- 
the  billowy  shaped  hLnffs  on  the  west,  which 
befincd  the  conrse  of  the  Xorth  l"ork  to  the 
abrnpi  Dcnniark  Hills.  Eastward  Stone 
Creek,  wliich  was  a  rapi<ily  (lowing  stream 
of  clear  cold  water,  was  the  boundary.  Re- 
member, too,  that  this  plateau,  level  as  a 
floor,  was  free  from  underbrush  until  lonq; 
after  the  advent  of  the  whites.  .\  beautiful 
forest  of  sugar  maple  was  in  the  southeast- 
ern part,  while  oaks,  walnuts,  elms  and  other 
varities  of  deciduous  trees  clothed  the  north- 
ern portion.  It  would  be  useless  tfi  attempt 
a  ])en  plvjtograph  as  it  wnuld  in  nowise 
furnish  a  jiicture  of  the  natural  Itcautics  of 
the  original  landscape  before  it  was  marred 
an<l  destroyed  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  man: 
ready  to  sacrifice  any  and  everything  for 
gain.  I  doubt  if  there  exists  a  nature  so 
barren  of  sentiment,  so  lacking  in  all  that 
elevates  mankin<l  aliove  the  brute  that  has 
not  some  fondness  and  love  of  the  beautifvd. 
Can  imagination,  poetically  inspired  though 
it  be,  present  and  form  any  type  of  beauty 
compared  with  spring,  clotheil  in  her  varied 
shades  of  the  bursting:  buds  of  trees  and 
shrubs  trimmed  with  garlands  of  flowers  of 
every  color:  the  summer  of  hope  and  antici- 
pation:   followed    then    liy    the    season    of 


fruition :  succeeded  by  grim  visaged  w  inter 
w  hich  was.  however,  a  time  of  warm  he;irted 
hospitality  in  pioneer  days.  The  latch  string 
of  their  log  cabins  was  out  to  all  who  be- 
sired  to  enjoy  good  cheer — letters  of  intro- 
duction, creed  and  party  played  no  pait  in 
invitations  to  take  a  chair  and  make  oneself 
.it  home  by  the  hospitable  host.  The  deep 
broad  firc])laces,  the  width  of  one  side  or 
end  of  the  cabin,  with  its  back-log  and  pile 
of  ma])le  or  hickory  wood  gave  Ixith  heal 
and  light — a  cheerful  place  it  was  for  family 
or  stranger  when  the  day's  work  was  done, 
to  gather  in  front  of  the  bright  blaze,  re- 
count the  ha|)penings  of  the  day,  iliscuss 
politics  (papers  and  books  were  few  and  far 
between  in  those  days  )  plan  for  the  morrow's 
deer  luuit  or  wolf  drive,  and  not  infrec|uently 
do  some  "sparking"  if  there  was  an  un- 
coupled yoitng  woman  in  llu-  house. 
Modern  formalities  were  unkn<iwn,  matri- 
monial as  well  as  other  ijrojjosals  were 
direct  and  easily  understood.  A  couple  in- 
tent on  a  Iielter  or  worse  ])rogram  "nionnteil 
a  nag"  and  were  soon  wedded  by  a  minister 
or  s(|uire  at  an  outlay  often  times  of  not 
more  than  a  "tli.ank  you  squire"  or  "much 
obliged,  Mr.  Dominie."  Efficient  police 
were  imnecessary  for  guarding  presents  or 
rejiorters  neciled  for  blazoning  to  the  public 
the  folly  as  well  as  names  of  friends.  It 
would  sound  strangely  ;il  the  ])resent  liiue, 
if  it  was  given  out  to  the  ubi(|uitous  reporter 
by  a  i)ork  packer,  that  he  intended  building 
a  boat  at  the  foot  of  \'ermilion  street  with 
gunwales  and  plank  from  trees  ciu  on  the 
flat  east  and  adjoining  an<l  loa<ling  this  boat 
for  Xew  Orleans  with  hams  and  bacon 
from  hogs  butchereil  on  the  ground  over 
which  the  Wabash  railroad  now  passes  on 
the  north  eml  of  the  bridge.  This  has  been 
done,  however,  that   to  within  the  memory 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  VERMILION  COUNTY. 


of  by  no  means  tlie  oldest  inhabitant. 
Equally  strange  to  the  well  fed  citizen  of 
this  day  is  the  fact  that  a  little  flutter  mill 
on  the  North  Fork,  near  the  ground  occu- 
pied by  Beard  S:  Custer's  icehouses,  fur- 
nished the  meal  for  mush  and  pones  in 
1834-5-6,  for  not  only  most  of  Danville's 
citizens  but  the  country  round  about.  The 
amount  that  an  individual  could  get  ground 
was  limited  to  a  bushel,  half  bushel  custom- 
ers had  the  preference,  although  the  rule  of 
succession  was  as  arbitrarily  enforced  as  it 
is  at  a  popular  ami  first  class  barber  shop. 
Waiting  for  hours  in  sunshine  or  in  rain  to 
get  a  half  bushel  of  corn  mashed  or  cracked 
(it  never  was  bolted)  would  not  suit  present 
customers  who  demand  immediate  attention 
in  supplying  their  request  by  telephone  and 
complain  of  the  tardiness  of  the  grocer  or 
butcher  if  thay  fail  in  material  or  time. 

A  matter  which  ma\'  be  forgotten  if  not 
noted  is  this:  there  was  a  time  in  Dan\ille's 
histor}-  when  there  was  no  butcher  shop  or 
place  where  pro\isions  could  be  obtained  at 
all  times;  beef  was  killed  on  the  square 
after  having  been  thoroughly  tested  for 
milk  sickness:  if  affected  it  was  shown  by 
■\ii)lent  tremliling  which  gave  the  disease  the 
name  it  was  generally  known  by  (trembles) 
it  was  the  cause  of  many  deaths  among  the 
early  settlers.  ^lilk,  butter  or  Ijeef  from 
towns  or  country  northeast  of  the  citv  was 
regarded  with  suspicion.  An  English  family 
of  se\en  who  had  recently  settled  in  Dan- 
ville on  the  southeast  corner  of  Hazel  and 
Xorth  streets  died  in  a  week  from  eating 
butter  coming  a  mile  or  so  northeast  from 
the  junction.  The  father  was  a  positive 
man  who  said  there  was  not  a  bit  of  truth 
in  the  sickness  coming  from  eating  butter, 
that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  milk  sick- 
ness, that  he  would  show  the  Hoosiers  that 


he  was  right.  Poor  fellow,  his  family  and 
himself  might  have  escaped  a  fearful  death 
had  he  beai  willing  to  accept  facts  and  not 
stubbornly  ignored  them.  This  milk  sick- 
ness is  something  which  has  eluded  in- 
vestigation: that  it  is  the  result  of  poison 
taken  into  the  system  from  l^eef,  butter  or 
milk  is  accepted  by  medical  men  whose 
practice  has  given  them  opportunities  for 
in\estigatiiin  and  treating"  it.  Danville's  fair 
name  was  clouded  for  years  by  the  reported 
milk  sickness  and  from  the  reputation  it 
gained  in  the  business  transactions  at  the 
land  office  which  was  located  there.  A 
reputation  smirched  is  like  a  name  with  a 
bar  sinister,  diflicult  to  put  aside  or  over- 
come. \\'itli  bright  prospects  for  the  future 
let  us  hope  that  all  tending  to  detract  from 
Danville's  fair  name  is  forever  buried  and 
will  be  forgotten. 

Accepting  the  proposition  that  effect  fol- 
lows cause  and  is  dependent  upon  it.  we  have 
Liriefly  outlined  that  which  is  termed  histiiry 
in  the  organization  of  \'ermilion  county, 
with  incidental  reference  to  those  who  gave 
to  Danville  the  county  seat  an  existence  as 
such.  An  attempt  to  antidate  the  Indian 
occupancy  when  discovered  by  the  whites 
or  Europeans  takes  us  into  a  field  of  un- 
limited speculation,  one  in  which  anthropol- 
ogists as  well  as  archaeologists  have  signally 
failed  in  determining. 

As  has  been  previously  stated  in  this 
preface,  France  by  right  of  discoverv-  of  the 
Padres  (priests)  claimed  the  Mississippi 
valley  as  also  the  territories  adjacent  to  the 
lake  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. In  a  work  of  this  kind,  however,  an 
extended  and  detailed  account  of  occurrences 
prior  to  the  time  of  occupancy  of  those 
whose  biographies  are  given,  would  be  of 
no  special   interest   to  them,   their  relatives 


PAST  AND  PKES1£NT  OF  VERMILION  COLNTV. 


S 


"f  pergonal  frieiuls.  The  pressinqf  neetls 
supplietl  l)y  sucli  a  work  as  the  "Past  and 
Present"  is  recogfnizecl  when  \vc  lixik  arounil 
an<l  note  tlie  absence  of  the  many  lainihar 
faces  wlio  Init  a  short  time  ag^n  were  prime 
factors  and  participants  in  every  depart- 
ment and  pliase  of  hfe.  How  soon  are  tliey. 
.ind  will  we  \x  forgotten!  Not  a  pleasant 
snhject  for  contemplation  for  tliose  wliose 
hves  have  l)een  and  are  a  c^ntimions  strug- 
gle to  attain  st)me  desirable  aim — money, 
position,  or  office  for  themselves  and  chil- 
dren. Xo  one.  matters  not  how  lacking 
they  are  as  regards  public  estimation  while 
living,  who  does  not  crave  for  their  families 
and  friends  some  record  of  their  e.xistence — 
information  which  in  years  to  come  will  be 
treasured  and  referred  to.  if  not  by  the 
world  at  large  by  those  who  are  directly 
interestetl — children,  grtmdchildren.  great- 
grandchildren— often  by  descendants  of 
many  times  removed. 

The  territory  embraced  in  \'ermilion 
county  was  a  part  of  Crawford  county,  then 
of  Clark  county,  which  extended  as  far  north 
as  the  Kankakee  river.  Edgar  county  fol- 
lowed in  the  secpience  of  county  creations 
and  was  taken  from  Clark  county  in  January 
iSj^.  Hy  an  act  of  the  legislature  January 
i8.  i8j6.  \'ermilion  county  was  created 
from  part  of  Edgar  county  and  its  l»ound- 
aries  defined  which  were  subsef|uently  al- 
tered l)y  subtractions  and  additions.  In 
1833  Iroquois  was  formed;  Champaign 
county  was  given  a  gooflly  strip  from  the 
west  side:  Livingston  county,  organized  in 
1837.  came  in  for  another  slice  from  the 
northwest  comer  of  \'ermilion  county; 
druiKly  county  in  1841.  Will  county. 
Iroc|uois,  and  Kankakee  counties  all  had 
more  or  less  and  yet  \'ermilion  county  was 


left  territory  cimugh  to  make  her  rank  as 
fourth  in  size  of  the  one  hundred  and  two 
counties  in  the  state. 

The  early  immigration  into  this  terri- 
tory was  from  the  southeast,  the  Carolinas, 
Tennessee.  N'irginia.  Kentucky,  siuithern 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  furnished  a  majority  of 
those  who  sought  new  homes  and  enjoy  the 
free  ellmw  room  existing  where  neighlxjrs 
were  few  and  stock  range  unlimiteil.  1-Vom 
the  present  standpoint  it  is  not  i)ossible  to 
have  a  correct  untlerstanding  or  idea  of 
pioneer  society.  Environments  differing  es- 
sentially from  what  existeil  fifty  years  ago 
necessarily  effect  not  only  society  but  every- 
thing connected  with  and  related  to  it.  .\t- 
tempte<l  descriptions  as  ordinarily  given  are 
simply  extravaganzas  or  caricatures.  What 
would  fashion's  devotees  of  the  pre.sent  think 
if  called  upon  to  card.  spin,  weave,  dye  and 
make  the  linsey  woolsev  for  their  dresses 
and  underwear — knit  theirs  and  the  st<x:k- 
ings  for  the  household  from  yarn,  every 
thread  of  which  from  the  sheep's  back  had 
passed  through  their  busy  fingers.  The  hum 
and  whirr  of  spinning  wheels  large  and 
small,  the  thud-thud  of  the  hxnn — was  the 
nuisic  of  the  drawing  ro^m.  reception  room, 
parlor,  and  kitchen  all  i  n  one  and  not 
"E-Pluril)us-Unum".  as  it  is  now  when 
evolution's  re(|uiremcnts  declare  for  com- 
fort and  case  which  cannot  Ik."  thoroughly 
enjoyed  without  an  unlimited  nnml)cr  of 
apartments  and  servants  many  therewith. 
What  think  you  would  one  of  those  pioneer 
grandmothers  have  said  if  such  a  notice  as 
the  following  had  come  under  her  eyes : 
"Girl  wanted,  two  in  family,  no  washing, 
two  days  out.  go<id  wages.  Apply  at  once. 
R(xim  H^3.  Mat  B".  Here  it  may  be  well 
to  also  state  that  first  class  girls  etpial   in 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  VERMILION  COUNTY. 


every  respect  to  those  employing  them  were 
paid  twenty-five  and  fifty  cents  per  week — 
were  reg^rdeil  as  companions  and  treated  as 
such,  not  as  inferiors,  drudges  unwortliy  of 
notice.  The  sociahstic  sentiment  existing 
then  was  productive  of  genuine  friendship 
wliich  lasted  through  life.  The  feudalistic 
idea  of  inherent  nobility  or  blue-bloodism 
imported  from  Europe  in  later  years  would 
not  have  been  tolorated  in  a  true  democracy. 

The  government  land  ottice  for  this  dis- 
trict was  located  in  Danville  in  183 1-2. 
Samuel  McRoberts  (^afterwards  United 
States  senator)  was  the  first  receiver:  J-  C. 
Alexander  the  first  register.  This  office  re- 
mained until  the  ]niblic  land  or  most  of  it 
was  disposed  of.  This  required  some  years, 
many  receivers  and  registers  serxing  in 
these  responsible  positions  faithfull}'  and 
well.  Latterly,  hoivever.  the  office  was  used 
by  out-siders  for  personal  profit  to  the  detri- 
ment of  its  rejnitation  which  reflected  upon 
Danville's  reputation  and  retarded  its 
growth.  Gold  and  silver  coin  alone  was  ac- 
cepted for  land  by  the  government.  This 
coin  was  stored  in  bo.xes  and  stacked  up  on 
the  ."^oor  of  the  office  until  the  joist  would 
bend  and  the  fioor  sag  under  the  weight. 
AMien  deposits  were  made  at  the  sub-treas- 
ury in  Chicago,  a  wagon  load  of  money  was 
sent  with  no  guard  or  protection  except  the 
driver  and  a  citizen  jjerhaps.  who  had  busi- 
ness in  the  Lake  City,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  miles  distant,  most  of  the  way 
through  a  sparsely  settled  country.  What 
an  opportunity  for  present  professionalists 
to  burglarize  vaults,  safes  and  strong  boxes, 
terrorize  whole  communities,  and  hold  u]) 
railroad  trains  with  impunity. 

A  fortunate  thing  has  it  been  for  Dan- 
\ille  escaping  as  it  has,  all  the  booms  except 


that  of  1836  when  it  was  slightly  effected. 
It  has  been  called  okl  fogish.  a  one-horse 
place,  by  town-site  promoters  and  specu- 
lators whose  boom  cities  have  gone  to  the 
wall  long  ago,  while  Danville  like  the  tor- 
toise has  won  the  race.  Progress  based  up- 
on established  business  in  process  of  develop- 
ing interests  which  long  experience  has 
shown  to  be  necessary  and  profitable,  with 
assurance  of  continuance,  attracts  capital 
and  investors  notoriously  shy  anil  conservat- 
ive. -Vnother  thing  which  favors  the  future 
welfare  of  Danville,  as  well  as  that  of  \'er- 
milion  coimtv,  if  the  awakening  of  the 
citizens  to  the  necessity  of  utilizing  the  latent 
sources  of  wealth  which  have  remained  un- 
disturbed until  recently. 

Danville's  first  railroad  was  the  Great 
\\'estem  of  Illinois  in  1859.  Consolidated 
with  the  Wabash  was  effected  in  June.  1863. 
when  a  division  was  made  from  the  state  line 
to  Danville,  making  Danville  theterminal 
for  east  and  west  divisions.  In  Deceml^er, 
1869.  the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  & 
\\'estern  was  built  into  Danville  from  the 
west  and  from  Danville  east  to  Indianapolis 
in  December,  1870.  Chicago.  Danville  & 
\'incennes  Railroad  was  completed  to  Dan- 
ville in  December.  1S71  :  the  shops,  engine 
house  etc.,  during  1872.  What  is  known  as 
the  Collett  road  from  Terre  Haute  to  D?in- 
ville  (a  part  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  system)  was  completed  into  Dan- 
ville December.  1871.  The  Paris  &  Dan- 
ville Railroad  (a  portion  of  the  Big  Four 
system  at  present)  was  built  in  1872. 

It  is  scarcely  necessar}-  to  trace  the  de- 
velopment of  the  street  car  system  of  Dan- 
\  ille  from  the  day  when  two  rats  of  mules 
with  tinkling  bells  to  warn  pe<lestrians  as 
well    as   others   to   clear   the  track    for   the 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OE   VERMILION  COLNTV. 


swiftly  innvinj;  car  in  wliicli  llie  company 
:onl<l  liave  guaranteed  a  sound  sn(M)ze  be- 
tween any  of  tlie  parks,  tlie  Jnnction.  pulilic 
;(|narc  and  transfer  olHcc.  Wonderful 
.'lianges  lia\e  l)ecii  hrLiuglit  al)ont  by  lliat 
igency.  electricity,  not  in  locomotion  alone 
nit  eserAtliing  else  in  ci\ilized  life.  \ic\\ed 
from  the  present  stand])oint. 

The  lives  and  experiences  of  ilic  earliest 
|)i<.ineers  would  furnish  material  for  volumes 
jf  greater  interest  by  far  than  the  creations 
if  authors  withont  the  personal  experience 
ivhich  alone  gives  true  relish  to  recitals  of 
)ordcr  life.  Simple  statements  of  every  day 
life  filled  with  constant  danger  of  robbery, 
murder  and  the  m.my  contingencies  of  at- 
tacks by  Indians  and  wt)rse  still  by  the 
refugees  .ind  desperadoes  that  li\ed  ujjon  the 
borders  of  civilization.  There  was  a  num- 
ber of  genuine  trajjpers  and  hunters  living 
in  the  vicinity  of  Danville — men  I'f  tlie 
Daniel  Boone  order.  One  well  remembered 
by  the  writer  was  Captain  Jim  Clynian.  a 
afcniiine  frontiersman,  hunter  ;md  trapper, 
tall,  spare  in  llesh.  keen  deep-set  blue  eyes, 
face  and  hands  as  bronzed  as  the  color  of 
smoked  buck. skin :  hair  that  fell  upon  his 
•ihoiilders;  mouth  that  closed  like  a  steel 
trap,  surrounded  by  a  heavy  beard  which 
whh  his  hair  was  the  color  of  dried  grass. 
Habited  in  a  composite  dress  of  linsey  wool- 
>ey  wamns.  buckskin  pants,  and  foot  wear. 
^  coon  skin  cap  worn  when  in  the  settlement. 
His  Itnig  full  stocked  Hint-lock  ritle.  toma- 
liawk  and  knife  were  never  out  of  reach  ex- 
LCpt  when  he  was  in  the  house  of  a  frientl, 
which  was  seldom.  He  had  crossed  the 
L'ontinent  a  nnmlwr  of  times;  years  Iwfore 
the  gold  excitement  he  trapjied  and  hunted 
)n  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia.  Mis- 
souri. Yellow  Stone  and  other  rivers  on  tlie 


western  side  of  the  continent.  lie  had 
crossetl  the  Sierra  N'evadas  into  Sacramento 
valley:  was  thoroughly  ac(|uaiiUed  with  the 
topography  of  California,  its  mild  climate 
and  abundance  of  game  but  knew  nothing  of 
the  .gold  which  lay  exposed  uiioii  the  sl.ile 
l)ed  rock  of  creeks  and  rivers  on  the  wes- 
tern slope  of  the  mountains.  This,  however, 
is  not  so  strange  when  Fremont  with  his 
corps  of  scientists  traversed  these  ranges  over 
the  same  ground  no  doubt  which  Clyman 
had  hunted,  and  not  a  word  was  said  in  his 
reports  to  government  about  gold.  .\ 
pioneer  California  g<jld  prospector  is 
skeptical  to  the  merits  of  the  so  called 
scientists  who  if  they  knew  did  not  report  it. 
CJyiii.iirs  remarkable  imliv  iduality  attracted 
■  ill  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  At  limes 
when  in  convers.itional  mood  he  could  keep 
listeners  spell  bound  by  ii;irratiiig  his  per- 
sonal experiences  among  the  IndiUns:  of  the 
many  hair-breadth  escapes  from  captin-e, 
which  meant  death  by  torture,  practiced  only 
bv  the  Indians:  of  his  contests  with  mountain 
lions,  panthers,  grizzly  l)ears  and  other  wild 
animals  which  furnish  the  fnrs  so  much  in 
demand  and  are  captured  at  such  hazard  to 
life.  Settling  finally  in  .\apa  X'alley.  Cali- 
fornia, this  man  of  adventure  passed  the 
autumn  of  life  in  jjcace  and  jilenty.  dying 
at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety-two.  Sjiace  is  given 
to  this  man  Clyman  as  one  of  the  very 
first  pioneers  of  Veniiilion  county,  and  yet 
it  never  mentioned  as  far  as  the  writer 
knows,  in  prose  or  |toeti\ .  eulogy  or  censure. 
Trails  and  foot  paths  blazed  through  the 
woods  were  the  only  raods  in  the  early  days: 
bridges  there  were  none:  rivers,  creeks  and 
sloughs  must  be  forded  or  ferried:  in  time 
of  high  water  and  Hoods,  delays  were  neces- 
sarv   until    the   water   subsided.      Traveling 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF  VERMILION  COUNTY. 


was  done  on  foot  or  horse  back  by  both  fit  fastened  to  tlie  Ijack  of  their  saddles.  lu- 
men and  women.  Short  as  well  as  long  dependence  of  thought  and  action  character- 
journeys  were  made  that  way.  Old  and  ized  the  women  pioneers.  What  they  lacked 
yoimg  women  were  proficient  in  equestra-  in  scholastic  acquirements  was  made  up  in 
tion.  It  was  not  at  all  uncommon  for  practical  knowledge  upon  a  basis  of  good 
journeys  of  several  hundred  miles  to  be  sense, 
made  by  them  on  horseback  with  their  out- 


BIOGRAPHICAL 


jrnc.i-:  joiix  im-.aksox. 

Jiulije  John  Pearson  proljuhly  took  as 
active  part  in  the  tlevelnpnient  of  Uctnville  as 
any  other  one  man.  and  liis  efi\)rts  were  not 
alone  along  one  line,  lie  did  not  merely 
contribute  to  the  business  growth  of  the 
city,  but  gave  liberally  of  his  means  to  the 
support  of  churches,  and  moreover  he  shed 
around  him  much  of  life's  sunshine,  because 
of  his  kindly,  benevolent  spirit,  his  ready 
sympathy  and  his  tired  ami  true  friendshii). 
Thus  it  was  that  Danville  loved  and  honored 
him  and  reailily  acknowledged  her  indebted- 
ness to  him  for  what  he  accomplisheil  in 
her  l)cbalf. 

Jucfgc  Pearson  was  born  in  .\\on.  Xew 
York,  in  January.  iSoj.  His  forefathers 
came  from  England  to  America,  settling  in 
Connecticut,  and  at  an  early  day  rejjresenta- 
tives  of  the  family  became  residents  oi 
Avon,  being  anitmg  the'  first  settlers  of 
western  Xew  ^'f)rk.  The  first  of  the  name  in 
this  country  was  Rev.  Abraham  Pearson, 
who  came  from  Yorkshire.  England,  in  1639. 
His  son.  who  was  also  l^ev.  Abraham  Pear- 
son, was  the  first  president  of  Y.de  College, 
and  died  in  Killingworth.  Connecticut,  in 
1707.  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years.  John 
Pearson,  the  father  of  the  Judge,  was  the 
1 


sixth  child  born  lo  I'ipluann  anil  I  laiiiiail 
Pearson,  his  l)irth  occurring  in  the  town  of 
Tolland.  Connecticut,  in  I7f>5.  while  he 
died  in  western  Xew  ^'ork,  at  the  age  of 
forty-seven  yan-s.  He  was  a  pioneer  mer- 
chant of  that  part  of  the  state  and  a  very 
wealthy  man.  He  married  Rebecca  Wat- 
rous,  whose  first  husband  was  (ieneral  Hidl, 
a  Revolutionary  soldier;  her  .second.  John 
Pearson;  and  her  third.  Colonel  Samuel 
lilakcslce.  .ilso  a  hero  of  the  Revolution. 
She  survived  all.  dying  .it  the  age  of  ninety- 
six  years. 

Judge  John  I'earson  w.xs  a  graduate  of 
Princeton  College,  of  Xew  Jersey,  and  read 
law  with  Judge  George  llosmer.  of  Avon. 
There  in  i<Sj6  he  married  a  daughter  of 
(ieorge  S.  Tiffany,  an  attorney  of  Scho- 
harie. Xew  ^'ork.  of  a  wealthy  and  aristo- 
cratic family,  all  of  whom  were  in  the  pro- 
fessions. After  his  marriage  Jmlge  Pearson 
came  to  what  was  then  the  far  west  and  lie- 
gan  practicing  law.  His  brother-in-law. 
Rev.  Henry  .Storrs,  was  then  in  Ravenna. 
Ohio,  and  the  Judge  located  in  that  town. 
He  later  started  for  Chicago,  stopping  en 
rojite  at  Detroit  to  visit  relatives,  named 
Truax.  .\t  that  place  he  took  a  sailing  ves- 
sel for  Chicago,  arriving  early  in  June, 
1832,  and  as  there  was  then  no  harljor  the 


12 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


vessel  had  to  anchor  out  in  the  lake  and  the 
passengers  were  takeit  ashore  in  yawls 
Major  Whistler  was  in  command  of  Fort 
Dearborn  during  the  Sauk  war  of  183 J, 
and,  as  he  was  a  friend  of  Judge  Pearson 
and  his  famil}',  he  had  the  Judge  bring  his 
family  into  the  fort.  The  father,  in  look- 
ing around  Chicago,  found  it  was  unsafe  to 
remain  there  unless  one  w-as  in  the  fort,  so 
he  came  to  Danville,  the  nearest  point  of 
safety,  a  company  of  rangers  being  sta- 
tioned here.  The  Judge  came  here  on  horse- 
back to  look  at  the  town.  During  his  ab- 
sence the  first  steamer  arrived  at  Chicago, 
liringing  Scott's  troops,  but  it  also  brought 
the  cholera  and  a  regular  exodus  was  made 
from  Fort  Dearljorn.  Mark  Beubean  took 
the  family  out  to  the  summit  and  there 
waited  imtil  the  father  returned  with  a 
%\'agon  to  transport  them.  They  were  one 
week  in  making  the  trip,  having  to  follow 
an  Indian  trail  -throug'h  Joliet,  and  ciuite  a 
panic  was  caused  by  a  lot  of  Indians  who 
came  up  to  them,  but  they  were  found  to 
be  not  hostile,  but  in  search  of  food  because 
they  were  starving. 

Judge  Pearson  began  the  practice  of  law 
in  Danville  and  was  appointed  by  the  legis- 
lature to  the  office  of  circuit  judge,  his  cir- 
cuit comprising  Cook,  Will,  Iroquois,  Du 
Page  and  De  Kalb  counties,  and  he  made 
his  home  in  Joliet,  while  filling  that  office. 
He  served  on  the  bench  until  elected  to  the 
state  senate,  when  he  resigned  the  judge- 
ship, and  later  he  resigned  as  senator  in 
favor  of  Joel  Matteson.  His  wife  died 
June  4,  1842,  and  in  1843  ^^^  married  Kath- 
erine  Passage,  of  Princeton,  New  Jersey. 
He  then  located  in  New  York  city,  where 
he  remained  vmtil  1846,  btit  he  did  not  like 
it  there  and  besides  liis  property  was  in 
the  west,  he  having  large  landed  interests  in 


Chicago    and    in    \'ermilion    cuuntv. 


In 


1849  he  made  the  overland  trip  to  Califor- 
nia, where  he  engaged  in  selling  goods, 
taking  out  a  fine  outfit.  He  would  not  enter 
into  politics  there  and  after  selling  out  his 
store  at  Bidwell's  Bar,  California,  he  went 
down  among  the  Yumas  on  a  trading  ex- 
pedition and  his  partners  were  killed.  Al- 
though he  escaped  with  his  life  he  lost  all 
his  possessions  and  soon  after  he  returned 
to  Danville,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  having  a  fine  property  here  and  large 
landed  interests  in  the  state. 

Judge  Pearson  was  a  strong  Democrat 
and  G.  C.  Pearson  now  has  a  cane  whicl 
was  cut  at  The  Hermitage  and  given  to  his 
father  by  Andrew  Jackson.  He  was  noted 
for  keeping  the  first  carriage  and  horses 
here  and  his  first  wife  and  the  children 
dro\-e  thus  to  Detroit  in  1836,  passing 
through  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Michigan. 
He  was  alwa3's  an  advocate  of  progress 
and  was  quick  to  introduce  anything  which 
tended  toward  advancement  along  lines 
pro\-ing  of  benefit  to  the  community.  He 
gave  his  attention  to  the  supervision  of  his 
landed  interests,  and  had  extensive  property 
holdings  in  this  state.  He  at  one  time 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  south  of  Twelfth 
street  in  Chicago,  of  G.  S.  Hubbard,  for 
se\'enteen  dollars  per  acre,  and  forty  acres 
on  the  west  side,  west  of  Halstead  street, 
taking  it  in  part  payment  for  property  sold 
in  Danville,  but  not  considering  it  of  any 
value  he  paid  no  attention  to  it  and  did 
not  record  the  deed  of  sale.  He  figured 
prominently  in  many  events  which  had  much 
to  do  with  shaping  the  development  of  the 
state.  His  control  of  property  interests  not 
only  led  to  business  activity  and  to  the  re- 
clamation of  wild  land  for  purposes  of  civil- 
izatinn,   but   he   was   also  an   active   factor 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'3 


in  assisting  many  citlier  measures  for  ilio 
general  gootl.  (.  luirches  received  his  gen- 
erous sui>i)(.)rt.  ami  lie  was  a  man  of  very 
charitable  and  benevolent  spirit.  One  of  his 
l)re(lominant  traits  was  his  loyalty  to  his 
friends.  He  held  frieiulship  inviolable  and 
was  ever  ready  to  assist  a  friend  in  any  way 
possible.  This  naturally  increased  the  cir- 
cle of  his  own  friends,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  no  man  in  Danville  was  held  in  greater 
regard  by  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances 
than  was  Jndge  Pearson,  the  honored  pio- 
neer, who  passed  away  in  June,  1875. 


GUST  A  V  US  C.  PEAR  SOX. 

Gustavus  C.  Pearson,  a  capitalist  of 
Danville,  became  a  resident  of  this  city  Jn'y 
4.  1832.  Hardly  another  resident  can 
claim  personal  recollection  of  the  county  at 
that  remote  period.  Many  events  of  im- 
portance, however,  have  in  the  interval 
shajied  the  life  history  of  Mr.  Pearson,  who 
was  one  of  the  argonauts  who  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  search  of  the  "golden  Heece"  on 
the  iliscovery  of  the  precious  metal  on  the 
Pacilic  slope;  who  was  one  of  the  early 
board  of  trade  men  of  Chicago;  and  was 
also  largely  engaged  in  promoting  tlie  trade 
interests  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Prospering  in 
his  undertakings,  he  has  largely  placed  his 
money  in  that  safest  of  all  investments — 
real  estate — and  is  to-day  accounted  one  of 
the  capitalists  of  Danville,  to  which  city  he 
was  brought  in  his  boyhood  when  this  was 
a   frontier  settlement. 

Mr.    Pearson    was    born    in    Ravenna 
Ohio,  July  17,  1827,  a  son  of  Judge  John 
and     Catherine     (Tiffany)     Pearson.       In 
chilfllmod  he  came  to  Illinois  and  obtainedj 
his  early  education  in  Joliet.    He  after"  •"■' 


atlcndeil  iiishop  Chase's  Jubilee  Lullege 
near  Peoria  and  Allegheny  College  at 
Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  and  took  up  the 
study  of  law  under  the  direction  of  Josiah 
McRoberts  in  Danville  in  1845-6.  He  af- 
terward went  to  Ji.iliet  an<l  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  had  charge  of  the  extensive 
business  of  Joel  Matteson,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  going  to  California.  He  left 
Jolict  March  25,  1849,  proceeded  to  St. 
Joseph.  Missouri,  and  up  the  Platte  river 
and  thence  across  the  country  to  Salt  Lake, 
becoming  well  acquainted  with  the  Mor- 
mons during  his  three  months  stay  there, 
at  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  hunting. 
He  cut  five  and  a  half  acres  of  wheat  with 
a  sickle,  threshed  it  with  a  llail  and  cleaned 
it  by  means  of  the  breeze  from  Salt  Lake, 
which  always  blows  in  the  afternoon.  He 
sold  his  ])roduce  to  a  Mormon  bishoj).  re- 
ceiving Mormon  gold  in  exchange.  With 
others  he  had  been  persuaded  to  stay  until 
too  late  to  go  by  the  usual  route — the  I  hun- 
boldt — to  California,  and  then  they  were 
told  to  go  by  the  southern  route  or  else  be- 
come Mormons,  so  the  former  alternative 
was  accepted,  the  demand  being  made  by 
Brigham  Young  in  open  meeting,  it  l)eing 
his  intention  from  the  first  to  make  them  the 
explorers  and  openers  of  the  southern  route. 
Mr.  Pearson  gave  up  his  wagon  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  before  reaching  Cali- 
fornia. He  had  one  of  the  finest  outfits  in 
his  party  but  he  tnrne<l  it  over  to  a  starving 
family  who  were  to  deliver  it  to  him  in 
California.  Ten  of  them  then  took  their 
packs  upon  their  backs  and  traveled  night 
and  day  until  they  covered  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  miles,  having  no  water  during 
this  time.  The  place  has  since  been  called 
Death's  Valley.  Two  of  the  men  went 
crazy  from  thirst.  They  had  constantly  to 
be  on  the  lookout  and  a  new  t'-'i'  I'td  to  be 


14 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


niride  for  tliere  was  iiDiie.  They  finally 
reached  Alohave  and  from  there  broke  their 
way  through  the  snow  and  over  the  moun- 
tains, crossing  at  the  foot  of  San  Bernardi- 
no mountain.  Continuing  on  for  two  and 
a  iialf  days  without  anything  to  eat  they 
reached  Cocomongo  ranch.  Jackson,  a 
former  hunter  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  who 
was  major-domo  in  charge  there,  recognizing 
their  condition,  put  them  into  a  cellar,  lock- 
ing them  in  and  then  gave  them  weak  wine 
and  a  little  beef  broth.  This  nndoulttedly 
saved  their  lives  for  had  they  been  permitted 
to  eat  in  their  half-famished  condition,  they 
would  undoubtedh'  ha\e  killed  themselves 
by  eating  too  much.  Ho\ve\er.  Jackson 
gradually  increased  their  rations  until  they 
could  partake  of  a  regular  meal.  A  lieef 
was  driven  into  the  court  and  killed  for  the 
Indian  employes  daily  and  after  a  few  da^s 
Mr.  Pearson  and  his  comrades  were  al- 
lowed to  cut  off  from  this  beef  as  much  as 
they   wanted    to  broil. 

P'rom  the  ranch  they  went  to  Los  An- 
geles, a  Spanish  hamlet,  and  on  the  first 
night  there  was  a  ball.  A  southern  g^ambler 
who  had  been  north  was  shot  down  bv  one 
of  a  party  of  gamblers,  with  whose  girl  he 
iiad  danced,  yet  nothing  was  done  to  him, 
as  such  occurrences  were  too  common  to 
cause  much  attention.  The  next  morning 
the  party  of  gamblers,  wanting  amusement 
put  four  negro  American  seamen  in  a  corral 
enclosed  by  a  seven  foot  wall  and  then  sb(_it 
at  them  with  revolvers  from  the  top  of  the 
wall.  The  negroes  later  escaped  to  San 
Pedro  and  went  north  on  a  vessel  named 
Honolulu,  a  boat  which  had  been  Iniilt  for 
the  king  of  Honolulu.  Mr.  Pearson,  \Vill- 
iam  Richardson  and  father,  from  Kentucky, 
were  also  passengers  on  that  schooner, 
which  landed  them  at  San  l-'rancisco.  Our 
subject  possessed  eighty  dtjllars  in  Mormon 


gold  with  which  he  tried  to  bu}-  a  jjair  of 
boots,  l)ut  found  their  price  was  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  He  obtained  a  position  in  a 
wholesale  store,  receiving  his  board  and  one 
hundred  dcjllars  per  month  and  after  two 
weeks  he  met  his  father  and  went  with  him 
to  Marysville.  b^rom  there  they  went  l)y 
wagon  to  Bidwell's  Bar,  where  the  father 
had  a  store.  One  evening  with  the  boys 
from  the  store,  Mr.  Pearson  went  to  a  gold 
bar  and  about  twenty  minutes  later  they  had 
se\'en  dollars  and  a  half  in  gold  dust.  They 
played  poker  for  this,  using  beans  as  chips, 
and  our  subject  winning,  he  invested  it  in 
things  to  eat  for  the  party. 

After  leaving  the  bar.  ]\[r.  Pearson 
erected  a  half  dozen  tent  houses  but  lost  on 
this  venture.  The  town  of  Eliza,  where 
they  were  liuilt,  is  now  twenty  feet  under 
debris  from  the  washings  t)f  the  Yuba  and 
many  who  now  li\-e  in  that  localitv  never 
knew  that  a  town  existed  there.  (ireat 
changes  have  taken  place  and  a  pear  orchard 
now  grows  o\'er  the  site  of  the  old  town. 
]\lr.  Pearson  engaged  in  prospecting  in  Ne- 
\-ada  City  with  his  brother,  but  not  being- 
satisfied  he  went  to  Poor  Man's  creek,  being 
one  of  the  first  to  discover  it.  The  first 
hour  he  picked  up  seventy-fi\e  dollars  in 
gold  nuggets  on  the  slate  bar.  There  were 
ten  in  bis  party  and  they  took  up  part  of 
the  creek  and  (li\ided  it  into  twenty-two 
claims  and  then  turned  the  course  of  the 
creek.  The  numbers  of  the  claims  were  put 
into  a  hat,  shook  up  and  then  drawn  bv  the 
memliers  of  the  party,  each  taking  two,  but 
out  of  the  twenty-two  claims  only  No.  3, 
the  one  Mr.  Pearson  drew,  jiaid  anx'thing- 
of  value.  "He  and  his  brother,  however, 
realized  well  from  this,  taking  out  as  high 
as  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  to  the  pan. 
He  afterward  bought  a  claim  on  the  South 
Yuba.  I)ut  it  was  unprofitable,  and  as  winter 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'5 


came  Kii  lie  went  snutli  to  ilie  dry  ilij;j;iiiy;s, 
while  Iiis  hmtlier  retiirnctl  lionie.  Mr. 
I'carsnii  took  a  stock  of  goods  down  from 
Sacramento  to  Dry  Creek,  south  of  Ma- 
cosmes.  I'lierc  he  was  taken  ill  witii  the 
mountain  fever  and  was  the  only  one  of  those 
who  became  sick  with  the  fever  to  re- 
cover. However,  he  lost  everythin.tr  he  had 
hut  a  mule  and  four  hundred  dollars  in  sjold 
dust  which  he  hail  under  his  blankets.  He 
next  went  to  Owsley's  bar  on  the  Nuba 
river  and  he  and  his  father  operated  two 
<>r  three  (|uicksilver  machines  for  fine  fjolil. 
makinj;  fair  wages.  The  father  then  went 
into  the  cattle  business  and  the  son  then 
went  to  Rich  bar.  on  the  east  fork  of  beather 
river,  spending  the  summer  there.  He  next 
went  to  Downeyville.  doing  well  on  Durgans 
I'lat.  and  in  October  be  went  u])  the  moiui- 
tain.  passing  "Three  I'ingered  Jack."  one 
of  the  Joaquin  robbers.  Mr.  Pearson's 
[)arty  left  the  trail  to  eat  and  get  water  and 
losing  their  way  they  were  off  the  trail  for 
several  miles  and  when  they  did  reach  it 
they  fouml  out  that  between  the  place  they 
left  and  the  place  they  returned  to  it.  thir- 
teen men  had  been  killetl  by  the  robbers  that 
<lay. 

Mr.  Pearson  returned  tt>  Illinois,  mak- 
ing the  journey  by  boat  in  1852.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  in  Chicago  or  else 
traveling  over  the  country.  He  then  took 
some  goods  to  California  and  there  he  se- 
cure<I  some  land  and  set  out  the  first  fruit 
trees  on  the  red  lands,  southeast  of  Sacra- 
mento, where  General  Sutter  said  fruit 
could  not  be  made  to  grow.  In  1855  be 
engaged  in  mining  on  Sherlock's  creek  in 
the  Mariposa  grant.  In  August,  1855.  he 
with  a  party  of  ten  others  discovered  the 
Yoseiuite  valley  aufl  with  them  laid  claim 
to  the  valley.     He  afterward  sold  goods  in 


the  mountains  and  in  the  fall  returned  to 
Chicago.  He  had  an  oOice  at  Xo.  \j(} 
South  Water  Street,  and  at  the  northwest 
Collier  of  Clark  and  Water  streets,  then 
known  as  Rumscy's  corner,  a  few  of  the 
lucn  would  gather  to  buy  and  sell,  for  there 
was  no  board  of  trade  in  the  city  then.  .\f- 
tei  the  railroads  were  built  and  grain  was 
shipped  to  the  city  the  board  was  e>rganized 
and  Mr.  Pearson  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers. He  did  a  general  commission  busi- 
ness in  Chicago  until  1S69.  also  erected 
buildings  there  and  owned  considerable  real 
estate  on  Halstead  street  and  in  Hy<lc  Park. 
He  was  a  personal  friend  of  Lyman  J.  Gage. 
His  brother.  George  T.  Pearson,  was  sec- 
retary of  the  Old  Settlers  Society  of  Chica- 
go, and  at  his  death,  ovir  subject,  who  had 
the  records  of  the  society,  donated  them  to 
the  I  iistorical  Society. 

CJoing  out  of  business  in  Chicago  in 
1869  on  account  of  bronchial  trouble  he  re- 
turned to  California.  Mr.  Pearson  took 
men  with  him  and  Imilt  the  first  grain  ele- 
vator there,  at  V'allejo  and  heljied  form  tin- 
board  of  trade  of  San  Francisco,  for  grain 
dealing.  With  his  partner.  .\.  D.  Starr,  he 
also  built  a  big  mill  at  \'allejo  with  a  capac- 
ity of  two  or  three  thousand  barrels  per 
day  and  this  is  still  in  use.  .\fter  ten  years 
of  effort  he  got  the  warehouse  law  passed 
and  it  is  now  recognized  as  a  most  benefi- 
cial law  for  California.  He  drew  up  the 
bill,  which  was  opposed  by  the  Jewish  mer- 
chants on  account  of  the  sack  business  which 
was  controlled  by  them,  but  after  a  decade 
of  unremitting  efforts  it  became  a  law. 
Selling  bis  mill  Mr.  Pearson  traveled  ex- 
tensively. He  became  convinced  that  vine- 
yards would  ]>ay  in  California  and  went 
abroaci  to  study  the  question.  He  shipped 
much  wine  in  this  way  and  also  sliipjicd  the 


I6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


first  tliousand  barrels  which  was  sent  from 
JNIarysville  across  tlie  continent.  He  has 
traveled  broadly,  not  only  in  this  country 
but  also  in  South  America  and  in  Europe. 
At  length  he  disposed  of  his  business  inter- 
ests in  California  and  partly  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  his  children  returned  to  the 
eSst.  locating  in  Danville  about  1879.  He 
has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  city,  and 
is  now  widely  known  as  a  capitalist. 

In  September,  1864,  Mr.  Pearson  mar- 
ried Miss  Hattie  Brown,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  .\nthony  Brown,  of  Ogdensburg. 
New  York.  Her  father  was  a  leading  at- 
torney in  that  city  and  her  lirothers  were 
prominent  in  railroad  circles.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Pearson  have  three  children:  John  A.,  of 
Danville;  Fannie,  wife  of  James  A.  Meeks, 
of  the  firm  of  Kimbrough  &  Meeks,  attor- 
neys of  Danville;  and  Nomen  N..  now  in 
the  United  States  coast  artillerv-,  stationed 
at  San  Diego,  California.  ]\Ir.  Pearson  is 
a  member  of  Blaney  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  of 
Chicago,  and  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
he  belongs  to  the  Old  Settlers  Society  of 
Chicago  and  of  California.  Few  men  have 
so  wide  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  de- 
velopment of  the  two  states,  California  and 
Illinois,  whose  marvelous  growth  has  been 
among  the  wonders  of  the  century,  but  per- 
sonal experience  has  closely  associated  Mr. 
Pearson  with  this. 


JOHN  ^^^  dale. 

Few  men  have  contributed  in  larger 
measure  to  the  material  upbuilding  and  sub- 
stantial improvement  of  Danville  and  this 
pnrtii.n  ..f  Illinois  than  has  John  \\'.  Dale, 


who  through  his  real  estate  interests  has  not 
only  promoted  his  own  individual  prosper- 
ity but  has  also  contributed  to  the  general 
good,  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the 
community  in  whose  welfare  he  has  mani- 
fested a  loyal  and  public-spirited  interest 
and  his  fellow  townsmen  respect  him  as  a 
man  worthy  of  the  confidence  and  good  will 
of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 
Since  i860  he  has  resided  in  Vermilion 
county  and  is  therefore  among  the  early  set- 
tlers. 

Mr.  Dale  was  born  in  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  January  15.  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
J.  Dale,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Marvland 
in  1809.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  Ja- 
cob Dale  and  the  family  is  of  Scotch  lineage 
the  first  representative  of  the  name  in 
America  having  become  pioneer  settlers  of 
Maryland.  Jacob  Dale  died  when  his  son 
was  a  small  child  and  the  latter  afterward 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  learned  the 
merchant  tailoring  business,  following  that 
pursuit  for  some  years.  He  was  wedded  in 
South  Charleston,  Clark  county,  Ohio,  to 
Elizabeth  Davison,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  and  was  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Davi- 
son, one  of  the  early  settlers  who  removed 
from  A'irginia  to  Ohio.  After  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  John  J.  Dale  took  up  his 
abode  at  South  Charleston  and  began  busi- 
ness there  as  a  merchant  tailor,  successfully 
conducting  his  establishment  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  1856,  howe\er,  he  severed  all 
business  relations  connecting  him  with  Ohio 
and  removed  to  W'arren  county,  Indiana. 
Upon  a  farm  there  he  made  his  home  for  a 
few  years  and  in  the  spring  of  i860  came  to 
\^ermilion  county.  Illinois,  ])urch'asing  land 
in  Ross  township.  The  tract  of  which  he 
became  owner  was  broad  prairie  but  with 
characteristic  energv  he  began  its  cultivation 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'9 


and  iinj)R>vcineiu  and  soon  transfornieil  it 
into  a  good  farm  which  he  operated  for  a 
nmiiber  of  years.  He  afterwanl  removed  to 
Rossville  wlicre  lie  lived  in  retirement  from 
lalxir  until  his  death,  wliicli  occurred  in 
187".  He  was  electeil  and  served  in  va- 
rious positions  of  honor  and  trust  and  was 
refjarded  as  one  of  the  leading  and  influ- 
ential men  of  his  neighlxirhood.  His  wife 
survived  him  for  a  nnniher  of  years  and 
passed  away  in  iSoi)  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  In  their  family  were  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity  with  the  exception  of  one 
daughter,  and  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  yet  living:  Sarah,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Xeer,  of  Clark  county.  (~)hio: 
Jacob  is  living  in  South  Dakota:  Martha 
became  the  wife  of  William  M.  Ro.ss  and 
lived  in  \'ermilion  cciunty  for  sometime  but 
afterward  remove<I  to  Indiana,  where  Mrs. 
Ross  died :  Daniel  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  X'olunteer  In- 
fantry, during  the  Civil  war  and  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Stone  river;  John  W.  is  the 
next  vounger:  Isaac  is  a  minister  and  pre- 
siding elder  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  is  now  located  ,'it  SoutJi  Bend, 
Indiana;  Margaret  A.  is  the  wife  of  Abra- 
ham Mann,  of  Ross  township:  Mary  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years;  r.mma  re- 
sides with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Mann. 

John  \V.  Dale  of  this  review  s|)ent  the 
first  fourteen  ycirs  of  his  life  in  the  county 
of  his  nativity  and  then  came  with  his  pa- 
rents to  Vermilion  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  and 
in  cultivating  its  fields  until  the  spring  of 
18^11.  He  acquired  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  after  the  war  he  was  a 
student  in  an  academy  at  Thornfown.  Indi- 
ana, under  the  direction  of  the  famous  his- 
torian.  Ridpath. 


On  the  isl  of  June.  iSM.  Mr.  Dale  join- 
ed Company  B.  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infan- 
try and  was  assigned  to  the  army  under  the 
command  of  Ceneral  Curtis.  The  first  en- 
gagement in  wliich  he  i)artici])ated  was  at 
Pea  Ridge.  Arkansas.  Later  he  was  .sent  to 
Corinth.  Mississippi,  and  soon  afterward  his 
regiment  joined  the  .\rmy  of  the  C'umlKT- 
land  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Perry- 
ville.  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga.  In  the 
latter  engagement  he  was  womided.  losing 
his  left  arm.  .\  gun-shot  pierced  that  mem- 
ber and  so  injured  it  that  it  was  necessary 
to  amputate  it  in  a  hos|)ital  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  When  he  had  sufticiently  re- 
covered Mr.  Dale  returned  home  and  later 
liad  to  lia\e  a  second  operatit)n  on  his  arm, 
another  portion  of  it  being  amputated.  Ik- 
was  mustered  out  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge  in  September,  1864.  P.efore  be- 
ing mustered  out  he  was  in  several  hospitals 
anil  lie  experienced  all  the  hardships  and 
rigors  of  war. 

Returning  home  Mr.  Dale  determined 
to  further  continue  his  education  and  spent 
about  two  full  years  in  .school.  He  was  af- 
terward elected  assessor  and  colleeior  of 
Ross  township,  serving  for  two  or  more 
terms.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  was  elected 
county  clerk  and  by  re-election  served  for 
three  consecutive  •terms  in  that  imjiortant 
office,  discharging  his  duties  with  ability  and 
fidelity.  He  retired  from  the  positon  as  he 
had  entered  it — with  the  confidence  antl 
good  will  of  the  public.  He  has  since  served 
as  assistant  supervisor  and  commissioner 
of  highways,  likewise  as  a  nieml)er  of  the 
lK)ard  of  education.  In  politics  he  has  ever 
been  a  stalwart  Republican  and  he  has  fre- 
quently been  a  delegate  to  state  conventions. 
In  whatever  positir)n  he  has  been  found  he 
has  ever  been  a  faithful  and  etilicient  officer. 
His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lin- 


20 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


coin  in  1S64  and  he  has  never  yet  wavered 
in  liis  allegiance  to  the  party.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  his  service  as  county  clerk  he  en- 
gaged for  a  time  in  the  manufacture  of  bug- 
gies and  has  for  some  years  operated  in  real 
estate,  largely  handling  lands  in  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois.  In  connection  with  Mr. 
Cunningham  he  purchased  nine  hundred 
acres  of  land  adjoining  Danville,  laying  out 
an  additon  known  as  Vermilion  Heights, 
which  is  now  a  very  atttractive  suburb  of  the 
city  and  includes  many  manufactin-ing  in- 
terests there. 

On  the  26th  of  June.  1873,  in  this  city. 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  to  ^liss 
Harriet  1.  Hicks,  a  native  of  Perrysville.  In- 
diana, who  was  reared  and  educated  there, 
her  father.  George  I.  Hicks,  being  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  that  place,  and  one 
of  the  pioneer  pork  packers  of  the  Wabash 
Valley.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  are  the  parents 
of  four  children :  Elizabeth,  who  is  at 
home;  Katie,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Georgia  and  X'ellie.  who  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof.  The  parents  Imld  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  churcli  at 
Danville  and  fraternally  he  is  identified  with 
Danville  Lodg'e,  I.  O.  O.  F..  in  which  he  has 
filled  ;ill  the  oflices  and  is  a  jiast  grand.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protec- 
tive Order  of  Elks  and  to  the  Grand  Armv 
of  the  Republic,  this  last  membership  enab- 
ling him  to  maintain  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades.  During  forty-two 
years  Vermilion  county  has  been  his  home 
and  therefore  he  has  been  a  witness  of  its 
growth  and  improvement.  He  belongs  to 
that  class  of  progressive  American.  citi.?ens 
who  while  promoting  individual  suc- 
cess also  find  time  and  oijportunitv  to  ad- 
vance the  general  welfare  by  hearty  and  ac- 
tive co-operation  in  all  measures  for  the  gen- 


eral good.  He  is  to-day  as  true  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  as  when  he  followed  the  starry 
banner  upon  the  southern  battle-fields. 


MORTOX  \V.  THOMPSON. 

Since  1883  ^Morton  W.  Thompson  has 
been  a  practitioner  at  the  bar  of  Vermilion 
county,  where  he  has  won  distinction  as  a 
most  able  law\er  because  of  his  learning,  his 
careful  preparation  of  cases,  his  keen  analy- 
tical mind  and  his  strength  in  argument.  He 
is  now  filling  the  position  of  circuit  judge 
and  upon  the  bench  he  has  added  new  laurels 
to  his  already  creditable  life  record. 

^\i:  Thompson  is  one  of  \'ermilion 
county's  native  sons,  his  Iiirth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  23d  of  May,  1858.  In  the  pa- 
ternal line  he  is  of  Irish  and  Scotch  ancestry. 
His  father,  John  R.  Thompson,  was  a  native 
of  Greene  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  from 
there  he  removed  to  \'ermilion  county.  Illi- 
nois, in  the  year  1853,  driving  across  the 
country  with  a  drove  of  three  thousand 
sheep,  which  he  pastured  here  that  season 
and  then  drove  to  the  Chicago  market.  The 
following  year  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
again  secured  a  large  flock  of  sheep  and  once 
more  brought  them  to  Vermilion  county, 
where  he  fattened  them  for  the  city  markets. 
He  was  pleased  with  this  locality  and  its 
]5rospects  and  he  resolved  '^  make  his  home 
here,  continuing  a  resident  o:  Vermilion 
county  throughout  his  remaining  days.  He 
was  an  extensive  stock-raiser  and  farmer 
and  prospered  in  his  business  undertakings. 
In  Champaign,  Illinois,  in  1856,  he  was 
luiited  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  A.  Wright, 
who  was  born  in  \^ermilion  county  and  was 
of  German  lineae-e.     Her  birth  occurred  in 


JUDGE  M.  W.  THOMPSON. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

IJKIVERCITV  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    REmRD 


2  I 


1S37  ami  her  death  in  1S97,  wliile  the  father 
of  tlie  Jiulgc,  wlio  was  horn  in  iS^j.  passed 
away  in  1896.  Tliey  reared  a  family  of 
seven  children,  namely:  Morton  W.:  David 
L. ;  Anna,  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Boordc:  XeUie; 
John  R.,  who  is  proprietor  of  tlie  Thomjjson 
restaurants  of  Chicago:  L'lysses  S. ;  ami 
Gerirnde.  the  wife  of  R.  S.  Swaine. 

At  the  nsnal  age  Judge  Thompson  en- 
tered the  public  schools  and  after  mastering 
the  comnuni  branches  of  English  learning  he 
further  ouuinucd  his  studies  in  the  Danville 
high  school,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1879.  He  then  returned  to 
the  home  farm,  where  he  reiuainc<l  for  a 
period  of  two  years.  Subsequently  he  en- 
tered the  University  of  Michigim.  at  Ann 
Arbor,  pursuing  a  law  course  there,  and  in 
iS8.^  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws.  Returning  to  his'iiative 
cor.nty  he  established  his  office  in  Danville 
and  acted  as  assistant  states  attorney  under 
W.  J.  Calhoun.  In  1S89  the  law  tirm  of 
Calhoun  X-  Thompson  was  organized  and 
this  connection  was  maintained  until  1896, 
when  Mr.  (.allKnni  went  to  Chicago  as  at- 
torney for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  Company.  The  following  year  he 
was  elected  judge  of  \'ermilion  county  at  a 
special  election  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term, 
and  in  Noveiuber,  1898.  he  became  the  regu- 
lar nominee  of  the  Republican  party  for  re- 
election for  a  full  term.  Such  is  the  per- 
sonal popularity  and  such  is  the  confidence 
reposed  in  his  judicial  powers  by  the  public 
that  the  Democrats  placed  no  opposing  can- 
didate in  the  field.  It  was  a  merited  tribute 
to  his  capable  .service  during  the  period  in 
which  he  was  filling  out  the  unexpired  term. 
In  September,  igo2,  Jmlgc  Thom]>son  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Vates  to  fill  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  the  late  Judge  Bi^ik waiter, 
of  the  circuit  court,  and  iiumcdiatelv  entered 


u]>iin  the  duties  of  that  ofixe.  He  has  just 
been  nominated  for  the  full  term  as  circuit 
ju.lgc  of  the  fifth  judicial  circuit  by  an  over- 
whelming m.ijorily,  which  is  equivalent  to 
his  election  next  June.  .\  local  paper  said  of 
him  : 

"While  in  acti\e  jiraciicc  Judge  Thump- 
sou  was  engaged  in  some  of  the  most  im- 
l)ortant  litigation  in  this  county,  and  was 
always  considered  an  honorable,  honest  and 
careful  lawyer.  In  1897  he  was  elected 
county  judge  of  this  county  to  succeed  lion. 
John  (i.  Thompson,  who  resigned  to  accept 
the  oliice  of  assistant  attorney  general  of  the 
United  States  at  Washington.  During  his 
term  as  county  judge  he  was  always  court- 
eous and  accommodating  and  ready  at  all 
times  to  exjjiain  any  business  in  his  comt  to 
all  who  might  iiKjuire,  as  well  as  to  advise 
those  )\hp  sought  information  in  reference 
to  the  business  of  the  office — in  fact,  the 
affairs  of  the  county  court  of  this  county 
were  never  conducted  more  ably  and  care- 
fully than  I)y  him.  as  thousands  of  people  in 
this  county  will  cheerfully  testify.  One  of 
the  higliest  recommendations  of  Judge 
Thompson's  ability  and  honesty  is  the  fact 
that  not  a  d.oUar  was  ever  lost  to  the  widows 
and  heirs  of  estates  while  he  was  county 
judge,  and  it  was  almost  universally  re- 
gretted by  the  bar  and  people  generally 
w  hen  he  announced  a  year  ago  that  he  would 
not  accept  a  renomination  to  that  office. 

"Judge  Thompson  was  frc(|uently  called 
to  other  counties  to  try  important  cases.  In 
Chicago  he  has  tried  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant cases  in  this  state,  notably  the  State 
street  and  Cottage  Grove  avenue  special  as- 
sessment cases,  and  the  tax  cases  of  Cook 
county  tried  by  him  under  the  new  revenue 
law  of  i8q8,  involving  millions  of  dollars. 
In  the  big  tax  cases  all  parties  interested 
agreed  upon  Judge  Thompson  and  requested 


22 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


him  to  come  to  Chicago  and  try  that  docket, 
and  so  ably  did  he  succeed  that  the  supreme 
court  of  this  state  affirmed  his  decision  in 
every  case. 

"Last  September  Governor  Yates  ap- 
pointed him  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of 
the  late  lamented  Judge  Bookwalter  and  he 
at  once  assumed  the  duties  of  circuit  judge 
and  held  the  October  term  of  our  circuit 
court,  which  lias  just  closed.  For  the  past 
three  months  Judge  Thompson  has  held 
court  every  day,  and  succeeded  in  disposing 
of  every  case  ready  for  trial,  and  his  manner 
of  holding  court  and  promptness  of  dispos- 
ing of  the  business  and  his  uniform  courtesy 
and  fairness  has  won  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  the  bar  as  well  as  the  people  of 
this  county,  and  proved  him  to  be  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  fair-minded  judges  in  this 
part  of  the  state." 

The  Judge  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  MoUie  \V.  Steen,  a  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain E.  D.  Steen,  of  Danville,  the  wedding 
having  lieen  celebrated  in  1 887.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
w-ith  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, with  the  Benevolent  and  Protectiv^e 
Order  of  Elks  and  in  the  ]\Iasonic  fraternity 
he  is  a  Consistory  Mason,  having  attained 
the  thirty-second  degree.  In  private  life  he 
is  found  as  a  genial,  courteous  gentleman, 
who  has  a  \-ery  wide  acquaintance  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity  and  is  not  only  es- 
teemed and  honored  but  has  that  warm  per- 
sonal friendship  which  arises  from  kindli- 
ness and  deference  for  the  opinions  of  others. 
The  practice  of  law  has  been  his  real  life 
work,  and  at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench  he  has 
won  marked  distinction.  A  man  of  unim- 
peachable character,  of  unusual  intellectual 
endowments,  with  a  thorough  understanding 
of  the  law,  patience,  urbanity  and  industry. 


Judge  Thompson  took  to  tlie  bench  the  very 
highest  qualifications  for  this  responsible 
office  of  the  state  government,  and  his  rec- 
ord as  a  judge  has  been  in  harmony  with 
his  record  as  a  man  and  a  lawyer,  distin- 
guished by  unswerving  integrity  and  a  mas- 
terful grasp  of  every  proljlem  which  has 
presented  itself  for  solution. 


JOHN  H.  HERRON. 

The  broad  prairies  of  Illinois  ha\-e  fur- 
nished splendid  opportunities  to  the  agri- 
culturist and  in  connection  with  this  busi- 
ness the  grain  trade  has  become  a  leading 
enterprise  of  Illinois.  ]\Ir.  Herron  is  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  dealing  in  grain  in 
Sidell  and  other  towns  of  the  state, 
his  business  having  now  reached  large  pro- 
portions and  in  the  control  of  it  he  has  dis- 
played excellent  capability  and  discriminat- 
ing judgment. 

A  native  of  Illinois  he  was  born  in  ]\[on- 
ticello,  Piatt  county,  on  the  5th  of  July, 
1868.  His  father.  William  G.  Herron,  was 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  ^Madison  county, 
near  London,  on  the  6th  of  April.  1829. 
The  grandfather.  Gardner  Herron.  was  a 
native  of  ^Maryland  and  served  as  a  soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812.  He  wedded  Maria  Mo- 
raine, also  a  native  of  ^laryland.  and.  re- 
moving westward,  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Madison  county.  Ohio,  where  he 
was  cng-aged  in  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1855.  William  G.  Her- 
ron spent  his  youth  in  Ohio,  being  reared 
upon  his  father's  t.nrni  in  Madison  county, 
where  he  remained  until  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  then  came  west  to  Illinois,  but  for  some 
years  was  connected  with  a  stock  trader  in 
driving  stock   to   this  state  and   Ohio  and 


cs 


LI    ■■    'IV 
UNlVEKi-:VY  Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


-^5 


Pennsylvania.  In  1855  he  niarricil  Eva- 
line  R(il)inson,  also  a  native  of  Ohio.  They 
began  tlicir  domestic  life  in  Piatt  county,  Il- 
linois, wliere  Mr.  >^erron  carried  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  for  about  five 
years.  In  i860  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Monticello.  purchasing  an  interest  in  a  mer- 
cantile business  and  was  there  engaged  in 
trade  for  several  years.  In  iSSi  lie  came  to 
Allcrton  and  in  connection  with  Samuel  Ai- 
lerton  was  extensively  engaged  in  farming 
and  in  the  grain  and  stock  business,  this  re- 
lation being  maintained  for  a  long  period. 
Mr.  llerron  is  an  earnest  and  stalwart  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  active  in  the 
local  ranks  of  the  party.  He  was  nominated 
for  the  position  of  representative  in  the  state 
legislature  and,  being  elected  l)y  a  good  nia- 
jority,  serveil  for  one  term  in  the  house  with 
considerable  distinction.  He  and  his  wife 
are  devoted  Christian  jjcople,  having  long 
held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  for  eighteen  years  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-scliool  of 
Monticello.  ]  le  is  a  most  effective  and  earn- 
est Sunday-school  worker,  his  labors  in  this 
regard  being  far-reaching  and  important. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herron  were  bom  nine 
children,  to  whom  they  gave  good  educa- 
tional privileges,  fitting  them  for  life's  prac- 
tical duties.  Having  laid  aside  business 
cares,  the  father  of  our  subject  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Sidell  in  cnmpany  with 
his  wife  and  they  are  numbered  among  the 
most  highlv  esteeme<l  residents  of  the  com- 
munity 

John  11.  llerron  of  this  review  came  to 
\'ermilion  county  in  1881  with  his  parents. 
His  early  education  was  supplemented  by  a 
high  school  course  and  by  two  years  of 
study  in  C<^lumbia  College  of  Washington. 
D.   C      When  he  h:icl  coniplolci!  his  educa- 


tion he  returned  to  X'ermilion  county  and 
took  charge  of  the  elevator  and  gr.iin  busi- 
ness of  Samuel  W.  .Allcrton,  at  .MIerton, Il- 
linois. In  1890  Mr.  Allerton  established  a 
bank  there  and  for  six  years  our  subject 
acted  as  its  manager  and  cashier.  In  1896 
he  came  to  Sidell,  where  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  an  extensive  grain  business,  the  com- 
pany cnnimlling  the  grain  trade  at  nine  sta- 
tions and  owning  and  operating  five  ele- 
vators. They  have  just  completed  a  large 
transfer  and  grain  depot  at  Mtjunl  \'ernon, 
Illinois,  with  a  capacity  of  two  humired 
thousand  bushels.  Mr.  llerron  liris  mani- 
festeil  marked  determinati')n.  enterprise  and 
capaliility  in  the  control  of  the  branch  of  the 
business  at  Sidell  and  other  places  and  he 
l\as  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  company.  .\  man  of  resource- 
f\ii 'liiw^ness  ability,  his  efforts  have  not 
been  limited  to  one  line.  He  is  interested  in 
whatever  tends  to  promote  public  improve- 
ment and  progress  and  advance  the  welfare 
of  the  i)eoi)le  ;md  Sidell  has  largely  profited 
by  liis  efforts  in  its  Ix'lialf.  lie  was  one  of 
the  promoters  of  the  electric  light  plant  at 
this  i)lace,  is  one  of  its  largest  stockholders 
and  is  now  the  manager  and  secretary  of  the 
company.  He  is  also  the  ])rcsiilent  of  the 
Building  &  Loan  .Xssoci.'ition. 

.\n  important  event  in  the  life  of  .Mr. 
Herron  occurred  in  1893,  at  which  time  was 
celebrated  his  marriage  to  Miss  Florence,  a 
daughter  of  John  W.  Cathcart,  a  promin- 
ent business  man  i>f  Sidell,  but  after  a  hajjpy 
married  life  of  six  years  Mrs.  Herron 
passed  away  in  M.iy.  i8<)9.  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  Woodlawn  cemetery  at  Indianola. 
She  left  one  son,  Alex.inder  C,  who  finds  a 
home  w  ith  his  maternal  gran(l])arents. 

.Aside  from  business  affairs  Mr.  Herron 
lias  been  .'i  c\t\/cn  of  worth  in  Sidi'Il  and  is 


26 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


widely  recog-nized  as  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  Republican  party,  taking  an  active  in- 
terest in  local  elections.  In  1898  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  Sidell  township  anil  has 
since  been  re-elected  to  the  office,  in  which 
he  is  now  serving.  In  1902  he  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  county  board  of  supervisors 
in  which  capacity  he  is  also  serving  and  he 
exercises  his  official  prerogatives  in  support 
of  all  measures  for  the  general  good.  In  his 
life  he  exeniplihes  the  humanitarian  spirit 
upon  which  the  ^.lasonic  fraternity  is  found- 
ed. He  belongs  to  the  blue  lodge  at  Sidell 
in  w  hich  he  has  fdled  all  of  the  offices  and  is 
now  serving  as  master.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  \\'oodmen  Camp  and  of 
the  Elks  Lodge  at  Danville.  A  life-long 
resident  of  Illinois  he  is  deeply  interested  in 
progress  and  advancement  of  the  state  and 
he  has  seen  much  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  \'ermilion  county,  being  identified 
for  a  number  of  years  with  its  institutions, 
its  prosperity  and  its  people.  He  is  well 
known  throughout  this  portion  of  the  state 
as  a  man  of  business  integrity,  of  broad  and 
liberal  views,  charitable  and  public-spirited. 
His  salient  characteristics  are  such  as 
command  respect  and  confidence  in  e\ery 
land  and  everv  clime  and  in  \ermilion 
county  they  have  won  him  manv  warm 
friends. 


W.  T.  JOHNSTON. 

W.  T.  Johnston  is  a  representative  of 
th.e  Johnston  Company,  photographers  of 
Hoopeston.  A  young  man,  enterprising, 
wide-awake  and  alert  he  is  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  business  to  which  he  de- 
votes his  energies  and  has  considerable  ar- 
tistic talent  which,  combined  with  his  com^ 


pvehensive  understanding  of  the  principles 
of  photography  and  his  capable  business 
management,  is  bringing  to  him  creditable 
and  well  merited  success.  He  was  born  in 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  on  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1877,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  W.  Johnston, 
who  now  resides  in  Hoopeston  and  is  a  trav- 
eling salesman,  representing  the  W.  D.  ^les- 
singer  Company,  of  Chicago.  In  his  family 
were  four  children:  W.  T.,  of  this  review; 
Anna;  Thirza  and  Dell.  In  the  year  1879 
the  father  remo\"ed  with  his  family  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  spent  se\-en  years  and  then 
came  to  Hoopeston,  which  place  has  since 
been  his  home. 

W.  T.  Johnston  of  this  review  was  a  lad 
of  about  nine  years  when  brought  b}"  his 
parents  to  Hoopeston,  and  in  the  public 
schools  here  he  pursued  his  education.  He 
took  up  the  study  of  photography  in  the 
Colleg-e  of  Photography  at  Effingham.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  for  nine  months 
and  then  v.'ent  to  Chicago,  Ijeing  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Gibson,  a  celebrated  photographer 
of  that  city,  fi^r  two  months.  He  was  next 
in  the  employ  of  Parrett.  the  president  of 
the  Indiana  State  Photographers"  Associa- 
tion. On  leaving  him  he  came  to  Hoopes- 
ton and  for  six  months  was  in  the  employ 
of  "\[r.  Schwab,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
purchased  his  gallery,  having  been  here 
since  the  Tst  of  ^lay,  1892.  The  business 
is  now  carried  on  imder  the  name  of  The 
Johnston  Conipan}",  with  our  sul)ject  as 
manager  and  practical  operator.  Their  pat- 
ronage increased  so  rapidly  that  they  needed 
more  room  and  bought  the  E.  S.  Hall's 
Studio  on  South  Market  street,  an  estab- 
lished business  of  twenty-five  years.  The 
company  is  to-day  the  only  photographic 
firm  in  \'ermilion  county  to  own  their 
building.      Mr.    Johnston   has   alwavs   been 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


27 


deeply  imeresled  in  photographic  work. 
Pri'ir  to  the  time  that"  lie  embarked  in  the 
b;isincss  as  a  life  work  he  was  nuich  inter- 
ested in  amateur  photography  and  manipu- 
lated a  kodak,  and  he  has  to-<lay  become  a 
leader  in  his  line  in  this  part  of  X'crmilion 
county,  keeping  in  touch  with  tlie  marked 
proijrcss  and  advancement  which  are  being 
male  in  the  profession.  He  is  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  latest  improvements  con- 
cerning the  development,  printing  and  tin- 
ishtng  of  i)icturcs.  and  added  to  this  he  has 
an  artistic  eye  which  enables  him  to  pose 
hi<  subjects  to  the  best  advantage  to  .secure 
life-like  and  natural  results.  He  is  a  young 
man  of  unfailing  courtesy,  genial  disposi- 
tion and  pleasant  nianner.  and  he  has  won  a 
host  of  friends  throughout  this  locality.  .Ml 
who  know  him  esteem  him  highly  for  his 
genuine  worth  and  he  is  very  i)opular  in 
social  circles.  His  political  support  is  given 
to  the  Republican  party. 


.VORP.OLKX    .XFAILEE. 

Xorboinn  Xeville.  who  is  engaged  in 
the  iKikery  and  confectionery  business  in 
Fairmounl.  was  born  in  Tip])ccanoe  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  September  17.  i!<47.  and  is  a 
son  of  Cieorge  X.  and  Mary  S.  (  Throck- 
morton) Xeville.  who  were  natives  of  West 
\'irginia.  and  on  the  paternal  side  the  family 
is  of  Scotch  descent.  Unto  the  parents  were 
l)orn  twelve  chililren  ami  those  now  living 
are:  Mrs.  .\nna  C.  Taylor,  of  l-'airmount ; 
Xor')ourii:  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Collins,  of  Catlin; 
S.  v.,  of  Fairmount :  Mrs.  .\da  Calfee.  of 
California;  and  Mrs.  X.  Owen,  of  Port 
Smith.  .Arkansas.  Of  those  who  pa.ssed 
away  Delia  die<l  in  infancy.  George  W., 
who  enlisted   in   Company   D.   Tweiity-fiflh 


Illinois  X'olumeer  Inf.intry.  was  in  the  serv- 
ice for  three  years  ajid  was  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  his  dciith  re- 
sulting from  his  injuries.  I.ucy  also  died 
in  infancy,  it  was  in  the  year  1S54  that  the 
father  of  this  family  came  to  \'ermilion 
county  accompanied  by  his  wife  ;md  chil- 
dren. L'pon  arriving  here  he  ])urchaseil  the 
noith  half  of  section  10.  V^ance  township, 
and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers 
finding  that  everything  around  was  new  and 
wild,  the  land  unbroken  and  the  grass  so 
high  that  when  a  boy  our  subject  climbed 
ui)on  a  cabin  in  order  to  see  where  the  cat- 
tle were.  The  father  Inst  purchased  an  old 
log  schoolhouse  that  stood  on  the  Sandusky 
place,  and  li\ed  in  it  for  a  year,  after  which 
he  built  a  more  substantial  house,  con- 
structing it  from  lumber  hauled  from  Cov- 
irgion.  Indiana.  Mr.  Xeville  of  this  review 
has  witnessed  the  development  of  the  county 
from  a  wild  condition  when  there  was  not 
a  fence  for  miles  upon  the  prairie,  to  its 
present  state  of  progress  and  improvement. 
The  father  continued  his  farm  work  devot- 
ing to  tlic  cultivation  of  the  fields  his  Lime 
and  attention  also  eng.aging  in  the  raising 
of  .stock,  until  about  ^885.  when  he  retired 
to  bairmount  and  put  aside  business  cares. 
His  wife  passed  away  .\ugust,  18S9,  and  he 
died  about  si.vteen  months  later,  on  the  8th 
of  January.  1801,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one,  his  birtli  h.uin"  i.icnrri'<l  on  the  jd  of 
February,  1820 

The  anccstPi-  of  Mr.  Xeville  is  traced 
back  to  the  land  of  the  thistle,  his  paternal 
grandparents  emigrating  from  Scotland  to 
\'irginia  in  time  for  his  great-grandfather, 
Joseph  Xeville,  to  take  i)art  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  as  a  brigadier  general.  Un- 
like many  of  those  who  crosserl  the  .\tlan- 
tic  at  that  time,  he  came  fortified  with  am- 
ple   means,    which    be    invested    largely    in 


2S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lands,  comprising  a  valuable  plantation, 
worked  by  slaves  whom  he  liberated  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Among  the  sons  of  Gen- 
eral Neville  was  George,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  who  was  the  youngest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children.  He  studied  law  at 
Winchester,  Virginia,  under  Abrani  Lock, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  tried  one  case, 
bnt  then  gave  up  the  law  for  medicine, 
which  he  followed  throughout  life.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Wolfe,  of  Winchester, 
Virginia,  \\ho  was  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Catherine  Wolfe,  natives  of  Germany. 
George  N.  Neville,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  one  of  seven  children  born  to  Dr. 
George  and  Catherine  Neville. 

Norbourn  Neville  was  the  fourth  child  in 
his  father's  family  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Vermilion  county,  working  on  the 
farm  during  the  summer  months  while  in 
the  winter  seasons  he  attended  school.  He 
remained  at  home  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age  and  then  offered  his  services  to 
the  government,  enlisting  in  Company  K, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Illinois  In- 
fantry, in  1864,  under  Colonel  Phillips  and 
Captain  Somers.  He  served  for  five  months, 
having  been  mustered  in  for  one  hundred 
days,  and  was  then  honorably  discharged. 
After  leaving  home  Mr.  Neville  rented  a 
farm  for  a  few  years  and  then  purchased  a 
small  tract  of  land,  devoting  his  energies 
to  general  farming  and  stock-raising. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  been  iden- 
tified with  agricultural  pursuits  and  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  acres  in  Vance  township 
well  improved  and  tilled,  and  supplied  with 
good  buildings.  In  i()oi  he  embarked  in  the 
bakery  and  confectionery  business  at  Fair- 
mount  and  having  the  only  exclusive  bak- 
ery in  the  town  he  is  enjoying  an  extensive 
trade. 


In  September,  1870,  ]Mr.  Neville  was 
united  in  marriage  in  this  county  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.  Price,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  E.  (Perritt)  Price,  who  were  pioneers 
of  A'ermilion  county.  Mrs.  Ne\ille  was 
born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  October  31, 
1850,  and  was  the  eldest  child  of  her  par- 
ents. She  has  no  children  of  her  own  but 
has  reared  an  adopted  son,  William  F.  Nev- 
ille, who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Fairmount 
school  and  also  completed  a  business  course 
in  Otiincy,  Illinois.  Lie  now  assists  his  fa- 
ther in  the  store.  He  was  married  Janu- 
ary 2^.  1902,  to  Miss  Edna  Cox,  who  was 
bom  September  12,  1883,  a  daughter  of  J. 
A.  Cox.  They  have  one  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth Neville,  a  bright  little  girl  born  June 
30,  IQ02.  Mr.  Neville  of  this  review  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  affiliations,  be- 
lieving firmly  in  the  principles  of  the  par- 
ty, \\hich  he  endorses  by  his  ballot.  He  has 
ne\-er  been  an  office  seeker,  however,  pre- 
ferring to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  affairs  in  which  he  has  met  with 
signal  success. 


DR.  WALTER    DWIGGINS. 

Dr.  Walter  D\viggins,  who  is  now  so 
successful!}^  engaged  in  the  practice  of  os- 
teopathy in  Danville,  was  born  in  Wavtown, 
Indiana,  July  17,  1874,  his  parents  being 
John  C.  and  Susannah  (Fonts)  Dwiggins, 
a  sketch  of  whom  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  They  were  married  in  In- 
diana, where  the  father  was  engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a  stock  dealer  until  failing  health 
caused  his  retirement  and  he  removed  to 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1889.  In 
March,  1901,  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he 


Tin:    BlOGUAl'lilLAL    RECORD 


29 


now  makes  his  home,  enjoying  a  well  earneil 
rest,  free  from  tlie  cares  and  resiwnsibihties 
of  Inisiness  hfe.  In  his  political  atViliations 
he  is  a  Republican,  lie  is  the  father  of  four 
sons  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
are  Howard,  a  resident  of  Danville  and  the 
secretary  of  the  shoe  factory  at  Gibson  City, 
Illinois;  (Jharles,  a  grain  dealer  of  New- 
port, Indiana;  and  Walter. 

The  Doctor  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Crawfordsville,  In- 
diana, and  later  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Selma,  Kansas,  and  Rossville.  Illinois, 
graduating  at  the  high  school  in  the  latter 
place  in  1^93.  Later  he  matriculated  at  the 
American  .School  of  Osteopathy,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1900.  He  first  opened  an 
office  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  Init  at  the 
end  of  two  months  he  came  to  Danville 
and  has  since  engaged  in  practice  at  this 
place  with  most  gratifying  success,  having 
a  nice  oftice  in  the  Temijle  block.  He  thor- 
oughly understands  his  chosen  profession 
and  although  his  residence  here  has  lieen  of 
short  duration  he  has  already  secured  a  lib- 
eral patronage  which  is  constantly  increas- 
ing. Fraternally  he  is  an  honored  meml>er 
of  Lodge.  No.  527,  F.  &  .\.  M.,  and  \'er- 
milion  Lodge,  No.  432,  K.  P.,  both  of  Ross- 
ville, and  politically  he  is  identified  with  the 
Republican  party. 


WALLACE  SrERRY. 

Among  the  native  sons  of  Vermilion 
county  still  living  within  its  borders,  is 
Wallace  Sperry,  the  popular  and  efficient 
postmaster  of  Muncic.  He  was  born  Oc- 
tnl)er  23,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Erastus  and 


Ruth  (Reese)  Sperry.  the  iV>nner  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  Their 
marriage,  however,  was  celebr.ited  in  \'er- 
milion  county,  Illinois.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  Wallace  Sperry, 
will,  came  to  this  county  in  the  early  '^os 
and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers. 
He  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  work  of 
early  development  and  improvement.  Both 
he  and  his  son  Erastus  were  farmers  by 
occupation  and  were  Whigs  in  political 
faith.  They  were  also  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  were  ac- 
counted representative  men  of  this  locality. 
The  father  of  our  subject  died  in  1852,  and 
the  mother,  still  surviving,  makes  her  home 
in  Potomac,  Illinois.  In  their  family  were 
three  children,  the  eldest  being  Wall;ice 
SpeiTv  of  this  sketch,  .\rminda  is  the  wife 
of  John  W.  Goodwinc  of  Potomac:  and 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  B.  Demude, 
also  of  Potomac. 

Wallace  Sperry  pursued  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  at  Higginsville,  Ver- 
milion county,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  put 
aside  his  text  books,  after  which  his  time 
and  energies  were  devoted  to  farm  work, 
in  the  employ  of  others  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  He  then  began  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account,  leasing  his  mother's 
land.  He  was  married  on  the  26th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1872.  in  Blount  township  to  Miss 
Mary  Bloomfielfl,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
this  county  on  the  1st  of  January,  1854. 
The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Reul)en  Bloom- 
field,  who  here  engaged  in  farming  and  who 
exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  died  in  1873.  while  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1800.     In  their  family  were 

four    rli'l'lr'^'i  ■       Willinm.    wliri    i*;    now    dc- 


30 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ceased,  while  his  widow  resides  in  Mis- 
souri; Cindrella,  the  deceased  wife  of  J. 
C.  Tevebaugh,  a  resident  of  Danville; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Samuel, 
who  has  also  passed  awa}'.  The  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sperry  was  Iilessed  with' four 
children,  but  they  lost  the  first  three. 
Charles,  their  first  born.  ha\ing  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years,  while  the  next  two  died 
in  infancy.  Minnie,  the  surviving  child,  i: 
now  the  wife  of  Orrie  Dalbey.  of  Muncie, 
and  they  now  have  one  child,  a  daughter, 
one  and  one-half  xears  old. 

!Mr.  Sperry  carried  on  farming  opera- 
tions until  1882,  when  he  abandoned  the 
plow  and  turned  his  attention  to  merchan- 
dising in  Higginsville.  remaining  there  for 
one  year.  He  then  went  to  Blue  Grass, 
Vermilion  county,  where  he  conducted  a 
similar  business  for  three  years  and  on  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  arrived  in  Mun- 
cie, wdiere  he  opened  a  general  store  that 
he  has  since  conducted,  a  growing  trade 
pro\-ing  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
the  public.  In  1897  'le  was  appointed  post- 
master and  holds  that  position  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and 
at  one  time  was  town  clerk.  Here  he  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  church  and  in  all 
life's  relations  is  found  true  to  dutv  and 
loyal  to  trust  and  confidence  reposed  in  him. 


T.  S.  McFERREX. 


Prominent  among  the  energetic,  far- 
seeing  and  successful  business  men  of  east- 
ern Illinois  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
life  history  most  happily  illustrates  what 
may  be  attained  by  faithful  and  continued 
effort  in     carrying  out  an  honest  purpose. 


Integrity,  activity  and  energy  have  been  the 
crowning  points  of  his  success  and  his  con- 
nection with  various  enterprises  and  indus- 
tries have  been  a  decided  advantage  to  this 
section  of  Illinois,  promoting  its  material 
welfare  in  no  uncertain  manner.  But  not 
only  has  Hoopeston  profited  by  his  labors 
and  his  ability :  many  districts  of  the  south 
have  received  an  impetus  to  growth  and  com- 
mercial development  through  his  efforts  and 
his  life-work  has  had  a  wide  scope  and  been 
far-reaching  in  its  influence. 

Mr.  AIcFerren  was  born  in  ^\"arren  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1846,  a  son  of  William  M.  and 
Eliza  (Snyder)  McFerren.  The  father,  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  died  in  1894,  but 
the  mother,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Ohio,  is 
now  living  in  Hoopeston.  In  their  family 
were  two  daughters  :  Alvira  B.,  the  wife  of 
Ed  Griffith,  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank ;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Hewey  of  Hoopeston ; 
while  the  brother  of  our  subject  is  Pingree 
McFerren. 

^\'hen  a  young  man  of  twenty-five  years 
J.  S.  McFerren  sought  a  more  western  dis- 
trict than  that  in  which  he  had  been  reared, 
as  a  field  of  business  activity,  realizing  that 
the  new  but  rapidly  developing  sections  of 
the  country  offered  the  best  opportunities  to  • 
the  ambitious  young  man.  Accordingly  he 
came  to  Hoopeston  in  1871  and  from  that 
date  to  the  present  the  town  has  been  largely 
indebted  to  him  for  its  promotion.  Not  only 
in  business  matters,  but  as  its  chief  executive 
and  as  a  private  citizen  has  he  labored  for 
her  welfare,  interested  in  all  that  has  pro- 
moted advancement  along  material,  social, 
intellectual  and  moral  lines.  At  the  same 
time  he  has  controlled  business  affairs  of 
magnitude.  He  first  became  associated  with 
T.  W'.  Chamberlin  in  1882  in  founding  a 
private  bank  in  Hoopeston  and  later,  pur- 


^^^^^<>-■^ 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERS:VY  C?  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


33 


cliasiiig  his  partners  imcrcst.  lie  has  since 
IxKJii  its  president  ami  Dwner  and  has  nuide 
the  institutions  one  of  the  most  reliable  fin- 
ancial concerns  in  this  part  of  the  state.  ]t 
wonlil  he  inipt>ssible  to  give  in  detail  the  his- 
tory of  his  achievements  but  mention  of 
some  of  his  busines>  interests  will  serve  to 
show  the  scope  of  his  undertakings  and  to 
indicate  the  ability  which  has  enabled  him  to 
successfully  handle  so  many  and  so  varied 
interests.  He  to-day  individually  owns 
thirty-four  hundred  acres  of  land  near 
Hoopcst<in.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
real  estate  tirm  of  Moore,  Mcberren  &  Sea- 
vey.  w  hose  real  estate  operations  through  the 
year  following  March.  1874.  amounted  to 
three  Inuiilred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars. 
Mr.  Seavey  having  withdraw  n  from  the  part- 
nership the  lirm  of  Moore  &  Mcl'erren  still 
exists  and  has  large  landed  interests  in  the 
south,  scattered  in  the  states  of  Mississippi, 
Arkansas  and  Jennessee.  These  comprise 
twenty-seven  thousand  acres  and  represent 
six  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  invested 
capital,  for  the  tirm  has  largely  improved 
their  lands,  have  established  industries  there- 
on and  have  secured  transportation  facilities 
through  the  building  of  railroads.  Their 
landed  possessions  in  .\rkansas  comprise 
tliirty  thousand  acres  and  they  are  now  con- 
structing twenty  miles  ot' railroad  from  Lux- 
ora,  Arkansas,  to  Big  Lake,  called  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Big  Lake  &  Western  Railroad. 
This  will  furnish  an  outlet  for  their  liunl>er 
and  will  also  lie  a  part  of  the  trunk  line  form 
Joplin,  Missouri,  to  the  Mississippi  river. 
Their  sawmill  at  Luxora  has  a  capacity  of 
thirty  thousand  feet  of  lumber  daily  and  in 
connection  with  Mr.  Mi«>re  our  subject  also 
owns  a  sawmill  at  Pitmans  Island  and  an- 
other at  Woodstock.  Mississippi,  each  hav- 
ing a  capacity  of  twenty-five  thmisand  feet 
per  day.  while  three  other  sawmills  which 


they  own  turn  out  twenty  thousand  feet  of 
lumlier  each  per  day.  Their  most  extensive 
lumber  industry,  however,  is  located  at 
Memphis.Tennessee,  where  they  have  a  dou- 
ble band  sawmill,  with  a  capacity  of  fifty 
thonsanil  feet  per  day.  and  the  \i\:i\n  was 
erecte<l  at  a  cost  of  seventy-live  thousand 
dollars.  They  also  have  a  large  Ijox  fac- 
tory at  Memi)his.  Mr.  Mcl-'erren  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Union  Tin 
Can  Company  and  since  it  has  been 
merged  in  the  American  Tin  Can  Cijm- 
pany  he  is  still  a  stockholder.  In  con- 
nection with  .\.  H.  Prego  he  owns  and  oper- 
ates the  Hoopeston  Canning  Factory,  which 
is  engaged  in  the  canning  of  corn  exclusively. 
His  pro])erty  v;dues  in  Hoopeston  real  estate 
amount  to  two  humlred  thousand  dollars 
and  include  the  bank  block,  office  buildings, 
the  opera  house  block,  store  buildings  and 
other  structures. 

Mr.  Mcl'erren  was  Hoopeston's  first 
mayor  nor  was  that  his  only  term  in  the 
office,  for  several  times  has  he  been  chosen  to 
the  i)osition.  During  his  first  incuml)ency 
he  drove  the  saloons  out  of  the  village  an<l 
there  has  never  been  a  saloon  since  the  town 
was  incorporated.  He  is  now  the  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  Ilooijeston,  honored  and  honor- 
able, putting  forth  strong  effort  for  the  good 
of  the  conununity  and  its  substantial  im- 
provement. Much  of  the  street  paving  has 
been  done  while  he  has  lieen  in  ofiice  and 
many  im])rovements  have  l>een  made  during 
his  administrations.  Churches  and  lienevo- 
lent  enterprises  have  received  his  support 
and  his  aid  is  witheld  from  no  enteqirise  for 
the  general  good. 

Mr.  Mcl'erren  has  been  twue  in.irned. 
He  first  wedded  Mi.ss  Lida  .\.  Shultz,  who 
died  in  1894  leaving  two  sons,  William  and 
Donald.  In  1897  Mr.  Mcl'erren  Lottie  I- 
Shultz,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.     I  lis  present 


34 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


home,  ereclcil  in  1885.  has  been  improved 
until  it  is  now  a  handsome  property  wortli 
twenty-five  thousand  tloUars. 

Mr.  AIcFerren  gave  evidence  of  his  lo\-e 
for  Hoopeston  by  his  generous  gift  to  the 
city  of  a  fine  parl^.  For  this  purpose  he  pur- 
chased the  old  fair  grounds  of  thirty  acres, 
at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars,  and  tender- 
ing this  to  the  city,  it  has  since  been  main- 
tained as  a  park.  Mr.  McFerren  has  also 
made  liberal  donations  to  the  public  library 
and  to  other  concerns  of  public  benefit  and 
pride.  His  name  is  synonymous  wdth  im- 
provement and  progress  in  Hoopeston  and  is 
so  interwoven  with  the  history  of  the  city 
that  it  forms  a  most  important  chapter  in  the 
annals  of  Hoopeston.  He  stands  as  the 
highest  type  of  American  citizenship,  capable 
and  discriminating  in  business,  patriotic  and 
loyal  in  citizenship  and  with  conscientious 
regard  for  the  rights  and  privileges  of  his 
fellowmen.  Socially  he  is  deservedly  popu- 
lar, as  he  is  affable  and  courteous  in  manner 
and  possesses  the  quality  of  making  friends 
readily  and  of  strenghtening  the  ties  of  all 
friendships  as  time  advances. 


JOHN    R.  SMITH. 

The  life  history  of  John  R.  Smith  is  one 
which  shows  a  career  of  enterprise  and  busi- 
ness activity  crowned  with  deserved  rest. 
He  is  now  living  retired  in  Rossville  after 
years  of  close  application  to  agricultural  in- 
terests. He  is  a  native  son  of  Vermilion 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  ^larch  i, 
1836,  where  Flthian  station  now  stands. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  W.  Smith,  a  native 
of  Clark  county.  Ohio,  born  about  1800. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  that  county  and  there  W.  W. 
Smith   was   reared     and    after   arriving   at 


years  of  maturity  married  Catherine  Yazel. 
also  a  native  of  Clark  county.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  and  a  daugh- 
ter was  born  inito  them  ere  their  removal  to 
Illinois  in  the  year  1830.  Emigrating  west- 
ward they  settled  in  Vermilion  county,  .Mr. 
Sivith  entering  and  purchasing  land  until  he 
became  the  owner  of  one  thousand  acres  in 
the  western  part  of  this  county.  Much  of 
this  he  broke  and  improved,  opening  up  a 
good  farm,  upon  which  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days,  his  death  occurring  in  1851. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1845  and  he  after- 
ward married  again. 

John  R.  Smith  was  the  fourth  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  a 
daughter  and  all  reached  mature  years  with 
tlie  exception  of  the  youngest  son,  although 
John  R.  and  his  Iirother  ^^'illiam  are  the 
or.ly  ones  now  living.  After  the  death  of 
his  father  our  subject  resided  with  his  broth- 
er-in-law, Thomas  Armstrong,  who  lived 
near  Rossville.  There  he  remained  for  five 
years,  assisting  in  the  farm  work.  He  had 
fair  common-school  advantages,  supple- 
mented by  a  term  of  study  in  the  Daii\'ille 
hi.gh  scliool  and  one  term  in  Knox  College. 
A\dien  he  had  reached  man's  estate  he  joined 
a  brother  at  (irand  View  and  acted  as  a  clerk 
for  him  for  two  years  in  a  general  store. 
^^"llile  there  he  returned  to  Rossville  and 
was  married  here  on  the  3d  of  March,  1839, 
to  Josephine  R.  Stewart,  who  was  born  in 
Danville  and  was  reared  upon  the  farm 
\;-here  her  marriage  was  celebrated.  Her 
father.  James  R.  Stewart,  was  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  Dan\ille.  representing  one  of  the  pio- 
neer families  that  came  from  Connecticut 
to  \'ermilion  county.  He  opened  up  a  farm 
which  is  now  within  the  corporation  limits 
of  Rossville  and  became  an  influential  and 
representative  agriculturist  of  the  commu- 
nitv. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


35 


After  his  niarriage  Mr.  Smith  eiigngecl 
in  conducting  a  hotel  in  Rossville  for  tliree 
vears.  after  uliidi  he  spent  a  similar  ]ierio(l 
in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  then  returned 
to  the  town  and  established  a  grocery  store, 
which  he  conductetl  for  twenty-three  years. 
During  three  years  of  that  time  he  was  also 
engaged  in  iiuying  anil  shipping  st(Tck  and 
both  branches  of  the  business  proved  profit- 
able. He  had  a  well  selected  line  of  gro- 
ceries always  on  hand  and  his  straightfor- 
ward business  dealing,  his  earnest  desire  to 
please  his  patrons  and  his  enterprise  brought 
to  him  well  merited  success.  In  course  of 
time  he  hail  accumulated  a  handsome  com- 
petence which  now  enables  him  to  live  re- 
tired. He  built  a  large,  neat  residence  on 
a  part  of  the  oI<l  Stewart  farm  and  with  his 
family  has  occupied  this  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century. 

In  January,  1885.  Mr.  Smith  was  called 
upoti  to  n-.ourn  the  death  of  his  wife. 
There  were  four  sons  and  a  daughter  by  this 
uni'iu:  Ellen  Minerva,  the  wife  of  George 
S.  S?iiith,  who  is  living  retired  in  Rossville 
and  by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Jean,  who 
was  born  in  1889;  Alfred  F.,  a  farmer  of 
Los  Angeles,  California;  Herbert  Y..  wlm 
became  his  father's  successor  in  the  gro- 
cery store  in  Rossville  and  is  married  and 
has  a  daughter,  Helen ;  Jesse  R.,  who  occu- 
pies a  position  in  Rossville;  and  Dick,  of 
this  city.  In  Potomac,  Vermilion  county. 
on  the  26th  of  June,  1889.  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  I'.ir- 
low.  a  widow.  She  was  born  in  this  slate 
and  is  a  daughter  of  James  Duncan,  who 
came  from  Kentucky  to  X'ermilion  county  at 
an  eirly  day. 

Mr.  Smith  is  unwavering  in  his  allegi- 
ance to  the  Republican  party,  which  he  has 
supporterl  since  he  cast  his  first  presi<Ien- 
tial  vote  for  .\braham  Lincoln  in  i860.   The 


honors  and  emoluments  of  ofiice  have  had 
no  attraction  for  him  as  he  has  preferred  to 
give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
affairs.  He  has  served,  however,  as  con- 
stable antl  deputy  sheriff  and  is  now  filling 
the  oflice  of  assistant  supervisor.  His  en- 
tire life  has  been  passed  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty and  he  has  witnessed  the  wonderful 
growth  and  development  of  this  portion  of 
t!ie  .state.  He  has  seen  great  (locks  of  wild 
geese  and  other  wild  game  and  also  herds 
of  deer  in  this  locality.  Much  of  the  land 
was  swampy  and  unfit  for  cultivation,  but 
it  has  l^een  drained  and  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  improvement.  Roads  have  also  been 
laid  out,  homes  built  and  farms  developed 
and  thus  the  work  of  progress  has  been 
steadily  carried  forward  both  in  the  city 
and  in  the  country  until  now  one  of  the  rich- 
est sections  of  Illinois  is  that  comprised 
within  the  limits  of  Vermilion  county.  Mr. 
Smitli  takes  a  just  pride  in  what  has  been 
accompli. shed  and  in  his  cnmnnmity  has  ever 
borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  adv.'uicemcnt. 


JOHN'  W.  FISHER. 

John  W.  Fisher  has  lived  a  life  in  har- 
mony with  the  laws  of  nature.  It  certainly 
seems  that  man  was  intended  to  enjoy  a  sea- 
son of  rest  after  years  of  active  labor.  In 
youth  one  is  possessed  of  great  energy, 
bright  hopes  and  strong  determination  and 
in  more  mature  years  these  are  guided  by 
judgment  and  experience.  Through  this 
])eriod  of  early  and  more  mature  manhix>d 
there  is  ample  opportunity,  if  one  rightly 
directs  his  energies,  to  gain  a  competence 
for  the  evening  of  life  and  while  Mr. 
Fisher  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life  he  has  so 
guided  his  efforts  that  he  is  now  enabled  to 


36 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


li\e  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  tlie  fruits  of 
his  former  toil.  Ha\-ing  always  made  his 
home  in  \^ermilion  county  where  he  has 
gained  a  wide  acquaintance,  his  life  record 
cannot  fail  to  prove  of  interest  to  many  of 
our  readers.  He  was  born  January  25. 
1840,  in  Carroll  township,  on  the  old  Fisher 
homestead  which  he  now  numbers  among 
his  possessions.  His  father,  David  Fisher, 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county  who 
located  here  when  the  prairies  were  largely 
uncultivated  and  when  there  was  still  much 
wild  game:  wolves  and  other  wild  animals 
were  also  frequently  seen  and  the  conditions 
were  those  of  a  frontier  settlement. 

David  Fisher  was  born  in  Brown  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1809,  and  his  parents,  William 
and  Cynthia  (Watt)  Fisher,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  German  pa- 
rentage and  the  latter  of  Irish  lineage.  They 
I'emoved  from  the  Keystone  state  to  Ohio 
at- an  early  day  and  afterward  located  in 
Rockville,  Indiana,  where  they  were  pioneer 
settlers.  There  they  lived  until  called  to  the 
home  beyond.  When  a  young  man  David 
Fisher  accompanied  his  parents  to  Park 
county.  Indiana,  remaining  at  home  with 
them  through  the  period  of  his  minority 
In  1832  he  came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  secured  a  tract  of  land 
from  the  government  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Having  thus  made  preparations  for  a 
home  of  his  own  he  was  married  in  1833  to 
Miss  Jane  \\'eaver,  a  daughter  of  ]\Iichael 
^Veaver.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he  de- 
^•oted  his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
The  first  home  to  which  he  took  his  bride 
was  a  log  caliin  with  a  puncheon  floor,  a 
mud  chimney  and  a  huge  fireplace,  but  as 
the  years  passed  his  labors  enabled  him  to 
surround  his  family  with  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  modern  life  and  he  became 


well-to-do.  L'nt(3  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher 
were  bom  five  children:  Michael,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Indian- 
ola  and  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume: John  W.,  who  is  living  retired  in  In- 
dianola :  Alary  Jane,  the  deceased  wife  of 
Alonzo  Hill:  George  W.,  a  resident  of  Ne- 
braska: and  Lucinda,  the  wife  of  L.  C. 
Green,  of  Sheridan,  Wyoming.  The  pa- 
rents were  members  of  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  in  politics  INIr.  Fisher  was  a 
Democrat,  but  never  sought  or  desired  of- 
fice. Fle  died  upon  the  old  home  farm  in 
Carroll  township,  lacking  but  one  day  of 
reaching  his  seventy-second  year.  His  life 
was  passed  in  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  farm, 
and  all  who  knew  him  respected  him  for  his 
genuine  worth  while  his  enterprise  and  un- 
tiring labor  brought  to  him  creditable  and 
gratifying  success. 

John  W.  Fisher  w^as  educated  in  the 
primitive  schools  of  his  day,  pursuing  his 
studies  in  a  log  building  which  stood  on  the 
banks  of  the  Swanks  creek.  His  first  teach- 
er was  a  man  who  liberally  used  the  rod  in 
maintaining  discipline,  but  was  also  a 
capable  instructor.  Mr.  I'isher  liad  the 
privilege  of  attending  for  only  about  three 
months  each  year  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  time  he  was  busily  engaged  in  farm 
work.  However,  he  thus  pursued  bis 
studies  at  intervals  until  aliout  seventeen 
or  eighteen  years  of  age.  Life  has,  how- 
ever been  to  him  a  school  in  which  he  has 
learned  many  valuable  lessons,  his  reading 
and  experience  largely  liroadening  his 
kn(iwledge. 

On  the  I2th  of  September,  1861,  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  John  \\'.  Fisher  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alary  L.  Dye,  a 
native  of  Kentucky  antl  a  daughter  of  Law- 
rence  and    Alar}-    Ann    (\'an    Tries)    Dye. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


37 


The  falliiM  \\.i^  a  ii,ai\c  <<{  lldiirliuii  cnuiiix. 
Kentucky,  wlicro  the  lainily  was  cstabhslied 
at  an  early  day.  lie  was  married  there  and 
ail  of  his  ciiiltlrcn  were  born  in  that  iocahty 
with  the  e.xceptiun  of  one.  In  11^41  he  came 
with  his  family  in  a  covered  wagon  to  \'er- 
milion  county,  settling  in  (ieorgetown. 
which  was  then  a  small  village.  He  farmed 
in  ICIwood  township  anil  lived  to  he  seventy- 
one  years  of  age.  while  his  wife  reached  the 
age  of  about  si.xty  years.  Of  their  eight 
children  five  are  now  living,  namely:  Mar- 
tlia.  the  wife  of  John  Jones,  who  resiiles 
near  (ieorgetown:  Eli2al)eth.  the  wife  of 
David  Sconce,  of  Indiana :  .\ngcline.  the 
wife  of  David  McDonald,  who  resides  near 
Catlin.  Illinois:  .Mrs.  l-'ishcr:  and  LJhmche 
the  wife  of  Joel  Cooper,  of  Oakland,  thi^ 
state.  Those  who  have  passed  away  arc 
Hiram.  Mrs.   Phoebe  Jones  and  John. 

In  1859  Mr.  I'isher  went  to  Kansas  an 
engiiged  in  farming  near  Emporia,  but  tir- 
ing of  that  country  he  returned  and  rented 
a  farm  of  his  father,  also  purchasing  forty 
acres  of  land  from  him.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  he  removed  into  a  little  log  house 
that  James  nranham  had  built  on  a  forty- 
acre  tract.  It  was  a  two  roomed  cabin, 
unsealed,  and  it  remained  their  home  for  a 
coujile  of  years,  when  Mr.  Fisher  purchased 
another  house  and  moved  it  to  bis  place. 
.\s  time  i)assed  and  his  linancird  resources 
increase<l  be  addetl  to  his  farm  until  be  now 
has  twelve  bundretl  acres  in  W^rmilion 
county  and  also  owns  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  near  Monroe  City.  Missouri,  for 
which  be  ])aid  nineteen  thou.sand  eight  bun- 
<lretl  dollars.  When  upon  the  farm  he  dc 
voted  the  greater  part  of  bis  attention  to 
stock  raising,  making  a  specialty  of  I)ecf 
cattle  which  he  .soM  at  gixxl  prices  in  the  city 
markets.      There    has   been    nothing    sensa- 


liiniiil  in  in>  career,  lie  wurkeil  aluug  le- 
gitimate business  lines,  earning  bis  compe- 
tency through  persistent  purpose  and  marked 
energy. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I'isher  was 
blessed  with  eight  children.  Charles,  who 
resides  in  Iowa  and  owns  farms  in  both 
Carroll  and  (irecnc  counties,  married  Jennie 
-Myers,  by  w  bom  he  has  .seven  children : 
John  .Austin,  Xellie,  Lelia,  Charles,  Everett. 
Mande  and  Dean.  Edward,  who  is  still  liv- 
ing in  Indianola  and  is  a  farmer  of  Carroll 
town.sbip  weddeil  Ida  Maddo.x  and  has  two 
daughters,  Eva  Dell  and  (lertrude  Cail. 
.\nnada  is  the  wife  of  Douglas  Miller,  a 
farmer  of  Carroll  township  and  has  three 
children :  Winona.  Delmar  and  b'verett. 
Josephine  is  the  wife  of  I'rank  Carter,  of  In- 
dianola and  has  two  daughters,  Helen  and 
Mabel.  Jacob  G.,  a  graduate  of  the  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago  and  now  a 
practicing  physician  of  Catlin.  Illinois,  mar- 
ried Jessie  Matkins.  The  three  children  of 
the  bisher  family  who  have  passed  away 
are  Everett,  Olive  and  Mattie,  all  of  whom 
died  in  childhood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eisher  are 
consistent  members  of  the  Presbyteiian 
church  and  people  of  the  highest  resjjccta- 
l)ility.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  voting 
for  the  candidates  \vh(»ni  be  regards  as  best 
qualified  for  office  without  giving  attention 
to  jiarty  lines.  L'pon  his  home  he  erected  a 
large  fine  residence  and  Iiis  ])lace  is  one  of 
the  best  improved  in  eastern  Illinois,  in  fact 
it  is  a  splendid  property.  The  large  and 
commodious  buildings  are  surrounded  by 
well  tilled  fields  and  rich  pastures  in  which 
are  seen  fine  grades  of  stock.  In  1897. 
however.  Mr.  bisber  purchased  town  pro])- 
erty  and  removed  to  Indianola.  where  be 
is  now  li\ing  in  retirement  fri>ni  further 
business  cares.     The  county  as  be  views  it 


38 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to-day  little  resembles  the  district  in  which 
he  was  reared,  for  turkeys,  prairie  chickens 
and  other  wild  game  were  abundant  and 
deer  were  still  seen,  wolves  were  often 
killed  by  the  settlers  and  all  this  indicated 
the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country,  but 
as  time  passed  the  land  was  reclaimed~for 
the  use  of  the  white  race  and  in  this  great 
country  there  is  no  richer  farming  district 
than  that  of  eastern  Illinois.  Mr.  Fisher 
may  take  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
identified  with  its  development  and  he  cer- 
tainly deserves  great  credit  for  what  he  has 
accomplished  in  the  business  world. 


THOMAS  FRAXCIS  CHRISTMAX. 

Thomas  Francis  Christman.  cashier  of 
the  Commercial  Trust  &  Savings  Bank  of 
Danville,  was  born  June  7,  1858.  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Gundy)  Christman.  natives  of 
Ohio,  and  on  the  maternal  side  the  ancestry 
can  be  traced  back  to  Jacob  Gundy,  the  great 
grandfather,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Emigrating  westward,  he 
became  a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  at 
an  early  date,  settling  upon  the  north  fork 
near  the  old  town  of  ^lyersville.  The  grand- 
father, Joseph  Gundy,  was  a  charter  member 
of  the  Masonic  Order  of  Danville.  By  oc- 
cupation he  was  a  farmer  and  stockraiser. 
being  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits 
in  this  county  at  a  very  early  day.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  taken  by  his  par- 
ents to  western  Indiana  when  four  years  of 
age  and  was  reared  in  Vermilion  county. 
He,  too,  became  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
established  his  home  in  Ross  township. 
Avhere  he  carried  on  farming  for  three  years. 


He  then  returned  to  Indiana,  where  he  re- 
mained for  several  }ears  and  then  again  came 
to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
sumed farming.  He  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life,  making  his  home  in  Rossville  ai 
the  age  of  eighty  years,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  January,  1823.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  the  same  year,  passed  away  in 
1882.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Thomas  F.  is  the  seventh 
in  order  of  birth. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Indiana  and 
\'ermillion  county  Thomas  Francis  Christ- 
man  pursued  his  education,  continuing  his 
studies  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  Througn- 
out  the  greater  part  of  his  business  career 
he  has  followed  farming,  save  for  a  brief 
interval  of  a  year  or  two  that  he  was  en- 
gaged in  clerking.  \A'hen  he  first  came  tc 
\'ermilion  county  he  purchased  land  in  part- 
nership witli  his  brother,  and  together  they 
owned  about  two  sections,  but  eventually  Mr. 
Christman  of  this  review  sold  to  his  brother. 
He  then  became  cashier  of  the  Commercial 
Trust  &  Savings  Bank,  which  is  capitalized 
for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  He  is 
now  a  leading,  reliable  and  respected  repre- 
sentative of  the  banking  interests  of  this 
part  of  the  state,  thoroughly  undersands 
banking  business  and  methods  in  every  de- 
tail, and  has  contributed  in  no  small  degree 
to  the  successful  control  of  the  institution 
with  which  he  is  connected. 

In  1900  'Sir.  Christman  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Broody,  of  Will- 
iamsport,  Indiana,  and  they  ha\-e  many  warm 
friends  in  Danville,  where  their  own  home 
is  justly  noted  for  its  hospitality  and  socia- 
bility. Airs.  Christman  is  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Broody,  in  whose  family  were  six 
children.  Mr.  Christman  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Rossville  and  in  poli- 


r^^k^-n. 


LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  CF  Il'-INCIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


41 


tics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  needs 
no  special  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this 
volume,  because  almost  his  entire  life  has 
been  passed  in  this  locality  and  his  history 
is  largely  familiar  to  those  who  know  him. 
Without  ostentation  or  undue  display  of  his 
good  qualities  he  has  commanded  the  re- 
spect and  contidence  of  his  fellow  men  by 
reason  of  his  sterling  wcirth  and  is  to-da} 
a  leading  and  honoreil  representative  of  busi- 
ness interests  of  Danville. 


JOSEPH  CUNNINGHAM. 

Joseph  Cunningham  made  his  advent 
into  Vermilion  county  in  a  "prairie  schoon- 
er." People  of  the  present  century  can 
scarcely  realize  the  struggles  and  dangers 
which  attended  the  early  settlers,  the  hero- 
ism and  self  sacrifice  of  lives  passed  upon  the 
borders  of  civilization,  the  hardships  en- 
dured, the  difficulties  overcome.  These  tales 
of  the  early  days  read  almost  like  a  njmance 
to  those  who  have  known  onl_\-  the  modern 
prosperitv  and  conveniences.  To  the  pioneer 
of  the  early  days,  far  removed  from  the 
privileg'es  and  conveniences  of  city  and 
town,  the  struggle  for  existence  was  a  stern 
and  hard  one,  and  these  men  and  women 
must  have  possessed  indomitable  energies 
and  sterling  worth  of  character,  as  well  as 
marked  pliysical  courage,  whc.i  they  thus 
voluntarily  selected  such  a  life  and  success- 
fully fought  its  battles  under  such  circum- 
stances as  prevailed  in  the  Mississippi  valley 
at  the  time  the  Cunningham  family  was 
here  established.  Few  indeed  are  the  resi- 
dents of  \'ermilion  county  who  can  relate 
tales  of  the  pioneer  days  in  which  they  were 
participants,  but  this   Mr.  Cunningham  can 


do  and  his  reminisences  are  very  interesting. 
He  was  born  in  Cynthiatown,  Harrisor. 
county,  Kentucky,  P'ebruary  27,  1828,  a  son 
of  William  and  i\lary  (Humes)  Cunning- 
ham. The  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvanir 
about  1778  and  died  in  X'ennilion  county, 
May  1 1,  1852,  while  his  wife,  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  state,  has  also  passed  away.  Thev 
were  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  after  liv- 
ing for  a  time  in  Kentucky  they  came  to 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  iSjcj.  when 
our  subject  was  a  year  and  a  hall  old.  They 
settled  on  the  ])rairie  in  Xewcll  township  at 
what  was  known  as  the  Cunningham  grove. 
There  were  no  railroa<ls  and  the  familv  trav- 
eled in  a  in'airie  schooner,  drawn  by  oxen, 
imich  time  being  consumed  in  making  the 
trip.  In  the  family  were  twelve  children. 
Christine,"  eldest,  was  married  and  had  three 
children — Squire,  Alfred  and  Margaret, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Joe  Osborne.  John, 
the  second  of  the  family,  marrietl  Nancy 
Lindsey,  and  their  children  were:  \\'illi;un 
Da\-id,  deceased;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Da\id 
Clapp;  John  L..  who  married  Hannah 
Swisher,  wIk)  after  his  death  jjecame  Mrs. 
Hannah  Justus  and  is  now  a  widow ;  George 
Washington,  who  lost  his  right  arm  while 
fighting  for  the  Union;  Emily,  wife  of  Mike 
Fury:  and  Sarah,  wdio  married  IMiilo  Kna])p. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  John  Cun- 
ningham married  Elizabeth  French  and  they 
had  four  children  :  Thomas,  who  married 
]\raria  Lane;  Samanth;i,  wife  of  Jeff  :\1- 
lison ;  Humphrey,  who  married  Josephine 
Campbell ;  and  Periy,  who  married  Lou 
Duncan.  James  Cunningham,  the  third 
member  of  the  family  of  Willi.am  and  Mary 
Cumn'ngham.  wedded  Mary  Ann  Andrews 
and  their  children  were:  Hannah  C,  wife 
of  John  .Mli.son;  A.  F.,  who  married  Polly 
Ann  Lockhart;  William  O.,  whose  first  wife 


42 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  Mattie  Chandler  and  liis  present  \\ifc 
Etta  Clem;  and  James  A.,  who  marriei'. 
Anna  Wlioops.  Nancy  Cunning-ham.  thc_ 
fourth  child.  l)ecanie  tiie  wife  of  \\'ilh;nr 
Barker  and  liad  two  children,  John  and 
William.  Isaac  was  the  next  of  the  family. 
Washington,  the  sixth,  was  drowned  in 
North  I'ork.  Thomas  married  Jane  Ann 
Starr  and  had  one  child.  Mary,  wife  of  Xoah 
Young.  W'illiam  hecame  a  cripple  at  the 
age  of  fifteen.  Malinda.  the  ninth,  married 
\\'.  K.  Chandler  and  had  fi\'e  children  : 
Mary,  who  hecame  the  wife  of  Lew  Young, 
wdiile  her  present  husband  is  Andy  Claypool ; 
Emma,  wife  of  R.  Hoover,  of  Dakota;  Rose, 
wife  of  Howard  Hicks;  Josephus  Chand- 
ler, deceased;  and  Ella,  deceased,  wife  of 
Howard  Hicks,  who  since  her  death  has 
married  her  sister  Rose.  Joseph  Cunning- 
ham, whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was  the 
tenth  in  the  father's  family.  After  the  ar- 
rival of  the  family  in  this  count\'  two  more 
children  were  hc-)rn.  Humes  married  Eliza- 
beth Winning  and  has  a  son,  William,  who 
wedded  Ora  Albright  and  has  three  chil- 
dren— Thomas.  Oren  and  Willard.  Jarrett. 
the  youngest  of  the  famil}-.  died  in  the  army 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Joseph  Cttnningham  is  the  only  survi\-or 
of  his  father's  family.  He  sharerl  with  the 
others  in  the  hardships  as  well  as  the  pleas 
ures  of  pioneer  life.  He  was  educated  in 
a  subscription  school,  his  first  teacher  being 
James  Davis,  who  taught  in  a  log  school - 
house  furnished  with  slab  benches.  iMr.  Cun- 
ningham first  plowed  with  two  horses  hitched 
to  a  plow  with  a  wooden  mold  board.  The 
second  plow  was  a  single-shovel  affair  ;uid 
he  cut  grain  with  a  sickle.  The  first  trad- 
ing point  of  the  family  after  their  arrival 
here  was  Chicago,  where  groceries  were 
gi\'en    in    exchange    for    the    farm    products 


and  Mr.  Cunningham  frequentlv  drove 
I  ixen  to  that  village.  The  old  homestead 
was  on  secti(~>n  ii.  Newell  township.  He 
has  worlced  in  the  snow  up  to  his  boot 
to|)s.  making  fences  out  of  rails  cut  in  the 
timber.  The  country  was  filled  with  ]M-airie 
wohes  and  there  were  also  many  black  tim- 
ber woh-es  and  wild  games  of  all  kinds, 
including  deer.  It  was  necessary  to  pen 
up  the  domestic  animals  at  night  for  their 
protection.  It  is  impossible  for  tlie  citi- 
zen of  \'ermilion  county  to-day  to  realize 
what  were  the  hardships  and  trials  endured 
in  tho.se  early  times,  when  this  district  was 
cut  off  from  the  comforts  of  the  older  east 
and  when  the  settlers  had  to  depend  upon 
what  they  could  raise  on  the  farms  for  near- 
1}'  everything  x^hich  they  enjoyed.  Our  sub- 
ject began  farming  on  his  own  account  in 
1849  and  for  forty-seven  years  was  identi- 
fied with  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock 
raising  in  this  locality.  He  has  shipped 
many  car  loads  of  cattle  to  the  Chicago 
market  and  sold  hundred  of  car  loads  of 
grain.  On  the  T5th  of  October,  iSC^t,,  he 
suffered  loss  Ijy  fire,  which  flestroved  his 
frame  hottse,  but  with  characteristic  energy- 
he  began  to  build  a  larger  and  better  home, 
erecting  a  two-story  brick  residence  twen- 
ty-six by  thirty-six  feet,  which  was  ready 
for  occupancy  on  the  13th  of  December 
and  still  stands  on  the  lnune  farm.  In 
1878  he  built  a  barn,  thirty-six  b^-  forty 
feet,  and  erected  other  substantial  and  com- 
modious buildings,  making  his  a  model 
farm.  The  corn  crop  usually  yields  about 
fiftv  bushels  to  the  acre  and  oats  thirty- 
eight  bushels. 

Joseph  Cunningham  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  A.  Swisher,  who  died  April 
5.  1902.  after  a  long  and  happy  married 
life.      In    their   famih-    were   nine   children  : 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


45 


]\Iary  E.  die.l  when  aliout  twelve  years  of 
age.'     Cleantha   l)ecame   the   wife   of   Zack 
Starr,  and  died  leaving  three  children.  Effa. 
],-vin    and    Arthnr.      ^lalinda    is   <lecease<l. 
luhn  1.  married  Ella  Bentley  and  they    have 
three  children :  Forrest.  Harry  and  Slirhng. 
Kora   is  the  wife  of  Erson  ]•  rcnch :  W  dl- 
iam  L.  has  also  passed  away.    E.lward  mar- 
rie<l   Anna   Clem.     Ida  M.   is   the   xNite  of 
C     B     Jackson    and    they    have    one    clnld. 
Helen    L.    and     Joseph    S.,    who    married 
Grace   Leonard,    is    a    practicing   i)hysic.ar 
of  Danville.      Thev  have  a  son.  l)orn   No- 
vcmher    j-    '^02.      ^Irs.    Cunningham,    the 
mother,    was   born    '  in    \-ermilinn   county. 
March  28.    1832.  and  on  the  31''  "'   -M^'''^' 
1849    gave  her   hand   in    marriage   to   our 
subject.     She  was  tlie     eldest  in  a   famdy 
of  eight  children  born  unto  Louis  and  Eliz- 
abeth   (Starr)    Swisher,  who  came  to  \'er- 
milion  county   in   company   with    the   Cun- 
ningham and  Chandler  families. 

In    ptiblic    affairs    Joseph    Cunningham 
has  been  verv  prominent  and  influential.  He 
has   served    in   everv   township  office    with 
the  exception  of  that  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and     supervisor  and  his  labors  to  promote 
the    public  welfare    have  been    far-reaching 
and    beneficial.      He    helped    to    buiUl    the 
Walnut  Corners  church  and  has  d.^ne  much 
to  promote  the  moral  welfare  of  the  com- 
munitv.     Tl^e  first  services  of  the  Christian 
church      in    this   county   were   held    in   his 
fatber-s    U^g    cabin.      Air.   and    Mrs.   Cun- 
ningham became  consistent  members  of  that 
church,  to  which  their  children  also  belong. 
All   the  children  are  still  living  in   Newell 
township  with  the  exception  of  Ida.     For 
a  number  of  years  Mr.  Cunningham  served 
either   as  a  d'cacon  or  elder  of  his  church 
and  was  also  one  of  its  trustees.     In   tSc/. 
he  retired  to  private  life,  putting  aside  all 


business  cares,  and  is  now  living  with  his 
son.  Dr.  Cunningham,  in  Walnut  street  of 
Danville.    He  is  still  the  owner  of  two  bun 
drcd  and  forty  acres  of  bte  best  improved 
larni   land   in  the  county   and  likewise  has 
town  property,  which  is  the  visible  evidence 
of  his  life  of  industry  and  toil.     He  stands 
to-day  as  one  of  the  most  honored  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  county,  having  witnessed  al- 
most its  entire  growth  and  development  and 
is  classed  among  those  who  have  laid  liroad 
and    deep    the    foun.lation    for   the   present 
pr.^gress  and  prosperity  of  this  portion  of 
the  state  for  he  has  l)een  found  as  the  advo- 
cate of  all  measures  for  improvement  and 
f,,r  the  development  of  the  community  and 
his  inllucnce  has  ever  been  on  the  side  of  the 

right. 

»  ■  » 


J.  A.  cuxxix(;iiAM. 


Varied  and   important  arc  the  business 
interests  which  have  claimed  the  attention 
of  J.   A.  Cunningham,  of  Hoopeston.     He 
is  one  of  \'ermilion  county's  native  sons  and 
one  whose  career  reflects  credit  and  honor 
upon  the  place  of  his  nativity.     His  birth 
occurred  in  the  vear  1843  and  his  parents. 
Tames  and  Mary   .\.    ( Wndrews)    Cunnmg- 
iiam.   were  natives  of   Kentucky  and   Xew 
York,  respectivelv.    The  father  was  a  farmer 
bv  occupation,  carrying  on  that  pursuit  until 
sixty  years  of  age.  when  be  put  asule  busi- 
ness cares  and  lived  retired,  passing  away  at 
his  home  in  Stateline,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-one  years.    He  had  survived  his  wife, 
who  also  died  at  Stateline  in  1885. 

His  parents  having  become  residents  of 
Vermilion  county  at  an  early  day.  J.  .\- 
Cunningham  was  here  reared  and  in  the 
schools  of  bis  native  county  and  of  State- 


46 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


line,  Indiana,  he  pursiietl  his  edncation,  re- 
ceiving instructions  from  Professor  Mar- 
shall in  the  latter  place.  In  his  youth  he 
assisted  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm 
and  early  became  familiar  with  the  best 
methods  of  cultivating  the  liclds.  In  the 
summer  of  1864,  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  he  offered  his  services  to  the  country 
as  a  defender  of  the  Union,  enlisting  in  the 
One  Plundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantry under  Captain  Stewart,  but  he  was 
rejected  on  account  of  physical  disability.  Be- 
ing unable  to  1:)ecome  a  soldier  he  theixfore 
undertook  the  task  of  winning  success  in 
the  business  world  and  entered  the  grocery 
trade  at  Stateline.  Indiana,  conducting  his 
enterprise  with  good  success  until  1866. 
when  he  took  up  his  abode  near  Hoopeston. 
Here  he  began  dealing  in  stock.  He  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
at  twenty  dollars  per  acre.  .As  time  passed 
and  his  financial  resources  increased  he  has 
made  very  judicious  investments  in  real  es- 
tate, continually  adding  to  his  land  until 
he  now  owns  thirty-six  hundred  acres.  About 
sixteen  hundred  acres  of  this  lies  in  Indiana 
but  the  greater  part  is  Illinois  property.  In 
1894  Mr.  Cunningham  became  interested  in 
the  banking  business,  being  connected  with 
the  Bank  of  Hoopeston  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Hamilton  &  Cunningham, 
and  of  this  institution  he  is  now  the  presi- 
dent. He  is  also  one  of  the  stockholders  of 
the  Commercial  Trust  &  Savings  Bank  re- 
cently organized  in  Danville.  A  man  of 
resourceful  business  ability,  he  has  extended 
his  efforts  into  other  fields  of  activity  and 
to-day  he  has  a  half  interest  in  the  Illinois 
Can  Factor}^,  with  which  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated for  about  sixteen  years.  For  se\-eral 
years  he  looked  after  its  farming  interests 
and  the  raising  of  corn,  also  the  work  of 


delivering  this  product  to  the  factory.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Illinois  Can 
Company,  which  in  1900  was  merged  into 
the  American  Can  Company,  in  which  he 
still  retains  stock.  He  was  formerly  owner 
of  the  Cunningham  Hotel  and  is  one  of  the 
six  men  who  own  and  conduct  the  Hoope- 
ston horse  nail  factory.  His  sound  busines? 
judgment  and  keen  discernment  have  been 
important  factors  in  many  interests  which 
have  proven  of  value  to  the  public  by  pro- 
moting commercial  activity  and  at  the  same 
time  have  returned  to  the  stockholders  a 
good  profit  on  their  investment. 

In  1865  Mr.  Cunningham  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  R.  Scott,  the  wed- 
ding being  celebrated  in  the  house  which 
stood  upon  the  prairie  and  which  vet  stand; 
to-day  as  one  of  the  landmarks  of  that  earl\- 
time.  The  lady  was  reared  by  Thomas 
Hoopes,  a  wealthy  pioneer  of  \'ermilion 
county,  and  was  liberally  remembered  in  hi.s 
will.  Five  children  have  been  born  of  this 
union:  Frank  H.,  who  married  Dora  Dove 
and  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits ;  Anna 
S..  the  wife  of  D.  B.  M.  Brown;  Bert  M., 
who  wedded  Nettie  Bond  and  is  an  agricul- 
turist; Harry  R.,  who  married  .\Ilie  Fades 
and  is  li\ing  in  Chicago;  and  \\'altpr,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  Since  the  spring 
of  1894  Mr.  Cunningham  and  his  family 
have  resided  in  Hoopeston.  They  now  have 
a  beautiful  home  on  Penn  street — the  old 
Hoopes  residence. 

Politically  I\Ir.  Cunningham  is  a  stalwart 
Republican  and  for  several  vears  he  efficient- 
ly served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors. He  was  also  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  for  five  years  and  for 
a  quarter  of  a  centur}-  he  was  the  president 
of  the  County  Fair  Association  which  he 
aided   in   organizing,   becoming   one   of   its 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


47 


stocklioklers.  He  is  one  of  the  men  of 
means  and  enterprise  who  have  made  Hoope- 
ston  an  enterprising  and  progresive  western 
city.  He  has  been  very  hberal  to  all  measures 
for  the  general  good,  contributing  freely  of 
his  time  and  means  for  the  promo- 
tion of  objects  of  general  interest 
and  improvement.  Sncially  ho  is  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
belonging  to  the  blue  Iculge,  chapter,  com- 
mandery  and  council,  and  of  the  last  named 
he  is  a  charter  member.  The  career  of  Mv. 
Cunningham  has  e\'er  been  such  as  to  war- 
rant the  trust  and  confidence  of  the  lousiness 
world,  for  he  has  ever  conducted  all  tran 
sactions  according  to  the  strictest  principle? 
of  honor  and  integrity.  His  devotion  to  the 
public  good  is  unquestioned  and  arises  from 
a  sincere  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow 
men.  What  the  world  needs  is  such  men — 
men  capable  of  managing  extensive  business 
concerns  and  conducting  business  nn  terms 
that  are  fair  alike  to  employer  and  employe 
— men  of  genuine  worth,  of  unquestioned 
integrity  and  honor,  and  then  the  question 
of  oppression  by  capitalists  and  resistance 
and  violence  by  laborers  will  be  forever  at 
rest. 


ALMOND  NORTON  LE  NEVE. 

Almond  N.  Le  Neve  comes  of  a  family 
which  has  ever  been  loyal  to  America,  her 
institutions  and  her  welfare.  He  was  born 
in  Newell  township,  east  of  the  J.  D.  Camp- 
bell farm,  starch  9,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Rebecca  (Newell)  Le  Neve.  The 
Newells  were  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
townshi])  and  it  was  named  in  honor  of  the 
family.  The  Le  Neve's  were  natives  of 
Kentuckv.     The  father  of  .\Imond  N.  emi- 


grated to  Vermilion  county  in  1823.  when 
the  country  was  wild  and  imimproved  and 
Indians  were  numerous.  The  paternal  and 
maternal  grandfathers  of  our  subject  were 
soldiers  in  the  Ivevolutionary  war  and 
fought  valianily  in  the  cause  of  independ 
ence.  The  maternal  grandfather  enlisted 
in  Halifax,  Halifax  cotmty, 'Virginia,  and 
went  through  the  entire  war  without  receiv- 
ing a  wiuind.  As  he  signed  his  name  on  the 
muster  roll  lie  made  this  remark:  "Be- 
cause of  the  kind  treatment  of  the  colonies 
I  will  give  my  life  and  if  necessary  cement 
it  with  my  blood."  The  paternal  grand- 
father enlisted  under  (Jeneral  La  I'ayette 
and  gave  up  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his 
country,  being  killed  in  the  battle  in  which 
La  Fayette  was  wounded,  ^\■hen  La  Fay- 
ette returned  to  America,  the  women  met 
him  spreading  shawls  for  his  feet  to  tread, 
in  honor  of  his  charity  and  devotedness  to 
the  men  in  the  field,  for  he  spent  a  princely 
fortune  upon  the  colonics,  giving  of  his 
means  to  feed  and  clothe  his  men.  Johr 
Le  Neve,  the  father  of  Almond  N.,  was  born 
in  Tenneessee.  in  1803.  and  died  in  1882, 
while  his  wife  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
1805,  and  died  in  1882,  three  months  after 
the  death  of  her  husband.  Wlicn  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  John  Le  Neve 
settled  in  Lawrence  county  on  Ellison  prai- 
rie, west  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  and  re- 
mained there  with  his  ])arents  until  1823. 
when  he  came  on  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois. Here  he  married  Rebecca  Newell, 
reared  their  family  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  days.  John  Le  Neve 
had  a  brother,  Obadia,  who  was 
born  in  1799,  and  died  in  1884.  He 
was  a  man  of  charity  and  public  spirit,  and 
was  kind  to  the  widow  and  orphan.  \\'hen 
he   butchered   he   would   kill   enough   stock 


48 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


so  as  to  g-iN'c  to  tliose  wlio  were  unable  to 
purchase  meat,  and  was  always  ready  tc 
help  any  one  in  distress  that  would  apply 
to  him.  He  was  widely  known  throughout 
the  country  and  loved  by  every  one.  Xo 
one  went  unclothed  or  hungry  from  his  door 
and  he  was  ever  trying  to  uplift  mankind 
One  Saturday  he  \-isited  the  home  of  mu" 
subject  and  entered  into  a  religious  con- 
versation. Previous  to  this  he  had  never 
made  any  religious  profession,  although  his 
views  were  liberal  and  his  life  was  in  ac- 
cord with  the  teachings  of  Christianity.  In 
this  conversation  he  spoke  of  the  life  tc. 
come  and  was  content  concerning  the  same. 
He  was  called  away  the  following  Monday 
night,  departing  this  life  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  Le  Neve, 

John  Le  Neve  and  his  wife  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children :  Samuel 
P.  married  Adeline  Wilson  and  lives  three 
miles  north  of  Danville;  Isabel  Martin  is 
deceased :  William  married  Emma  Smith 
who  died  in  Champaign  county.  Illinois. 
They  had  two  children,  Samuel  Perry  and 
Marshall  Ney.  William  married  again,  his 
second  union  being  with  Minerva  Mills.  By 
tliis  marriage  seven  children  were  born  :  San- 
ford,  now  a  school  teacher:  Emma,  de- 
ceased: Lillv.  Thomas,  Samuel,  and  Laura 
and  Nellie,  twins,  all  at  home.  The  father 
of  this  family,  William  Le  Neve,  died  March 
i6,  1902,  leaving  to  his  family  an  untarn- 
ished name  and  the  heritage  of  a  life  well 
spent.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home  in 
Indiana.,  where  he  had  removed  about  1898 
or  1899.  John  Le  Neve  is  now  deceased 
Seraphine  is  the  wife  of  John  S.  Weliber. 
a  retired  farmer  of  Paxton.  Illinois,  and 
their  children  are:  Perry,  deceased:  .\1- 
mond  Flavins,  who  married  Hattie  Harnett 
John  L.,    Charlev   and   IJncoln.      lulia.    the 


si.xth  member  of  the  We1>ber  familv.  is  the 
wife,  of  Henry  Corbley,  of  Champaign  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  Nettie  L.  is  now  Mrs.  Ewell. 
and  has  one  son.  Ross  is  the  wife  of  Stan- 
ley Sutton,  an  attorne}-,  of  Indiana.  They 
ha\e  one  son.  The  sixth  member  of  the 
family  of  John  Le  Neve  is  the  subject  of 
this  review.  The  seventh,  Mrs.  Mary  Leon 
ard,  is  deceased,  leaving  two  children.  Perry 
and  Belle.  John  Wilson  died  in  September, 
1886.  Thomas,  the  youngest  child,  died  in 
infancy.  John  Le  Neve  came  in  a  prairie 
schooner  with  his  ]:)arents  from  Tennessee. 
He  began  his  active  business  career  with  r 
capital  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars 
and  fifty  cents.  He  entered  eighty  acres  of 
timber  and  wild  prairie  land,  paying  there- 
for one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre.  This 
took  one  hundred  dollars  of  his  capital,  and 
wlien  he  began  housekeejiing  he  had  just 
thirteen  dollars  and  fifty  cents  left.  He 
made  rails  to  pay  for  a  cow  and  he  drove 
l)ins  in  a  log  and  laid  a  board  across  as  a 
place  to  put  their  dishes.  They  ate  their  meals 
from  a  puncheon  table,  in  the  old  log  house 
where  the  subject  of  this  review  was  born. 
During  his  life-time  he  was  an  enterprising 
farmer,  and  also  a  great  stock  man.  raising 
and  selling  a  good  grade  of  stock. 

Almond  N.  Le  Neve  was  reared  ujwn 
his  father's  farm  and  attended  the  district 
school  during  the  winter  season,  while  in 
the  summer  he  assisted  his  father  upon  the 
farm.  He  supplemented  his  early  educa- 
tion with  one  year  in  the  Dan\-ille  high 
school  and  after  he  left  home  he  taught  a 
term  in  Chamjpaign  county,  Illinois.  He 
then  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  always  raising  his  own  cattle  and 
horses.  He  rememl^ers  the  introduction  of 
the  crane,  in  1850,  and  when  the  first  cook- 
ing stove  was   lirought  into  the  neighbor- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


49 


hood.  He  relates  how  tlie\  used  tu  build 
fires  before,  matches  came  into  use,  with 
flint  and  knife,  and  how  the  ])ioneers  used 
to  bake  "Johnny  Cake."  lie  remembers 
the  tirst  two  augers  which  came  into  use  in 
the  neighborhood,  the  first  known  as  a  sev- 
en-quarter auger  and  the  other  as  a  one- 
quarter  inch  auger.  Augers  were  sa  scarce 
then  that  they  were  obliged  to  carefully  put 
away  any  boards  which  they  might  hud  with 
a  hole  in,  for  use  in  emergency.  Part  of  the 
neighborhood  cimld  not  farm  until  the  hick- 
ory bark  would  ])eel,  from  which  they  made 
tugs,  hames  and  shoe  strings.  On  his  own 
home  farm  they  used  to  shuck  corn  in  an  old 
Virginia  box.  They  hail  to  m;ike  boxes  so 
the  ears  would  not  roll  out  and  had  to  re- 
pair the  boxes  each  load.  Their  first  plow- 
was  a  wooden  mold  board,  the  next  a  single 
shovel.  They  cut  grain  with  a  reaj)  hook 
and  when  the  cradle  came  into  use  they 
considered  it  a  great  improvement.  He  re- 
members the  iirst  two  carriages  in  that  lo- 
cality. Peter  Starr  owned  one  of  these  and 
Joe  Cunningham's  father  the  other.  The 
people  would  gaze  at  these  carriages  in  as- 
tonishment, regarding  them  as  being  "won- 
derfully and  fearfully  made."  Jn  these 
primitive  times  grease  lamps  and  dip  can- 
dles were  in  use.  When  later  kerosene  came 
into  use  it  was  regarded  as  being  \-ery. dan- 
gerous. Many  a  time  has  Air.  Le  Neve 
pursued  his  studies  by  the  light  of  a  fire. 
He  also  broke  prairie  in  Champaign  county, 
using  ])Iow^s  that  wouM  cut  from  twenty- 
four  to  twenty-six  inches.  He  and  his 
brother  William  "batched"  in  that  county 
during  one  summer  in  company  with  their 
father. 

Alminnd  X'.  Le  Xeve  started  on  his  busi- 
ness career  in  his  twentieth  }-ear  and  re- 
mained in  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  until 


after  his  marriage.  The  lady  of  his  choice 
was  Nancy  J.  h'nrd,  who  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (  Lt)uden )  hord,  b(jth  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Kentucky.  L'nto  .\lr.  and  Mrs. 
Lc  Neve  were  born  eight  children.  Louis 
died  in  infancy.  Jerome,  of  Danville,  mar- 
ried Grace  Marple.  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren. Russell  and  Marguerite.  Emma 
Belle,  a  bright  little  girl,  died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years.  Eannie  is  now  Mrs.  Charles 
YoilMg,  of  Newell  township,  and  has  four 
children,  Don,  Ross.  Marv  and  Harriet 
Ruth.  Hattic  is  the  fifth  member  of  Mr. 
Le  Neve's  family.  Roy  married  Grace  Coff- 
m;in  ALarch  26,  1902.  They  have  one  child, 
Paul  Reagan.  She  was  born  March  5,  1877, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  I^ev.  William  and  Mary 
(Betzer)  Cofl'man,  of  Indiana.  Jerry  as- 
sists his  father  on  the  home  farm,  lennie 
May,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  in 
infancy. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Le  Ne\'e  arc  members  of 
State  Line  City  Methodsit  Episcopal  cbiuTh, 
in  which  Mr.  Le  Neve  was  class  leader  for 
se\'eral  years,  also  acting  as  Sundav-school 
superintendent.  The  luMiie  of  Mr.  .and  Mrs. 
Le  Neve  is  permeated  by  Christianity,  the 
entire  family  lieing  acti\e  ruid  earnest  work- 
ers in  the  church.  The  children  have  all 
been  reared  undei'  the  inlluence  of  the  good 
mother  and  father,  and  Miss  Hattie  has 
l)een  identified  with  evangelical  work  for 
about  si.\  vears.  While  in  New  York  she 
spoke  at  .\.  B.  Simpson's  church  and  later 
went  to  Asbmy  Park,  New  Jersey.  She  i^ 
fitting  herself  as  a  missionary  and  expects 
to  go  to  foreign  lands  to  labor  in  the  cause 
of  Christianity.  In  Se])tcml)er.  189;^,  Sister 
Mershon,  an  evangelist,  held  several  meet- 
ings, during  which  Mr.  Le  Neve  and  bi-^ 
family  were  converted  and   sanctified.      .At 


so 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  close  Miss  Hattie  Le  Neve  felt  the  call- 
ing of  the  Master  to  take  up  his  work  ant. 
gave  expression  to  her  feelings  by  singing 
witli  Sister  Mershon.  She  has  continued 
in  this  work  since  and  is  well  fitted  for  it. 
having  taken  training  at  Nyack,  New  York. 
a  missionary  training  institute.  Roy  Le 
Neve  and  his  wife  are  also  preparing  for  the 
same  kind  of  work.  Mrs.  Grace  Le  Neve 
is  a  musician  of  remarkable  talent,  being 
able  to  sing  and  play  any  piece  of  sacred 
music,  although  she  has  never  taken  lessons 
along  that  line.  The  Le  Neve  family  have 
a  happy  home  and  on  the  walls  are  inscribed 
many  lines  from  the  scripture.  They  have 
meetings  held  at  their  home  twice  a  week. 
On  the  death  of  William  Le  Neve,  the 
brother  of  Almond  N..  INIiss  Hattie  Le  Neve 
preached  the  funeral  sermon.  She  had  been 
previously  requested  to  do  this  by  William 
Le  Neve.  The  ser\'ice  was  very  touching 
and  was  the  means  of  bringing  many  to 
Christ.  The  Le  Neve  family  is  noted  for  its 
members  being  of  such  an  upright  and  hon 
orable  class.  The  children  of  ]\Irs.  John  S. 
Webber,  the  sister  of  Almond  N..  all  mar 
ried  into  highly  educated  and  cultured  fam- 
ilies. 

Mr.  Le  Neve  of  this  review  has  helpec'. 
to  establish  the  schools  and  nearly  every 
church  of  this  locality,  and  while  living  in 
Champaign  county  he  also  took  an  interest 
in  public  affairs.  With  his  brother  Will- 
iam he  removed  to  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1858.  In  the  panic  of  1873-4  ho 
lost  heavily,  but  he  did  not  become  discour- 
aged. He  began  life  anew  and  by  good  man- 
agement he  again  acquired  a  competence. 
He  has  always  lived  a  Christian  life  and  he 
feels  that  by  reason  of  this  he  has  prospered. 
He  at  one  time  owned  one  hundred  and 
ninety  acres   of  well   improved   land.     Of 


this  he  sold  ninety  acres  or  divided  it  among 
his  children.  He  now  has  one  hundred  acres 
of  the  \"ery  best  farm  land,  on  section  24, 
Newell  township.  On  this  place  he  has  li\'ed 
for  fifteen  years.  His  son  Roy  was  in  the 
First  Regiment,  Illinois  Light  Artillerj', 
Batter}-  A,  under  !Major  Williston,  Captain 
Yeager  and  General  Brook.  The  regiment 
was  sent  to  Porto  Rico,  but  never  was  in 
battle,  although  some  of  the  infantry  and 
cavalry-  were  called  into  light  skirmishes. 
Mr.  Le  Neve  of  this  review  has  seen  the 
cit\-  of  Danville  develop  from  a  hamlet  to 
a  thriving  and  flourishing  city,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  interests  of  \'ermilion. 
his  native  county,  all  his  life.  He  began 
life  with  no  capital  and  through  right  prin- 
ciples of  honesty  and  integrity  he  has  pros- 
perd  and  stands  to-day^  among  the  highly 
respected  and  substantial  citizens  of  Newell 
township.  In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibitionist 
and  gives  his  best  efforts  to  the  support  of 
that  party.  Always  public-spirited,  he  has 
served  as  commissioner  of  highways  and 
school  director  for  many  years  in  \"ermilion 
and  Champaign  counties,  and  he  sen-ed  as 
superintendent  of  two  different  schools  dur- 
ing one  summer.  All  movements  for  the 
genral  welfare  have  his  hearty  support  and 
co-operation  and  no  one  is  more  highly  re- 
garded in  \'ermilion  county  than  Almond 
N.  Le  Neve. 


A.  H.  TREGO: 


In  whatever  relation  of  life  Mr.  Trego 
has  lieen  found  he  has  been  respected  for  his 
sterling  worth,  his  fidelity  to  principle  and 
to  duty  and  his  enterprising  and  progressive 
spirit.  He  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the   i6th  of   Tune.   1838.     He 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


53 


is  a  son  of  Curtis  D.  and  Mary  (i.  ((iill)crt) 
I'rcgo,  both  uf  wliom  were  natives  ot  llic 
Ke\  stone  state  and  were  members  of  llic  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  in  whicli  faith  our  subject 
was  reared.  The  fatlier  was  a  fanner  liy 
occupation  and  during  the  greater  part  oi 
liis  life  au-rieil  on  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
1S56  lie  went  to  Galcsburg  in  order  to  pro- 
vide his  ciiililren  w  ith  better  educational  ad- 
vantages and  was  there  engaged  in  conduct- 
ing a  grocery  store.  .\t  the  time  of  the  Civi! 
war  be  was  engaged  in  purchasing  horses 
for  the  post  at  Gallatin,  Tennessee.  He  re- 
sitled  in  Orion,  Henry  county,  Illinois,  for 
-evcral  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  and 
tlie  last  ten  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
Cass  county,  Iowa,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  died.  This  worthy  couple  were  tlie 
parents  of  nine  children  :  Elizal)eth.  now 
ileceased;  .\.  11.,  of  this  rcxicw;  Jacob  R.. 
who  is  living  in  Cass  county,  Iowa;  Helen 
R.,  the  wife  of  Joseph  Engle,  of  that  county  ; 
Letiiia,  the  wife  of  A.  Clark,  of  Earlliani. 
bnva:  Lavinia.  the  wife  of  D.  D.  ll.ill.  of 
Xorfolk,  Nebraska;  bVed,  of  Cass  county, 
Iowa;  Frank,  who  died  in  Galcsburg,  Illi- 
nois; and  Einma,  who  died  in  Henry  county, 
Illinois. 

In  the  common  schools  A.  H.  Trego  be- 
gan his  education  which  was  comjileted  l)y 
graduation  in  Lombard  College,  of  Gales- 
burg,  Illinois.  He  completed  the  collegiate 
course  in  the  month  of  June.  1S62.  and  in 
July  of  the  same  year  he  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  as  a  member  of  Company  C,  One 
Hunrlretl  and  Second  Illinois  Infantry,  un- 
der Captain  Frank  Shcdd  and  Colonel  Mc- 
Murtry.  He  served  for  three  years  and  was 
on  the  staff  of  General  E.  .\.  Paine,  holding 
the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  for  a  year.  .\s 
Captain  Shaw  was  on  detached  duty,  our 
subject  took  command  of  the  company  in  the 


Atlanta  campaign,  serving  tlius  from  Chat- 
tanooga until  they  reached  .\tlanta,  as  a 
member  of  Sherman's  forces,  lie  ;icle<l  as 
aide  de  camp  on  the  staff  of  General  Harri 
son.  who  conimanileil  the  First  Brigade  and 
Third  l^ivision.  Twentieth  .\rmy  Corps, 
from  Atlanta  to  Sav.annah  during  Shernian"s 
march  to  the  se<-i  and  continued  as  acting  as- 
sistant adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  Col- 
onel Case,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  I''ifth 
Illinois  Infantry  from  Sav.umah  to  Golds- 
boro.  After  Harrison's  return  to  his  com- 
mand Mr.  Trego  still  acted  as  assistant  ad- 
jutant general  until  after  the  troops  reachetl 
Washington.  He  was  mustered  out  in  June. 
1865.  returning  to  his  home  with  a  record 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  military  service. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  hand  and 
again  in  the  shoulder,  but  otherwise  escaped 
uninjured. 

Returning  to  Galcsburg,  Mr.  Trego  re- 
mained for  a  short  time  at  that  place  and 
then  went  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  with 
his  father  for  a  year.  He  ne.xt  occupied  a 
position  as  bookkeeper  in  a  commission 
house  in  Chicago  and  in  1X67  he  embarked 
in  the  produce  commission  business  on  South 
Water  street  of  that  city.  There  he  carried 
on  operations  until  icSji,  when  his  business 
was  destroyed  in  the  great  lire  which  swept 
over  the  city,  the  insurance  company  paying 
him  only  ten  cents  on  the  dollar.  After  this 
disaster  he  did  not  have  money  enough  to 
buy  himself  an  overcoat.  With  strong  pur- 
]iosc  and  unconquerable  determination,  how- 
ever, he  began  work  in  a  lumberyard  as  a 
sorter.  There  he  remained  until  the  spring  fol- 
low ing.  when  he  Ijecame  shipping  clerk,  act- 
ing in  that  capacity  until  187'').  when  he  re- 
moved to  Hoopcston  and  establislied  a  retail 
lumber  business,  which  he  conducted  with 


54 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


success  until  1888.  ulien  lie  jold  out.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  connected  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  with  the  canning  busi- 
ness'. He  was  one  of  the  three  organizers 
of  the  Hoopeston  Canning  Company,  which 
was  capitalized  for  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
In  this  enterprise  he  was  associated  with 
J.  S.  McFerren  and  A.  T.  Catherwood,  the 
latter  now  deceased.  This  business  is  still 
conducted  by  Mr.  Trego  and  ^Ir.  McFerren 
and  since  1890  our  subject  has  had  the  man- 
agement of  the  plant.  He  was  one  of  the 
eight  organizers  of  the  Union  Can  Company 
in  1894.  which  in  1900  was  mergerl  into 
the  American  Can  Company  of  which  he 
is  a  stockholder.  He  acted  as  president  of 
the  Union  Can  Company  until  the  last  year 
of  its  existence.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank  and  is  the  president  of 
the  Hoopeston  Horse-Xail  Company.  He 
owns  valuable  land  in  Benton  county,  In- 
diana, to  the  extent  of  four  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  and  is  equal  owner  with  Mr.  Mcl'erre 
in  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  valualjle  land 
in  Grant  township,  this  county.  He  also  has 
real  estate  in  Chicago,  including  some  resi- 
dences on  Indiana  avenue,  with  considerable 
realty  in  Hoopeston,  including  three  or  four 
hundrefl  lots.  His  own  attractive  residence 
here,  built  in  1881.  is  situated  at  the  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Washington  streets.  He  is 
the  president  of  the  Illinois-Cuban  Land 
Company,  owning  twenty  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Cuba  near  the  city  of  Santiago. 

In  Chicago,  in  October,  1868,  Mr.  Trego 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  T-'rances  C. 
Reed,  a  native  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
In  the  family  were  eight  children,  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  are 
yet  living:  Charles  H.,  who  is  associated 
with  his  father  in  farming  interests :  Edward 
F.,  who  is  Ijookkeeper  for  the  canning  com- 


pany; and  Walter  and  Gilbert  C.  who  are 
in  school.  The  mother  died  April  28,  1897, 
and  on  the  8th  of  Xoveniber,  1900,  Mi 
Trego  was  married  to  Miss  Florence  Honey- 
well, a  daughter  of  Alba  Honeywell,  who  is 
represented  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

For  thirty-four  years  Mr.  Trego  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
He  is  also  chairman  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  the  church  and  is  deeply  interested 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  upbuilding 
of  the  cause  and  to  the  extension  of  its  in- 
fluence. He  is  trustee  of  Lombard  College,, 
of  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  for  the  past  seve 
years  he  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Hoopeston  Public  Library  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  when  absent  from  the  city. 
He  is  also  secretary  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  Greer  College.  In  politics  he  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  served  as  an  alderman  of  Hoopeston  and 
was  mayor  of  the  city  at  the  time  the  water-- 
works  system  was  inaugurated.  He  has  ever 
been  active  in  defense  of  measures  pertaining 
to  the  general  good.  Socially  he  is  connected 
with  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  that  place,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  commander.  He  be- 
longs to  Hoopeston  Lodge,  Xo.  115,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  the  chapter  and  commandery 
at  Paxton.  He  arrived  in  Hoopeston  in 
1876  and  has  resided  here  continuous!' 
since. 

The  entire  life  of  Mr.  Trego  has  been 
one  of  unu.-iual  activity  and  industry  and  he 
is  a  self-made  man  in  the  fullest  sense  of 
that  so  frequently  misused  term.  Holding 
important  business  positions,  controlling 
vast  interests — this  speaks  !(nuler  than  words, 
of  his  executive  and  lousiness  ability.  His 
methods  have  always  been  in  keeping  with 
the  highest  principles  of  honorable  and  fair 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


57 


dealing  and  witli  conscientious  regard  for 
the  rights  ot  others.  He  has  a  clear  and 
conipreliensive  mind  anil  is  able  to  conceive 
not  only  large  projects  hut  also  to  execute 
well  directed  ])lans.  Althougli  he  has  hecn 
closely  identified  with  extensive  enterprises 
his  time  and  attentiim  have  not  Ijeen  given 
wholly  to  them.  He  has  been  very  promi- 
nent and  helpful  in  business  affairs  and  also 
in  matters  of  public  importance.  He  like- 
wise has  rare  social  qualities  and  delights 
hi  gootl  fellowship  and  lacks  none  of  those 
personal  traits  of  character  which  are  indi- 
cative of  the  warm  hearted  and  high  minded 
gentleman. 


JUDGE  D.  D.  EVANS. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  part  of  this  history 
of  more  general  interest  tiiaii  the  record  of 
the  bar.  It  is  well  known  that  the  peace, 
prosperity  and  well-being  of  every  commun- 
ity depend  ui)on  the  wise  interpretation  of 
the  laws,  as  well  as  upon  their  judicious 
framing,  and  therefore  the  records  of  the 
various  persons  who  have  at  different  times 
made  up  the  bar  will  form  an  imixjrtant  part 
of  this  volume.  .\  well  known  jurist  of  Illi- 
nois said:  "In  the  American  stale  the  great 
and  good  lawyer  must  always  l)e  prominent, 
for  he  is  one  of  the  forces  that  move  and  con- 
trol society.  Public  confidence  lias  generally 
been  reposed  in  the  legal  profession.  It  has 
ever  been  the  defender  of  i>opular  rights,  the 
champion  of  freetlom  regulated  by  law,  the 
firm  support  of  good  government.  In  the 
times  of  danger  it  has  stood  like  a  rock  and 
breasted  the  mad  passions  of  the  hour  and 
finally  resisted  tumult  and  faction.  No  po- 
litical preferment.  n(^  mere  place,  can  adil 
to  the  power  or  increase  the  honor  which  be- 
longs to  the    pure   and    educated    lawyer." 


Jutlge  D.  D.  Evans  is  one  who  has  Ijcen  hon- 
ored by  and  is  an  honor  to  the  legal  fra- 
ternity of  Illinois.  He  stands  to-day  promi- 
nent among  the  leading  members  of  the  bar 
of  the  state. — a  position  which  he  has  at- 
tained through  industry,  energy  and  marked 
ability. 

The  Judge  has  passed  the  seventy-third 
milestone  on  life's  journey,  his  birth  having 
occurred  on  the  17th  of  .\pril,  18J9,  near 
Ebc'.islnirg,  Pennsylvania,  his  parents  being 
David  and  ;\nna  (Lloyd)  Evans.  As  the 
name  indicates,  the  Evans  family  is  of  Welsh 
origin.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  northern  portion  of  Wales,  while 
the  grandmother  was  torn  in  a  southern  dis- 
trict of  the  rock-ribbed  country.  In  child- 
hood they  crossed  the  Atlantic  with  their  re- 
spective parents,  who  located  in  the  Keystone 
state.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the 
Judge  was  a  leading  and  inlluential  resident 
of  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day  and  was  in- 
strumental in  the  formation  of  a  county 
there,  which  he  called  Cambria,  the  ancient 
name  of  Wales.  He  also  laid  out  and 
f(^undcd  the  county  .seat  of  the  new  county, 
which  he  named  Ebensburg  in  honor  of  a 
deceased  son.  Not  only  was  he  active  in  the 
material  development  of  his  portion  of  the 
state  but  was  a  man  of  much  influence  as  the 
promoter  of  its  nmral  i)rngress.  being  a  min- 
ister of  the  gospel. 

David  Evans,  the  father  of  the  Judge, 
was  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  became  a  stone- 
mason and  contractor  and  aided  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  famous  portage  road  across 
the  Allegheny  mountains  in  Pennsylvania. 
That  was  at  an  early  epoch  in  the  history  of 
railroads  and  the  work  was  considered  a 
piece  of  wonderful  engineering.  The  money 
which  he  earned  in  this  way  Mr.  Evans  in- 
vested in  farm  land  and  then  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.    It  was  thus 


58 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


that  Judge  Evans  became  familiar  with  farm 
labor  in  his  youth.  The  advantages  and 
privileges  which  he  enjoj-ed  in  his  early 
youth  were  few.  He  did  not  enter  a  school- 
room until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  then 
spent  only  two  months  in  each  year  for  a  few 
years  as  a  student  there.  He  had  a  love  of 
learning,  however,  that  prompted  his  ac- 
quirement of  knowledge  through  reading 
and  study  at  home,  and  in  this  way  he  be- 
came qualified  to  teach,  and  for  one  or  two 
terms  followed  the  profession  of  teaching, 
whereby  he  acquired  means  sufficient  to  en- 
able him  to  continue  his  own  education  at 
Hiram,  Ohio,  His  capital  was  also  supple- 
mented by  his  earnings  in  the  harvest  field 
during  the  summer  vacations.  On  leaving 
that  institution  he  made  his  way  to  southern 
Ohio  and  for  five  or  six  years  continued  his 
Avork  as  a  successful  teacher.  During  that 
time  he  also  spent  one  term  as  a  student  in 
the  Normal  Institute  of  Lebanon,  Ohio. 
Forming  the  determination  to  become  a 
practitioner  -at  the  bar,  while  still  pursuing 
his  educational  work  as  an  instructor  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law,  and  in  i860  he  matricu- 
lated in  the  law  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  ^Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  and  was 
there  graduated  in  1863. 

In  the  meantime  the  country  had  become 
involved  in  civil  war,  and  with  patriotic 
loyalty  Judge  Evans  ofifered  his  services  to 
the  government,  but  almost  immediately  af- 
ter his  enlistment  he  was  taken  ill  with  ty- 
phoid fe\-er  and  was  thus  forced  to  return 
home.  In  November,  1864,  he  became  a 
resident  of  Danville,  and  has  since  been 
numbered  among  its  valued  and  honored 
citizens.  Here  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  ])rofess!nn  in  connection  with  Jolm 
A.  Kumler.  Older  practitioners  were  in  the 
field  and  the  amount  of  legal  business  at  tliat 


time  was  not  great.  He  found  it  difficult  to 
o!:)tain  a  foothold  that  would  bring  him  suffi- 
cient pecuniary  returns  to  meet  his  expenses, 
and,  while  gaining  a  start  in  his  profession 
he  again  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  year, 
and  showed  himself  a  successful  teacher. 
He  also  became  a  factor  in  journalistic  cir- 
cles, and,  in  connection  with  Judge  Clapp, 
became  the  owner  of  the  Chronicle,  which 
was  consolidated  with  the  Vermilion  Coun- 
ty Plaindealer  and  became  the  Danville 
Plaindealer,  Judge  Evans  acting  as  editor  of 
the  new  paper.  All  this,  however,  was  liut 
the  means  of  tiding  him  over  and  after  a 
year  spent  as  editor  of  the  Plaindealer  he 
again  returned  to  the  practice  of  law  as  a 
partner  of  M.  D.  Hawes,  and  when  ]\Ir. 
Hawes  withdrew  from  the  legal  profession 
after  four  years,  Mr.  Evans  was  then  alone 
in  business  for  two  years.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  Charles  I\I.  Swallow,  this 
being  continued  for  four  years,  when  the 
Judge  was  again  without  a  partner.  In  the 
meantime,  howe\-er,  he  had  demonstrated 
his  ability  to  successfully  cope  with  the  in- 
tricate problems  of  jurisprudence,  had  dis- 
pla}-ed  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  law,  had  shown  force  in  argument, 
strength  in  reasoning  and  clearness  and 
capability  in  the  presentation  of  a  cause.  His 
ability  attracted  to  him  the  attention  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Reptiblican  party  and  in  1881 
he  was  nominated  on  that  ticket  for  the  office 
of  county  judge. 

In  speaking  of  this  part  of  his  life  a 
contemporary  biographer  has  said  :  '"When 
Judge  Evans  came  to  the  bench  he  found  the 
affairs  of  the  court  in  a  deplorable  cond.ition, 
owing  partly  to  the  long-continued  illness 
of  his  predecessor,  Judge  Hanford,  and  part- 
Iv  to  the  loose  and  wholly  inefficient  methods 
which  had  prevailed  in  the  conduct  of  the 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    l^CORD 


59 


office.  *  *  *  He  found  cases  on  the 
docket  ten,  fifteen  and  even  twenty  years  l>e- 
liind,  *  *  *  and  grave  al)uses  and 
neglect  of  duty  were  evident,  not  the  least  of 
wliicli  was  the  practice  of  allowing  guar- 
dians, executors  and  administrators  to  settle 
at  such  times  as  they  might  elect,  with  their 
wards  out  of  court,  and  such  sctliemenls  iiad 
been  accepted  by  the  court  in  direct  violation 
of  law,  which  requires  such  settlements  to 
be  made  under  oath,  in  court,  with  an  item- 
ized account  of  all  transactions  pertaining 
to  the  estates  or  other  property  in  trust. 
Judge  Evans  insisted  upon  changing  all  of 
this.  It  is  probably  that  the  history  of  the 
entire  state  would  fail  to  show  such  a  com- 
l)iete  and  mdical  refonnation  and  transfor- 
mation in  so  short  a  time  as  was  wrought  by 
him  during  his  first  term  in  this  office.  He 
radically  revised  the  methods  in  vogue  in 
probate  matters,  and  as  rapidly  as  possibly 
under  the  circumstances,  took  up.  straighten- 
ed out  and  disposed  of  the  oltl  cases  which 
had  so  long  been  lingering  on  the  docket : 
required  all  guardians,  administrators,  ex- 
ecutors, assignees  and  conservators  to  ac- 
count for  their  trusts  in  the  manner  pre- 
scribed by  law ;  developed  the  common  law 
term  from  practically  nothing  to  three  tcnus 
per  year  of  several  weeks  each,  or  in  short  he 
maile  the  county  court  of  almost  equal  im- 
portance to  the  circuit  court.  lie  appointed 
over  two  hundred  executors  ;ind  adminis- 
trators, and  about  one  hundreil  and  fifty 
guarrlians  and  conservators,  all  of  wIkmu 
he  rcf|uired  to  account  regularly  in  court 
as  the  law  refjuired.  He  gave  his  undi- 
vided attention  to  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tion to  which  he  had  been  chosen,  and 
gave  careful  consideration  to  each  case 
as  it  came  up;  and  as  a  result  of  this  care 
and  as  evidence  of  his  knowlerlge  of  law 


and  sound  legal  judgment  he  achieved  the 
proud  distinction  of  having  but  one  finding 
re\  ised  and  but  a  single  one  reversed  by  the 
higher  courts  during  his  term  of  service. 

"L'pon  the  expiration  of  his  first  teriu. 
Judge  Evans  was  again  elected  to  the  same 
position,  and  for  four  years  more  prcsideil 
over  the  court,  the  standing  of  which  he  had 
done  so  nuich  to  establish  and  elevate. 

"It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  meth- 
ods adopted  by  Judge  Evans  met  the  un- 
qualified approval  of  all  people  in  the  com- 
munity, although  no  one  could  speak  aught 
against  him  personally,  for  his  honor,  in- 
tegrity, ability  and  all  that  goes  to  constitute 
the  ideal  judge  he  was  above  reproach;  yet 
there  were  many  malcontents.  There  were 
those  who  had  been  thriving  off  the  estates 
in  trust,  who  found  their  occupation  gone; 
the  machine  politicians  were  not  in  love  with 
him,  for  he  was  not  the  kind  of  man  they 
could  appnxich.  nuich  less  handle,  for  the 
lurtlicrance  of  their  schemes ;  and  when  it 
came  time  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
thinl  term  Judge  Evans  busied  himself  with 
the  duties  of  his  office  instead  of  wire-pull- 
ing for  the  nomination,  with  the  result  that 
he  awoke  one  morning  and  found  another 
Richmond  in  the  field.  Then  it  was  that  the 
better  element  of  the  other  political  parly — 
the  Democratic — formed  plans,  and  without 
consulting  him  and  entirely  without  his 
knowledge,  and  of  course  without  his  con- 
sent, either  directly  or  indirectly,  placc<l 
his  name  on  the  ticket  as  their  candidate  for 
county  judge.  They  justified  their  action 
in  this  matter  partially  by  citing  the  fact 
that  during  his  first  candidacy  for  the  oflice 
they  had  placed  no  candidate  for  the  office 
of  their  own  against  him  but  had  instead 
placerl  his  name  on  their  ticket,  thus  making 
him  virtually  the  candidate  of  both  political 


6o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


parties ;  and  now.  wiien  the  machine  element 
in  his  own  party  had  succeeded  in  getting 
him  put  aside,  the  Democrats  placed  his 
name  on  their  ticket  from  consideration  of 
the  able  and  impartial  manner  in  which  he 
had  for  eight  years  conducted  the  affairs  of 
this  important  position.  This  action  of  his 
friends — undoubtedly  kindly  meant — placed 
Judge  E\ans  in  an  awkward  position.  He 
could  not  without  wounding  the  feelings  of 
his  friends  preemptorily  spurn  this  indorse- 
ment and  in  fact  and  truth  he  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  "declining  the  honor,"  as  he  was 
never  consulted  in  the  matter;  so  he  simply 
let  matters  take  their  course.  His  enemies 
worked  persistently  and  desperately,  while 
he  made  no  move  and  gave  no  utterance  in 
his  own  behalf.  The  result  was  that  he  was 
defeated  at  the  polls  by  a  small  majority. 
This  may  have  been  poor  "politics,"  and 
undoubtedly  was  from  a  practical  stand- 
point, but  Judge  Evans  was  never  a  practi- 
cal "politician"  in  the  sense  that  term  is 
used  in  the  present  day.  He  has  none  of 
that  "all-things-to-all-men"  sort  of  qualitr- 
cation  which  is  the  principal  stock  in  trade 
of  the  average  latter-day  politician.  He  is 
modest,  dignified  and  reserved,  and  scorned 
the  practice  of  going  into  the  field  and  act- 
ively soliciting  votes  for  himself.  The  re- 
sult was  that  his  opponents  called  him  an 
aristocrat  without  sympathy  with  the  com- 
mon people,  and  said  he  was  a  party  turn- 
coat because  his  name  appeared  on  the  Dem- 
ocratic ticket.  By  these  anil  other  like  meth- 
ods enough  votes  were  secured  to  retire  him 
from  the  ofiice  he  had  done  so  much  to 
digiiify  and  honor.  He  accepted  his  defeat 
gracefully,  and  at  once  took  up  again  the 
practice  of  his  profession." 

\\'hile  the  practice  of  law  has  been  the 
real  life  work  of  Judge  Evans  he  has  at  the 


same  time  been  connected  with  some  very 
important  Inisiness  affairs  and  with  public 
interests.  In  1S92  he  became  an  equal  owner 
in  The  Wabash  [Milling  Company,  but  in 
1S94  a  disastrous  fire  destroyed  the  plant, 
which  was  only  partially  insured,  and  thus 
a  large  loss  was  sustained.  In  matters  per- 
taining to  the  general  good  the  Judge  has 
always  been  found  on  the  side  of  progress, 
improvement  and  reform.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education  in  Dan- 
ville and  the  cause  of  the  schools  have  found 
in  him  a  warm  and  helpful  friend.  He  has 
never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party  and  has  been  recognized  as 
one  of  its  leaders  in  his  district,  serving  as 
chairman  of  the  Republican  central  com- 
mittee. In  1876  he  was  made  a  delegate  to 
the  Republican  national  con^•ention,  which 
nominated  Hayes  for  the  presidency  and 
again  and  again  he  has  been  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  state  conventions  of  his  party. 
He  has  ever  been  fearless  and  outspoken  in 
defense  of  his  honest  political  convictions,  yet 
is  not  bitterly  aggressive,  however,  no  one 
has  occasion  to  question  his  views.  It  is 
doubtful  if  he  ever  weighed  an  act  of  his 
life  in  the  balance  of  political  policy.  He  is 
an  incorruptable  patriot  and  deserves  the 
homage  that  cominanding  ability  wins  from 
all  men.  In  the  press  by  his  own  ]3en  he 
has  denounced  false  methods  and  has  ever 
believed  in  the  office  seeking  the  man  rather 
than  the  man  seeking  the  office. 

In  1867  occurred  the  marriage  of  Judge 
Evans  and  ]\Irs.  Edwilda  A.  Sconce,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Cromwell.  They  became 
the  parents  of  three  children,  but  only  one 
is  now  living,  \\'aldo  Carl.  The  Evans 
household  has  ever  been  noted  for  its  graci- 
ous hospitality,  this  home  being  the  favorite 
resort  of  the  citizens  of  Danville  and  its 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


6i 


social  features  are  most  eiijoyeil  by  tlic 
friends  of  the  Judge  and  his  estima- 
ble wife.  As  an  orator.  Judge  Evans 
is  not  one  of  prominence,  but  is  clear 
and  forceful.  He  has  been  a  stiulcnt 
not  only  of  political  issues  but  of  social  and 
economical  questions  and  from  his  pen  Iiavc 
come  able  utterances  on  many  subjects,  cov- 
ering a  wide  range  of  thought  and  investi- 
gation. There  is  nothing  narrow  or  con- 
tracted about  him  and  he  cannot  accept  nar- 
row creeds  or  dogmas  but  his  is  a  religion 
which  believes  in  the  uniform  laws  of  the 
universe  and  the  brotherhood  of  man.  He 
is  a  member  of  no  church  but  his  morals 
and  integrity  are  unquestioned.  He  is  a 
follower  of  facts  ratlier  than  faith  and  is  a 
believer  in  the  freedom  of  thought.  Few 
lawyers  have  made  a  more  lasting  impression 
upon  the  bar  of  the  state,  both  for  legal  abil- 
ity of  a  high  order  and  for  the  individuality 
of  a  personal  character,  which  impresses  it- 
self upon  a  community.  Of  a  family  con- 
spicuous for  strong  intellects,  indomitable 
courage  and  energy',  he  entered  upon  his 
career  as  a  lawyer,  and  such  was  his  force 
of  character  and  natural  qualifications  that 
he  overcame  all  obstacles  and  wrote  his  naiue 
upon  the  keystone  of  the  legal  arch.  Tn  his 
private  life  he  is  distinguished  by  all  that 
marks  the  true  gentleman.  His  is  a  noble 
character, — one  that  subordinates  personal 
ambition  to  public  good  and  seeks  rather  the 
benefit  f>f  others  than  the  aggrandizement  of 
self.  Endowed  by  true  nature,  with  high 
intellectual  qualities,  to  which  he  has  added 
the  discipline  and  embellishments  of  culture, 
his  is  a  most  attractive  personality.  Well 
versed  in  the  learning  of  his  profession,  anfl 
with  a  deep  knowledge  of  luuiian  conduct, 
with  great  sagacity  ami  extraordinary  tact, 


be  stands  to-day  as  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished members  that  has  ever  practiced 
at  the  bar  of  this  portion  of  Illinois. 


SAMUEL  COLLISOX. 

Samuel  Collison,  the  presiilenl  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Rossville,  was  born 
on  the  1st  of  .Vugust,  1S53,  in  Pilot  town- 
ship. \'ermilion  county,  near  Collison  sta- 
tion, which  was  named  in  honor  of  the  fam- 
ily. His  father,  Absalom  Collison,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  arrived  in  this  county  in 
i8_'8,  when  Danville  was  a  mere  hamlet 
upon  a  broad  and  Jilmost  unbroken  prairie 
which  stretched  away  U<v  miles  in  every 
direction.  He  settled  in  wh.it  was  then 
known  as  Higginsville,  entered  land  from 
the  government  and  turned  his  attention  to 
farming.  Ihe  advantages  which  the  county 
offered  to  her  early  settlers  were  utilized  by 
Mr.  Collison,  who  purchased  land  when  it 
was  cheap  and  extended  his  possession  un- 
til he  had  about  one  thousand  acres.  This 
he  improved  and  cultivated  and  the  fields  re- 
sponded liberally  with  excellent  crops.  He 
also  erected  substantial  and  modern  build- 
ings upon  his  farm,  including  one  of  the 
finest  residences  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
hauling  the  lumber  from  Indiana.  He  was 
not  only  abreast  with  modern  improvement 
but  was  a  leader  in  advancement  along  such 
lines,  and  the  early  development  of  the  coun- 
ty w  as  due  in  no  small  measure  to  his  efforts. 
He  married  Mary  Chenoweth,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  who  became  a  resident  of  Vermilion 
county  about  the  same  time  as  her  husband. 
Thev  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  seven  are  now  living.     The  father 


62 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


passed  away  when  about  forty-eiglit  years 
of  age  and  the  mother  afterward  became  the 
wife  of  John  Smith. 

In  the  district  schools  Samuel  Collison 
acquired  his  early  education,  which,  how- 
ever, was  of  limited  character,  for  his  train- 
ing was  nnich  more  extensive  in  farm  work 
and  his  time  was  largely  given  to  the  labors 
of  field  and  meadow.  His  father  died  when 
the  son  Avas  less  than  one  year  old,  and  when 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left 
home  and  began  earning  his  own  living. 
Soon  afterward  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Champaign  county  and  for  five 
vears  resided  thereon.  During  that  time  he 
was  married,  in  November,  1874,  when 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  to  Nancy  Lindsay, 
a  native  of  Vermilion  county  and  a  daughter 
of  David  Lindsay,  an  early  pioneer  and 
farmer  from  Kentucky,  who  settled  near  Mr. 
Collison's  farm.  After  about  six  years  in 
Champaign  county  our  subject  sold  his  land 
there  and  returned  to  this  county,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
partly  improved  land.  This  he  tiled  and  im- 
proved and  to  it  he  added  a  half  section,  thus 
becoming  owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  four 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  constituting  one 
of  the  finest  and  best  improved  farms  of  the 
county.  He  was  extensively  engaged  in  the 
buying  and  shipping  of  cattle  for  twelve  or 
fifteen  years,  in  addition  to  general  farming, 
aufl  became  well  known  as  a  very  successful 
stockdealer.  In  1893  he  became  interested 
in  the  banking  business  as  a  stockholder  in  a 
private  bank  with  which  he  was  associated 
for  seven  years.  In  this  enterprise  he  was 
connected  with  his  nephew,  Fred  Collison. 
In  1890  he  purchased  the  interests  of  IMessrs. 
Cunningham  and  Christman  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Citizens  Bank,  which  on  the 
1st  of  July,  1900,  was  organized  under  the 
name  of  the  First  National  Bank,  and   is 


capitalized  for  thirty-five  thousand  dollars, 
^[r.  Collison  is  now  the  president  of  the  in- 
stitution, with  ]\Ir.  Crays  as  cashier,  and  the 
officers,  together  with  P.  Cadle,  J.  W.  Fag- 
her,  W.  T.  Cunningham,  J.  T.  Christman, 
Ora  Greer,  and  O.  P.  Stufflebeam  constitute 
the  board  of  directors.  The  institution  has 
prospered,  becoming  one  of  the  reliable 
moneyed  concerns  of  the  county,  and  the 
capable  management  and  enterprise  of  Mr. 
Collison  are  accountable  in  a  large  degree 
for  this  desireable  result. 

Unto  I\lr.  and  ^Irs.  Collison  have  been 
born  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Olive.  So- 
cially Mr.  Collison  is  connected  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  politi- 
cally he  is  a  Republican,  who  strongly  en- 
dorses the  principles  of  the  party  but  has 
never  sought  office  as  a  reward  for  party 
fealty.  His  life  has  been  that  of  the  enter- 
prising resolute  .American  business  man, 
watchful  of  opportunities,  quick  to  note 
possibilities  and  yet  never  taking  advantage 
of  the  necessities  of  his  fellow  men.  His 
business  career  is  one  which  anv  man  might 
be  proud  to  possess  because  of  his  success 
and  the  honorable  methods  he  has  ever  fol- 
lowed. 


THOMAS  HOOPES. 

]\Iore  than  one  Illinois  man  whose  name 
figures  to-day  upon  the  pages  of  history  was 
born,  as  was  ]\Ir.  Hoopes,  in  a  log  cabin 
and  reared  amid  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life,  but  it  is  only  under  the 
pressure  of  adversity  and  the  stimulus  of 
opposition  that  the  best  and  strongest  in  men 
have  been  brought  out.  Although  Thomas 
Hoopes  did  not  direct  his  energies  into  chan- 
nels which  brought  him  political  renown  or 
military  distinction,  he  became  an  important 


JhC^^     "^H-tnr^c^ 


Of    i,.£ 
UNIVERSIiV   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BlOGiL-Yi'liiCAL    l^COUD 


65 


factor  in  reclaiming  the  great  prairie  dis- 
tricts of  Illinois  for  the  purposes  of  civiliza- 
tion and  achieved  success  which  awakened 
admiration  and  respect,  and  as  long  as  the 
town  of  Hoopeston  stands  he  will  be  hon- 
ored as  its  founder  and  first  settler. 

On  the  26th  of  June.  1806,  in  a  little 
log  cabin  which  stooil  in  what  was  then 
JefTerson  county,  but  is  now  Harrison  coun- 
ty, Ohio.  Thomas  Hoopes  first  opened  his 
eyes  to  the  light  of  day,  being  the  fourth 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren. Primitive  pioneer  conditions  then  ex- 
isted in  the  Buckeye  state  and  accordingly 
he  was  dejjrived  of  many  of  the  advantages 
which  could  have  Ijeen  enjoyed  in  a  more 
thickly  settled  region.  His  education  was 
largely  .acquired  under  the  direction  of  his 
mother,  although  later  he  had  the  opportun- 
ity of  attending  a  private  school  for  a  month. 
.\lx)ut  the  time  he  attained  his  majoriy  his 
father  died,  and  he  received  as  his  share  of 
the  estate  three  hundred  and  thirty-four 
dollars  and  four  cents,  which  served  as  the 
nuclus  around  which  he  gathered  his  for- 
tune in  later  years. 

Mr.  Hoopes  continued  on  the  home  farm 
until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  July  8. 
1846.  Miss  Anna  Gray,  of  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  becoming  his  wife.  Soon  afterward 
he  i)urcha.sed  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
near  Marion,  Ohio,  and  settling  thereon  put 
up  one  of  the  first  brick  houses  in  thaf  part 
nf  the  state.  He  also  made  many  other  sub- 
stantial improvements  upon  liis  farm  and 
devoted  most  of  his  attention  to  stock-rais- 
ing, having  a  large  flock  of  sheep  gracing 
U|>on  his  farm  all  the  time.  In  .\ugust. 
1853.  he  came  to  \'ennilion  county  to  as- 
certain definitely  the  condition  of  the  land 
and  the  prospects  of  the  county.  That  he 
was  satisfied  with  the  investigation  is  indi- 


catetl  by  the  fact  llial  in  1853  he  brought  his 
family  to  the  west  and  jiurchased  <.>f  W.  I. 
.\lleu  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  established  his  home.  It  lay 
northwest  of  the  present  site  of  Hoopeston, 
crowning  a  hill  on  the  old  Chicago  road. 
.\s  time  p.isscd  he  .uKkHl  largely  to  his  laud 
ed  possession  until  he  became  the  owner  of 
seven  or  eight  thousand  acres.  For  years  he 
was  one  of  the  most  extensive  stock-dealers 
and  raisers  of  this  part  of  the  state,  making 
large  shipments  to  the  city  markets  and  in- 
vesting his  profits  in  land.  On  the  4th  of 
July.  1871.  the  track  of  what  is  now  the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  was  laid 
across  his  farm  and  the  year  following  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  also  began  running 
trains  through  this  district.  Mr.  Hoopes, 
who  was  always  a  man  of  keen  sagacity  and 
foresight,  believed  that  here  would  be  a  good 
site  for  a  town  and  began  laying  ofif  his  farm 
in  town  lots,  thereafter  devoting  his  energies 
to  the  sale  of  these  lots  and  to  the  supervision 
of  the  interests  of  the  embno  village.  The 
place  was  named  Hoopeston  by  one  of  the 
railroad  prospectors.  Mr.  Hoojies  subsc- 
<|uently  sold  one  thousand  acres  of  his  land 
to  the  linn  of  Snell  &  Taylor,  who  had  .a 
part  of  it  platted  and  sold  as  town  lots. 
From  that  time  until  his  death  Mr.  Hoopes 
was  engaged  in  no  active  business  cnlcr- 
pri.se.  save  the  supervision  of  his  invested 
interests.  He  spent  nuich  of  his  time  in 
traveling  with  his  wife,  who  was  in  deli- 
cate health,  they  visiting  many  portions  of 
this  country  in  the  hope  that  she  might  be 
I.)enefite<l  thereby. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  H«x>pcs  had  no  children 
but  reared  Mary  R.  Scott  from  a  little  six 
year  old  girl,  who  made  her  home  with  them 
until  her  marriage  to  J.  A.  Cunningham, 
who  is  representeil  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


]\Ir.  Hoopes  was  a  man  of  benevolent  spirit, 
charitable  in  thought  and  action,  and  many 
have  reason  to  remember  him  for  the  kindly 
assistance  he  rendered  in  their  hour  of  need. 
No  man  ever  accused  Thomas  Hoopes  of 
taking  unfair  advantage  of  his  fellow  men 
or  of  performing  any  act  that  was  not  strict 
ly  honorable.  While  not  a  church  member, 
his  life  was  governed  by  the  most  rigid  prin- 
ciples of  honesty  and  morality.  The  golden 
rule  was  his  gaiide  through  life  and  he  de- 
spised all  unworthy  or  questionable  means 
to  secure  success  in  any  undertaking  for  any 
purpose.  In  his  political  views  he  was  first 
a  Whig  and  afterward  a  Republican,  but  tht 
honors  of  emoluments  of  office  had  no  at 
traction  for  him.  His  wife  passed  away 
April  25,  1886,  and  his  death  occurred  Oc- 
tober 4,  1893.  He  left  an  estate  valued  at 
more  than  half  a  million  dollars,  which  in- 
dicated his  activity  in  business,  his  careful 
investment  and  keen  discernment,  but  more 
than  this  he  left  a  legacy  to  the  state  one 
of  its  beatitiful  and  thriving  towns;  to  the 
town  he  left  the  result  of  labors  for  the  gen- 
eral good :  to  his  friends  the  memory  of  a 
kindly  spirit;  and  to  humanity  the  example 
of  a  life  of  untarnished  honor. 


WILLIAM  T.  CUNNIXXtHA:M. 

W'illiam  T.  Cunningham  is  a  financier 
of  \^ermilion  county  who  has  had  marked 
influence  in  financial  circles  here,  his  ef- 
forts being  a  potent  element  in  promoting 
business  activity  and  the  consequent  pros- 
perity of  this  portion  of  the  state.  Through 
long  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising and  banking  in  Rossvilie  and  is  also 
connected  through  ownership  with  the  bank- 


ing interests  of  Danville.  Recently  he  has 
taken  up  his  abode  in  the  latter  city,  being 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Commercial 
Trust  &  Savings  Bank. 

Mr.  Cunningham  was  born  near  the  city. 
December  i,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Humes 
Cunningham,  representing  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Illinois.  The  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Cunningham,  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Vermilion  county  at  a  very  early  day  and 
Humes  was  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm 
here.  When  he  had  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity he  wedded  Elizabeth  Winning,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  R.  \\'inning,  who  also 
became  a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  at 
an  early  epoch  in  its  history.  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham de\'oted  his  energies  to  farm  work  and 
carried  on  the  work  of  plowing,  planting  and 
harvesting  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1859,  when  the  subject  of  this  review  was 
a  child  of  only  two  years.  His  wife  also 
passed  away  in  1857. 

\\'illiam  T.  Cunningham  of  this  review 
thus  left  an  orphan,  was  reared  by  his  ma- 
ternal grandparents  and  in  the  schools  of 
Rossvilie  and  Danville  he  pursued  his  edu- 
cation. After  arriving  at  mature  years  he 
engaged  in  clerking  and  eventually  became 
owner  of  a  mercantile  establishment,  carry- 
ing on  active  business  in  different  lines  in 
Rossvilie  until  1901.  Associated  with  Mr. 
Campbell  in  1891,  he  established  the  old 
Citizens  Bank  of  Rossvilie  and  afterward 
purchased  his  partner's  interest.  Later  he 
admitted  ]\Ir.  Christman  to  a  partnership  in 
the  business  and  by  these  gentlemen  the  bank 
was  conducted.  In  1900  that  business  was 
re-organized  and  merged  into  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Rossvilie.  of  which  ]\Ir.  Cun- 
ningham is  one  of  the  directors.  He  be- 
came a  stockholder,  aided  in  organizing  the 
institution  and  was  elected  to  the  official  posi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


09 


tjon  which  lie  iu)\v  tills.  He  has  also  had  real 
estate  interests,  having  bought  and  sold  dif- 
tereiit  farms  in  the  county  anil  at  the  pres- 
ent time  gives  his  personal  supervision  to 
the  management  i>f  his  larnis  near  Ross- 
villc.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Commercial  Tnist  &  Savings  Bank  of  Dan- 
ville, being  associated  in  this  enterprise  with 
Mr.  Christman.  This  bank  was  capitalized 
at  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  is  a 
new  institution  of  the  city,  having  been 
opened  for  business  on  the  22d  of  January. 
1003,  with  Mr.  Cunningham  as  president 
and  T.  !■'.  Christman.  cashier.  In  the  con- 
duct of  all  of  the  enterprises  with  which 
he  has  been  associated  he  has  proved  him- 
self a  successful  business  man  and  far-sighted 
financier  and  his  probity  and  personal  worth 
stand  as  unqucstionetl  facts  in  his  career. 

In  the  year  1880,  in  Rossville,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham was  married  to  Jennie  Foulke,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Rossville. 
Her  death  occurred  in  Danville  in  I'cbruary, 
1883.  and  in  1.SS8  Mr.  Cunningham  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Orrie  L.  Albright,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  this  county  and  also  attended 
college  in  Ohio.  Ilcr  father,  Samuel  Al- 
bright, was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  \''er- 
milion  county  and  died  in  Rossville  in  190J. 
The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children,  Thomas 
A..  Irene  M.  and  Willard  T. 

I'olitically  Mr.  Cunningham  is  a  Demo- 
crat where  national  issue?  arc  involved  and 
at  local  elections  he  votes  independently, 
supporting  the  men  whom  he  thinks  best 
qualified  for  office,  regardless  of  party  atlfil- 
iations.  He  has  given  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  extensive  business  interests  and  has 
therefore  had  no  desire  to  seek  public  r)ffice. 
He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra- 


ternity of  Rossville  and  his  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  On 
the  opening  of  the  bank  in  Danville  they 
remo\ed  to  the  city  anil  already  our  subject 
has  been  recognized  as  a  leading  representa- 
tive of  financial  interests  here,  because  of  the 
reputation  which  he  has  Ixirne  throughout 
X'ermilion  county  for  many  years,  lie  has 
ever  taken  an  active  interest  in  whatever 
has  pertained  to  the  general  good  and  has 
gixen  his  hearty  co-operation  to  many  meas- 
ures for  the  public  benefit.  His  business 
affairs  have  been  carefully  and  capably 
managed.  He  manifests  keen  discrim- 
ination, unfaltering  perseverance  and 
his  judgment  is  rarely,  if  ever,  at 
fault.  Intricate  business  questions  he  com- 
prehends readily,  forms  his  |)lans  after  ma- 
lure  tlelibcr.ilion  and  then  carries  them  for- 
ward with  dispatch.  As  the  years  have 
passed  he  has  thus  prospered  and  to-day 
is  one  of  the  leading  financiers  of  \'er- 
milion  county. 


L.  ANGUS  CAMERON. 

L.  .Angus  Cameron,  a  well  known  resi- 
dent of  Grant  township  living  near  Hoope- 
ston,  was  lx)rn  in  southern  Ohio,  on  the 
13th  of  January,  1852.  His  father.  Chris- 
tian Cameron,  was  a  native  of  the  same  lo- 
cality, and  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Cam- 
eron. The  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject was  Daniel  or  Donald  Cameron,  who 
came  from  Scotland  to  America  soon  after 
the  Revolutinary  war.  He  married  a  sister 
of  Simon  Cameron,  who  was  secretary  of 
war  under  President  Lincoln.  He  brought 
with  him  from  the  old  country  two  church 
letters   gi\ing   evidence   of   his   inemliersliip 


70 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  good  standing  in  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  hved  an  earnest  Christian  hfe 
and  the  family  have  always  been  noted  for 
tlieir  loyahy  to  Christian  teachings  and  their 
active  work  in  belialf  of  the  church. 

Christian  Cameron  was  also  a  native 
of  southern  Oliio,  and  after  arriving  at 
years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Miss  Esther 
Core,  who  was  one  of  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children.  Her  father,  John  Core,  was 
a  native  of  Maryland,  while  her  mother  was 
of  Pennsylvania  German  parentage.  L.  An- 
gus Cameron  of  this  re\'iew  is  one  of  a 
family  of  eight  children :  Elizabeth,  now 
deceased;  Catherine;  Sudie,  who  has  also 
passed  away ;  John  ;  Anna  ;  Angus ;  Emma ; 
and  Rose,  who  has  also  departed  this  life. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Cam- 
eron of  this  review  was  reared  to  manhood, 
spending  his  youth  upon  his  father's  farm 
and  pursuing  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  After  arriving  at  years  of  matur- 
ity he  was  married  and  lived  for  four  years 
thereafter  upon  a  farm  in  the  Buckeye  state. 
It  was  on  Christmas  day  of  1875  that  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Mary  James  was  cele- 
brated. The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Margaret  (McCann)  James,  the  latter 
coming  of  a  family  of  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
try. ]Mrs.  Cameron  is  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, namely:  .\marillus;  John,  deceased; 
Catherine;  Eliza,  who  has  also  passed 
away ;  Mary ;  Sarah ;  Lucy ;  and  Henry,  the 
last  named  being  also  deceased.  The  history 
of  the  James  family  in  America  dates  back 
to  a  very  early  epoch  in  the  development  of 
this  country. 

In  November,  1882,  Mr.  Cameron 
brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
\'ermilion  county,  at  the  place  of  his  pres- 
ent residence  in  Grant  township.  When  a 
young  man  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 


for  four  years,  but  with  this  exception  he 
has  always  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
and  his  work  has  been  attended  witli  a  grat- 
ifying degree  of  success.  He  lives  on  his 
father's  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land; 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  the  farm  being  a  rich  and  pro- 
ductive tract.  Everything  about  the  place 
is  neat  and  attractive  in  appearance  and  is 
indicative  of  the  careful  supervision  and 
progressive  spirit  of  the  owner.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cameron  has  l>een  blessed 
with  eleven  children:  Rosy,  born  April  14, 
1877;  Sudie,  born  August  27,  1878;  Lucy, 
born  July  10,  1880;  Ann  E.,  born  May  4, 
1882:  Chris,  born  April  29,  1884:  Esther, 
born  June  10,  1886:  Ruth,  born  ]\Iarch  20, 
1888:  John,  born  May  3,  1890;  Kate,  born 
May  7,  1892;  Ralph,  born  May  2,  1894; 
and  Ruby,  born  July  8,  1896. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Cameron  i; 
a  stalwart  Republican,  having  supported  the 
party  since  he  attained  his  majoritv.  He 
has  never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  its 
principles,  yet  he  has  never  sought  or  cared 
for  public  office,  content  to  do  his  duty  as 
a  private  citizen.  He  and  his  familv  are 
all  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
in  the  work  of  which  he  takes  an  active  and 
helpful  interest.  He  has  served  as  trustee 
steward.  Sunday-school  superintendent  and 
class  leader,  and  puts  forth  every  effort  in 
his  power  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  church. 


CHARLES  A.  ALLEN. 

The  name  of  Charles  A.  Allen  figures 
conspicuously  upon  the  pages  of  the  legisla- 
tive history  of  Illinois.  An  enumeration  of 
the  men  nf  the  present  generation  who  have 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


73 


won  honor  and  public  recognition  for  them- 
sehes  and  at  the  same  time  have  honored 
tlie  state  to  wliich  tliey  belong,  would  be 
incomplete  were  there  failure  to  make  promi 
nent  reference  to  the  one  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review.  For  eighteen  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  state  legislature, 
and  has  e\er  manifested  a  deep  interest  in 
those  questions  which  are  to  the  statesman 
and  the  man  of  affairs,  of  vital  importance 
to  the  commonwealth  and  to  the  nation. 
AMiilc  undoubtedly  he  has  not  been  without 
that  personal  ambition  which  is  the  spur  of 
energy  and  without  which  little  would  be  ac- 
complished in  life,  his  patriotic  attachment 
to  his  country  is  even  greater  and  he  has 
ever  placed  the  country's  good  before  self- 
aggrandizement.  Thus,  over  the  record  of 
his  public  career  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
wrong  and  while  he  has  awakened  en\-y  and 
criticisiri  such  as  always  comes  to  the  man 
who  figures  prominently  before  the  public 
the  citizens  who  know  him  best  have  mani- 
fested their  confidence  in  his  worth  and  work 
by  repeatedly  electing  him  to  represent  them 
in  the  council  chamber  of  the  state. 

^Ir.  Allen  was  born  in  Danville  in  the 
year  183 1.  His  father,  William  I.  Allen, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. Coming  to  Illinois  he  entered  land 
at  Hoopeston,  having  three  thousand  acres. 
and  upon  this  farm  took  up  his  abode.  Later 
he  became  interested  in  banking  and  at  the 
time  of  the  "wildcat"  currency  his  financial 
affairs  became  involved  and  he  lost  all  that 
he  had  made.  By  profession  he  was  a  law 
yer  and  at  an  early  day  he  practiced  in  Dan- 
\ille  at  a  time  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
also  often  seen  in  the  courts  of  the  city.  He 
married  Miss  Emily  Newell,  a  daughter  of 
James  Newell,  a  prominent  early  settler  of 


Newell  township,  Vermilion  county,  who 
aided  in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  prog- 
ress and  development  in  this  portion  of  the 
state.  Her  father  died  at  an  advanced  age 
an<I  was  laid  to  rest  in  Grove  cemetery  in 
the  town  of  Newell,  in  1846. 

Charles  A.  Allen  was  reared  upc  m  a  farm 
in  Ross  township,  A'ermilion  count\\  and 
])ursued  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  that  township.  He  afterward  engaged  in 
teaching  school  and  in  this  w'ay  provided  the 
money  necessar_\-  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
a  college  education.  Determining  to  make 
the  practice  of  law  his  life  work  he  began 
reading  with  this  end  in  \-iew  and  later  en- 
tered the  State  L'niversity  of  Michigan,  at 
Ann  Arbor  ,  as  a  student  of  the  law  depart- 
ment, graduating  in  the  spring  of  1875  ^^'^'-^ 
that  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  gained  distinction  as  a  lawyer  because 
of  his  comprehensive  knowledge  of  juris- 
prudence, his  careful  preparation  of  cases 
and  his  thorough  understanding  of  techni- 
calities as  well  as  the  equity  of  the  suit  with 
which  he  was  connected.  It  is  a  noticeable 
fact  that  lawyers  are  more  prominently  be- 
fore the  public  in  connection  with  official 
service  than  any  other  one  class  of  men.  The 
reason  for  this  is  obvious,  because  the  train- 
ing which  fits  them  for  the  practice  of  law 
also  prepares  them  for  duties  which  lie  out- 
side the  strict  path  of  their  profession.  They 
are  apt  to  look  upon  a  ((uestion  from  many 
standpoints,  to  view  judiciously  every  mat 
ter  that  comes  up  before  them  for  settle- 
ment and  to  give  a  more  fair  and  unbiased 
judgment  than  is  often  rendered  by  men 
in  other  walks  of  life.  The  native  talent 
and  ability  of  Mr.  Allen  won  for  him  the 
attention  of  his  fellow  men  and  in  1884  he 
was  called  upon  to  represent  his  district  in 


74 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  state  legislature  of  Illinois,  where  he 
has  served  continuously  since,  covering  a 
period  of  eighteen  }-ears.  His  name  figures 
conspicuously  and  prominently  upon  the 
legislative  records  and  he  has  been  the  pro- 
moter of  many  measures  which  have  found 
their  way  to  the  statute  books  of  the  state. 
He  is  a  fearless  champion  of  whatever  course 
he  believes  to  be  right  and  his  loyal  defense 
of  his  honest  convictions  is  one  of  the  strong 
elements  of  his  success  in  political  circles. 
Perhaps  his  name  came  into  more  general 
prominence  in  connection  with  what  is 
known  as  the  Allen  bill  than  through  any 
other  measure.  This  was  the  street  railway 
bill  which  he  promoted  giving  to  the  city 
councils  and  boards  of  supervisors  the  right 
of  granting  franchises  not  exceeding  fifty 
years.  The  present  law  limits  this  term  to 
franchise  to  twenty  years.  The  bill  which 
Mr.  Allen  promoted  and  fathered  was  car- 
ried by  both  houses  and  signed  by  the  go\- 
enior,  but  was  repealed  with  the  next  session 
of  the  legislature,  ^Nlr.  Allen  being  the  only 
man  who  voted  against  the  repeal.  \"er- 
milion  county  lias  profited  largely  by  his 
efforts  in  its  behalf  and  upon  the  floor  of  the 
house  Mr.  Allen  is  known  as  an  active  work- 
ing member  deeply  interested  in  his  party's 
success,  but  placing  the  general  good  be- 
fore personal  partisanship.  In  1878  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Charles  A.  Allen 
and  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  a  daughter  of 
L.  ]\I.  Thompson,  of  Rossville.  and  they 
now  have  three  children :  John  Newell  and 
Lawrence  T.,  both  of  whom  are  law  stu- 
dents, arid  Esther  Mary. 

From  1875  until  1881  Mr.  Allen  prac- 
ticed law  in  Rossville  and  then  came  tn 
Hoopeston  where  he  has  since  lived.  At 
the  present  time,  however,  he  is  not  actively 
connected  with  the  legal  profession,  giving 


his  attention  to  his  legislative  work  and  to 
the  supervision  of  his  invested  interests.  He 
owns  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Ver- 
milion county,  fifteen  hundred  acres  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Indiana,  and  has  extensive  in- 
vestments in  gold  and  silver  mining  prop- 
ert\-  in  Arizona,  being  one  of  fi\-e  men  who 
constitute  the  Black  Rock  Gold  and  Copper 
Mining  Company.  His  pleasant  and  at- 
tracti\-e  home  in  Hoopeston  is  located  on 
Washington  street.  'Sir.  Allen  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  IMasonic  fraternity,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  He  is  a  generous  and  lib- 
eral contributor  to  the  churches  and  worthy 
institutions,  and  the  poor  and  needy  find  in 
him  a  warm  friend.  A  well  known  visitor 
of  the  Old  Settlers'  Home,  he  often  ad- 
dresses such  gatherings  and  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  preserving  the  records  of  the 
early  development  and  progress  of  the  state. 
During  campaigns  he  does  effective  work 
in  the  interest  of  the  Republican  party  upon 
the  stump  and  is  an  orator  of  ability,  a  ready, 
fluent,  logical  and  convincing  speaker.  While 
Mr.  Allen  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous and  distinguished  citizens  of  Ver- 
milion county,  he  deserves  to  be  classed 
among  the  honored  men  who  have  achieved 
their  own  advancement.  His  education  was 
acquired  as  the  result  of  his  own  labors  and 
his  prominence  has  come  to  him  in  direct 
recognition  of  his  merit,  ability,  and  earnest 
purpose.  Viewed  in  a  personal  light.  Charles 
A.  Allen  is  a  strong  man  of  excellent  judg- 
ment, fair  in  his  views  and  highly  honorable 
in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men.  His 
integrity  stands  as  an  unquestioned  fact  in 
his  career.  His  life  has  been  manlv,  his 
actions  sincere,  his  manner  unaft'ected. 
and  his  example  is  well  worthy  of  emu- 
lation. 


•  THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


75 


GEORGE  T.  BUCKIXGHA^I. 

George   T.    Buckingham    is  one   of   the 
distinguished     lawyers    of    the     \'erniihon 
county  bar  and  is  also  prominent  in  the  busi- 
ness and  political  history  of  this  portion  of 
the  state.     Danville  claims  him  as  one  of 
its     honored     and     representative     citizens, 
whose  efforts  in  its  behalf  have  been  most 
effective  and  beneficial.     He  is  a  native  of 
Delphi,   Indiana,   born   April   4,    1864,   and 
is  a  son  of  T.  \V.  and  Helen  A.    (Clark). 
Buckingham,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  latter  of  New  York,  but  both  are 
now  residents  of  this  town.     The  first  rep- 
resentative of  the  family  to  come  to  Amer- 
ica was  the  Rev.  Thomas  Buckingham,  who 
several   centuries  ago  crossed  the  Atlantic 
and  settled  in  Xew  Haven,  Connecticut.  He 
was  prominent  in  the  aft'airs  of  that  colony 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Yale  col- 
lege.    Another  distinguished  representative 
of   the   same   family   was   General   William 
Buckingham,  the  famous  war  governor  o. 
Connecticut  and  probably  the  most  promi- 
nent meml)ers  in  the  subject's  history.  Helen 
A.  Buckingham,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  a  descendant  of  General  Emmet  Clark, 
and  in  the  maternal  line  was  descended  from 
(leneral    Luther   Tillotson,    of   New   York. 
Colonel  Buckingham,  of  this  review,  is  the 
third  of  a  family  of  five  children,  namely : 
Ella  B.,  the  wife  of  George  A.  May;  Mrs. 
J.  E.  P.  Butz ;  George  T. ;  Mrs.  Robert  P. 
Harmon ;  and  Clyde,  who  is  business  man- 
ager of  the  Globe,  a  newspaper  published  at 
Joplin,  Missouri. 

Colonel  Buckingham  obtained  his  early 
education  in  Ladoga,  Indiana,  and  subse- 
quently matriculated  in  the  Central  Indiana 
Normal,  after  which  he  was  variously  em- 
ployed in  obtaining  a  !i\-ing.     In  the  mean- 


time he  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  W.  J.  Calhoun,  in 
1889  he  served  as  chief  clerk  in  the  house 
ol  represcnlali\es  ol  Illinois  and  was  in  the 
government  employ  from  1890  until  1894, 
during  which  time  he  was  stationed  at  var- 
ious parts  of  Xew  York,  San  Francisco, 
^Mexico  and  I'.urope.  lie  has  practiced  law 
in  Danville  since  1894  and  has  gained  a 
prominent  place  as  a  representative  of  the 
bar. 

While  Mr.  Buckingham  has  won  an  en- 
viable position  as  a  leading  lawyer  of  \''er- 
milion  county  he  has  also  been  identified 
with  many  local  enterprises  and  with  im- 
portant puljlic  work  and  political  service. 
He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Ike  Stern  Com- 
pany and  the  Danville  Department  Store. 
Lie  is  also  an  extensive  dealer  in  real  estate 
and  was  instrumental  in  founding  the  su- 
burban town  of  Oak  Lawn,  and  was  identi- 
fied with  the  establishment  of  the  interur- 
ban  railroad  system  of  Danville  and  vi- 
cinity. 

In   X^)venil)er,    1893,    Mr.    Buckingham 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Victoria  Donlon, 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Virginia  (Holton) 
Donlon.     This   marriage   has   been  blessed 
with  one  son,  Tracy.  Fraternally  Mr.  Buck- 
ingham is  connected  with  the  IMasonic  Or 
der,  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  with  the 
Benevolent  and   Protective  Order  of   Elks 
and  with  the  Modem  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce in  Danville  and  to  the  Union  League 
Club  of  Chicago.     In  politics  he  has  always 
been  an   earnest  and  stalwart  supporter  of 
the    Republican    party.       For    four    years, 
from  1897  until   1901.  he  served  as  a  trus- 
tee of  the  Kankakee  Insane  Asylum  imder 
fiovernor  Tanner  and  he  was  appointed  by 
(ii)\crnor  Yates  as  one  of  the  commission-' 


76 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ers  of  the  Joliet  penitentiary  and  was  elected 
president  of  the  board.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  staff  of  Governor  Yates  with 
the  rank  of  colonel,  having  been  appointed 
to  the  position  in  April.  1901.  Few  men 
are  more  prominently  or  more  widely 
known,  in  the  enterprising  city  of  Danville 
than  Colonel  Bnckingham.  He  has  beer 
an  important  factor  in  bnsiness  circles  and 
his  popularity  is  well  deserved,  as  in  him 
are  embraced  the  characteristics  of  an  un- 
bending integrity,  unabating  energ}-  and  in- 
dustry that  never  flags.  He  is  a  public-spir- 
ited and  thoroughly  interested  in  whatever 
tends  to  promote  the  moral,  intellectual  and 
material  welfare  of  A^ermilion  countv. 


WILLIAM!  B.  REDDEN. 

Character  and  ability  will  come  to  the 
front  everywhere.  As  boy  and  man  many 
a  one  has  been  beset  by  difficulties  and  has 
had  almost  unsurmountable  obstacles  thrust 
in  his  path,  but  perseverance  has  cleared 
them  away  and  he  has  gone  on  to  success. 
Such  has  been  the  record  of  ^^^illiam  B. 
Redden,  now  extensively  engaged  in  real 
estate  dealing  in  Rossville,  where  he  also 
devotes  some  time  to  the  practice  of  law, 
being  a  member  of  the  legal  profession  of 
Vermilion  county,  during  the  past  twelve 
years. 

Born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  on 
the  6th  of  October.  1855.  he  is  a  son  of 
John  Redden,  whose  birth  occurred  near 
Maj'sville,  Kentucky.  July  g.  182Q.  His 
grandfather.  \\'illiam  Redden,  was  on.e  of 
tJie  pioneer  settlers  of  Kentucky  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  Indiana,  becoming  one 
of  the  earliest  residents  of  Fountain  countv. 


Amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life  there 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  reared,  shar- 
ing in  all  the  hardships  incident  to  the  fron- 
tier. He  wedded  Catherine  Anderson,  a 
native  of  Fountain  county,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  Anderson,  another  early  settler  of 
that  locality,  who  removed  from  \'irginia 
about  1820.  After  his  marriage  John  Red- 
den turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  for  several  years  carried  on  his 
farm  work  in  Indiana.  After  the  birth  of 
three  of  their  children  he  and  his  wife  came 
with  their  family  to  Illinois,  settling  near 
Rossville  in  i860.  There  the  fatlier  cleared 
a  tract  of  land  and  improved  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  reared  his  children.  He  is  now 
living  retired  in  Rossville  and  is  a  hale, 
hearty  and  \-enerable  man  of  seventy-tliree 
years. 

William  B.  Redden  is  the  eldest  in  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
of  whom  are  yet  living,  are  married  and 
have  families  of  their  own.  He  was  not 
yet  five  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Vermilion  county  and  hence  he 
has  little  recollection  of  their  other  home. 
He  attended  the  common  schools,  but  is 
largely  self-educated,  as  well  as  a  self-made 
man  for  his  privileges  for  acquiring  knowl- 
edge in  the  school  room  were  ^-ery  limited. 
When  a  young  man  on  the  farm  he  bega 
reading  law.  believing  that  he  would  like  to 
enter  the  profession  and  make  the  practice 
of  law  his  life  work.  For  some  years  he 
prosecuted  his  studies  inider  great  difficul- 
ties and  amid  discouraging  circumstances, 
but  this  brought  forth  the  elemental  stregth 
of  his  character  and  gave  evidence  of  the 
perse\-erance  of  purpose  and  unflagging  de- 
termination and  ambition  which  have  proved 
important  elements  in  his  success  in  latei 
life.      Subsequently    he    went    to    ^^eeders• 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


17 


burg,  Indiana,  where  he  cunductetl  a  brancli 
law  office  for  tlie  Honorable  W.  H.  Mal- 
lory,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Danville.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  l)ar  in  \'eedersbnrg  in 
Felirnary,  1889,  and  tried  his  first  case  a; 
that  place.  Later  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
locating  on  a  farm  west  of  Rossville,  where 
he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  ter. 
years.  In  January,  1890,  howexcr,  lie  left 
the  farm  in  oriler  to  take  up  his  residence 
in  the  town  and  here  he  has  since  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  and  in  the  real-estate 
business,  gi\ing  the  greater  part  of  his  time 
to  his  operations  in  property.  He  has 
bought  and  sold  many  farms  in  Vermilion 
and  IrcKjuois  counties  and  has  also  handled 
some  farm  land  in  Indiana.  He  has  a  broad 
and  comprehensi\-e  knowledge  of  the  value 
of  real  estate  in  this  portion  of  Illinois  and 
his  dealings  have  been  attentled  with  grat- 
ifying success.  He  commenced  life  a  poor 
boy,  empty-handed,  but  steadily  he  has 
climbed  the  ladder  of  success.  The  very 
difficulties  in  his  path  seemed  to  ser\e  as  an 
impetus  for  renewed  effort  and  with  strong 
l)urpose  he  has  pushed  his  way  forward  un- 
til he  now  stands  among  the  prosperous 
men  of  Rossville.  strong  in  his  honor  and 
his  good  name  as  well  as  in  his  prosperity. 
On  the  30th  of  ?^Iarch,  1S79.  ^^i'-  Red- 
den was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Remster,  a  nati\e  of  Fountain  county, 
Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Rem- 
ster, who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  that  county.  Four  children  have  gracc(i 
this  nnrriage :  Carter  G.,  v,ho  is  ncns  a 
law  student  in  his  senior  year,  in  the  Mich- 
igan L'niversity.  at  .\nn  .Xrbor;  Forrest, 
a  student  in  the  Rossxille  higli  schnol;  Ma- 
bel: and  James.  When  age  conferred  upon 
Mr.  Redden  the  right  of  franchise  he  en- 
dorsed the  principles  of  the  Jefferson  Dem- 


mocracy,  casting  his  ballot  for  S.  J.  Til- 
den  for  president  in  1876.  He  has  since 
voted  for  each  presidential  nominee  of  the 
Democracy  and  has  done  all  in  his  power 
t(j  pnjintjte  the  growth  and  insure  the  suc- 
cess of  his  party.  In  1896  he  served  as  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention  and  has 
been  a  delegate  to  numerous  county  and 
state  conventions,  his  opinions  carrving 
weight  in  the  party  councils.  He  is  a  Mas- 
ter Mason  and  in  his  life  exemplifies  the 
benefifeciit  and  helpful  spirit  of  that  fra- 
ternit)-.  His  life  history  pro\cs  conclusixely 
what  may  be  accomplished  when  one  has 
the  will  to  try  and  to  do ;  and  his  example, 
showing  the  force  of  industry  and  an  up 
right  character,  is  well  worthv  of  emulation. 


L.  E.  SXAPP  &  SONS. 

This  well  known  firm  (.)f  Georgetown 
has  been  engaged  in  business  here  since 
1 88 1  as  buyers  and  shippers  of  poultry,  but- 
ter and  eggs.  The  senior  member  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
\'ermiHon  county  and  he  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  October  3,  1850,  his  parents 
being  William  and  j\Iary  J.  (LaMar) 
Snapp.  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee 
and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  At  an  early  dav 
in  the  development  of  this  part  of  Illinois 
the  fatlier  came  to  Vermilion  countv'  and 
])urcb:ised  a  farm  where  the  village  of 
Georgetown  now  stands.  Fle  then  tn.rncd 
bis  attention  to  agricultural  ]nu'suits.  which 
he  carried  on  there  until  1853.  when  he  was 
Isillcd  in  a  wind  storm.  His  widow  still 
survives  him  and  now  resides  with  a  son  in 
Iroquois  county.  Illinois.  In  their  familv 
were  three  children:     George  W.,   who  is 


78 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


now  a  railroad  man,  living  in  Iroquois 
county;  Ella,  the  wife  of  Wesley  Houck, 
a  resident  of  Oregon ;  and  Louis  E.  All 
received  common-school  advantages  in  this 
county. 

Louis  E.  Snapp,  like  the  others,  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  until  fourteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  began  earning  his  own  living 
b}'  working  at  any  employment  which  would 
yield  him  an  honest  dollar.  In  1875  he  mar- 
ried ]\Iiss  IMargaret  F.  Bedinger,  of  Vir- 
ginia, a  daughter  of  Daniel  Bedinger,  who 
was  a  farmer  of  Vermilion  county,  but  is 
now  deceased.  Unto  Mr.  and  IMrs.  Snapp 
have  been  born  four  children:  Robert  A., 
born  in  January,  1877,  is  now  engaged  in 
the  poultry  business  in  partnership  with  his 
father.  He  married  Gay  Edith  Myers  and 
they  have  one  child,  Marion.  William  D.. 
also  a  partner  with  his  father,  wedded  Ly- 
dia  Outland.  and  they  have  one  daughter, 
01i^"e.  Jessie  L.  and  George  are  the  younger 
members  of  the  family. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Snapp  engaged 
in  contracting  and  other  lines  of-  business 
and  eventually  became  interested  in  the  lum- 
ber trade,  buying  timber  and  logs,  which 
he  converted  into  lumber  for  the  market. 
He  was  thus  engaged  until  1881,  when  he 
began  dealing  in  poultry  and  as  soon  as  his 
sons  became  of  age  he  admitted  them  to 
an  interest  in  the  business  as  equal  partners. 
He  now  has  poultry  houses  in  Georgetown. 
Fairmount,  and  Cayuga,  Indiana,  and  em- 
ploys from  eight  to  ten  men  in  the  conduct 
of  the  enterprise.  A  number  of  poultn,- 
wagons  are  continually  kept  on  the  road, 
buying  butter,  eggs  and  poultry  of  the 
farmers  throughout  this  section  of  the  state 
and  Indiana.  The  poultry  is  dressed  here 
and  shipments  are  made  only  to  the  markets 
of    Xew    York,    Boston    and    Philadelphia 


The  business  has  now  assumed  extensive 
proportions  and  Jiis  annual  sales  have  reach- 
ed a  large  figure. 

]\Ir.  Snapp  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  never  been  an  office  seeker 
nor  has  he  held  a  political  position.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Woodmen  ot" 
America,  and  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
belonging  to  the  lodges  in  Georgetown. 
Since  entering  upon  his  business  career  he 
has  been  very  successful  and  is  now  a  prom- 
inent man  of  this  place.  He  owns  a  beauti- 
ful residence  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  vil- 
lage near  the  poultr}'  house  and  his  sons  are 
located  in  the  same  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Snapp  through  his  business  relations  and 
otherwise  has  become  widely  known,  es- 
pecially to  the  farming  community  of  Ver- 
milion county  and  all  recognize  in  him  a  re- 
liable business  man,  v.diose  energ}-  and  de- 
termination is  supplemented  by  fair  dealing. 


C.  B.  DE  LONG. 


Perfiaps  no  resident  of  Fithian  has  left 
his  impress  in  a  greater  degree  upon  the 
business  development  and  the  consequent 
prosperity  of  the  town  than  has  Mr.  De  Long. 
His  financial  and  mercantile  interests  there 
have  been  and  are  of  an  important  charac- 
ter and  he  is  a  representative  of  that  class 
of  representative  citizens  who.  while  pro- 
moting individual  success  also  contribute  in 
a  large  measure  to  the  general  prosperity 
and  upbuilding. 

^Ir.  De  Long  was  born  in  Philo,  Illinois. 
July  29,  1863,  and  belongs  to  that  branch 
of  the  De  Long  family  of  which  the  famous 
Arctic  explorer  was  also  a  representative. 
His  father,  C.  G.  De  Long,  is  a  native  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


New  York,  his  l)irth  having  occurred  near 
Utica.  In  Racine,  Wisconsin,,  he  wedded 
Echia  Moore,  a  native  of  INIassachusetts. 
When  bnt  a  boy  lie  had  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Racine  and  was  there  educated 
in  the  pubhc  schools.  He  afterward  engagei. 
in  farming  and  took  his  bride  to  the  farm. 
There  he  continued  to  m;ike  liis  home  until 
1863,  when  he  remo\-ed  to  Philo,  Champaign 
county,  Illinois.  In  that  locality  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  very  rich  and 
producti\e  land  and  in  addition  to  this  he 
owns  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  irrigated 
section  of  Colorado.  He  is  a  wiile-awakc 
and  enterprising  business  man  whose  keen 
discernment  and  unflagging  industry  have 
been  potent  forces  in  his  success.  A  stanch 
Republican  in  politics,  he  does  all  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  growth  of  his  party, 
yet  has  always  refused  to  hold  office.  He 
belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church  and  is  a 
man  of  prominence  in  his  community.  He 
and  his  wife  have  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
two  daughters :  George  A.,  a  banker,  re- 
siding in  Foosland,  Champaign  county :  C. 
B.,  of  Fithian;  Effie.  who  resides  at  home 
and  fcirmerlv  was  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools :  Alinnie,  the  wife  of  Eugene  Burr, 
of  Philo,  Illinois;  C.  E.,  who  carries  on 
farming  at  Rocky  Ford,  Colorado;  Clarence, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years; 
W.  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  banking  and 
grain  business  at  Sadorus,  Champaign 
county;  and  E.  1^)..  who  is  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  \\'.  H. 

Mr.  De  Long.  Avhose  name  introduces 
this  record,  pursued  his  education  at  home, 
in  the  puljlic  schools  of  Champaign  county 
and  in  a  business  college,  where  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1S85.  In  the 
spring   of   tint   vear   he  became   connected 

with    the    grain    trade    at    Strawn.    Illinois. 
4 


where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1886. 
lie  then  came  to  Vermilion  county,  settling 
in  Fithian,  where  he  embarked  in  the  grain 
business,  purchasing  and  rebuilding  the  Rob- 
inson elevator.  He  is  still  extensively  con- 
nected with  the  grain  trade  and  owns  an 
elevator  at  Bronson,  in  Oakwood  township, 
in  addition  to  the  one  which  he  has  in  Fith- 
ian. A  man  of  resourceful  business  ability 
and  energy,  however,  he  has  not  conlined 
his  attention  to  one  line  of  activity,  but  has 
extended  his  efforts  into  other  fields,  lie  is 
now  engaged  in  the  insin"ance  business  and 
he  owns  a  large  warehouse  well  stockctl  with 
farm  implements,  his  trade  in  this  direction 
being  no  unimportant  one.  On  the  1st  of 
May,  1895,  1''^  established  the  Bank  of  Fith- 
ian, wiiich  he  still  conducts,  and  it  has  be- 
come a  valued  and  important  financial  in- 
stitution of  his  locality.  He  owns  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  near  Rochester, 
in  Fulton  county,  Indiana,  and  four  hun- 
dred antl  eight)'  acres  in  Regina,  Assiniboia, 
Canada.  The  new  interurban  system  con- 
necting Danville,  Urbana  and  Champaign 
has  taken  a  great  deal  of  ]\Ir.  De  Long's 
time  during  the  past  year  as  it  was  due  to 
his  efforts  that  the  route  now  in  use  w-as 
chosen.  At  first  it  was  the  intention  to  bring 
the  road  from  St.  Joseph  to  Homer  and  then 
along  the  Wabash  Railroad  to  Danville  but 
owing  to  the  activity  of  Mr.  DeLong  that 
route  was  abandoned  and  the  road  now  fol- 
lows the  Big  Four  Railroad  from  St.  Jos- 
eph to  Danville,  touching  Ogden,  Fithian, 
Muncie,  Bronson,  Oakwood,  Bates  Town 
and  Vermilion  Heights.  Mr.  De  Long  was 
the  man  who  secured  the  right  of  way  for 
the  company  along  this  route. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1891,  in  Fithian, 
was  performed  the  marriage  ceremony  wiiich 
united  the  destinies  of  C.  B.  De  Long  and 


82 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Miss  Minnie  Berkenbusch,  who  was  born 
in  this  town  February  3,  1873,  a  daughter 
of  Henr}'  and  Sarah  (Stephenson)  Berken- 
busch, the  former  a  native  of  Germany  and 
the  latter  of  \'ermihon  county.  Her  parents 
were  also  married  in  Fithian  and  here  re- 
side. The  father  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
war,  defending  the  Union  cause,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  is  now  independent.  Mrs.  De  Long, 
their  only  child,  has  become  the  mother  ol 
two  children  by  her  marriage :  Ruth,  bom 
November  14,  1894;  and  Clarence,  born  July 
22,,  1897. 

In  his  political  views  2\Ir.  De  Long  is  a 
Republican,  and  his  fraternal  relations  con- 
nect him  with  the  Alodern  Woodmen  of 
America.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  is  interested  in  what- 
ever pertains  to  the  general  good  along  ma- 
terial, social,  intellectual  and  moral  lines. 
He  has  led  a  very  busy  life  and  his  marked 
enterprise  has  made  him  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  residents  of  his  community.  He 
has  excellent  ability  as  an  organizer,  forms 
his  plans  readily  and  in  their  execution  is 
determined,  prompt  and  reliable.  This  en- 
ables him  to  conquer  obstacles  which  would 
deter  almost  any  man,  and  it  has  been  one 
of  the  salient  features  in  his  success. 


GUS   M.    GREEXEB.\UM. 

In  past  ages  the  history  of  a  country 
was  the  record  of  wars  and  conquests;  to- 
day it  is  the  record  of  commercial  activity, 
and  those  whose  names  are  foremost  in  its 
annals  are  the  leaders  in  business  circles. 
The  conquests  now  made  are  those  of  mind 
over  matter,  not  of  man  over  man,  and  the 
victor  is  he  who  can  successfully  establish. 


control  and  operate  extensive  commercial 
interests.  Gus  M.  Greenebaum  is  one  oi 
the  strong  and  influential  men  whose  lives 
have  become  an  essential  part  of  the  history 
of  \'ermilion  county.  Tireless  energy,  keen 
perception,  honesty  of  purpose,  genius  for 
devising  and  executing  the  right  thing  at 
the  right  time,  joined  to  every-day  common 
sense,  giiided  by  great  will  power,  are  the 
chief  characteristics  of  the  man.  He  is  now 
closely  connected  with  various  important 
mercantile  interests  of  Danville  and  his  ef- 
forts in  this  direction  have  contributed 
largely  to  the  commercial  prosperity  and 
upbuilding  of  this  state,  in  fact  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  citizens  here  would  give  to 
]Mr.  Greenebaum  the  credit  for  the  increased 
activity  which  Danville  has  enjoyed  in  busi 
ness  circles  in  recent  years. 

]Mr.  Greenebaum  is  a  native  of  Chicago 
— the  city  marvelous.  He  was  born  Sep- 
tember 21.  1863.  and  is  a  son  of  Michae' 
Greenebaum.  who  in  1846  removed  from 
Xe\\-  York  to  Chicago  and  for  mail}-  years 
conducted  a  large  wholesale  hardware  busi- 
ness there,  becoming  a  leading  merchant  of 
that  city.  He  was  also  the  founder  and 
president  of  the  Zion  Literary  Society, 
which  was  organized  in  Alay.  1887,  and  was 
well  known  as  a  proprietor  of  many  enter- 
prises that  contributed  to  the  general  good 
along  material,  intellectual  and  moral  lines. 
He  marrietl  Sarah  Speigel.  a  sister  of  Col- 
onel M.  M.  Speigel,  of  Ohio,  and  the\ 
reared  a  famih-  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  review  is  the  seventh 
child.  Michael  Greenebaum  departed  this 
life  in  1894.  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years, 
and  his  wife  died  in  1897  at  the  age  of 
sixtv-nine  years. 

Educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  city  Gus  M.   Greenebaum  completed 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


83 


his  course  in  the  West  Division  higli  school, 
\vith  the  class  of  1879.  He  then  entered  the 
employ  of  his  father  in  the  wholesale  hard- 
ware business  in  Chicago,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1890,  when  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  Charles  Friend,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Friend,  Greenebaum  &  Company 
in  the  conduct  of  a  commission  house.  They 
dealt  in  wool  and  leather,  carrying  on  husi- 
ness  until  April.  1S97,  when  on  account  of 
ill  health  Mr.  (jreenebaum  withdrew  from 
the  firm  and  removed  to  Danville.  liere 
he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  store  of 
Ike  Stern  &  Company,  dealers  in  clothing 
and  men's  furnishing  goods.  He  became 
secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company  and 
in  May,  1902.  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
A.  Appel  in  the  store  and  also  became  Mr. 
Appebs  successor  in  the  Danville  Depart- 
ment store.  These  two  large  stores  were 
then  consolidated  in  1903  with  ^Ir.  Greene- 
baum as  president  and  active  manager,  and 
the  business  is  now  occupying  enlarged 
quarters,  fronting  on  both  West  Main  and 
Vermilion  streets,  covering  sixty-five  thou- 
sand feet  of  floor  space.  This  arrangement 
makes  a  high  grade  department  store  as 
large  as  any  found  outside  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. It  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  jjusiness 
established  thirty  years  ago  by  Ike  Stern. 
who  died  in  1897.  In  the  enlargement  and 
cnntrol  of  this  enterprise  Mr.  Greeneoaum 
has  disjilayed  splendid  business  abilitv.  keer. 
discrimination,  sound  judgment  and  execu- 
tive force. 

In  the  spring  of  1899  our  subject  was 
elected  president  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  has  f:»een  re-elected  each  year  since. 
During  this  time  the  organization  has  dnu- 
bled  its  membership  and  has  been  a  nicest 
important  factor  in  the  progress  of  Dan- 
ville during  these  years.     By  his  renomina- 


tion  ^Ir.  Greenebaum  was  complimented  as 
one  of  Danville"s  most  popular  and  enter- 
[jrising  business  men.  On  account  of  addi- 
tional business  duties  that  have  recently  de- 
\-olved  upon  him  he  desired  to  retire  fron. 
the  presidency  but  his  services  were  consid- 
ered so  valuable  that  the  members  of  the 
organization  felt  that  they  could  not  dis- 
pense \vith  them  and  he  was  urged  to  remain 
in  the  office.  The  Chamber  of  Commerce 
has  inrieed  done  much  for  the  city  and  great 
credit  is  due  our  subject,  who,  though  con- 
trolling extensive  interests  in  other  direc- 
tions, has  given  much  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  the 
ofifice.  The  business  men  of  Danville  com- 
posing the  memhership  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  knew  of  no  one  likely  to  make 
as  good  a  president  and  despite  his  urgen'i 
re(juest  to  be  permitted  to  retire  he  was  re- 
nominated in  1902  without  a  dissenting 
voice.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  he  will  keep 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce  up  to  its  present 
high  standard  and  that  it  will  coninue  to 
be  an  active  factor  in  the  development  of 
the  commercial  possibilities  of  this  city.  He 
is  also  the  national  vice-president  of  the 
Good  Roads  Assocation  of  Illinois,  to  which 
position  he  was  re-elected  for  two  years' 
service.  He  is  also  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  Danville,  Paxton  &  Northern  Inter- 
urban  Electric  line  and  was  a  member  of  its 
first  board  of  directors. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1 880,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  j\Ir.  Greenebaum  and  I\Iiss 
Leah  Friend,  a  daughter  of  Nathan  Friend, 
of  Chicago.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  three  children :  James,  and  Harold 
and  Roliert.  who  are  twins.  In  his  social 
relations  Mr.  Greenebaum  is  connected  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks ;  Chicago  Lodge,  No.  437,  F.  &  A.  M. ; 


84 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Iroquois  Lodge,  No.  87,  of  the  National 
Union  of  Chicago.  Reared  amid  the  spirit 
of  business  activity  and  enterprise,  which 
has  led  to  the  wonderful  development  of 
Chicago,  he  became  imbued  with  that  spirit 
and  has  infused  it  into  the  business  life  of 
his  adopted  city.  j\Ir.  Greenebaum  has  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities,  he  has  pros- 
pered form  year  to  year,  and  has  conducted 
all  business  matters  carefully  and  success- 
fully, and  in  all  his  acts  displays  an  apti- 
tude for  successful  management.  He  ha> 
not  permitted  the  accumulation  of  a  com- 
petence to  affect  in  any  way  his  actions 
toward  those  less  successful  than  he.  and 
has  always  a  cheerful  word  and  pleasant 
smile  fijr  all  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 


ALBA  HONEYWELL. 

A  witness  of  many  and  a  participant  in 
some  of  the  adventures  which  have  found 
their  way  to  the  pages  of  history  during 
more  than  three-cfuarters  of  a  century  of 
the  world's  progress.  Alba  Honeywell  is  en- 
titled to  distinction  and  to  honorable  men- 
tion in  the  record  of  \"ermilion  countv.  He 
came  here  in  pioneer  times  and  from  the 
primitive  past  to  the  progressive  present  he 
has  labored  earnestly  and  effectively  toward 
the  promotion  of  the  best  interests  and  the 
substantial  development  of  this  part  of  the 
state.  Long  has  he  resided  in  Hoopeston, 
an  honored  patriarch  of  the  community.  To 
him  there  has  come  the  attainment  of  a  tlis- 
tinguished  position  in  connection  with  the 
extensive  business  interests  of  the  commun- 
ity and  in  controlling  such  he  has  become 
one  of  the  real  upbuilders  of  the  town. 

A  nati\-e  of  Cayuga  county.  New  York, 


Mr.  Honeywell  was  born  December  15,  1821, 
and  his  father,  Enoch  Honeywell,  was  born 
in  ^^'estchester  county,  New  York,  in  1787. 
His  education  was  largely  acquired  in  that 
county  and  upon  approaching  manhood  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  patent  wheel 
heads  for  spinning.  This  proved  a  very- 
paying  enterprise.  With  marked  business 
foresight  he  realized  the  future  of  the  west 
and  that  a  man  who  had  enterprise  enough  to 
take  advantage  of  the  opportunities  there 
might  attain  to  a  position  of  marked  afflu- 
ence. Accordingly,  in  1816,  he  made  his 
way  into  Lidiana  and  entered  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land,  embracing  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Terre  Haute,  where 
he  established  a  home  and  lived  for  several 
years  until  malaria  drove  him  away.  In  the 
meantin.ie  he  engaged  in  farming  and  ship- 
ping pork,  sending  his  boxes  by  way  of  New 
Orleans  to  New  York  city,  often  going  with 
his  merchandise  himself.  He  subsequently 
located  in  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  and 
engaged  in  chair  making,  living  there  until 
1836,  when  be  vent  on  a  farm  in  Steuben 
county.  New  York,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  his  death  in  1887.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  mentality  and  of  considerable  liter- 
ary ability.  L'nder  more  favorable  circum- 
stances he  would  have  distingtused  himself 
in  the  world  of  letters,  being  a  ready  writer 
of  both  prose  and  poetry.  He  looked  upon 
life  from  a  broad  humanitarian  standpoint, 
recognized  the  inlluences  which  were  help- 
ful to  mankind  and  those  which  were  detri- 
mental, favoring  with  fidelity  the  former  aaid 
working  with  strong  opposition  to  the  latter. 
He  opposed  sla\'erv  and  slave  traffic  and  he 
also  was  directly  opposed  to  ^Masonry  and 
other  secret  societies.  He  was  an  agitator 
of  public  thought  and  influenced  the  same 
to  a  great  extent,  doing  his  best  to  arouse 


.    'I'^Tl 


7, 


fn^uu^^cl 


i/^ 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


87 


the  people  to  a  realization  of  the  true  situa- 
tion concerning-  elements  or  interests  that 
were  derogatory  to  the  public  welfare.  He 
never  sought  political  office,  however,  nor 
desired  any  honors  of  such  a  character.  In 
early  manhood  he  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  but  becoming  dissatisfied  with 
the  faith  of  the  church  in  reg-ard  to  the  slav- 
ery question  he  left  it  and  became  identified 
with  the  Wesleyan  ^Methodist,  remaining  a 
devoted  member  of  that  denomination  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  New  York  on 
the  14th  of  January,  1887,  when  he  had 
reached  llie  advanced  age  of  ninety-nine 
years.  His  death  resulted  from  an  accident. 
He  had  retained  his  faculties  to  a  remarkable 
degree  and  e\en  in  extreme  old  age  he  was  a 
man  of  marked  influence,  lalxiring  untiring- 
ly for  the  welfare  of  his  fellow  men.  An  ex- 
tensi\-e  newspaper  contributor,  his  vie'Ws 
were  widely  read  throughout  the  country 
and  he  also  published  many  pamphlets  at  his 
own  expense.  He  appealed  to  the  hearts 
and  minds  of  his  fellow  men  in  relation  to 
their  ethical  duties,  and  who  can  measure  the 
influences  of  such  a  life?  Tennyson  has 
said  that  our  echoes  "roll  from  soul  to  soul" 
and  "grow  forever  and  forever"  and  in  the 
impetus  wh.ich  ^Ir.  Honeywell  gave  t«i  the 
realization  of  man's  duty  is  nndoulitedl}-  felt 
to-day  in  the  li\-es  of  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact.  He  married  Eliza  Dye,  a 
native  of  Rhode  Island,  who  passed  away 
about  1866,  when  seventy-four  years  of  age. 
In  their  family  were  three  children  of  whom 
the  subject  of  this  re^•iew  was  the  eldest. 
Gilbert  Honeywell  is  now  a  resident  of 
Schnvler  county.  New  York,  while  Emma 
became  the  wife  of  a  'Sir.  Fenna  and  lives 
ujion  the  home  farm  in  Schuyler  county. 

Alba  Honeywell  was  a  youth  of  twelve 
years  when  with  his  parents  he  removed  to 
that  section  of  Steuben  conntv.  New  "^'ork, 


which  is  now  included  w  ithin  the  Ijoundaries 
of  Schuyler  county,  that  slate.  His  pre- 
liminary education,  acquired  in  tlie  common 
schools,  ^vas  supplemented  l)y  academic 
study  and  he  completed  his  education  in  the 
Oneida  Institute  near  Utica.  where  he  had 
the  benefit  of  instruction  from  the  noted  re- 
former and  theologian,  Rev.  Beriah  (h-een, 
who  was  then  president  of  the  school  and 
later  spent  several  years  in  lecturing  on  tem- 
perance and  anti-slavery,  while  his  periochc- 
als  concerning  reforms  were  widely  read  at 
that  time.  Mr.  Honeywell  began  teaching, 
his  services  being  employed  in  the  common 
schools  and  academies.  He  had  become  im- 
bued with  the  liatred  of  slavery  because  of 
the  belief  and  teachings  of  his  father  and 
also  of  his  honored  instructor,  and  he  was 
among  the  first  to  acti\-ely  engage  in  the  abo- 
•■  litidn  mov&ient.  He  served  as  a  delegate 
to  the  Buffalo  convention  which  nominated 
lames  G.  Birney  for  the  presidential  candi- 
date of  the  Liberal  or  Abolition  party.  He 
subsequently  read  law  in  the  office  of  Gilbert 
&  Osborne,  prominent  attorneys  of  Rochest- 
er, New  York.  During  those  years  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  many  eminent  men,  in- 
cluding Gerritt  Smith,  ^^'illiam  Goodell,  Al- 
\an  Stewart  and  others  interested  in  the  anti- 
sla\erv  uKivement. 

Upon  leaving  Rochester  Mr.  Honeywell 
removed  to  New  York  city  and  Ijecame  editor 
of  the  New  York  Eagle.  Suljsequently  he 
was  an  active  factor  in  the  American  Anti- 
slavery  Society,  of  New  York  city,  and  was 
for  four  vears  the  sub-editor  of  the  .\nti- 
slaverv  Standard,  but  ill  health  at  length 
compelled  him  to  put  aside  his  work  in  this 
connection.  He  had  during  this  time  lie- 
come  acquainted  with  Wendell  Phillips,  Fred 
Douglas.  William  Lloyd  (garrison,  James 
Russell  Lowell.  Sidney  Howard  Gray  and 
many  other  men  of  that   time  who   for  the 


88 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


sake  of  their  principles  suffered  to  a  large 
extent  ostracism  from  society,  but  the  aboh- 
tional  sentiment  was  growing,  promulgated 
by  such  men  as  these.  They  became  still 
more  deeply  rooted  in  their  principles  be- 
cause of  the  opposition  which  they  received, 
and  although  Mr.  Honeywell  was  called  to 
other  fields  of  labor  he  rejoiced  in  the  fact 
that  the  anti-slavery  cause  moved  trium- 
phrmtly  on  and  that  victory  finally  crowned 
the  labors  of  the  men  with  whom  he  had 
formerlv  been  associated  in  the  work. 

The  spring  of  1853  witnessed  the  arrival 
of  our  subject  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois. 
The  broad  west  with  its  opportunities   at- 
tracted  him   and   on   the   14th  of  April   he 
stepped  from  the  packet  boat  at  Lafayette. 
It  is  hardly  possible  for  the  traveler  to-day 
to  realize  what  was  the  condition  of  the  coun- 
try fifty  years  ago.     The  people  were  then 
talking  of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  but  no  steam 
car  line  made  its  way  in  this  section  of  the 
state.     ]Mr.   Honeywell  located  in   Iroquois 
county,   purchasing  one  thousand  acres  of 
land   in   what   is  now   Stockland  township. 
There   he   resided    for   three   years,    during 
^vhich  time  he  made  improvements  upon  his 
farm  and  he  also  purchased  an  additional 
tract  of  four  hundred  acres.     While  extend- 
ing his  agricultural  interests  he  also  engaged 
in  teaching  and  he  utilized  every  available 
opportunity  during  this  period  to  promul- 
gate the  anti-slavery  sentiments  which  were 
already  gaining  many  adherents  in  Illinois — 
the  state  which  was  to  give  to  the  nation  the 
great  emancipator.     In  the  spring  of  1856, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  Mr.  Honeywell 
started  for  the  territory  of  Minnesota.     He 
arrived  in  Chicago  during  Tremfmt's  cam- 
paign and  became  associated  with  the  Chica- 
go Xews,  which  was  edited  and  controlled 
by  the  Republican  element.     The  party  was 
that  vear  organized  and  named,  and  it  was 


one  of  the  journals  which  brought  it  into 
prominence  before  the  country. 

]\Ir.  Honeywell  spent  that  winter  in  Chi- 
cago, and  in  the  spring  of  1857  he  removed 
to  Logansport,  Indiana,  where  he  turned  his 
attention  to  other  business  aft'airs,  becoming 
a   manufacturer  of   and   dealer   in   lumber. 
He  also  taught  school  for  several  years  in 
that  place  and  in  Lafayette.     In  the  mean- 
time he  watched  with  interest  the  growth  of 
the  abolition  sentiment  and  rejoiced  in  the 
victories  w  hich  came  to  the  L'nion  arms  after 
the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated.     During  the 
progress  of  the  war  he  was  offered  the  ap- 
pointment of  adjutant  in  the  army,  but  cir- 
cumstances prevented  him  from  accepting  it 
and  in  1863  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Iro- 
quois county.     While  proceeding  with  the 
impro\-ement  of  his  land  he  also  became  pro- 
minent in  public  affairs.     He  served  as  town- 
ship   supervisor    continuously    until     1869, 
when  he  Avas  elected  county  clerk  for  four 
years,  acting  in  that  capacity  until  1873.     I" 
1 87 1   he  purchased  land  on  the  present  site 
of  Lloopeston  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of 
office  he  removed   with  the  family  to  this 
place,  having  assisted  in  laying  out  the  town. 
He  was   also   instrumental  in   securing  the 
extension  of  the  Chicago  railroad  into  this 
place  and  it  was  through  his  aid  that  the 
town  grew  and  became  prosperous.     During 
his  official  service  as  mayor  he  labored  un- 
tiringlv  for  the  city's  substantial  upbuilding 
and  improvement  along  lines  that  would  con- 
tribute not  only  to  the  present  good  but  to 
its  future  de\elopment.     He  made  two  sub- 
divisions  and  he  still   controls  the   sale  of 
lots.     He  has  been  deeply  interested  in  every 
movement  of  measure  for  the  general  wel- 
fare and  in  the  introduction  of  all  business 
interests  which  ha\e  contributed  to  the  sub- 
stantial upbuilding  of  Hoopeston.     He  as- 
sisted in  the  organization  of  the  sugar  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


89 


canning"  factories  located  here  and  was  con- 
nected with  them  nntil  they  hecame  self- 
supporting  business  institutions,  expending 
in  their  behalf  h\e  thousand  dollars,  from 
which  he  received  no  return. 

For  many  years  ]\Ir.  Honeywell  contin- 
ued his  agricultural  efforts,  owning  nearly 
one  thousand  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  city 
of  Hoopeston.  He  reclaimed  this  for  pur- 
poses of  cultivation,  his  labors  proving  of 
direct  benelit  to  the  community.  Ijecause  his 
efforts  caused  a  material  rise  in  land  values. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  Na- 
tioual  Bank  of  W'atseka,  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  institution  as  a  stockholder 
and  director  for  more  than  thirty  years.  He 
has  also  invested  extensi\-ely  in  lands  in  other 
states,  having  several  hundred  acres  together 
with  a  fine  orange  grove  in  Florida,  and  he 
frequently  spends  the  winter  in  the  sunny 
south.  Now  he  is  owner  of  about  three 
thousand  acres  of  land,  much  of  it  rich  and 
valuable,  in  Iroquois,  \*ermilion.  Cook. 
Lake  and  Scott  counties.  Illinois,  and  in 
Lake  and  Marion  counties,  Florida.  He 
also  has  an  interest  in  a  canning  factory  at 
Ludington,  Michigan,  and  a  fruit  farm  there, 
representing  an  investment  of  many  thou- 
sands of  dollars.  He  owns  tlie  hotel  at 
Higiana  Springs,  Indiana,  and  an  elegant 
summer  home  at  Lake  Bluff',  north  of  Chica- 
go, in  addition  to  his  sumptuous  and  attrac- 
tive residence  in  Floopeston  and  much  other 
city  property.  He  also  has  investments  in 
Cuba. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  1851,  in  Schuyler 
county.  New  York,  Mr.  Honeywell  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  Cornelia  Andrews. 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  Andon  Andrews.  She 
was  born  at  Sodus  Bay  on  Lake  Ontario  in 
1829,  and  lived  there  and  in  Yates  county. 
New  York,  until  her  marriage.  Four  chil- 
dren blessed  this  union :   Estella,  the  wife  of 


John  C.  Cromer,  by  whom  she  has  one  son, 
Alba,  named  in  honor  of  his  grandfather, 
with  whom  Mrs.  Cromer  resides;  Florence 
Andrews,  who  is  the  wife  of  A.  H.  Trego, 
of  Hoopeston.  and  who  possesses  consider- 
alile  talent  as  an  artist,  having  taught  both 
portrait  and  landscape  painting  prior  to  her 
marriage:  Lillie  jVmelia,  wlio  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Allen  Beal,  a  Methodist  min- 
ister: and  Sarah  Fliza,  the  wife  of  A.  M. 
Earl,  M.  D.,  of  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 

From  the  organization  of  the  Republi- 
can party  until  1S84,  Mr.  Honeywell  con- 
tinued one  of  its  stanch  advocates.  He  then 
became  identified  with  the  Prohibition  party, 
having  always  been  a  warm  friend  of  the 
cause  of  temperance.  He  is  a  man  of  de- 
cided \-iews  and  intluence,  fearless  in  their 
expression,  yet  not  bitterly  agressive,  and  he 
commands  uniform  respect  and  confidence 
wherever  he  is  known.  He  thoroughly  en- 
jovs  home  life  and  takes  great  pleasure  in 
the  societv  of  his  family  and  friends. 
Courteous,  kindly  and  affable,  those  who 
know  him  personally  have  for  him  a  warm 
regard  and  what  he  has  done  for  the  de- 
velopment of  this  part  of  the  state  cannot 
be  over-estimated.  While  he  has  controlled 
extensive  and  important  private  business  in- 
terests which  have  continually  enchanced  his 
individual  prosperity,  he  has  at  the  same  time 
promoted  the  general  welfare  and  the  public 
success.  He  was  at  one  time  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  Pittman  system  of  phonetic 
printing  and  shorthand.  He  was  editorially 
associated  with  Andrew  and  Boyle  in  1848, 
and  in  the  Anglo-Saxon,  a  newspaper  in 
New  York  city,  advocating  the  phonetic  re- 
form, and  printed  wholly  in  the  new  type  ad- 
\-ocatcd.  He  is  also  the  author  of  several 
works,  the  largest  of  which  (yet  unpub- 
lished) is  an  exhaustive  treatise  on  language, 
embracing  all  its  dq)artments  from  element- 


90 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ary  phonetics  to  rhetoric  and  logic — in  all, 
eleven  books.  !Mr.  Honeywell  also  -wrote 
and  staged  several  plays  in  younger  years,  in 
which  plays  he  has  appeared  in  character. 
There  are  few  men  who  occupy  as  exalted  a 
position  in  the  regard  of  their  fellow  towns- 
men and  citizens  as  does  Alba  Honeywell,  not 
because  of  his  splendid  success,  though  that 
would  entitle  him  to  consideration  for  it  has 
been  achie\-ed  honorably  and  it  has  also  been 
of  financial  benefit  to  the  community,  indi- 
rectly, but  because  of  his  sterling  qualities  of 
manhood,  because  of  his  deep  interest  in  the 
oppressed,  because  of  his  hatred  of  vice  and 
his  love  of  all  that  is  good,  because  of  his 
sympathy  for  his  fellow  men  who  labor  under 
many  of  the  hardships  of  the  existing  con- 
ditions of  life.  His  time,  thought  and  effort 
have  ever  been  given  to  the  amelioration  of 
such  conditions  and  for  this  reason  he  de- 
serves the  gratitude  of  his  fellow  men. 


SEY^IER  G.  WILSOX. 

This  is  the  history  of  my  life.  I  do  not 
know  of  any  special  act  connected  with  the 
making  of  the  history  of  this  county  that  I 
can  lay  claim  to,  but  as  you  have  asked  for 
it  I  will  comply  with  your  request : 

I  was  born  on  the  ist  day  of  March,  1858, 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio.  'My  father's 
name  was  John  H.  Wilson.  Jr.,  the  son  of 
John  H.  \\'ilson.  Sr..  who  was  the  son  of 
James  Wilson,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  He  was  an  Irishman.  J\Iy  father's 
mother's  people  were  ^Morgans,  the  original 
of  whom  can:e  to  this  country  from  Eng' 
land  in  the  days  of  the  colonies.  They  set- 
tled in  Virginia.  The  original  ancestor  of 
my  father,  on  this  side  of  the  family,  was 
at  the  time  that  he  reached  America  a  boy, 
and  was  immediatelv  let  out  to  learn  a  trade 


on  a  six  years'  apprenticeship ;  before  his 
time  was  half  through  he  ran  away  from  his 
master,  joined  ^^'ashington's  army,  re- 
mained with  the  same  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  rewarded  thereafter  with  a 
section  of  land  not  far  from  the  \\'hite  Sul- 
phur Springs,  Virginia.  The  Morgans  were 
well  represented  in  the  war  for  independ- 
ence and  also  every  other  war  that  this  coun- 
tr}'  has  ever  had.  John  ^Morgan,  of  Rebel 
fame,  was  a  relative  of  my  father. 

On  my  mother's  side  I  am  German,  her 
family  having  come  to  this  country  from 
Frankfort,  Germany,  where  many  relatives 
of  hers  now  li\e.  She  was  twelve  years  old 
before  she  could  speak  a  word  of  English. 
Her  father,  Jacob  ]\Iiesse,  is  now  living  in 
Nobles\-ille,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
four. 

I  came  with  my  parents  in  October,  1864, 
to  this  county,  and  settled  on  the  Eight  Mile 
prairie,  in  what  is  known  as  "The  Fairchild 
settlement."  Father  -was  a  farmer,  and  here 
he  followed  that  calling  until  the  year  1876, 
when  he  moved  to  a  farm  fire  miles  north- 
east of  Rossville,  this  county.  The  farm 
was  raw  prairie,  and  here  I  liroke.  that 
spring,  with  one  three-horse  plow  ninety 
acres  of  prairie  sod,  and  killed  twenty-seven 
rattlesnakes.  My  parents  are  now  living  re- 
tired in  the  village  of  Rossville. 

I  have  one  brother,  Jacob  \\'ilson,  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  in  Rossville,  this  county. 
I  have  two  sisters,  namely :  ^lariah.  who 
became  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Lane,  of  this  coun- 
ty, and  died  in  1888:  and  [Matilda,  now  the 
wife  of  Henry  Bell,  of  Tiffin,  Ohio. 

As  already  gathered  from  this  article, 
my  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm,  where  I 
did  everv  kind  of  hard  work  known  to  the 
calling.  In  those  days  1  felt  that  farming 
was  the  hardest  work  in  the  world;  I  have 
since  learned  that  children  know  but  little 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


93 


of  the  trials  of  life.  As  a  child  I  was  sickly, 
and  I  now  firmly  believe  that  if  my  child- 
hood days  had  been  spent  in  the  city,  I  never 
would  have  reached  maturity.  It  was  open 
otttdoor  exercise  that  I  needed  and  father 
gave  it  to  me  in  abundance.  In  those  days 
we  were  very  poor  and  usually  moved  e\'ery 
year  from  one  rented  farm  to  another. 

My  schooling  was  obtained  in  the  coun- 
try district  schools,  I  never  hax'ing  attended 
any  other  kind  of  school  in  my  life  except 
one  summer  term  of  normal  school  in  Dan- 
ville, and  the  greater  part  of  what  education 
I  have,  I  acquired  as  a  teacher;  having 
taught  school  in  country  districts  from  1878 
to  i88j,  during  a  part  of  which  time  I  read 
law  with  Mann,  C.'dliDun  and  Frazier,  of 
Danville,  staying  in  their  office  in  the  sum- 
mer time  and  teaching  in  the  winter.  I  was 
admitted  to  practice  law  in  tlie  summer  of 
1882,  and  at  about  the  same  time  was  ap- 
pointed a  government  clerk  at  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia,  where  I  remained  for 
five  years ;  and  while  tliere  took  a  course  in 
the  National  Law  University,  of  that  city, 
graduating  therefrom  with  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Laws.  I  came  to  Danville  in  the 
winter  of  1888,  hung  out  a  shingle  and  com- 
menced to  hustle  with  the  county  lawyers 
for  business.  I  was  elected  state's  attorney  of 
this  county  in  1892,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1896,  being  the  first,  and  so  far,  the  only 
state's  attorney  that  ever  succeeded  himself 
in  that  office  in  the  history  of  the  county. 
During  that  time  I  tried  some  remarkable 
criminal  cases,  and  also  acted  for  the  county 
in  the  celebrated  "Gerrymander  case," 
brought  by  Democrats  against  the  Republi- 
can re-districting  of  the  state  following  the 
election  of  1892. 

At  present  I  am  engaged  in  the  private 
practice  of  law.  and  am  well  satisfied  witli 
my  jiracticc  .and  the  success  I  ha\'e  obtained 


therein.  I  belie\-e  that  any  man  with  good 
common  sense  can  by  devotion  make  a  gooil 
lawyer — there  is  nothing  difficult  about  it. 

I  was  appointed  counsel  to  Magdeburg, 
Germany,  in  1900,  by  President  Mclvinley, 
but  was  unable  on  account  of  business  affairs 
to  accept  the  position. 

In  December,  1893,  I  was  married  to 
Gertrude  Wallace  Kent,  daughter  of  John 
W.  Kent  and  Catharine  Wallace  Kent. 
Her  father  was  a  son  of  Perrin  Kent, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  Wabash  val- 
ley; a  man  of  strength  of  character, 
a  farmer,  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1S12,  a  de- 
fender of  Fort  Stephenson,  Ohio,  and  was 
A\  ith  Harrison  at  the  Thames,  Canada.  He 
was  also  a  surveyor,  helping  in  the  survey  of 
the  boundary  line  between  Illinois  and  In- 
diana, His  ancestry  was  colonial,  his 
father  being  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  Her  father  is  still  li\ing,  at  the  age  of 
eiglity,  in  the  city  of  Danville.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  having 
accumulated  a  large  fortune  at  the  business. 
Her  mother's  people  are  Americans  for  many 
generations  back ;  her  mother's  father  being 
one  of  tiie  first  settlers  of  Edgar  county, 
this  state. 

In  politics  I  am  a  Republican,  and  frater- 
nally I  am  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Py- 
thias, of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  a  Mason  of  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  the  Com- 
mandery. 

I  make  no  claims  of  being  an  orator,  but 
feel  that  I  can  express  my  thoughts  in  a  fair- 
ly clear  and  forcible  manner;  have  now  and 
then  been  called  upon  to  deliver  Decoration 
day  addresses.  Fourth  of  July  orations  and 
political  speeches;  also  while  state's  attorney 
collected  data  for  a  lecture,  entitled  "Crime 
and  Criminals,"  that  I  have  delivered  with 
modest  pride  to  myself. 


94 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Financially  I  have  been  fairly  successful, 
and  am  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Commer- 
cial Trust  and  Savings  Bank  of  Danville. 

I  can  only  further  say,  that  with  me  life 
has  been  a  continually  active  battle;  what 
help  I  ha^-e  had  is  such  as  has  come  from  my 
own  exertions,  and  such  as  any  one  can  have 
if  they  will  go  after  it  with  the  proper  amount 
of  determination.  The  people  have  been 
good  to  me,  fate  has  been  good  to  me  and  I 
know  of  no  reason  why  I  should  not  be  well 
satisfied  with  the  course  of  my  life. 

S.  G.  Wilson. 


GEORGE   G.   SMITH. 

Through  sixty-three  years  George  G. 
Smith  has  been  a  witness  of  the  growth  and 
development  of  this  portion  of  Illinois  and 
as  a  result  of  his  business  enterprise  and 
activity  he  is  to-day  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  all 
well  tiled  and  improved,  being  supplied 
with  modern  ecjuipments  and  machinery. 
He  has  a  substantial  home  and  good  barns, 
his  place  being  located  on  section  33,  Bloun 
township. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Scioto  county,  August  31,  1829,  his  par- 
ents being  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Glaze)  Smith, 
who  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  Germany, 
a  covered  wagon  drawn  by  horses  for  Ver- 
milion county,  where  he  arrived  in  safety- 
after  a  long  and  tedious  trip.  He  found  here 
an  unbroken  prairie  tract  over  which  ran 
prairie  wolves,  while  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  cranes  and  ducks  could  be  had  in 
abundance.  The  Indians  had  just  left  the 
district.  Mr.  Smith  was  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  four  children.  He  entered 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  for  one  dollar  and 
twenty-five  cents  per  acre  and  immediateh 


began  breaking  and  improving  his  farm.  Ht 
hired  some  one  to  make  rails  with  which  to 
fence  his  land  and  in  true  pioneer  style  he 
began  the  raising  of  grain  and  stock  on  the 
western  prairies,  his  market  being  Chicago, 
which  was  then  but  a  village.  Danville 
contained  but  one  or  two  stores  and  a  few 
houses.  Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  the 
father  remained  until  his  death.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  passed  away  in  184S,  leaving 
four  children,  and  the  father  afterward 
wedded  Man-  Blackinship,  who  died  in  1863, 
and  two  years  later  his  death  occurred,  when 
he  was  about  sixty-five  years  of  age.  Both 
of  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  George  G. 
was  the  third  of  their  five  children,  but  only 
two  are  now  li-ving,  his  younger  brother 
being  John  H.  Smith,  of  California.  Those 
who  have  passed  away  are  William  A..  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Lanham  and  IMartha. 

In  the  district  schools  George  G.  Smith 
pursued  his  education,  attending  subscrip- 
tion school,  which  was  held  in  a  log  build- 
ing. Through  the  months  of  winter  he 
sat  upon  a  slab  bench  and  studied  from  text 
books  which  were  almost  as  elementary  as 
the  furnishings.  In  the  summer  months 
he  worked  upon  the  home  farm  and  thus 
his  time  was  alternately  devoted  to  study 
and  work  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
He  then  began  working'  on  his  own  account 
as  a  farm  hand  through  the  winter  and  in 
the  summer  he  drove  a  breaking  team,  re- 
ceiving seven  dollars  per  month  for  his  ser- 
vices. Saving  all  his  money  he  was  thus 
enabled  after  a  time  to  purchase  forty  acres 
of  land  for  which  he  paid  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars.  This  tract  was  par- 
tially impro\-ed  and  with  this  to  give  him 
a  start  he  entered  upon  the  task  of  making 
a  home  of  his  own.     He  was  married  March 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


95 


25,  1852,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
to  Eliza  Fairchild,  who  was  born  February 
27,  1833,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Lucy  (^ Hemingway)  Fairchild,  early  set- 
tlers of  Blount  township,  her  father  being 
a  local  preacher.  She  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  continued 
to  engage  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
keeping  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  In  pioneer 
times  he  plowed  with  a  wooden  mold  board 
and  drove  his  horses  wtith  a  single  line. 
Afterward  to  cultivate  his  land  he  used  a 
single-shovel  plow  and  cut  his  grain  with 
a  sickle  until  that  implement  was  super- 
ceded by  the  cradle.  In  1844  he  hauled  a 
load  of  oats  to  Chicago,  starting  with  sev- 
enty-five bushels  and  driving  three  yoke  of 
oxen.  On  reaching  his  destination  he  sold 
his  oats  for  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel  and 
purchased  a  load  of  salt  for  which  he  paid 
twenty-five  cents  a  pound.  He  was  absen 
on  the  trip  for  fifteen  days.  There  was  not 
a  bridge  between  his  house  and  Chicago  and 
he  had  to  ford  the  ri\-ers,  crossing  the  creek 
at  Kankakee  and  Momence.  At  nights  he 
camped  out  and  thus  in  course  of  time  his 
journey  was  completed.  Chicago  was  but 
a  village  and  gave  little  promise  of  its  future 
wonderful  development.  Cook  stoves  had 
not  then  been  introduced  and  Mr.  Smith 
well  remembers  liow  johnny  cake  was  baked 
upon  a  board  in  the  tire  jjlace.  He  has  also 
seen  flint  and  tow  used  in  starting  a  fire 
before  matches  were  invented  and  he  has 
helped  to  shear  the  sheep  in  order  to  secure 
the  wool  for  clothing,  only  homemade  gar- 
ments being  used  by  the  family  in  that  time. 
In  the  summer  the  mother  spun  the  flax 
for  the  garments  used  in  that  season  and 
wool  for  the  winter  clothing  and  homemade 
shoes  were  alsij  worn.  Churcli  services  were 


held  in  the  groves  and  lighted  candles  were 
fastened  upon  the  bushes  while  campfires 
were  often  used  to  give  light.  Mr.  Smith 
woidd  often  borrow  fire  from  the  neighbors 
when  their  own  fire  would  go  out.  He  has 
made  rails  at  fifty  cents  per  hundred  and 
performed  other  wurk  at  an  e(|ually  low 
price. 

L'nto  ;\lr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  jjoru 
nine  children  :  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Cieorge 
M.  Wilson,  of  Vermilion  county,  by  whom 
she  has  three  children :  John  E.,  who  wed- 
ded Mary  Tirebaugh,  anil  died  leaving  a 
widow  and  five  children;  Elias  D..  who 
wedded  Clarissa  Smith,  who  passed  away 
leaving  three  children;  Marshall  M.,  who 
married  Lillie,  a  daughter  of  Noah  Young, 
and  they  have  two  children  and  make  their 
home  in  Indiana ;  Wesley  C,  who  married 
Emma  Sperry,  l)y  whom  he  has  one  child  ; 
Sarah,  who  is  with  her  parents:  Eva,  the 
wife  of  .Vndy  Lanham,  b}'  whom  she  has 
three  children;  W.  G.,  at  home;  and  J.  O.. 
who  married  Jessie  Stone  and  has  two  chil- 
dren.    They  reside  in  Potomac. 

I'or  twelve  consecutive  years  Mr.  Smith 
has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  and  for  two 
years  he  was  collector,  for  three  years  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and  fov  twenty 
years  a  school  director.  He  to-day  owns 
(we  of  the  best  farms  of  the  county  and  all 
that  he  possesses  has  been  acquired  through 
his  own  eft'orts  and  the  assistance  of  his 
estimable  wife,  who  has  indeed  ])roved  to 
him  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate  on 
life's  journey.  He  has  never  had  a  law  suit 
hut  has  ever  li\cd  peaceably  with  his  fellow 
men  and  has  enjoyed  the  unqualified  re- 
spect of  his  entire  community.  He  is  now 
living  retired  in  his  comfortable  farm  home, 
liis  land  being  rented,  and  he  well  merits 
the  rest  which  has  come  to  him. 


96 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


CHARLES  L.  ENGLISH. 

One  of  ihe  most  active  and  best  known 
of  the  financiers  of  the  city  of  Danville  and 
of  the  eastern  section  of  the  state  is  Charles 
1,.  English,  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  an  institntion  which  is  recognized  as 
being  among  the  leading  banking  concerns 
of  the  state.  Mr.  English  was  born  in  Per- 
rysville,  Indiana,  July  15,  1846,  and  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  G.  English,  who  is  mentioned  on 
another  page  of  this  work,  \^'ith  his  parents 
he  came  to  Danville  in  1854,  being  then  a  lad 
of  eight  years,  and  here  his  entire  life  has 
since  been  passed.  Entering  tlie  public 
schools  of  the  city  he  continued  to  pursue 
his  studies  therein  until  he  entered  De  Pauw 
University  at  Asbury,  Indiana,  where  he 
spent  one  year. 

In  April,  1864,  when  not  yet  eighteen 
years  of  age,  Mr.  English  enlisted  for  the 
defense  of  the  Union  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany K,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  for  the  term  of  one  hundred 
days,  and  in  October  following  recei\-ed  an 
honorable  discharge.  The  same  patriotic  de- 
votion to  the  general  good  of  his  country  has 
characterized  his  entire  life,  always  having  at 
heart  the  liest  interests  of  his  state  and  na- 
tion. 

For  thirteen  years  Mr.  English  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  trade  and  also  furnished 
lumber  and  railroad  supplies  under  contract. 
In  this  enterprise  he  was  associated  with 
Colonel  L.  T.  Dickason,  now  of  Chicago, 
and  their  business  grew  in  volume  and  im- 
portance until  their  trade  assumed  extensive 
proportions,  they  having  at  times  several 
hundred  men  in  iheir  employ. 

In  1867  Mr.  English  became  identified 
with  the  First  National  Bank,  of  which  he  is 
now  president.  It  was  not,  however,  until 
1 882  that  he  began  to  devote  his  time  almost 


exclusively  to  the  bank.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  occupied  the  position  of  cashier, 
later  became  vice  president  and  is  now  the 
head  of  the  institution,  having  been  elected 
president  in  1S99,  upon  the  retirement  of  his 
father,  who  had  served  in  that  capacity  for 
many  years.  Under  his  capable  manage- 
ment the  business  of  the  bank  has  increased 
until  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  important 
financial  concerns  of  the  state.  Its  success  is 
certainly  due  in  a  large  measure  to  our  sub- 
ject and  since  under  his  control  the  capital 
stock  has  been  increased  from  fifty  thousand 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
while  the  surplus  has  grown  from  forty 
th-ousand  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  with  additional  profits  of  fiftv  thou- 
sand dollars.  iMr.  English  has  given  his  best 
energies  to  the  advancement  of  this  institn- 
tion and  is  uniformly  regarded  as  the  lead- 
ing financier  in  this  part  of  the  state. 

In  1S83  Mr.  English  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  iMiss  A.  O'Hara,  of  Anderson,  Indi- 
ana, and  unto  them  ha\'e  been  born  two  chil- 
dren :  Benjamin  Charles,  who  is  now  a 
student  in  the  Cuh-er  r\Iilitary  Academy; 
and  Daniel,  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  English  is  a  Republican, 
and,  while  interested  in  politics  so  far  as 
pertains  to  general  government,  he  is  not 
and  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  com- 
mon acceptation  of  the  term.  His  business 
interests  and  his  mental  training-  have  not 
been  in  that  direction.  Socially  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  jMasonic  fraternity,  and  is  deeply 
interested  in  the  principals  of  the  order — the 
oldest  fraternal  organization  in  existence. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  interested  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  general  good,  and  he  has 
been  foimd  a  supporter  of  many  public  enter- 
prises and  charitable  institutions,  giving  his 
influence  as  well  as  his  means  for  their  ad- 
vancement.    In  business  afifairs  he  is  ener- 


OF     hlE 
UNIVERSITY   OF  iLUNOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


99 


getic,  notably  reliable  and  prompt  in  meeting 
every  obligation  and  engagement.  He  has 
a  genius  for  devising  and  executing  the  right 
thing  at  the  right  time,  and  he  regards  no 
business  detail  as  too  unimportant  to  claim 
his  attention.  His  success  in  all  his  under- 
takings has  been  so  marked  that  his  methods 
are  of  interest  to  the  commercial  world.  He 
has  based  his  business  principles  and  actions 
upon  strict  adherence  to  the  rules  which 
govern  industry  and  strict  unswerving  integ- 
rity. His  keen  perception  and  honesty  of 
purpose  are  counted  among  his  chief  char- 
acteristics and  have  contributed  in  large 
measure  to  the  splendid  success  which  has 
crowned  his  efforts. 


^IICHAEL   WEAVER. 

Michael  ^\'ea^•er  was  an  honored  citizen 
of  Vermilion  county  who  might  be  termed 
unique  on  account  of  certain  characteristics. 
These,  howe\-er,  were  such  as  might  well 
be  followed.  They  concerned  his  treatment 
of  his  fellow  men,  his  conduct  being  guided 
by  the  strictest  principles  of  honesty  an(' 
integrity.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  near  Hagerstown,  and 
was  a  son  of  German  parents  who  emigrate<l 
to  America  pri(.)r  to  the  Revolutionary  war. 
In  the  family  were  three  brothers.  The 
father  died  when  Michael  Weaver  was  but 
a  small  boy  and  his  mother  afterward  mar- 
ried again  and  removed  with  the  familv  to 
N^orth  Carolina,  but  Michael  Weaver  ran 
awa}-  from  home  when  but  ten  years  of  age 
and  joined  a  cattle  drover's  outfit  with 
which  he  returned  to  Alaryland,  where  still 
lived  his  elder  Ijrothers.  l-'rom  that  time 
on  he  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.     It 


seems  almost  strange  that  a  boy  starling 
out  so  young  in  life  and  with  no  home  sur- 
roundings should  hn\c  developed  the  strong, 
sturdy  and  upright  mankind  which  was 
characteristic  of  Michael  Weaver.  Not. 
long  after  he  had  attained  his  majority  he 
wedded  Mary  Elizabeth  Specard  of  Hagers- 
town, Maryland,  and  about  a  year  later  they 
removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  they  spent 
the  winter  with  his  sister. 

They  then  made  their  way  down  the 
Ohio  river  to  Kentucky,  where  Mr.  Weaver 
purchased  a  farm  and  lived  for  three  years. 
He  then  crossed  the  river  into  Clermon. 
county,  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  its  early  set- 
tlers, and  in  1818  he  removed  to  Brown 
county,  that  state,  where  he  purchased  a. 
tract, of  land  which  he  cleared  and  devel- 
oped into  a  fine  farm. 

Upon  that  property  he  made  his  home 
until  1828,  when  in  a  big  covered  wagon  he 
started  westward  in  company  with  his  wife 
and  nine  children.  Their  destination  was 
Sugar  Creek,  Indiana,  but,  not  being  pleased 
with  the  country  in  that  locality,  they  con- 
tinued on  their  way  until  they  reached  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  when  a  settlement 
was  made  in  what  is  now  Carroll  township 
Mr.  Weaver  entered  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  at  once  commenced  its  cultivation 
and  improxement.  He  had  to  go  to  Pales- 
tine in  order  to  make  the  entry.  These  were 
pioneer  times  for  Vermilion  county  was 
then  almost  upon  the  borders  of  civiliza- 
tion. It  was,  indeed,  a  frontier  settlement, 
having  few  of  the  advantages  and  comforts 
of  the  older  east.  At  first  it  was  necessary  to 
go  to  a  small  place  in  Indiana  in  order  to  do 
trading.  Later  the  members  of  the  family 
went  to  Chicago  for  muslins,  buttons,  sugar, 
luml)er  and  in  fact  almost  everything  needed 
about  the   household.       Indians   were  still 


lOO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


numerous  in  this  part  of  the  country,  Ixit 
gave  no  trouble  to  the  settlers.  At  the  time 
the  Weaver  family  arrived  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Carroll  township  they  found 
that  another  settler  had  built  a  fittle  caljin 
upon  the  place.  It  contained  two  rooms 
with  a  kitchen  built  on  and  in  this  the  famil_\ 
of  eleven  took  up  their  abode,  but  as  soon 
as  opportunity  afforded  Mr.  Weaver  erected 
a  more  commodious  residence.  Game  of 
all  kinds  was  plentiful,  venison  was  a  fre- 
quent dish  upon  the  pioneer  table  and  prairie 
chickens  and  turkey's  furnished  many  a 
meal.  Wolves  were  often  seen  and  fre- 
quently killed  by  the  settlers  and  there  were 
many  other  evidences  of  the  wild  condition 
of  the  country.  Mr.  Weaver  always  followed 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  in  due  course 
of  time  he  gained  for  himself  a  comfortable 
competence. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were 
born  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity  :  ^lary,  who  is  the  widow 
of  Benjamin  Baum,  and  is  now  living  ir 
Indianola  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years; 
Jane,  the  widow  of  David  Fisher,  who  is 
living  with  her  son,  Michael,  in  Indianola, 
at  the  age  of  ninety  years;  Catherine,  the 
widow  of  Charles  W.  Baum  and  a  resident 
of  Indianola  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years ; 
Louisa,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Gaines 
of  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  is  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age;  Sarah,  the  deceased  wife 
of  Samuel  Baum;  John  and  Elijah  who 
have  also  passed  away ;  Clara,  the  deceased 
wife  of  Isaac  Fisher;  and  Nancy,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  John  Cole. 

Michael  Weaver  lived  to  be  more  than 
one  hundred  years  of  age  and  his  wife  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  eighty-eiglit.  She  wa^ 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  and  an 
earnest  Christian  woman.     In  politics  ]\Ir. 


Wea\er  was  a  \\'hig,  but  never  took  an 
active  part  in  political  work  or  sought  office. 
He  was  a  self-made  man,  successful  in  his 
business  although  his  methods  were  consid- 
ered odd  by  man}-.  Would  that  there  were 
more  who  had  this  oddity  of  honesty  and 
fair  dealing  whh  them!  E\-en  during  the 
war  times  when  money  was  drawing  twenty 
or  thirty  per  cent  he  would  never  ask  or 
accept  more  than  six  per  cent,  and  he  would 
never  charge  more  than  twenty-five  cents 
per  bushel  for  his  corn.  He  did  not  belong 
to  a  church  yet  the  true  spirit  of  Christianity 
was  manifest  in  his  life  for  he  did  unto 
others  as  he  would  have  them  do  unto  him 


O.   B.   WYSOXG. 


It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  young  men 
are  rapidly  occupying  the  foremost  places 
in  business  circles.  \\'hether  this  is  due 
to  superior  educational  training  or  to  na- 
tive ability  is  a  question  of  dispute.  Per- 
haps it  is  due  to  both.  At  all  events  the 
fact  remains  and  each  community  numbers 
among  its  leading  citizens  men  who,  yet 
young  in  years,  are  controlling  extensive 
financial,  commercial  and  industrial  inter- 
ests. Mr.  Wysong  is  one  of  the  yomig  men 
of  Fithian,  who  deserves  mention  in  a  work 
of  this  character.  He  is  occupying  a  posi- 
tion as  cashier  of  the  bank  here  and  pos- 
sesses marked  business  ability  and  executive 
force. 

He  was  born  in  Alansfield.  Illinois.  Jul} 
!/•  1875.  His  father,  A.  J.  Wysong,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  in  Mansfield,  this  state, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  Lavina  Hil- 
ligoss,  a  native  of  Indiana.  The  father  is 
a  carpenter  and  contractor  and  was  con- 
nected  with   building   operations   in    Mans- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


101 


field  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to  De- 
catur. There  he  again  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  at  the  present  time  he  is  occupyint; 
the  position  of  foreman  of  the  Decatur  Re- 
frigerating &  Manufacturing  Conipan_\ 
Unswerving  in  his  adherence  to  Democratic 
principles,  he  has  nevertheless  refused  pub- 
lic office,  his  loyal  support  being  given  in 
no  hope  of  securing  official  reward  for  his 
party  fealty.  He  belongs  to  the  Christian 
church  and  is  a  man  of  strong  purpose  and 
upright  character.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject died  April  22,  1881,  and  Mr.  Wysong 
afterward  married  Elva  Dickson,  whose 
parents  were  from  Ohio.  By  bis  first  mar- 
riage there  were  two  sons:  O.  B..  of  this 
review;  and  I.  T.,  who  resides  in  Mansfield. 
The  children  of  the  second  marriage  are  : 
Charles,  John,  Gladys  and  Elva. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
O.  B.  Wysong  acquired  his  preliminary  ed- 
ucation, which  was  supplemented  by  study 
in  the  high  school  of  Decatur.  Illinois,  and 
later  he  entered  the  Northern  Indiana  Nor- 
mal school  at  \'alparaiso,  where  he  was 
graduated  on  the  completion  of  a  business 
course  with  the  class  of  1890.  He  was  af- 
terward employed  in  the  Commercial  Bank 
at  ^ilansfield,  Illinois,  for  two  years  and 
in  1895  lie  came  to  Eitbian,  where  on  the 
22d  of  x\pril,  of  that  year,  be  was  appointed 
cashier  of  the  Fithian  Bank,  in  which  capac- 
ity he  has  since  served  with  marked  cana- 
bility,  his  labors  contributing  in  large  meas- 
ure to  the  success  of  the  institution.  He  is 
also  connected  with  the  grain  trade  here  and 
his  income  is  thereby  materially  increased. 
In  connection  with  ^Nlr.  C.  B.  De  Long,  the 
president  of  the  firm.  'Mr.  Wysong  has 
been  instrumental  in  securing  the  interurban 
electric  line  along  the  Big  Eour  Railroad. 
It  was  first  proposed  to  bring  it  from  Ur- 


bana  tn  .'^t.  Joseph,  thence  to  Homer  and 
fnlliiw  the  Wabash  to  Danville,  but  through 
the  untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  De  Long 
and  Mr.  Wysong.  it  now  comes  the 
dtber  way,  giving  Eithian  and  adja- 
cent towns  the  advantage  of  g(.)od  ser- 
vice which  they  were  unable  to  secure  from 
the  railroad. 

On  the  25th  of  November.  1896,  Mr. 
Wysong  was  happily  married  in  Fithian  to 
Miss  Cora  M.  Post,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 5,  1878,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  G.  H.  Post. 
They  now  have  three  interesting  little  chil- 
dren: Lois.  Leda  and  Lenore.  Theirs  is 
one  of  tlie  best  homes  in  this  part  of  \'er- 
milion  county  and  it  is  a  fax'orite  resort 
with  their  many  friends,  which  circle  is  al- 
most co-extensi\'e  with  the  circle  of  their 
ac(|uaintances. 

]Mr.  Wysong  is  a  Republican  and  in 
1897-98  he  was  one  of  the  city  trustees.  In 
1901  he  was  elected  mayor  and  in  positions 
of  public  trust  he  has  ever  exercised  his 
official  prerogatives  in  sujiport  of  every 
movement  calculated  to  j)ro\e  of  puljlic  Ijen- 
efit.  He  is  a  member  of  Ogden  Lodge,  F. 
&  A.  M. ;  i\Iorning  Star  Lodge.  No.  489 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Fithian:  Corn  City  Lodge, 
K.  P..  of  Ogden;  Fithian  Camp,  No.  427, 
M.  W.  A. ;  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  His  genial  manner,  unfailing  cour- 
tesy and  kindly  spirit  have  made  him  popu- 
lar and  Mr.  Wysong  is  indeed  widely  and 
fa\'orabl_\-  kmiwn  in  I'"itbian  and  this  jjor- 
tion  of  \'ermilion  counl\'. 


J.  L.  RIDEOUT,  D.  D.  S. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Rideout,  a  successful  and  popu- 
lar dentist  of  Danville,  was  born  in  Fremont, 
Ohio.  May   15,  1873,  a  son  of  E.  W.  and 


I02 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Anna  (Deenier)  Rideout.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  is  of  English  descent  and  belongs 
to  a  \ery  patriotic  family  which  has  been 
well  represented  in  the  wars  of  this  coun- 
try, his  grandfather  being  a  soldier  of  the 
jNIexican  war,  and  his  great-great-grand- 
father of  both  the  war  of  1812  and  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  The  Deenier  family  is  of 
German  extraction  and  was  founded  in 
Pennsyhania  during  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, since  which  time  they  have  always 
taken  part  in  public  affairs  of  an  important 
character. 

.  F.  W.  Rideout,  the  Doctor's  father,  was 
also  born  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  and  after  reach- 
ing manhood  he  there  married  ]\Iiss  Anna 
Deenier,  a  native  of  Fasten,  Pennsylvania. 
For  fifteen  years  after  his  marriage  he  was 
engaged  in  the  real-estate,  loan  and  insur- 
ance business  at  that  place,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Tuscola,  Illinois,  where  the  fol- 
lowing ten  years  were  spent  upon  a  farm. 
He  took  quite  an  active  part  in  political 
affairs  while  residing  there.  His  next  re- 
moval made  him  a  resident  of  Atwood.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  practically  lived  a  retired 
life,  although  he  still  dealt  in  loans  and  real 
estate  to  some  extent.  He  was  a  Republi- 
can in  politics,  and  while  living  in  Tuscola 
served  as  county  supervisor  and  held  some 
of  the  township  offices.  In  early  life  he  was 
a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-ninth  Ohio  National  Guards  and 
was  called  out  during  the  Civil  war.  This 
-entitled  him  to  membership  in  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  he  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  For  many  years  he  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  an  officer  in  the  same,  and  died  in  that 
faith  on  the  14th  of  September,  1902,  his 
remains   being   interred  in   the    Cartwrisrht 


cemetery  at  Atwood,  Illinois.  His  first  wife 
had  passed  away  in  July.  1888,  and  in  1891 
he  married  ]\Iiss  May  Barnett,  who  survives 
him.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  six  chil- 
dren:  W.  J.,  a  physician  of  Freeport,  Illi- 
nois, who  makes  a  specialty  of  the  diseases 
of  the  eye,  ear  and  nose;  E.  L.,  a  farmer  of 
Tuscola;  J.  L.,  our  subject;  R.  F.,  a  farmer 
of  Atwood ;  Mayme,  who  is  attending 
school  in  Freeport ;  and  Clara,  who  resides 
in  Freeport.  The  children  of  the  second 
marriage  are  Harry,  Xellie  and  Ray. 

Dr.  Rideout  began  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Fremont,  Ohio,  and  after  the  re- 
moval of  his  family  to  this  state  he  attended 
the  public  schools  of  Tuscola.  Deciding 
upon  a  professional  life,  he  next  entered  the 
Indiana  Dental  College  at  Indianapolis, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1897  and  the 
following  year  located  in  Danville,  where  he 
had  since  engaged  in  practice  with  marked 
success.  He  has  a  nice  office  in  412  Temple 
block,  supplied  with  all  the  latest  ecjuip- 
ments  known  to  the  science,  and  he  has  al- 
readv  secured  a  large  patronage  which  is 
steadily  increasing. 

On  tlie  24th  of  December.  1896,  at  Tus- 
cola, was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Dr. 
Rideout  and  Miss  Vivian  Boyce.  who  was 
born  at  that  place  October  5,  1875,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Washington  and  Paulina  (Per- 
ry )  Boyce.  the  former  a  native  of  Illinois, 
and  the  latter  of  Jeft'ersonville,  Indiana. 
Her  parents  were  also  married  at  Tuscola. 
Her  father  was  a  photographer  by  profes- 
sion and  was  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  died  in  June,  1896,  but  his  wife  is  still 
living  and  now  makes  her  home  with  Dr. 
Ritleout.  They  had  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  survive  the  father,  namely :  David, 
a  photographer  of  Tuscola ;  Albert,  a  dentist 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


103 


of  that  place;  William,  farmer  of  Tuscola; 
Thomas  J.  and  Charles  M.,  twins,  the  for- 
mer a  dentist  of  Chicago  and  the  latter  a 
manufacturer  of  photographers'  paper  in 
that  city;  and  Vivian,  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  two 
children:  Esther  I'auline,  horn  September 
20,  1897;  and  Russell  11.,  horn  July  19, 
1899. 

In  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Fraternal  Army.  He  is 
quite  popular  bnth  in  social  and  professional 
circles  and  is  a  man  highh'  esteemed  and  re-' 
spected  by  all  who  known  him. 


C.  B.  SPANG. 

C.  B.  Sjiang,  grain  merchant  and  the 
proprietor  of  the  Star  Roller  Mill  and  lum- 
beryard of  Georgetown,  is  well  known  in 
Vermilion  county.  He  is  the  leading  busi- 
ness man  of  the  southern  ])ortion  of  the 
county  and  through  enterprise  and  capabil- 
ity has  contributed  not  only  to  his  own  suc- 
cess but  also  to  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
localities  with  which  he  has  been  identified. 

Mr.  Spang  has  been  a  resident  of 
Georgetown  for  the  past  thirteen  years. 
He  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, December  13,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of 
Josiah  R.  and  Margaret  (Bracken)  Spang. 
both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state.  The  father  there  spent  his  en- 
tire life.  He  l^ecame  manager  of  the  Singer 
^lanufacturing  Company  and  occupied  that 
position  until  his  death.  His  widqw  and  the 
family  resided  in  Butler  county  until  1899, 
when  they  removed  to  Georgetown,  Illinois. 


C.  B.  Spang  was  educated  in  the  coni' 
mon  schools  of  his  native  county  and  began, 
to  learn  the  miller's  trade  at  Butler,  Penn- 
sylvania, being  employed  in  the  Oriental 
Rolling  IMills  until  he  mastered  the  busi- 
ness. In  1887  he  removed  westward,  set- 
tling in  Terre  Haute,  huliana,  where  he  was 
employed  as  a  miller  for  two  years  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to 
Georgetown.  In  1889  J.  E.  Hay  worth  es- 
tablished the  Georgetown  Flour  Mill  but 
he  was  formerly  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  here  from  1S80.  On  coming  to 
Georgetown  Mr.  Spang  entered  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Hayworth,  and  after  working  in  the 
mill  for  two  months,  he  purchased  a  half 
interest  in  both  the  mill  and  lumberyard, 
forming  a  partnership  under  the  firm  style 
of  Hayworth  &  Spang.  They  continued 
business  together  until  1899,  when  Mr. 
Hayworth  sold  his  interest  to  C.  L.  Austin, 
who  was  in  partnership  with  <:)ur  subject 
until   1902. 

Mr.  Spang  is  now  alone  and  is  doing 
the  largest  business  in  Georgetown.  His 
elevator,  which  is  located  near  the  depot, 
has  recently  been  enlarged  and  is  now  one 
of  the  most  extensive  in  the  county.  Fle 
buys  and  ships  grain  daily  and  his  business 
has  now  assumed  very  creditable  and  profit- 
able proportions.  The  flour  mill  is  located 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  and  is  con- 
ducted under  the  name  of  the  Star  Roller 
Mills.  He  manufactures  the  North  Star 
flour,  the  Red  Ball  and  other  brands  and 
has  established  a  wholesale  distributing 
house  in  Danville  for  the  products  of  his 
manufactories.  He  deals  in  all  kinds  of 
lumber  and  building  materials  necessary  to 
the  construction  of  a  house  from  the  foun- 
dation to  the  roof  and  his  patronage  in  this 
line  is  verv  extensive  as  the  business  is  con- 


I04 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


stantly  increasing.  He  is  well  known 
throughout  the  country  as  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Georgetown  and  his  enterprise 
and  industry  contribute  in  no  small  degree 
to  the  commercial  prosperity  of  the  place. 
Mr.  Spank  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Florence  Smith,  of  Slippery  Rock, 
Pennsylvania,  and  they  now  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Ethel,  Genevieve,  Charles  and 
Bracken.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  ]\Iethodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  church 
work.  Socially  he  is  identified  with  the 
Modern  \\'oodmen  of  America  and  the 
Knisrhts  of  Pvthias,  havinsf  aided  in  or- 
ganizing  the  latter  lodge  in  Georgetown. 
Jn  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  has 
l)een  called  to  fill  a  number  of  offices  in  the 
village.  Besides  his  business  interests  here 
he  owns  an  addition  to  the  city  of  Danville, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  real-estate  dealing, 
and  is  also  interested  in  a  lumber\"ard  and 
real  estate  at  W'estville,  Illinois.  He  is  a 
self-made  man,  owing  his  prominence  in 
business  affairs  to  his  own  skillfully  directed 
labor,  and  among  the  well-to-do  citizens  of 
Georgetown  he  is  justly  numbered. 


WILLIA^I  :\IOORE. 

No  adequate  history  of  William  ^loore 
can  be  written  until  many  of  the  useful  en- 
terprises with  which  he  has  been'  connected 
have  completed  their  full  share  of  good  to 
the  world  and  until  his  personal  influence 
and  example  shall  have  ceased  their  fruitage 
in  the  lives  of  those  with  whom  he  has  come 
m  contact.  Yet,  there  is  much  concerning 
him  that  can  be  set  down  with  profit  here 
as  an  illustration  of  what  can  be  done  by  a 


man  with  a  clear  brain  and  willing  hands 
that  sets  himself  seriously  to  the  real  labors 
and  responsibilities  of  life.  His  name  is  so 
inseparably  interwoven  with  the  history  of 
Hoopeston  that  no  account  of  the  business 
development  and  substantial  upbuilding  of 
the  town  can  be  gi\-en  without  mentioii  of 
his  name.  His  efforts  too  have  extended 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  Hoopeston,  and 
niany  other  communities  have  benefited  by 
his  labors,  his  marked  business  ability  and 
his  indefatigable  enterprise.  He  is  to-day 
numbered  among  the  capitalists  of  Vermil- 
ion county  and  to  this  position  he  has  at- 
tained not  through  the  aid  of  influential  or 
wealthy  friends,  but  because  he  has  prospered 
in  his  work  and  has  made  honest  dealing  one 
of  the  characteristics  of  his  useful  and  acti\-e 
career. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  in  Coshocton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1841, 
and  is  a  son  of  Silas  and  ]\Iary  (McCoy) 
M(X)re.  Upon  the  home  farm  he  was  reared, 
and  his  early  education  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  was  supplemented  by  a  preparatory 
course  in  Spring  Mountain  Seminary  of 
Ohio.  He 'was  pursuing  his  stud}-  there  with 
the  intention  of  preparing  for  the  law  \\hen 
the  Civil  war  broke  out.  He  had  watched 
with  growing  interest  the  attitude  of  he 
south  and  the  progress  of  events  leading 
up  to  hostilities,  and,  his  patriotic  spirit 
aroused,  he  resolved  to  strike  a  blow  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union  if  the  country  became 
involved  in  civil  war,  and  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1861,  only  ten  days  after  Fort  Sumter 
was  fired  on,  he  enlisted  for  three  months' 
service  as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Six- 
teenth Ohio  Volunteer  Infantr\'.  While  with 
that  command  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  orderly  sergeant  and  was  mustered  out 
the  following  August.     On  the  3d  of  Octo- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


107 


ber,  1 861,  he  was  commissi(5necl  by  Gover- 
nor Denison,  a  first  lieutenant  with  authority 
to  raise  a  company,  which  he  enhstetl  mostl\- 
iimong  the  students  of  Spring  Alountain 
Seminary.  This  became  Company  T,  of  the 
Fifty-first  Ohio  Infantry  under  the  cum- 
mand  of  Colonel  Stanley  Matthews.  With 
his  company  Lieutenant  Moore  fought  at 
Phillipi,  Perryville,  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Mission  Ridge  and  Ringgnld. 
and  in  January,  1863.  he  was  commissioned 
captain.  In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he 
lost  nearly  every  man  in  his  command,  one- 
lialf  of  the  number  being  killed  or  wounded, 
wliilc  many  of  the  remainder  were  captured. 
All  of  the  regimental  officers  of  the  Fifty- 
first  iiaving  been  taken  prisoners.  Captain 
]\[oore,  as  ranking  line  officer,  assumed  com- 
mand, and  with  but  a  few  men  bearing  the 
regimental  colors  and  a  stand  of  R^ebel  col- 
ors captured  from  a  South  Carolina  regi- 
ment in  the  last  charge,  he  cut  through  the 
Rebel  lines  and.  safely  reached  Chattanooga 
the  ne.xt  day.  It  was  a  brave  move  and 
one  which  displayed  stiperior  knowledge  of 
military  tactics  and  undaunted  bravery.  On 
two  particular  occasions  Captain  Moore  was 
selected  for  special  service  of  a  difficult  and 
hazardous  kind.  He  carried  out  his  instruc- 
tions with  signal  success  and  was  compli- 
mented by  his  fellow  and  superior  officers 
and  the  general  commanding  the  army.  In 
April,  1864,  he  was  mustered  out  of  the 
military  .service,  having  for  three  years  been 
a  faithful  defender  of  the  old  flag. 

Captain  Moore  has  been  a  resident  of 
\'ermilion  county  since  March,  1865.  After 
his  return  from  the  war  he  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  Ohio  for  about  a  year  and  then  came 
to  the  west,  locating  in  Grant  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  where  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twentv 


acres.  From  that  time  forward  he  has  been 
verv  pr(.)minent  in  public  affairs  as  an  offi- 
cial and  as  a  liusiness  man,  and  his  efforts 
ha\-e  ever  proven  of  the  greatest  benefit  to 
the  comnumitv  with  which  he  is  associated. 
From  1866  until  1874  he  filled  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  and  from  1867  until 
1870  was  collector  of  (Jrant  townshi]),  while 
from  1866  until  187 J  he  was  school  treas- 
urer of  township  23,  range  11.  For  sevral 
years  lie  was  also  a  director  of  the  Hoopeston 
public  schools  and  it  was  through  his  energy 
and  enterprise  that  the  first  imposing  and  sub- 
stantial school  building  at  this  place  was 
erected,  a  Ijuilding  costing  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars.  In  this  work  Mr.  Moore  re- 
ceived much  opposition,  but  he  had  firm 
faith  in  the  ultimate  development  of  the 
town  and  time  has  proven  his  confidence  well 
placed,  for  to-day  tliat  school  building  is  one 
of  the  four  ward  schools.  It  is  a  substantial 
monttment  to  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  fel- 
low townsmen.  The  cause  of  education  has 
no  truer  friend  in  all  Hoopeston  than  Mr. 
Moore  or  one  who  has  been  more  effective 
in  his  labors  to  advance  the  general  good 
along  lines  of  educational  and  intellectual 
progress.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Hoopeston  Library  Association  since  its  or- 
ganization. 

Throughout  all  these  years  while  capably 
performing  official  service  Mr.  Moore  has 
also  controlled  e.xtensive  and  important  busi- 
ness interests.  At  an  early  day  he  purchased 
fifty  acres  of  land  at  Hoopeston  which  was 
laid  out  in  town  lots  as  the  Moore  &  Brown 
addition.  In  April,  1872,  he  took  up  his  res- 
idence in  the  village  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  business,  buying 
and  selling  town  property  on  an  extensive 
scale.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Moore  &  Perkins  and  later  became  the  senior 


io8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


member  of  tlie  well  known  tirni  of  Moore, 
McFerren  &  Seavey.  Between  JMarch,  1874, 
and  March,  1875,  the  sales  of  this  firm 
reached  three  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
dollars.  Mr.  Moore  is  still  associated  with 
Mr.  McFerren  and  their  business  interests 
are  most  extensive  and  important,  including 
large  landed  properties  in  the  south,  in  the 
states  of  Arkansas,  ^Mississippi  and  Tennes- 
see. It  would  be  impossible  to  give  an  ade- 
c|uate  account  of  the  extensive  enterprises 
which  have  been  established  and  carried  for- 
ward to  successful  completion  by  Air. 
Moore.  Soon  after  the  organization  of  the 
Illinois  Can  Company  he  became  one  of  its 
heavy  stockholder  and  is  to-day  the  owner 
of  one-half  of  the  business  and  is  acting  as 
general  manager.  He  was  instrumental  in 
organizing  the  Union  Tin  Can  Company, 
of  which  he  became  a  stockholder  and  di- 
rector and  filled  the  position  of  president 
at  the  time  the  company  was  merged  into 
the  American  Can  Company.  The  business 
was  founded  in  1892  with  a  capital  stock 
of  forty  thousand  dollars,  and  when  sold  m 
1900  returned  to  the  owners  one  million 
dollars,  the  original  stockholders  re- 
taining their  respective  interests  as 
paid  up  stock.  Industrial  enterprises  in 
many  other  parts  of  the  country  contribute 
not  alone  to  Mr.  Moore"s  indi\idual  success 
but  promote  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
localities  in  which  they  are  located.  In  con- 
nection with  Mr.  McFerren  he  owns  a  large 
box  factory  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  the  an- 
nual output  of  which  is  nine  hundred  cars 
of  box  shooks.  These  gentlemen  are  also 
the  proprietors  of  a  double  band  sawmill 
at  Memphis,  valued  at  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars,  and  having  a  daily  capacity  of  fifty 
thousand  feet  of  lumber.  Their  enterprises 
owned   and   controlled  l)v  them   includes   a 


large  sawmill  at  Luxora,  Arkansas,  with 
a  capacity  of  thirty  thousand  feet  of  lumber 
daily,  a  sawmill  on  Pitman's  Island,  manufc- 
turing  twenty-five  thousand  feet  of  lumber 
l)er  day,  a  sawmill  at  Woodstock,  Missis- 
sippi, with  a  similar  cajiacity,  and  three 
other  sawmills,  each  turning  out  al)out 
twenty  thousand  feet  of  lumber  daily.  Air. 
Moore  owns  about  one  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  \'ermilion  county  and  in  connection 
with  J.  C.  McFerren  is  the  owner  of  thirty 
thousand  acres  of  timberland  in  Arkansas. 
They  are  now  constructing  a  railroad  from 
Luxora,  Arkansas,  to  Big  Lake,  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles,  called  the  Mississipj)i,  Big 
Lake  and  Western  Road.  This  will  furnish 
an  outlet  for  their  lumber  and  also  will  form 
part  of  a  trunk  line  for  the  west  from  Joplin, 
Missouri,  through  to  the  Mississippi.  Air. 
Moore  secured  donations  for  the  two  rail- 
roads which  enter  Hoopeston  and  was  a 
meml)er  of  the  committee  for  securing  the 
right  of  way  for  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western 
Railroad  through  Vermilion  county.  He 
handled  and  sold  the  Thompson  North 
Hoopeston  addition  and  in  connection  with 
Mr.  McFerren  he  purchased  the  Casement 
addition  of  one  hundred  lots,  all  of  which 
were  sold  by  the  firm  inside  of  six  months 
and  they  also  closed  out  thefifty  lot  addition 
of  G.  \\".  Smith.  Air.  Aloore's  attention  is 
given  to  the  superintendency  of  the  land  and 
timber  estates  of  the  firm  in  the  south  and  to- 
the  general  management  of  the  Illinois  Can- 
ning Company  of  Hoopeston. 

On  the  1st  of  Alarch,  1892,  Air.  Aloore 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Hamilton, 
who  was  born  at  Ash  Grove,  Iroquois  coun- 
ty. Her  father  is  now-  deceased  and  her 
mother  and  brother.  Senator  Isaac  Hamil- 
ton, are  residents  of  Chicago.  Air.  Atoore 
has  three  living  children  by  a  former  mar- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


109 


riage:  W'intield  S.,  Claude  H.  and  Cora 
]\[.  The  daughter  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr 
Haines,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee.  In  1S82 
^Ir.  Moore  erected  his  magnificent  home  at 
the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Penn  streets  in 
Hoopeston. 

He  is  a  Repuhhcan  in  pohtics  and  though 
his  business  interests  are  so  extensive  he 
yet  finds  time  to  serve  his  fellow  towns- 
men in  matters  pertaining  to  the  general 
welfare  of  the  place  in  which  he  makes  his 
home.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  al- 
dermen here,  having  served  in  that  office 
continuously  since  street  paving  was  begun, 
and  to-dav  he  is  the  chairman  of  the  streets 
and  alleys  committee  and  of  the  buildings 
and  grounds  committee.  He  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  a  promi- 
nent !\Iason,  holding  membership  in  the  blue 
lodge,  chapter,  council  and  commandery, 
and  was  the  first  high  priest  of  the  chapter 
at  this  place.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate 
the  scope  of  Mr.  Moore's  accomplishment. 
The  benefits  of  his  enterprise  are  far-reach- 
ing, furnishing  employment  to  many  hun- 
dreds of  workmen  and  promoting  jjrosperity 
in  various  communities.  Tuidowed  by  nature 
Avith  a  sound  judgment  and  an  accurate, 
discriminating  mind,  he  has  never  feared 
that  laborious  attention  to  the  details  of  busi- 
ness so  necessary  to  achieve  success,  and  this 
essential  quality  has  ever  been  guided  by  a 
sense  of  moral  right  which  tolerates  the  em- 
ployment only  of  those  means  that  will  bear 
the  most  rigid  examination,  by  a  fairness 
of  intention  that  neither  seeks  nor  requires 
disguise.  It  is  but  just  and  merited  praise 
to  say  of  Mr.  Moore  that  as  a  business  man 
he  ranks  with  the  ablest,  as  a  citizen  he  is 
honorable,  prompt  and  true  to  every  duty, 
and  as  a  man  he  has  the  honor  and  esteem 
of  all  classes  of  people. 


JOHX  H.  PETTEGREW. 

John  H.  Pettegrew,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Ci\il  war,  has  been  equally  loyal  to 
his  country  in  pri\atc  life  and  in  ci\-il  ser- 
\ice.  For  twenty-three  years  he  was  dep- 
uty sheriflf  of  Vermilion  county,  has  filled 
the  office  of  constable  and  is  now  one  of  the 
assistant  county  supervisors.  He  resides  at 
his  home  at  Xo.  82  Columbus  street,  in 
Danville,  having  retired  from  farm  life, 
which  for  many  years  occupied  his  atten- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Ohio,  March  22, 
1 83 1,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Ezekiel  and  Eme- 
line  (Beach)  Pettegrew.  His  father  was 
born  near  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  and  pur- 
sued a  medical  education,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  practice  in  his  native  town  and 
also  in  Scott  county,  Indiana.  Subse- 
quentlv  he  removed  to  Coles  countv.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  practiced  for  seven  years 
and  then  went  to  ^  ermilion  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  continued  his  professional 
work  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended  in 
death.  His  wife  also  passed  away  in  that 
jilace.  In  their  family  were  eight  children, 
three  of  whom  are  vet  li\ing:  John  H.,  of 
this  review;  Daniel,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Lincoln  county,  Oklahoma;  and  Margaret 
who  is  the  widow  of  William  Coatney 
and  li\es  in  Danville. 

John  11.  Pettegrew  accom])anied  his 
parents  on  their  various  removals  during  his 
youth  and  acquired  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. He  was  about  twenty  years  of  age 
when  he  left  home  and  came  to  Vermilion 
C(iuntv,  Illinois.  He  engaged  in  farming 
in  Danville  township  in  1852  and  followed 
that  pursuit  continuously  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  carefully  cultivating  his  fields 
and  caring  for  his  crops  until  harvests  were 
garnered  in  the  late  autumn  and  the  sale  of 


I  lO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  products  brought  to  him  a  creditable 
financial  return  for  his  labors.  While  re- 
siding upon  the  farm  Mr.  Pettegrew  chose 
a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney. He  wedded  Miss  Elsie  Luddington 
and  they  lived  happily  together  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  the  wife  was  at  length 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  There  were 
four  children  born  of  that  marriage:  John 
T.,  a  farmer  who  now  resides  in  George- 
town township;  Daniel,  who  is  living  in  In- 
diana ;  Clara,  deceased ;  and  one  that  died 
in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  ]\Ir.  Pet- 
tegrew chose  Miss  Susan  Bullion,  with 
whom  he  is  now  living.  Unto  them  have 
been  bom  six  children,  but  Clara,  the  eld- 
est, died  in  childhood.  Marion  is  now 
clerking  in  a  store  in  Himrod,  this  county. 
Charles  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Nimrod 
Coal  Company  of  that  place.  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Rice,  a  resident  of  Park 
county,  Indiana.  William  married  Anna 
Stuebe  and  is  living  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship.    Park  is  a  laborer  of  Danville. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Pettegrew  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Newport,  Vermilion 
county,  where  he  lived  for  six  months.  He 
then  removed  to  Danville,  where  he  was 
employed  as  a  laborer  and  teamster  until  the 
Civil  war  broke  out.  He  watched  with  in- 
terest tlie  progress  of  events  for  a  few 
months  and  then,  feeling  that  his  duty  was 
to  his  country,  he  joined  the  army  on  the 
4th  of  August,  1 86 1,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Thirty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  un- 
der Captain  Keith  and  Colonel  Smith.  On 
account  of  physical  disability,  however,  he 
was  discharged  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  in  De- 
cember, 1861.  He  then  returned  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  was  engaged  in  teaming  for 
a  year,  after  which  he  was  elected  constable 


and  filled  that  position  for  two  years.     He 
was  then  chosen  first  deputy  sheriff  under 
Joseph    N.    Payton    and    filled    that    office 
continuously   for  twenty-three  years  under 
the  various  sheriffs  of  the  county.     He  was. 
prompt  and  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  and  stood  as  a  faithful  defender  of 
law    and   order.      On   his   retirement    from 
office  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  2,  Georgetown 
township  and  there  resided  for  twenty-one 
years,  devoting  his  energies  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  his  fields.     In  February.  1899,  how- 
ever, his  son  took  charge  of  the  farm,  al- 
though   Mr.    Pettegrew    still    remains    its 
owner.     He  then  returned  to  the  city,  where 
he  is  now  living  a  retired  life.    At  the  pres- 
ent time  he  is  filling  the  position  of  assist- 
ant  county   supervisor,    having   served    for 
several   terms    in   this   oftice.      He   takes   a 
deep  and  active  interest  in  political  affilia- 
tions, keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of 
the  day,  and  always  votes  with  the  Republi- 
can party.     Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Georgetown     township.        Mr.     Pettegrew 
paid  four  hundred  dollars  on  that  churclu 
He  has  always  been  liberal  in  his  support 
of  church  and  charitalile  work  and  his  ef- 
forts ha\'e  been  eft'ecti\'e  in  this  direction. 
In  his  business  affairs  he  has  prospered  and 
is    now   one   of   the   well-to-do   citizens   of 
Dan\ille.     Fle  owns  a  nice  residence  at  No. 
82    Columljus    street   and   there   hospitality 
aljounds.     The  members  of  his  household 
have  many  warm  friends  in  the  community 
and  like  Mr.  Pettegrew  are  held  in  high  es- 
teem.    He  has  long  been  in  public  service 
and  over  the  record  of  his  ofiicial   career 
there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion 
of  evil. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 1 1 


WILLIAM    D.  KUYKENDALL. 

Among  the  large  land  owners  of  Ver- 
milion county  is  numbered  William  D.  Kuy- 
kendall,  who  resides  on  section  i,  Middle- 
fork  township.  He  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance in  this  portion  of  the  state,  his  business 
interests  having  brought  him  in  contact  with 
many,  while  his  social  qualities  ha\e  made 
him  a  popular  citizen.  He  is  a  native  of 
Virginia,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Hampshire  county,  now  West  Virginia, 
February  ii,  1831.  His  father,  Luke  Kuy- 
kendall,  was  born  in  the  same  county  in 
181 2,  and  the  grandfather,  Isaac  Kuyken- 
dall,  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion, 
where  the  family  was  established  at  an  early 
epoch  in  the  development  of  the  state.  Luke 
Kuykendall  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity  and  was  there  married  to  Elizabeth 
Welch,  a  native  of  the  same  locality.  He 
was  a  farmer  qf  Hampshire  county  for  some 
years  and  afterward  determined  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  far  west,  removing  to  Tippeca- 
noe county,  Indiana,  about  1852.  There  he 
resided  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which 
he  came  to  Illinois,  the  place  of  liis  destina- 
tion being  Vermilion  county,  where  he  lo- 
cated in  i860,  his  home  being  near  Potomac. 
Pie  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
place  of  residence,  for  his  death  occurred 
ere  a  year  had  passed. 

In  Hampshire  county,  West  Virginia, 
William  D.  Kuykendall  of  this  review  was 
reared  to  manhood,  receiving  good  educa- 
tional pri\'i leges  in  the  common  and  higher 
schools.  With  the  family  he  removed  to 
the  west  and  in  1858  he  came  to  Vermilion 
count}',  Illinois.  Here  he  rented  a  fann  for 
several  years  and  after  the  war  of  the  Re- 
bellion he  purchased  his  first  land,  Ijecom- 
ing  the  owner  of  a  tract  in  Blount  town- 
shii),  comprising  one  hundred  acres.     This 


was  an  improved  farm  \yhich  he  further  de- 
veloped for  one  year  and  then  removing  to 
Dan\'ille  he  was  there  engaged  in  the  liv- 
ery business  with  his  brother  Jacob,  who  is 
still  a  liveryman  of  that  ])lace.  Their  asso- 
ciation was  maintained  fur  eighteen  years 
and  then  Mr.  Kuykend.-ill  <if  this  re\iew  sold 
his  interest,  although  he  is  still  the  owner 
of  a  half  interest  in  the  brick  barn  in  which 
his  brother  continues  to  conduct  his  stable. 
While  in,  Danville  our  subject  purchased 
jM-operty  and  built  two  good  brick  livery 
barns.  The  first  one,  however,  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  but  with  characteristic  en- 
ergy he  replaced  it  by  one  which  is  .still 
standing.  In  1889  Mr.  Kuykendall  re- 
moved from  the  city  to  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  on  section  1,  Middlefork  town- 
ship. Here  he  has  erected  a  large  brick  res- 
idence, which  is  one  of  the  substantial  homes 
of  the  county.  He  also  has  good  bams  and 
sheds  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock  and 
the  latest  improved  machinery  facilitates  the 
farm  work.  He  has  planted  fruit  and  shade 
trees  and  shubbery  and  has  carried  on  the 
work  of  improvement  on  the  home  place  un- 
til his  farm  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  town- 
ship and  stands  as  a  monument  of  the  enter- 
prise and  labor  of  the  owner.  Mr.  Kuyken- 
dall has  to-day  one  thousand  acres  of  well 
improved  land  in  \^ermilion  county  and  his. 
possessions  are  the  visible  evidence  of  his 
life  of  earnest  and  honoral)lc  toil. 

In  1862  Mr.  Kuykendall  went  to  Frank- 
lin county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Emily  J.  Gollidav,  a  native  nf  the 
Buckeye  state,  her  death  occurring  in  Ver- 
milion county  about  1870.  They  had  two 
children :  Frank,  w  ho  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Danxille ;  and  Susan  Jane,  the  wife 
of  Jay  Freese.  of  Ogden,  Illinois.  In  Ver- 
milion county  Mr.  Kuykendall  was  again 
married,   in    1876,   his   second   union   being 


112 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


with  Miss  ^lartha  J.  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
John  Smith,  a  native  of  Enghuul.  who  came 
to  IlHnois  when  tlie  work  of  improvement 
and  progress  here  was  just  laegun.  The 
daugliter  was  born  antl  eehicated  in  this 
county  and  by  her  marriage  has  become  tlie 
mother  of  two  children,  Jacob  S.  and  Mae 
A.  The  former  is  married  and  now  fol- 
lows farming  in  Middlefork  township. 

At  local  elections,  where  no  issue  is  in- 
volved Mr.  Kuykendall  votes  independently, 
his  ballot  being  deposited  in  accordance  with 
his  faith  in  the  capability  of  the  candidate. 
In  national  affairs  he  was  for  many  years  a 
Democrat,  but  at  the  two  last  presidential 
elections  he  voted  for  William  McKinley. 
He  is  a  believer  in  prosperity  and  expansion 
and  thinks  that  the  work  of  the  Republican 
party  has  furthered  both  during  the  last  two 
presidential  administrations.  Matters  of 
public  improvement,  promoting  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  his  locality  have  also  re- 
ceived his  endorsement  and  co-operation 
during  the  forty-four  years  of  his  residence 
in  Vermilion  county.  He  is  well  known  in 
Danville  and  in  Potomac,  also  in  outlying 
districts  of  the  county  and  his  genial  and 
social  manner  has  gained  for  him  many 
warm  friends.  His  business  interests  have 
ever  been  capably  conducted  along  lines 
leading  to  success  and  to-day  among  the 
prosperous  agriculturists  he  is  classed. 


JAMES  M.  DOUGHERTY. 

The  record  of  an  honorable  life  should 
e\'er  be  a  source  of  insi)iration  and  encour- 
agement, and  the  history  of  James  M. 
Dougherty  is  well  worthy  of  emulation  for 
he  always  lived  so  as  to  command  the  confi-- 
dence  and  sfood  will  of  his  fellow  men.     He 


\vas  true  to  high  moral  principles  and  his 
high  moral  character  and  rectitude  of  action, 
his  unquestioned  probity  as  well  as  his  busi- 
ness ability  made  him  a  valued  citizen  of 
Vermilion  county. 

He  was  lx)rn  in  Brown  county,  Ohio, 
.\pril  28,  1829.  His  father,  James  Dough- 
erty, was  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
and  in  Brown  county  wedded  Mary  Kirk- 
patrick,  who  was  there  born  and  reared. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
of  .Scotch-Irish  descent  and  was  born  in 
Scotland.  Desiring  to  become  a  resident  of 
the  new  world  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
Maryland  and  at  the  time  the  colonies  at- 
tempted to  throw  off  the  yoke  of  British  op- 
pression he  joined  the  American  army  and 
under  General  Washington  fought  for  the 
independence  of  the  nation  until  the  glorious 
result  was  achieved.  His  son.  Francis 
Doughterty.  the  grandfather  of  our  subject^ 
was  born  in  Maryland  and  emigrating  west- 
ward took  up  his  abode  in  Ohio.  Subse- 
quentlv  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  was 
one  of  the  extensive  landholders  of  this  lo- 
cality. His  four  sons,  including  the  father 
of  our  subject,  then  came  to  the  west  and 
culti\ated  the  land  which  Francis  Dougherty 
had  purchased.  Here  he  died  in  September, 
i860,  and  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Christian  Hill,  and  whose  mother 
was  the  daughter  of  an  English  lord,  passed 
away  in  185 1.  In  addition  to  the  four  sons 
already  mentioned  they  had  four  daughters 
who  also  came  to  \'ermilion  county.  These 
children  were  as  follov\s:  Alexander  died 
in  \'ermilion  county  in  1888.  He  had  mar- 
ried Jane  Kirkpatrick  who  died  in  1862, 
thev  had  three  daughters  and  one  son.  Jesse, 
whose  death  occurred  while  he  was  serving 
in  the  Civil  war.  Elizabeth  became  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Ferrier.  who  died  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
tv    in    1836.      Later,    she    married    Samuel 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


IIS 


Gilbert,  whose  death  occurred  in  the  '50s. 
Mrs.  Gilbert  passed  away  about  1867,  leav- 
ing" four  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. James,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  the  third  of  the  family.  Malinda  1)e- 
came  the  wife  of  William  Leeper  and  they 
resided  in  Bloomington,  Illinois,  but  both  are 
now  deceased.  They  left  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  and  two  of  the  sons  and  the 
daughters  are  yet  living,  namely :  Mar- 
garet, wiio  is  matron  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  of  Chicago ;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Dr.  Wallace,  of  Decatur; 
Charles,  a  resident  of  New  York;  and  Will- 
iam, of  i\Iinneapolis.  ^Maybaiy  wedded 
Nancy  Hickman  and  resided  in  X'ermilion 
county  until  his  death  which  occurred  in 
1840.  He  left  a  son  and  three  daughters, 
the  latter  all  yet  residents  of  this  county. 
Margaret  became  the  wife  of  Ira  Butler  and 
made  her  home  in  \'ermilion  county  until 
her  death,  when  she  left  two  children  of 
whom  one  is  yet  living.  Samuel  married 
Jane  Dalby  and  has  also  passed  away.  He 
resided  in  this  county  and  had  four  daugh- 
ters and  three  sons,  of  whom  three  daugh- 
ters and  one  son,  Benjamin,  arc  yet  living. 
Nancy,  the  youngest  member  of  the  family 
of  Francis  Dougherty,  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years. 

James  Dougherty,  tlie  father  of  our  suIj- 
ject,  came  to  Illinois  in  1833,  locating  in 
Vermilion  county,  but  was  not  long"  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1835,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1834.  He  was  a  Whig  in  his  political 
views  and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Of  his  family  of  four 
sons  and  one  daughter  we  give  the  following" 
record :  Francis  married  Dassa  Boggess, 
and  she  died  leaving  one  child  who  has  since 
passed  away.  He  afterwai"d  married  Susan 
Tavlor.    who    died    leaxina:    nine    chiUlren ; 


Marcus,  a  resident  of  Shawnee.  Oklahoma; 
Milton,  of  Kincaid,  Kansas;  Louis  and  Al- 
vin,  prominent  merchants  who  reside  in 
Logan,  Kansas:  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Parrish,  of  Missouri ;  Marietta,  of  Kin- 
caid, Kansas;  Lilly,  the  wife  of  Ji;hn  Irwin, 
who  resides  near  Kincaid;  James  A.,  a  trav- 
eling salesman  residing"  in  Portland,  Ore- 
gon; and  Jennie,  now  deceased.  After  the 
tieath  of  Susan  Taylor.  Francis  Dougherty 
wedded  Belle  McNeil  and  is  now  living  in 
Kincaid,  Kansas.  They  had  four  children, 
three  of  whom  sin"vi\e:  Lyman,  a  tra\"eling 
salesman  representing  a  St.  Joseph,  I\Iis- 
sotiri,  house;  Charles,  who  is  living  near 
Kincaid  ;  and  Francis,  who  resides  with  his 
father.  Kirkpatrick  died  at  the  age  of  one 
year.  John  Dougherty,  the  second  member 
of  the  family  of  James  and  Mary  (Kirkpat- 
rick) Dougherty,  wedded  Margaret  Cheno- 
weth  and  after  her  death  wedded  Cida 
Graves.  He  has  since  died  and  his  widow  is 
residing  in  Fairmount.  Of  this  union  there 
were  two  daughters  and  three  .sons;  Law- 
rence and  Joseph,  who  are  li\ing  in  Buena 
\'ista,  Colorado ;  Molly,  the  widow  of  Dr. 
Wright,  and  a  resident  of  Danxille;  and 
Berta,  of  Fairmounl.  Charles,  the  young- 
est child,  died  in  1873.  James  M.  Dougherty 
is  the  third  member  of  the  family.  Jo.seph, 
now  deceased,  married  Louisa  Neville,  and 
they  had  two  sons,  of  whom  one  is  living, 
Alfred,  of  Lincoln,  Illinois.  Edwin's  death 
occurred  in  1890.  Mary  Dougherty  died  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  years  in  the  year  1841. 

James  M.  Dougherty  began  his  education 
in  the  usual  style  of  schoolhouse  of  the 
period,  built  of  hewed  logs,  furnished  with 
slab  seats  and  lighted  by  greased  paper  win- 
dows. This  building  stood  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  what  is  now  the  homestead  farm. 
His  opportunities,  however,  like  those  of 
other  early  settlers,  were  very  limited  and  his 


ii6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


education  was  largely  acquired  in  the  prac- 
tical school  of  experience.  His  father  hav- 
ing died  when  he  was  six  years  of  age,  he 
lived  with  his  grandfather,  h'rancis  Dough- 
erty, and  worked  upon  the  farm.  After  the 
grandfather's  death  he  managed  the  prop- 
erty, and  he  inherited  forty  acres  of  timber- 
land  from  his  father,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  prairie  land,  thus  becoming  the 
owner  of  a  good  farm.  Later  he  traded  his 
eighty  acres  for  a  valuable  tract  of  land  in 
Vance  township,  and  in  order  to  further 
complete  his  arrangements  for  laaving  a 
home  of  his  own  Mr.  Dougherty  was  mar- 
ried March  30,  1854,  near  Catlin,  to  Sarepta 
Jane  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  Septemlier  5,  1837.  Her 
father,  Thomas  A.  Taylor,  was  a  son  of 
Harrison  Taylor  and  a  descendant  of  Zach- 
ary  Taylor.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
whence  he  removed  to  Kentucky  and  there 
died.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Elizabeth  Allen,  and  also  died  in  Kentucky. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  now  deceased.  Thomas  Tay- 
lor was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  in  Tippecanoe 
countv,  Indiana,  he  married  Iva  Allen,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  where  Mr.  Taylor  followed 
the  tanner's  trade  and  farming.  In  1853  he 
came  to  Vermilion  county,  purchasing  five 
hundred  acres  of  land,  whicli  be  ciintinue<l  to 
cultivate  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  20,  1876.  His  wife  died  Decem- 
ber 3,  1893.  In  politics  Mr.  Taylor  was  first 
a  Whig  and  afterward  a  Republican,  and  in 
religious  faith  be  was  a  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr. 
Dougherty  and  his  wife  lived  in  a  double  log 
house  on  their  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Vance 
township,   and   he   afterward   purchased   an 


additional  tract  of  eighty  acres.  In  1864 
they  removed  to  Faimiount,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  livery  business  for  three  years. 
He  next  i)urcliased  what  is  now  the  home- 
stead farm  of  about  three  hundred  acres,  re- 
siding thereon  for  two  years.  On  account  of 
his  own  ill  health  and  his  desire  to  give  his 
children  better  educational  privileges  he  then 
remo\-ed  to  Dan\ille,  where  for  a  time  he  was 
engaged  in  the  butchering  business.  In  con- 
nectidu  with  Benjamin  Crane  he  built  the 
Arlington  Hotel  in  1876,  it  being  opened 
with  impressive  ceremonies  on  the  4th  of 
July  of  the  centennial  year.  In  the  fall  of 
1876,  however,  Mr.  Dougherty  left  Dan- 
ville and  through  the  succeeding  year  lived 
in  Fairmount,  after  which  be  erected  a  band- 
some  and  commodious  residence  upon  bis 
farm,  taking  up  bis  abode  there.  It  contin- 
ued to  be  bis  place  of  residence  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  14,  1889, 
and  he  \vas  laid  to  rest  in  Dougherty  ceme- 
tery. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Dough- 
erty was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  six  children : 
Marv,  born  February  26,  1855,  died  October 
2^,.  i860.  Emma,  born  June  28,  1857,  was 
marriefl  October  16,  1894,  to  H.  Jester 
Stearns,  and  they  reside  on  a  farm  near  Man- 
son,  Iowa,  They  have  one  son,  Dorrance: 
For  several  years  Mrs.  Stearns  served  as  a 
school  director.  Eva  Frances,  born  May  22, 
i860,  became  the  wife  of  William  Pankey, 
June  23,  1886,  and  they  reside  in  Danville 
with  their  three  children,  Loyette,  Dwight 
and  Lorton.  \\  illiam  Pankey  is  an  attor- 
ney and  manager  of  the  Vermilion  County 
Abstract  Company.  Alfred  A.,  born  January 
29,  1863,  died  September  25,  1864.  Maud  L., 
born  June  3,  1866,  resides  with  her  mother. 
Clara  Kirkpatrick,  born  August  25,  1869, 
was  married  December  28,  1894,  to  Dr.  A. 
H.  Leitzbach,  of  Fairmount.    They  have  one 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


"7 


daugliter,  Elizabeth.  ^^liss  Maude  possesses 
exceptional  artistic  ability  and  was  educated 
in  her  art  under  Professor  Aulich,  of  Chi- 
cago. She  studied  miniature  work  with  Miss 
Cecile  Payen,  of  New  York.  She  also  fur- 
ther prepared  herself  in  this  direction  at  the 
Julian  Art  Academy,  in  Paris,  France.  On 
account  of  ill  health  she  is  unable  to  devote 
her  time  to  teaching,  as  she  had  hoped  to 
do,  but  she  still  gives  considerable  attention 
to  painting. 

In  his  political  views  James  M.  Dough- 
erty was  first  a  Whig,  afterward  a  Rqjubli- 
can  and  later  a  Prohibitionist.  He  served  as 
a  candidate  for  representati\e  from  his  dis- 
trict and  succeeded  in  polling  a  large  vote 
which  made  his  defeat  almost  a  victory.  He 
held  a  number  of  township  offices,  the  duties 
of  which  he  discharged  with  marked  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  served  as  elder  of  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Danville  for 
three  years,  and  occupied  a  similar  position 
in  Fairmount.  He  was  very  charitable  and 
generous,,  a  consistent  Christian  man  whose 
life  was  noble,  whose  motives  were  honor- 
able, and  whose  actions  were  manly  and  sin- 
cere. 


JOHN  P.  SWANK. 

Among  the  substantial  farmers  of  Ver- 
milion county  who  have  helped  develop  its 
natural  resources  and  make  it  what  it  is  to- 
day— one  of  the  richest  counties  of  the 
great  state  of  Illinois — is  numbered  John 
P.  Swank,  now  deceased.  He  was  born  in 
Indianola,  Illinois,  December  l8,  1824. 
His  parents  were  Ohio  people  who  emigrat- 
ed to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  at  a  very 
early    date   in    the   history    of    the    county. 


They  became  pioneers  of  the  county  and 
contributed  much  to  the  growth  and  prog- 
ress of  their  community.  JNIr.  Swank  had 
three  l)n_)thers,  and  four  sisters,  and  one 
brother  and  one  sister  are  living  in  Kansas. 
In  the  public  schools  of  Carroll  town- 
ship "Sir.  Swank  was  educated.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  early  becoming- 
familiar  with  the  work  of  field  and  meadow, 
and  thus  acquiring  a  practical  knowledge 
of  the  occupation  which  afterward  Ijecame 
his  life  work.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Phebe  Dickson,  February  18,  1851, 
at  Indianiila,  Illinois.  She  was  born  in  In- 
dianola, May  17,  1829,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Doyle)  Dickson,  both 
of  whom  were  born  near  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky. They  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children :  Nancy  Dickson  Hub- 
bard, now  deceased:  Mrs.  Swank;  Mary 
Jane,  deceased ;  Simon,  who  died  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  being  killed  in  the  Civil 
war  in  1863;  James,  a  farmer  of  Fair- 
mount,  Illinois,  who  is  living  with  his  son, 
his  wife,  Amanda  (Shepherd)  Dickson  be- 
ing deceased:  and  Elizal)eth,  who  died  in 
early  girlhood.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swank 
were  born  the  following  sons  and  daugh- 
ters :  Albert  D.  is  a  farmer  residing  at 
Collison,  Illinois.  He  married  Sarah 
Smart  and  they  have  one  daughter.  Pearl, 
who  is  noted  as  a  successful  trained  nurse. 
He  is  fifty  years  of  age.  Gilbert  E.,  aged 
forty-eight  years,  lives  on  a  farm  near  In- 
dianola. He  married  Emma  Carter,  who 
died  some  }'ears  ago,  and  he  afterward  was 
married  to  Anna  Poindexter.  Of  this  mar- 
riage there  was  born  one  child,  Zelda,  who 
is  now  nine  years  of  age.  Robert  P.,  aged 
forty-six  years,  is  a  farmer  of  Indianola.  He 
married  Mary  Dickson.  Alice  is  the  wife  of  J. 
Harvey  Patterson.     They  have  one  lovely 


Il8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


child,  Ercell,  aged  nine  years.  Edward,  aged 
forty-one  years,  is  a  resident  farmer  of  In- 
dianola.  Pie  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Drusiila  Lane,  and  is  the  fifth  and 
youngest  child  in  the  family.  In  his  poli- 
tical views  Mr.  Swank  was  a  Democrat, 
and  his  sons  all  followed  his  belief  and  are 
all  adherents  to  the  cause  of  that  party  and 
its  principles.  In  his  life  Mr.  Swank  ex- 
emplified the  spirit  of  true  manliness  and  he 
was  highly  regarded  by  all  with  whom  he 
was  associated.  This  was  not  because  of 
liis  position  as  a  leading  and  substantial 
man  of  the  community,  but  because  his 
character  was  so  upright  and  honorable  that 
they  could  not  fail  to  respect  and  admire 
liim.  When  he  died  he  was  laid  to  rest  in 
\\'oodlawn  cemetery,  at  Indianola.  His 
death  occurred  June  8,  1894,  and  many 
friends  besides  the  immediate  family 
mourned  his  loss.  Mrs.  Swank  makes  her 
home  on  the  old  place  at  Indianola,  and  in 
her  declining  years  she  is  being  tenderly 
cared  for  by  her  children.  The  old  age  of  a 
man  or  woman  who  have  spent  life  rightly, 
is  always  beautiful  to  contemplate.  jMrs. 
Swank  has  done  this,  and  she  receives  the 
reverence  and  love  of  all  who  know  her. 


GEORGE  W.  REILLY. 

The  energies  and  efforts  of  George  \V. 
Reilly  have  been  exerted  along  lines  which 
haye  proven  of  benefit  to  his  fellow  men 
and  he  is  well  known  as  a  prominent  manu- 
facturer, church  worker  and  also  as  a  lead- 
ing representative  of  the  fraternal  order  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  His 
labors  in  each  direction  have  brought  to  him 
a  wide  acquaintance  and  he  has  accomplished 


much  in  each  line  of  actixity  so  that  he  well 
deserves  mention  among  the  leading  and 
representative  men  of  Danville  and  Vermil- 
ion county,  where  he  has  made  his  home 
since  the  fall  of  1868. 

Mr.  Reilly  was  born  in  Lafayette,  In- 
diana, May  II,  1852.  His  father,  Luke 
Reilly,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  spent  his 
youth  on  the  Emerald  Isle.  He  sailed  for 
the  new  world  in  1830.  He  was  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and,  locating  in  Lafayette, 
he  there  engaged  in  practice  until  1868,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  was  also  elected  and 
served  as  states  attorney.  In  the  year  men- 
tioned he  came  to  Danville  where  he  opened 
a  law  office  and  soon  became  known  as  one 
of  the  able  and  distinguished  members  of 
the  bar  at  this  place.  For  many  years  he  en- 
joyed a  large  clientage  which  was  indicative 
of  the  skill  which  he  manifested  in  his  pro- 
fession. His  last  days  were  spent  in  Dan- 
ville, where  he  passed  away  at  the  ripe  old 
age  of  eighty-four  years  in  1897. 

George  W.  Reilly  was  reared  in  this  city 
and  pursued  his  education  in  the  Danville 
schools.  After  putting  aside  his  text  books 
he  learned  the  harness  maker's  trade,  which 
he  afterward  followed  as  a  journeyman  for 
several  years.  Subsequently  he  became  fore- 
man of  a  large  manufacturing  establish- 
ment, acting  in  that  capacity  for  eight  years, 
when  he  began  manufacturing  on  his  own 
account  and  continued  the  business  with 
signal  success  until  1901,  wdien  he  retired 
from  actix'c  business  life. 

Politically  Mr.  Reilly  has  been  a  life 
long  Republican,  his  first  vote  having  been 
cast  for  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  in  1876,  while 
each  presidential  nominee  of  the  party  since 
that  time  has  also  received  liis  support.  He 
is  quite  active  in  local  politics,  but  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  public  office  have  had 


LIBRARY 

or    THE 

4JNIV£ftSirY  OF  ILLINOIS 


LUKE  REILLY. 


UNIVcHbllY   Of    ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


123 


no  attraction  for  him  personally.  He  was, 
however,  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for 
supervisor  in  1898,  and,  consenting,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  and  served  for  two 
years.  He  estabhshed  during  that  time  a 
system  of  records  unlike  what  had  been  be- 
fore used.  The  expenditures  previous  to  this 
time  had.  been  very  extravagant  and  during 
his  term  of  service  he  saved  to  the  county 
twenty-two  thousand  five  hundred  and  eigh- 
teen dollars.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
town  Ijoaril,  occupying  that  position  for  two 
years  and  on  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
declined  further  political  honors. 

Mr.  Reilly  joined  the  Modern  Woodmen 
in  1886,  becoming  a  member  of  the  local 
camp  and  at  once  taking  active  part  in  its 
work.  He  was  instrumental  in  increasing 
its  membership  from  eighteen  to  six  hun- 
dred and  for  twehe  years  he  servetl  as  couii- 
sel.  In  1890  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
the  head  camp  and  continued  a  member  of 
every  head  camp  until  1901.  In  that  year 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors, a  very  responsible  position  and  has 
since  given  his  entire  time  to  the  order.  This 
board  pays  out  from  \\\<i  to  six  thousand 
dollars  per  month  and  the  sum  is  constantly 
increasing  as  the  membership  of  the  fra- 
ternity grows.  Mr.  Reilly  has  firm  faith 
and  deep  interest  in  the  order,  realizing  how 
valuable  it  is  as  an  insurance  organization, 
protecting  its  members  in  illness  and  pro- 
viding for  their  families  at  death.  He  is 
justly  proud  of  what  the  society  has  already 
accomplished  and  he  has  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  this  result.  He  also  belongs 
to  Danville  Lodge  No.  69,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
which  he  served  as  financial  secretary  for 
four  years.  He  likewise  belongs  to  the  en- 
campment of  that  order  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  connected  with  tlie  Rebecca  de- 


gree. He  is  a  member  of  the  Tribe  of  Ben 
Hur,  of  the  Court  of  Honor  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  auditing  board  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  last  named  organization.  He  has 
filled  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  an<'. 
to  whatever  office  he  has  lieen  calleil  he  has- 
been  found  faithful,  diligent  and  efficient. 

Mr.  Reilly  was  married  in  Danville,  No- 
vember 4,  1874,  to  Miss  Amanda  Decker^ 
a  native  of  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Decker,  who  removed 
from  the  Buckeye  state  to  Iro(juois  county^ 
Illinois,  locating  near  Watseka,  where  Mrs 
Reilly  was  reared.  Her  father  died  when 
she  was  only  five  years  of  age  and  she  then 
lived  with  her  grandfather  in  Ire)qu(iis  countv 
until  sixteen  years  oi  age.  When  a  \-oung 
lady  she  came  to  Danville,  further  pursuetl 
her  education  here  and  in  this  city  gave  her 
hand  in  niarriage^to  the  subject  of  this  re- 
view. ■  Unto  them  have  been  born  se\-en 
children.  Gordon  L.,  a  business  man  of 
this  city,  is  married  and  has  one  daughter, 
Edna.  Louie  C.  is  a  stenographer  holding 
a  position  in  the  head  office  of  the  Woodmen 
fraternity  of  Rock  Island.  Walter  S.,  Irma. 
Georgie  and  Helen  are  at  home.  They  also 
lost  one  son,  George  William,  who  died  in 
1878  at  the  age  of  two  years.  The  parents 
belong  to  the  Kimber  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  for  several  years  Mr.  Reilly  was 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  which 
for  three  years  was  the  largest  Sunday- 
school  of  the  city,  owing  to  his  earnest  and 
indefatigable  efforts  in  its  behalf.  He  has 
erected  three  residences  in  Danville  and  has 
aided  in  improving  the  city  along  many 
lines.  A  man  of  strong  purpose,  of  indubit- 
able probity,  of  marked  devotion  to  any 
cause  which  he  espouses,  he  has  at  all  times 
and  in  all  places  commanded  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 


124 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


THOMAS    A.  HOWARD. 

Tliomas  A.  Howard,  who  was  born  in 
West  Virginia,  January  4,  1852,  is  a  son  of 
J.  W.  and  Sarah  (Adams)  Howard,  who 
were  natives  of  Virginia  and  were  there 
married.  Our  subject  was  the  third  in  order 
•of  birth  in  the  family  of  three  children  and 
was  educated  in  Iowa  and  in  Vermihon 
county,  lihnois,  while  upon  his  father's 
farm  he  was  reared,  working  in  the  fields 
through  the  months  of  summer  and  attend- 
ing school  through  the  winter  seasons.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  ow-n  account  and  about  1880  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  confectionery 
business,  which  he  conducted  for  a  time  and 
then  established  a  meat  market  which  he 
carried  on  for  two  years.  He  built  the  first 
two-stor)-  building  in  Fairmount  and  en- 
tered the  grocery  trade,  being  identified  with 
that  line  of  commercial  activity  until  1901. 
In  his  various  business  enterprises  he  has 
been  successful,  carefully  controlling  his  af- 
fairs and  with  keen  foresight  and  energ\' 
conducting  his  interests  until  they  have  been 
made  to  yield  to  him  a  good  return. 

On  the  nth  of  October,  1881,  Mr. 
Howard  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ju- 
lia Lee,  wdio  was  born  in  Vermilion  county, 
September  25,  1855,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizal>eth  Jane  (Saddler)  Lee,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  West  Virginia  and  be- 
came pioneer  settlers  of  Vermilion  county. 
Mrs.  Howard  was  the  third  of  their 
nine  children  and  pursued  iier  education  in 
the  public  schools  until  she  had  entered  upon 
the  work  of.  the  senior  year.  She  is  an  artist 
of  exceptional  ability,  displaying  particular 
skill  in  oil  painting's,  whereby  she  has  won 
scA-eral  premiums  at  the  various  fairs  in  Ho- 
mer and  in  Dan\'ille.  She  has  engaged  in 
teaching  art  for, several  years  and  a  number 


of  beautiful  paintings  of  her  production 
adorn  the  walls  of  her  home.  LTnto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Howard  have  been  boni  two  children : 
Lottie  Lee,  who  was  married  in  June,  1900, 
to  Thomas  Hughes,  of  Fairmount ;  and  Jo- 
seph Conrad,  who  is  now  thirteen  years  of 
age  and  is  a  student  in  the  Fairmount 
schools.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Howard 
is  a  Republican  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leaders  of  his  party  in  this  locality. 
Called  to  public  office  by  the  vote  of  his  fel- 
low townsmen,  he  served  for  two  years  on 
the  board  of  aldermen  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  as  mayor  of  Fairmount,  his 
re-election  being  indicative  of  his  loyalty 
and  efficient  service.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion has  also  found  in  him  a  warm  friend 
and  his  co-operation  in  behalf  of  the  schools 
has  been  of  marked  benefit.  He  is  a  liberal 
contributor  tc)ward  the  erection  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  now  being  ctjustructed,  and 
everything  pertaining  to  the  general  good 
has  found  in  him  a  friend,  in  fact,  he  has 
l.)een  a  co-operant  factor  in  whatever  tends 
to  advance  the  general  welfare.  He  belongs 
to  the  blue  lodge  of  Masons  in  Fairmount, 
in  which  he  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen 
Camp  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  Both  he  and 
his  \\ife  hold  membership  in  the  Baptist 
church  and  take  an  active  interest  in  its 
work,  Mrs.  Howard  serving  as  a  teacher  in 
the  Sunday-school  and  as  leader  of  the  choir 
for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Howard  can  go 
back  in  memory  to  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the 
history  of  Vermilion  county  when  the  deer 
ran  over  the  hills  and  when  lesser  wild  game 
was  to  be  had  in  abundance.  This  country 
was  all  wild,  open  prairie  and  the  trees  and 
bushes  were  the  native  growth.  Mr.  How- 
ard has  always  greatly  enjoyed  hunting  and 
has  killed  many  deer,  bears  and  wild  cats. 
A  witness  of  the  growth  of  the  county  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


125 


has  seen  it  ad\ance  from  its  pioneer  condi- 
tions to  take  its  place  with  the  leading  coun- 
ties of  this  great  commonwealth,  and  what- 
ever has  been  of  benelit  to  the  community 
has  received  his  endorsement. 


JOHN  U.  CUSTER. 

John  ^I.  Custer,  who  is  now  practically 
living  a  retired  life  after  a  long  and  honor- 
able connection  with  business  affairs  in 
which  he  gained  for  himself  a  handsome 
competence,  \\'as  born  in  Putnam  county 
West  Virginia,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1831. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  M.  Custer,  who  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  was  born  and 
reared  in  eastern  Virginia.  On  leaving  the 
Old  Dominion  the  father  emigrated  west- 
ward to  Champaigii  county,  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Homer  in  the  "60s,  but  he  was  not 
long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  place  of 
residence,  his  death  occurring  the  following 
year.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Mary  Brown  and  who  was  of  English 
lineage,  died  when  her  son  John  was  a  boy 
of  only  ten  years.  There  were  six  children 
by  that  marriage.  The  sisters  are  all  now 
deceased,  while  the  brothers  of  our  subject 
are  M.  B.  and  Edward  Custer,  both  well 
known  farmers.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  John  M.  Custer,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  married  in  Ohio  to  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Meyers,  who  died  in  Urbana,  Illinois, 
in  1902. 

The  subject  of  this  review  began  his 
education  in  a  log  schoolhouse  with  a  dirt 
floor,  split  puncheon  benches  and  greased 
paper  windows,  while  the  immense  fireplace 
that  occupied  one  end  of  the  room,  was 
built  of  mud  and  sticks.     He  received  onlv 


limited  educational  pri\ilcges  but  in  the 
school  of  experience  he  learned  many  valu- 
able lessons.  In  his  early  youth  he  worked 
in  field  and  meadow,  assisting  his  father  on 
the  home  farm  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  made  his  way  to  Homer, 
Champaign  county,  Illinois.  There  he  went 
to  school  for  one  year  and  followed  farm- 
ing as  a  laborer  for  some  time.  On  the  20th 
of  April,  1858,  he  rented  land  and  com- 
menced its  culti\ation  on  his  own  account. 

On  the  20th  of  April  of  that  year  Mr. 
Custer  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Lauretta  Long,  who  was  born  in  Vermilion 
county,  October  30,  1840,  her  parents  hav- 
ing located  here  at  an  early  day.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  J.  C.  and  Philadelphia  F., 
(Spicer)  Long,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio 
and  the  latter  of  Kentucky,  their  marriage, 
however,  being  celebrated  in  Georgetown, 
Illinois.  In  his  early  life  the  father  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  but  became  identified 
with  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  labored  in  behalf  of  that  de- 
nomination until  his  death,  which  occurred 
near  Urbana,  Champaign  county,  in  1886. 
He  was  at  that  time  a  member  of  tlie  con- 
ference, although  he  held  superannuated  re- 
lations with  it.  His  wife  died  in  1869  and 
was  buried  in  the  Concord  cemetery  near 
Georgetown. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Custer 
of  this  review  was  engaged  in  managing  a 
hotel  in  Homer.  In  1870  he  removed  to 
South  Danville,  where  he  has  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  ice  business  and  in  farming. 
He  owns  fifty  acres  of  land  on  the  river 
bottom  between  Danville  and  South  Dan- 
ville. He  continued  alone  in  the  ice  trade 
until  18S8,  when  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  John  Beard.  The  firm  now  util- 
izes eight  wagons  in  the  delivery  of  its  pro- 


126 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


duct  and  its  partners  are  regarded  as  the 
leading  ice  men  of  Danville.  Their  ice 
houses  have  a  capacity  of  nine  thousand 
tons  and  their  trade  is  very  extensive,  the 
business  constantly  increasing.  For  several 
seasons  Mr.  Custer  also  engaged  in  tthe 
operating  of  coal  mines  on  a  small  scale, 
working  drift  mines.  To  a  large  extent  he 
is  living  retired,  although  he  is  still  inter- 
ested in  the  ice  business  and  looks  after  his 
land. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  six  cliildren :  Fannie,  the  wife  of  John 
Weaver,  of  Fairmount ;  Mrs.  Luella  Yount, 
of  Homer;  John  C,  who  married  Matilda 
Dickinson,  of  Dan^'ille,  and  is  now  manag- 
ing the  ice  business  for  the  firm  of  Beard  & 
Custer;  Charles  E.,  who  is  employed  as  a 
salesman  by  Isaac  Stearns,  of  this  city;  May 
Viola,  who  is  making  a  specialty  of  the 
study  of  vocal  music;  Gertrude,  at  home; 
and  Jessie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years. 

In  his  political  views  iNIr.  Custer  is  a 
Republican  and  has  several  times  l)een  a 
member  of  the  South  Danville  coun- 
cil. He  belongs  to  Olive  Branch  Lodge, 
No.  38.  F.  &  A.  M.;  to  Chapter,  No.  82, 
R.  A.  M. :  and  to  the  commandery,  No.  45, 
K.  T.  In  his  life  he  exemplifies  the  Ijenev- 
olent  spirit  of  the  fraternity  which  is  based 
upon  mutual  helpfulness  and  brotherly 
kindness.  He  is  enterprising,  intelligent, 
become  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
honest  man.  Starting  in  life  poor  he  has 
this  city.  His  career  has  not  been  marked 
bv  business  failure  and  vicissitudes,  but  by 
steady  progress  and  straightforwardness. 
The  methods  which  he  adopted  have  been 
such  as  to  lead  to  success  and  therefore  he  is 
now  enabled  to  live  in  practical  retirement 
with   a   comfortable  competence   to   supply 


him  with  all  the  necessaries  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life.  He  has  passed  the  psalm- 
ist's allotted  span  of  three  score  years  and 
ten,  being  now  seventy-two  years  of  age, 
but  he  still  manifests  an  active  interest  in 
the  city  where  he  has  so  long  resided  and 
the  welfare  and  progress  to  which  he  has 
largely  contributed  through  his  active  co- 
operation in  liehalf  of  measures  for  the  gen- 
eral good. 


MICHAEL  KELLEY. 

A  glance  at  the  history  of  past  centuries 
will  indicate  at  once  what  would  be  the  con- 
dition of  the  world  if  the  mining  interests 
no  longer  had  a  part  in  the  industrial  and 
commercial  life.  Only  a  few  centuries  ago 
agriculture  was  almost  the  only  occupation 
of  man  and  the  landed  proprietor  surround- 
ed himself  with  his  tenants  and  his  servants 
who  tilled  his  broad  fields,  while  he  reaped 
the  reward  of  their  labors ;  but  when  the  rich 
mineral  resources  of  the  world  were  placed 
upon  the  market,  industry  found  its  way  intQ 
newer  and  broader  fields :  minerals  were  used 
in  the  construction  of  hundreds  of  inventions 
and  the  business  of  nations  was  revolution- 
ized. When  considering  these  facts  we  can 
in  a  measure  determine  the  value  to  man- 
kind of  the  mining  interests.  One  who  is 
connected  with  tlie  mineral  resources  of  Illi- 
nois is  Michael  Kelley,  who  is  one  of  the 
oldest  if  not  the  oldest  coal  dealer  in  this 
state,  operating  extensive  mines  and  having 
contracts  for  supplying  some  of  the  largest 
industrial  concerns  of  the  country  with  coal. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1837 
and  was  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  America,  arriving  in  New 
York  on  the  24th  of  July,  1857.     He  there 


M  i  ~  H 


USRARY 

Of    TfiE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


129 


remained  until  October  of  tlie  succeeding 
}-ear  and  worked  for  the  g;o\-ernment  on 
fortifications  at  old  Fort  Schuyler  on  East 
river.  He  afterward  spent  four  months  in 
Pennsylvania  and  then  came  to  Dan\-ille,  in 
February,  1859.  He  was  here  employed  in 
a  brickyard  through  one  summer  and  the 
next  year  secured  work  iu  the  coal  mines 
on  the  blufi:',  in  i860.  As  his  earnest  labors 
brought  to  him  some  capital  he  resolved  to 
engage  in  business  for  himself  and  purchased 
a  piece  of  land  which  is  now  included  within 
the  city  limits  of  Danville,  being  located  near 
the  Children's  Home.  He  sold  three  acres 
of  this  but  a  portion  of  it  he  still  retains 
Mr.  Kelley  worked  that  place  until  about 
eighteen  years  ago,  when  he  bought  twenty- 
six  acres  of  land  on  South  Fork,  tliree  miles 
from  Danville,  along  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  Railroad.  He  then  sunk  a  mine  to 
the  depth  of  seventy  feet  and  continued  its 
operation  for  ten  years.  In  the  meantime 
he  sunk  several  other  mines  in  the  same  lo- 
cality. He  now  operates  six  mines,  being 
the  largest  mine  operator  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. His  output  in  1902  from  two  of  his 
mines  was  e:ight  hundred  thousand  tons.  He 
now  owns  in  one  body  eight  thousand  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  has  six  mines  which 
are  in  operation,  while  another  is  now  being 
started.  As  he  has  increased  his  lousiness 
along  this  line  he  has  also  extended  his  la- 
bors into  other  fields  of  business  activity, 
his  ef¥orts  covering  a  wide  scope.  He  built 
both  the  town  of  Kelleyville  and  Westville 
upon  his  land.  The  former  was  established 
without  saloons  and  has  been  so  continued. 
!Mr.  Kelley  owns  three  general  stores  in  Kel- 
leyville, and  one  in  Westville,  and  he 
owns  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  houses 
in  those  places.  He  has  another  gen- 
eral store  in  Dan\ille.     He  employs  about 


two  thousand  seven  hundred  men  in  the 
mines,  and  the  output  for  1903  will  be  a 
little  o\er  two  million  one  hundred  anck 
fiftj'-four  tons  of  coal.  I'robablv  no- 
other  resident  in  the  county  has  done  so 
much  for  his  fellow  men  in  the  way  of  fur- 
nishing employment  and  thus  enabling  oth-i 
ers  to  serve  him  and  retain  their  self-respect 
because  they  are  self-supporting  and  inde- 
pendent. He  is  now  under  contract  to  fur- 
nish six  hundred  thousand  tons  of  coal  to 
the  Standard  Oil  Company  of  Chicago  each 
year  and  nine  hundred  thousand  tons  each 
year  to  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  for  use 
in  its  plants  in  Chicago  and  joliet. 

]\Ir.  Kelley  is  generous  of  his  means  and 
those  in  need  of  assistance  are  often  helped 
by  him.  He  possesses  a  most  benevolent 
and  humanitarian  spirit.  He  is  now  build- 
ing a  brick  schoolhouse  at  ^\'est\•ille  which 
will  cost  between  eight  and  ten  thousand 
dollars.  This  will  be  a  free  school  in  charge 
of  the  Catholic  sisters  and  will  be  given  to 
the  city.  Mr.  Kelley  is  a  liberal  supjiorter 
of  churches  of  all  denominations  and  gives 
freely  to  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of 
general  good.  In  1865.  in  Danville,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  our  subject  and 
Miss  Mary  Dunn,  who  was  born  in  the 
Empire  state.  They  now  have  two  sons  and 
three  daughters :  Michael,  who  married 
Birdie  Podgett;  Edward,  who  is  engaged  in 
bookkeeping  for  his  father:  Nellie,  Ruth 
and  Jennie,  all  at  home.  The  family  have 
an  elegant  home  opposite  the  postoffice,  the 
former  residence  of  Judge  Davis.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kelley  lost  one  child,  Mary,  who  was  a 
graduate  of  the  Catholic  school  at  Notre 
Dame.  Indiana,  who  died  in  1900,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-four  years.  Two  daughters. 
Ruth  and  Jennie,  are  now  students  at  St. 
Mary's    Academy,    Notre    Dame,    Indiana. 


I30 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  family  are  coniinunicants  of  the  Cath- 
ohc  church. 

In  his  youth  Mr.  Kelley  liad  ver\' 
hmited  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  edu- 
cation or  to  gain  a  start  in  hfe.  He  says 
that  when  lie  came  to  Danville  he  had  noth- 
ing but  his  health.  That  condition  is  a  strong 
contrast  to  his  present  financial  standing, 
for  he  today  ranks  among  the  wealthy  men 
of  this  state.  All  this  is  due  to  his  business 
ability,  his  enterprise  and  unremitting  la- 
bor. His  life  has  ever  been  a  \ery  busy  one 
and  that  he  has  advanced  be3-ond  others 
on  the  road  to  success  is  due  not  to  any  in- 
herited fortune  or  to  a  combination  of  luck}'^ 
circumstances,  but  is  the  direct  result  of  the 
exercise  of  qualities  which  may  be  culti- 
vated by  all.  His  wealth  has  come  to  him 
from  the  discrimination  and  utilization  of 
opportunity  and  the  most  envious  cannot 
grudge  him  his  success,  so  honorably  has  it 
been  won  and  so  worthilv  used  is  it. 


SAMUEL    ^\'.  P.AU:^!. 

The  three  essential  elements  of  success 
— industr)-,  energy-  and  .intelligence — may 
be  acquired  by  all.  They  do  not  come 
through  hereditary  tendencies,  save  in  a  la- 
tent form  which  must  be  developed  through 
exercise;  the}-  cannot  be  received  as  a  leg- 
acy: nor  can  they  be  purchased.  They  are 
a  matter  of  acquirement  through  cultivation 
and  thus  in  a  country  unhampered  by  caste 
or  class  the  road  to  success  is  open  to  all. 
Samuel  W.  Baum  may  well  be  termed  a  self- 
made  man.  for  wliile  he  stands  to-day 
among  the  prosperous  men  of  Vermilion 
county,  he  was  at  the  outset  of  his  business 
career  empty-handed  and  dependent  entire- 
ly upon  his  own  exertions.     He  became  a 


leading  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  also  ex- 
tended his  efforts  into  other  fields  of  en- 
deavor and  now  he  is  living  retired  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  competence  which  he  has 
gained. 

'Mr.  Baum  was  born  Februan,-  15.  1842. 
on  the  old  family  homestead  in  Carroll 
township,  Vermilion  county,  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Sarah  (\\'eaver)  Baum.  He  be- 
gan his  education  in  a  little  log  schoolhouse 
in  Indianola  and  after  a  few  weeks  entered 
a  subscription  school  taught  in  the  old  house 
that  now  stands  beside  the  Baptist  church. 
The  teachers  "boarded  round"  at  the  homes 
of  the  pupils.  For  two  summers  he  was  un- 
der the  instruction  of  a  capable  lady  teacher. 
Later  he  attende<l  onh^  for  about  two  and  a 
half  months  in  the  winter  season,  but  in  la- 
ter j-ears  he  cultivated  a  power  of  obser\-ing 
as  well  as  a  love  of  reading  and  thus  he  con- 
tinuall}-  broadened  his  knowledge,  becoming 
a  well  informed  man.  His  father  believed 
in  keeping  the  boys  busy  and  thus  he  early 
became  familiar  with  hard  work.  He 
would  break  prairie  with  six  yoke  of  oxen, 
turning  a  twenty-two  inch  furrow.  After 
his  father's  death  he  left  home  and  was  em- 
ployed for  a  time  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  day. 
His  younger  brother  remained  at  home  and 
as  thev  each  had  a  horse  they  had  bought 
they  made  a  team,  purchased  a  plow  and  set 
of  harness  and  rented  their  father's  farm 
from  the  executors.  After  farming  togeth- 
er for  a  year  they  borrowed  some  money 
and  began  buying  yearling  cattle,  which  they 
fed  and  grazed  until  tliey  were  three  years 
old.  when  they  fattened  them  and  sold.  The 
second  year  they  both  owned  a  team  and  re- 
mained on  the  farm.  Their  first  crop 
brought  eight  and  ten  cents  per  bushel,  but 
in  war  times  prices  advanced. 

When  the  estate  was  settled  Samuel  \V. 
Baum   received   his  share — eighty  acres  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


131 


raw  prairie,  and  alter  tiie  tdurtli  vear  lie 
broke  tiiis.  Tiie  timber  with  wliicli  lie 
fenced  it,  he  liauled  seven  miles.  His  uncle 
said  he  would  not  fence  it  for  the  land — 
such  was  the  estimate  jilaceil  on  prairie  at 
that  time.  The  next  year  Mr.  Bauni  bought 
another  eighty- acre  tract,  fenced  the  entire 
amount  and  placed  it  under  the  plow.  Dur- 
ing this  time  he  and  his  brother  had  contin- 
ued in  the  cattle  husiness  tog'ether  and  the 
partnership  was  maintained  until  187J.  dur- 
ing which  time  tliev  became  extensi\e  ship- 
pers of  and  dealers  in  cattle.  They  then  dis- 
solved partnership,  but  Mr.  Baum  continued 
the  business  and  from  time  to  time  he  pur- 
chased more  land  until  his  possessions  now 
aggregate  fourteen  hundred  acres  in  \'er- 
mJlion  county.  For  several  years  he  boarded 
■with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Pugh,  who  lived  near 
by,  and  then  he  erected  a  small  frame  house, 
but  later  made  extensive,  valuable  and  splen- 
did imiirovements  on  his  farm  until  it  was 
one  of  the  best  country  seats  of  this  portion 
of  the  state.  There  he  lived  until  Novem- 
Ijer,  1S90,  when  he  removed  to  Danville, 
and  after  two  years  lie  came  to  Indianola, 
where  he  |)urchased  propertv  and  has  since 
made  his  home.  While  he  is  jiractically  liv- 
ing retired,  he  yet  gives  his  supervision  to 
his  large  farm.  He  has  been  one  of  the  most 
extensive  dealers  in  cattle  in  eastern  Illinois 
and  for  many  years  he  was  interested  in 
fancy  stock.  In  1892  he  fed  six  head  of  tw'O 
years-old  steers,  that  weighed  on  an  average 
of  nineteen  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  For 
many  years  he  bred  fancy  shorthorn  cattle, 
and  he  gave  some  attention  to  horses  but 
made  a  specialty  of  beef  cattle  and  hogs.  For 
a  time  he  was  connected  with  the  Danville 
Fair  Association  and  the  Indianola  Associa- 
tion, and  has  e\-er  been  interested  in  what- 
ever tends  to  promote  advancement  along 
agricultural  lines.     His  attention,  however. 


has  not  been  confinctl  entirely  to  farm  pro- 
ducts and  kindred  industries  for  he  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  large  Emery  dry-goods 
hou.se  of  Danville. 

On  the  5lh  of  November,  1879,  Mr. 
Baum  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Delia 
Stewart,  a  native  of  Vermilion  county  and 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Jane 
(Cochran)  Stewart.  She  was  born  on  the 
old  Achilles  ]\ [organ  farm  in  the  first  brick 
house  l)uilt  in  this  county.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  Brown  county,  Ohio,  were 
there  married  and  in  an  early  day  went  to 
Woodford  county,  Illinois.  They  went 
down  the  Ohio  to  the  Mississippi,  then  up 
the  latter  to  the  Illin(_)is  and  after  following 
that  waterway, for  a  time,  landed  at  Spring 
Ha}-,  whence  they  proceeded  on  horse  back 
to  their  destination.  After  a  residence  of 
fi\-e  or  six  years  in  Woodford  county  they 
came  to  Vermilion  county  and  purchased 
the  old  Morgan  farm  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship, southeast  of  Danville.  Mr.  Stewart 
lived  to  be  sixty-four  years  of  age  and  died 
in  Danville,  to  which  place  he  had  removed 
after  his  children  had  married  and  left 
home.  His  widow  now  makes  her  home 
with  her  youngest  daugliter,  Mrs.  R.  A. 
Rouse.  To  them  were  born  seven  daugh- 
ters :  Mary  Malinda,  who  died  when  three 
months  old ;  Thainer  Elizabeth,  the  twin  of 
Mary  and  the  wife  of  Thomas  Patrick,  who 
is  a  farmer  of  Vermilion  county,  Indiana; 
Lavina,  the  wife  of  J.  C.  ^laddox,  of  Sidell 
township;  Sarah  Amanda,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years ;  Josephine,  the  wife  of 
Jasper  N.  Baum,  of  Edgar  county,  Illinois; 
Delia,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Baum;  and  Dol- 
lie,  the  wife  of  R.  A.  Rouse,  of  Danville. 

In  politics  Samuel  Baum  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  voting  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  1864,  but  he  has  never  held  or  wanted  of- 
fice, preferring  to  give  his  attention  to  his 


132 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


business  affairs,  in  wiiich  lie  has  met  witli 
signal  success.  He  is  a  self-made  man  in 
the  best  sense  ot  tliat  term,  having  had 
no  assistance  in  his  business  career,  and 
while  winning  prosperity  he  has  also  gained 
the  respect  and  goodwill  of  his  fellow  men 
and  is  numbered  among  the  valued  and  lead- 
ing men  of  the  count)-. 


FRAX'CIS  ASBURY  COLLISON. 

Francis  Asbury  Collison  is  an-  extensive 
land  owner  and  stock  dealer  in  Vermilion 
county,  controlling  large  business  interests, 
which  demand  executive  force  and  ability, 
keen  foresight  and  enterprise.  He  is  wide- 
ly known  throughout  the  county  as  "Bury" 
Collison  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing representatives  of  stock-dealing  interests 
of  this  portion  of  the  state.  Vennilion 
county  claims  him  as  one  of  her  native  sons, 
his  liirth  having  occurred  June  25,  1837,  in 
Pilot  township,  upon  a  farm  which  forms  a 
part  of  his  estate.  He  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  log  school  house  and  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  after  which  he  was 
associated  with  his  brother  in  Potomac  for 
a  year  or  two. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1866,  Mr.  Col- 
lison was  united  in  marriage  to  Nannie  J- 
Howard,  who  was  born  in  Pilot  township, 
February  20,  1846,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Martin)  Howard.  Her  mother 
died  during  the  infancy  of  Mrs.  Collison 
and  the  father  passed  away  when  she  was 
but  five  years  of  age.  She  had  one  sister, 
Margaret,  and  a  half  brother,  G.  C.  How- 
ard, but  the  former  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years.     After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 


Mr.  Howard  had  married  Miss  Barbara 
(Snyder)  Morrison,  who  is  now  living  in 
Potomac  and  is  the  widow  of  William  I. 
Allen. 

The   marriage   of   our   subject   and    his 
wife    was    lilessed    with    nine    children,    of 
whom  seven  survive.     I'red  married  Fmnia 
Martin   and   is   living   in   Rantoul.      Harry 
married     Mollie    Martin,    a    sister    of    his 
brother's  wife,  and  the  two  brothers  are  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business,  conducting 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Rantoul.     Lillie 
is  the  wife  of  David   Fowler,  of  Danville- 
township.     Lulu,  a  twin  sister  of  Lillie,  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  Pollock,  who  is  a  stock- 
holder and  cashier  of  the  bank  at  Gilman, 
Illinois.     Mae  is  the  wife  of  E.  G.  Stephens, 
a  farnier  of  Pilot  township.     Maude  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Atwood,  who  is  conducting 
a   general    store   in   Collison.      Nellie   com- 
pletes the  family.     Mr.  and  Mrs.   Collison 
also  have  eight  grandchildren.     They  lost 
two  children :     Joseph,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  months ;  and  Jessie,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  three  months.     He  had  given  to  their 
chilflren     excellent     educational     privileges. 
The  youngest  son  is  a  graduate  of  the  law 
department  of  the  University  of  Michigan 
at  Ann  Arbor  and  was  admitted  to  the  Illi- 
nois  bar   but   never   practiced.      Fred   is    a 
graduate   of   the   Gem    City   Business    Col- 
lege of  Ouincv,  Illinois,  and   for  a  number 
of  tern-is  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  district 
schools  and  in  the  intermediate  department 
of  the  public  schools  of  Indianola.    The  twin 
daughters  attended  De  Pauw  University  at 
Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  Maude  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Il- 
linois. 

The  first  land  which  Mr.  Collison  ever 
owned  was  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  w-hich  he  received  as  his  share- 


«^ 


LIBRARY 

Of    liE 

UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


135 


of  the  estate  whicli  helonged  to  his  father, 
who  was  tlie  owner  of  nine  huiKhxcl  acres, 
and  to  this  property  our  suhject  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  his  huuled  ])osses- 
sions  now  aggregate  between  eleven  and 
twelve  hun(h-ed  acres,  all  of  which  is  located 
in  Pilot  township  with  the  exception  of  a 
quarter  section  in  Oakwood  township. 
From  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  stock  business,  giving  much 
of  his  time  to  dealing  in  live  stock.  In  an 
early  day  he  drove  cattle  to  Chicago,  but  his 
tirst  sliiiiments  were  made  to  Xew  York. 
He  now  ships  on  an 'average  of  from  ten 
to  twelve  carloads  of  stock  each  year 
and  is  breeding  shorthorn  cattle.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  is  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  his  fields,  but  of  recent 
vears  he  has  rented  his  land,  all  save 
his  pastures.  Splendid  improvements  have 
been  made  upon  his  farm,  which  under  his 
supervision  has  been  brought  to  a  rich  state 
of  cultivation.  In  1880  he  ga\e  his  first 
contract  for  tiling  to  the  amount  of  two 
thousand  dollars  and  almost  every  year  since 
that  time  he  has  added  to  the  amount  of 
tiling  uiHiu  his  place.  One  year  he  was  a 
half  owner  in  a  tile  factory  east  of  Collison. 
In  1S85  he  erected  his  present  beautiful 
home  which  stands  on  the  site  of  the  old 
residence  so  that  he  has  here  lived  for 
thirty-five  consecutive  years.  His  present 
palatial  residence  contains  thirteen  rooms, 
a  bath,  broad  halls  and  all  modern  equip- 
ments and  its  furnishings  indicate  the  re- 
fined and  cultured  tastes,  of  the  owners. 

Although  not  a  member  of  any  church 
]\Ir.  Collison  attends  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member 
and  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
having  formerly  been  identified  with  the 
lodge  at   Potomac.     The  first  postoffice  in 


Pilot  t(jwnship  was  secured  through  the  ef- 
forts of  Mr.  Collison  and  was  called  Bixby, 
being  located  on  a  portion  of  his  farm.  It 
was  looked  upon  with  disfavor  by  many  at 
first  l)ut  later  they  realized  it  was  one  of  the 
best  things  that  was  ever  done  for  the  town- 
ship. In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republi- 
can and  has  held  some  minor  offices,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  political  honors, 
preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  energies 
to  his  business  aft'airs.  Few  men  in  \'er- 
milion  county  are  more  widely  known  than 
is  "Bury"  Collison,  whose  residence  here 
covers  sixty-five  years — the  entire  period  of 
his  life.  While  he  has  controlled  extensive 
business  interests  and  won  splendid  success 
he  has  never  allowed  the  accumulation  of 
wealth  to  warp  his  kindly  nature  or  to  in- 
fluence him  in  any  degree  in  his  associations 
with  cAd  time  friends.  He  is  a  genial  gentle- 
man, companionable  and  kindly,  and  is  \ery 
popular  among  those  who  know  him.  He 
certainly  deserves  to  be  classed  among  the 
representative  agriculturists  of  this  part  of 
the  state.  Though  he  received  some  assist- 
ance in  starting  out  in  life  his  splendid  pros- 
perity is  due  to  his  own  efforts,  to  his 
diligence  and  to  his  correct  business  ])rin- 
cii^les.  and  through  the  exercise  of  these 
qualities  he  has  won  success,  which  places 
him  in  the  front  rank  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  his  native  countv. 


GEORGE    E.  COCKERTOX. 

.'\mong  the  "captains  of  industry"  in 
Danville  may  be  nuriibered  George  E.  Cock- 
erton.  a  self-made  man.  who  at  the  outset 
of  his  business  career  realized  that  there  is 
no  excellence  without  labor  and  whose  ef- 


•36 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


forts  therein  have  lieen  exercised  consecu- 
tively in  an  endea\or  to  acquire  a  hand- 
some competence.  In  tliis  he  has  suc- 
ceeded and  at  the  same  time  he  has  won 
honor  and  respect  which  is  accorded  to 
those  whose  liusiness  careers  will  bear  close 
investigation  and  scrutiny.  As  a  boy  in 
1864  Mr.  Cockerton  came  to  Danville  with 
his  parents,  John  C.  and  Hannah  (Pate) 
Cockerton,  who  are  yet  residents  of  this  city. 
The  family  is  of  English  lineage  and  repre- 
sentatives of  the  name  came  from  England 
to  America,  locating  first  in  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, afterward  in  l-dgin  and  subsequently  in 
this  city.  Both  the  father  and  mother  of 
our  subject  \\ere  born  in  England  and  the 
year  of  their  emigration  to  America  was 
184Q.  The  father  was  engaged  in  finishing 
woolen  goods.  In  the  family  were  three 
children,  Init  one  brother,  Frank,  died  in 
Danville  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  years. 
The  sister,  Mrs.  Edgar  C.  Dodge,  now  in 
Chicago,  was  a  teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Danville  prior  to  her  marriage. 

George  E.  Cockerton  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  high  school  of  Danville  under 
the  direction  of  Professor  Spellman,  leav- 
ing that  institution  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years.  From  the  age  of  fourteen  he  has 
been  connected  almost  continuously  with  the 
printing  business.  He  first  entered  the  of- 
fice of  the  Danville  Plaindealer,  owned  by 
the  firm  of  Clapp  &  Evans.  Subsequently 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  Danville  Times, 
owned  by  A.  G.  Smith  and  closely  applying 
himself  to  his  work,  he  became  one  of  the 
best  printers  in  this  portion  of  the  country, 
being  made  manager  of  a  plant.  A  weekly 
paper  was  published  and  a  large  jobbing 
business  carried  on,  Mr.  Cockerton  hax'ing 
supervision  of  the  mechanical  department 
and  business  management  of  the  Enteqirise 
between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  twentv- 


one  years.  On  attaining  his  majority  he 
went  to  the  east  where  he  remained  for  four 
years  and  there  further  acquainted  himself 
A\ith  the  line  of  work  which  he  had  chosen 
for  a  life  occupation.  For  several  years  he 
was  also  employed  in  Indianapolis  and  when 
the  financial  panic  of  1877  involved  the 
country  he  came  to  Danville  in  response  to 
an  offer  which  was  made  him  to  take  charge 
of  the  Times.  He  occupied  that  position  for 
two  years,  managing  the  jobbing  depart- 
ment. In  1879  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  F.  E.  Bowman,  in  the  establishment  of 
a  job  and  printing  oflice  on  a  small  scale. 
Immediate  failure  was  predicted  for  the  new 
firm  by  all,  but  in  face  of  these  dire  predic- 
tions the}-  ha\e  succeeded,  their  strong  reso- 
lution, enterprise  and  good  workmanship 
enabling  them  to  overcome  all  obstacles  and 
difficulties  in  their  path.  At  the  expiration 
of  three  years  their  business  was  sold 
at  a  gootl  advance.  Later  ]\Ir.  Cockerton  es- ' 
tablished  a  job  office  alone  and  conducted  it 
for  four  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  the  Press  Company  was  formed,  Mr. 
Cockerton  becoming  business  manager  and 
in  that  position  he  remained  for  two  years. 
In  i88g  he  established  an  exclusive  job  and 
book  business,  and  in  Januars',  1901,  he 
admitted  his  S(jn  ti)  a  partnership  in  the 
business.  The  new  enterprise  prospered 
frosn  the  beginning.  The  public  had  already 
become  familiar  with  his  good  workman- 
sfiip  and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the 
printing  business  in  all  its  departments  and 
it  was  not  long  before  he  had  seciu'ecl  a  lib- 
eral patronage.  In  1898  he  added  a  book 
binding  plant  and  also  began  manufacturing 
rubber  stamps.  The  book  binding  and 
stamp  manufacturing  departments  are  now 
under  the  direct  management  of  Herliert  E. 
Cockerton,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm, 
and  this  branch  of  his  business  has  had  phe- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


137 


nomenal  growtli.  The  plant  is  \-alue(l  at  tei: 
thousand  dollars  and  the  value  is  constantly 
being  increased  by  the  addition  of  new  ma- 
chinery and  equipments  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  effectiveness  of  the  work  and  ad- 
vance the  practical  utility  of  the  business. 

In  1876  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Cockerton  and  Miss  Lillian  E.  Jack,  of 
Indianapolis.  She  was  liorn  in  Centerville, 
Indiana,  a  daughter  of  Matbew  W.  and 
Ann  (Sackett )  Jack.  Both  parents  are  now 
deceased.  In  their  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Mrs.  Cockerton  was  the 
vcningest.  Thomas  Carroll,  of  Carrollton, 
Maryland,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, was  an  uncle  of  her  father.  Mr. 
Jack  died  in  Chicago  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
one  years.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade  and  in 
later  years  carried  on  merchandising.  He 
held  membership  in  the  Tippecanoe  Club  of 
Chicago  and  was  quite  prominent  in  public 
affairs  there.  Unto  Air.  and  Mrs.  Cocker- 
ton has  been  born  one  son,  Herbert  E.  He 
was  married  in  November.  1901,  to  Miss 
Lola  G.  Young,  who  was  bom  in  Danville 
in  February,  1880,  a  daughter  of  C.  M. 
Young,  one  of  the  well  known  residents  of 
this  city  and  general  agent  for  the  Home 
Sewing  Machine  Company  for  Indiana  and 
Illinois.  Mr.  Cockerton  owns  a  residence 
at  No.  310  Oak  street,  x-alucd  at  ti\e  tliou- 
sand  dollars,  and  has  a  suburban  fruit  ranch 
at  the  northeast  comer  of  the  city  covering 
two  acres  and  planted  to  small  fruit.  His 
father  lives  at  that  place.  The  son  mvns  ^ 
property  at  No.  710  Gilbert  street.  Mr. 
Cockerton  is  a  member  of  Olive  Branch 
Lodge.  Xo.  38.  ¥.  &  A.  M. ;  Vermilion 
Chapter,  No.  8j,  R.  A.  M.:  Danville  Coun- 
cil, No.  83.  R.  &  S.  M. :  and  Athelstan  Com- 
mandery.  No.  45.  K.  T.  Of  the  last  named 
he  is  ])ast  eminent  commander  and  is  past 
chancellor  of  Damascus  Lodge,  No.  84,  K. 


P..  He  likewise  belongs  to  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  to  Paugh- 
caughnaughsinque  Tribe,  Improved  Order 
of  Redmen.  He  holds  membership  relations 
with  the  C"ycling  Club  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  since  its 
organization.  His  name  is  also  on  the 
membership  roll  of  Damille  Council,  No. 
160,  of  the  National  L'nion.  In  his  life  his- 
torv  are  many  e\idences  of  excellent  busi- 
ness abilitv.  ills  ])rosperity  cannot  be  at- 
tributed to  a  combination  of  Incky  circum- 
stances, but  has  arisen  from  energy,  enter- 
prise, integritv  and  intellectual  effort  well 
directed.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  individual- 
itv  anil  indubitable  probity  and  one  whose 
influence  has  ever  been  exerted  in  behalf  of 
measures  contributing  to  the  general  good. 


\V.  A.  COCHRAN,  M.  D. 

W.  -V.  Cochran  who  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  has  displajed  skill  and  comprehen- 
sive knowledge  that  ranks  him  among  the 
leading  members  of  the  medical  fi-atcrnity 
in  Danville,  was  born  in  Madison.  Indiana, 
in  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Min- 
erva (Morris)  Cochran.  The  father,  also 
a  native  of  Madison,  was  a  contractor  and 
builder  and  in  the  year  1855  ranoved  to 
Brookston.  Indiana,  where  the  mother  died 
of  smallpox  in  1861.  The  father  however, 
long  survived  her,  passing  away  in  Brooks- 
ton  in  November,  1901.  By  the  first  mar- 
riage there  were  three  children  of  whom  the 
Doctor  is  the  eldest.  His  brother  and  sister 
died  in  childhood.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  Andrew  Cochran  was  again  mar- 
ried and  l)v  the  second  union  had  two  sons, 
Clvde  and  Sherman,  both  of  whom  are  now 
li\ins''    in    Brookston. 


138 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Dr.  Cochran  pursued  liis  studies  in  the 
Brookston  Academy,  leaving  that  institu- 
tion in  1868.  The  following  year  he  took 
up  the  study  of  medicine,  entering  the  Ohio 
Medical  College  at  Cincinnati,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1873.  The  same  year  he 
established  the  office  in  Brookston,  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  for  one  year  after  which 
he  engaged  in  practice  for  a  year  in  Han- 
over, Kentucky.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
])eriod  he  located  in  Indianapolis  where  he 
remained  in  practice  until  1882.  which  was 
the  year  of  his  arrival  in  \'ermilion  county, 
IHinois.  He  established  his  home  and  office 
at  Grape  Creek  where  he  remained  until 
1895,  when  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he 
has  since  li\ed.  Experience  of  a  varied 
character  in  former  3'ears,  combined  with 
reading,  study  and  investigation  have  al- 
ready made  him  a  capable  physician  and  in 
the  city  of  his  adoption  he  has  long  since 
left  the  ranks  of  .the  many  to  stand  among 
the  successful  few. 

In  1877  occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr. 
Cochran  and  jMiss  Martha  P.  Medaris,  the 
wedding  taking  place  in  Brookston,  Indiana. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Hartford,  Indiana, 
April  3,  1855,  a  daughter  of  John  Medaris, 
a  physician  of  Brookston,  Indiana.  Her 
mother,  however,  is  now  deceased.  The 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Cochran  have  two  chil- 
dren :  Charles  H.,  who  was  born  February 
7,  1878,  is  a  machinist  in  the  employ  of  the 
Danville  foundry  and  machine  shops;  Helen 
E.,  born  August  30,  1880,  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Danville  high  school.  The  Doctor  is 
identified  socially  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Tribe  of  Ben 
Hur  and  the  Bene\-olent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican 
and  for  se\en  years  he  filled  the  office  of 
county  physician,  while  for  two  terms  he  was 
police,  magistrate  at  Grape  Creek.    Illinois. 


In  1894  he  was  elected  assistant  supervisor  of 
Danville  township.  His  home  is  at  No.  910 
Vermilion  street  where  he  has  a  pleasant 
residence.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  he 
is  connected  with  the  Tri  County  and  the 
State  Aledical  Associations.  He  is  engaged 
in  the  general  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery and  has  served  on  the  hospital  surgical 
staff  of  the  Vermilion  county  hospital  for 
seven  years,  tie  is  also  examining  physi- 
cian for  a  number  of  insurance  companies 
and  in  this  profession  where  advancement 
depends  solely  on  strong  mentality  and  in- 
dividual merit  he  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  until  he  now  occupies  a  very 
creditable  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  medical 
fraternity. 


LEVIX  D.  GASS. 

Levin  D.  Gass  is  the  well  known  cashier 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Danville  and 
to  say  of  him  that  he  has  arisen  unaided 
from  comparative  obscurity  to  rank  among 
the  leading  business  men  of  Danville  is  a 
statement  that  seems  trite  to  those  familiar 
with  his  life,  yet  it  is  just  to  say  in  a  history 
that  will  descend  to  future  generations,  that 
his  business  record  has  been  one  that  any 
man  would  be  proud  to  possess.  Through 
his  entire  business  career  he  has  been  looked 
upon  as  a  model  of  integrity  and  honor, 
never  making  an  engagement  that  he  has  not 
fulfilled,  and  stands  to-day  an  example  of 
what  determination  and  force  combined 
with  the  highest  degree  of  business  integ- 
rit}-  can  accomplish  for  a  man  of  natural 
abilit}'  and  strength  of  character.  He  is  re- 
spected by  the  community  at  large  and  hon- 
ored l)y  his  business  associates. 

^Ir.   Gass  was  born  in  Catlin,   Illinois, 
November  22,   1858.     His  father,  John  H. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


141 


Gass  was  burn  in  Tennessee  and  died  in 
August,  1895,  in  Chicago.  He  had  been  en- 
gaged in  the  hve  stock  commission  business 
in  tliat  city  in  connection  with  John  Adams, 
Son  &  Company,  for  twent_\--foui"  years.  He 
took  up  his  abode  in  \  ermilion  count}-  in 
1856,  and  in  Danxihe  in  1866.  He  was  a 
wholesale  and  retail  grocery  of  the  ctiy  as 
well  as  an  extensive  dealer  in  live  stock  in 
Chicago.  His  wife  died  in  b'ebruary,  1901. 
In  the  family  were  the  following-  children  : 
Hamlet;  Charles;  Mrs.  George  Cutter  and 
Mrs.  Butler  jMiller,  all  of  Chicago;  and  Mrs, 
Olmstead,  of  Danville. 

Le\-in  D.  Gass  pursued  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Danville  and 
then  became  a  high  school  student.  In  1875 
he  put  aside  his  te.xt  books  and  entered  the 
First  National  Bank  under  J.  G.  English  as 
president  and  E.  H.  Palmer  as  cashier.  He 
acted  as  messenger  and  errand  bov  in  the 
early  days  of  his  connection  with  the  insti- 
tution and  afterward  served  as  collector  for 
eighteen  months  and  was  then  advanced  to 
the  position  of  general  bookkeeper,  which 
incumljency  he  retained  for  two  years,  after 
A\hich  he  was  indi\idual  bookkeeper  for 
eighteen  months.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  was  made  teller  and  when  four 
years  had  passed  he  was  again  promoted. 
becoming  assistant  cashier,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  served  for  fourteen  years.  For 
five  years  he  has  been  cashier  of  the  insti- 
tution and  its  growth  and  progress  during 
this  period  is  largely  attributable  to  his  ef- 
forts. He  is  a  stockholder  and  director  of 
the  bank  and  his  thorough  understanding 
of  the  banking  business  combined  with 
close  application  and  unremitting  diligence 
have  made  him  one  of  the  most  valued  of- 
ficers (if  the  institution  and  a  man  who  has 
wiin   and   retains   the   public  confidence  and 


regard.  He  is  also  a  stocklmlder  in  the 
Danville  Buggy  Company  and  he  owns 
both  city  and  farm  property,  having  made 
judicious  investments  in  real  estate. 

In  this  city,  in  i88r,  Mr.  Gass  married 
Miss  Eva  Hulce,  a  native  of  ^Marshall  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Martin  Hulce, 
now  deceased,  who  was  the  president  of  the 
Dan\ille  Buggy  Company.  They  have  four 
children ;  Lewis,  Martin,  Inez  and  How- 
ard, all  of  whom  are  yet  under  the  parental 
roof  and  are  now  students  in  school.  The 
family  home  is  at  No.  318  Gilbert  street  and 
the  household  is  celebrated  lor  its  gracious 
hospitality. 

l''raternally  Mr.  Gass  is  connected  with 
the  blue  lodge  and  the  chapter  of  Masonry. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  fraternity  and  the  Modern  W'l Kid- 
men (jf  .\merica.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a  niemljer  of  the  Kimber  Alethodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  lie  has  been  a 
trustee.  He  takes  a  \ery  prominent  and 
acti\'e  part  in  politics,  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  has  served  as  school  treasurer  and  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  education  in  Danville. 
He  was  one  of  those  who  helped  to  start  the 
movement  which  caused  the  Republicans  of 
Illinois  to  give  an  almost  universal  support 
to  the  sound  money  [(lank  of  the  [)latform 
in  1896  and  led  the  state  delegation  to  give 
its  unanimous  strength  to  the  McKinley 
ticket  in  that  year.  His  has  been  a  busy, 
useful  ;inil  hnnorable  life  and  while  business 
affairs  ha\'e  made  close  demands  upon  his 
attention  he  has  yet  found  time  and  oppor- 
tunity to  failhfull\'  perform  his  duties  of 
citizenship  and  of  social  life.  He  has  a  very 
wide  acquaintance  in  Danville  and  the  circle 
of  his  friends  is  almost  co-e.xtensive  there- 
with.     His   enteri)rise   and   commercial    ac- 


142 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tivity  liave  not  only  contributed  to  his  indi- 
vidttal  welfare  but  have  been  a  potent  force 
in  advancing  business  prosperity  here. 


FRAXKLIX  ROBERT  OSBORN. 

Franklin  Robert  Osborn.  who  is  en- 
gaged in  tlie  publication  of  the  Ridgefarm 
Republican,  was  born  February  24,  1859. 
in  ^lahomet.  Cliampaign  county,  Illinois, 
his  parents  being  Rol^rt  Osborn  and  Mar- 
garet Allen  (Henley)  Osborn.  The  Os- 
borns  were  among  the  early  English  colon- 
ists who  settled  in  North  Carolina  and  grad- 
ually migrated  westwartl  first  to  Kentucky 
and  thence  to  Indiana.  It  was  between  the 
years  1820  and  1823  that  James  Osborn,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  settled  in  \'er- 
milion  county,  Illinois,  where  Robert  Os- 
born, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1824.  The  family  resided  at  the  place  of 
their  first  residence  for  nine  years  and  then 
removed  to  a  home  near  the  present  site  of 
Homer  in  Champaigni  county,  where  the 
grandfatlier  remained  for  a  year.  He  next 
located  in  the  western  part  of  the  county 
and  entered  a  tract  of  land,  sectiring  his  pat- 
ent from  the  government.  This  land 
has  constituted  the  old  homestead  down  to 
the  present  time.  Roljert  Osborn,  who  is 
spoken  of  in  preceding  histories  of  Vance 
township  and  in  whose  home  it  it  reported 
was  held  the  first  public  worship  in  that 
township,  was  a  great  uncle  of  the  subject 
of  this  review.  The  Osborns  were  ever  an 
honored  upright  peo])le  and  no  taint  of  dis- 
honor is  ever  attached  to  the  name. 

In  the  district  scliools  Mr.  Osborn  of  this 
review  began  his  education,  which  he  con- 
tinued in  the  ]\Iahoniet  high  school,  in  the 
Central    Iivliana    Normal    School    at    Dan- 


ville and  in  the  (  hamijaign  Business  Col- 
lege in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1887. 
At  night  and  morning  he  walked  three  and 
a  half  miles  to  high  school  and  was  only 
once  tardy  during  that  period  and  that  was 
on  a  day  when  the  hogs  were  being  killed  on 
the  farm.  He  was  one  of  only  two  pupils 
who  studied  grammar  in  the  cotmtry 
schools,  but  he  was  always  ambitious  to  se- 
cure a  good  education  and  put  fcirth  every 
effort  in  his  power  that  would  advance  this 
result.  He  remained  upon  the  home  fanii 
assisting  in  its  cultivation  and  improvement 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  in  his 
voutli  he  was  ever  fond  of  outdoor  sports, 
being  quite  athletic.  He  engaged  in  wrest- 
ling, racing  and  jumping  and  these  boyhood 
pleasures  also  contributed  in  large  and  bene- 
ficial measure  to  his  physical  development. 
As  he  grew  older  it  l:iecame  his  desire  to 
studv  law,  luit  he  was  dissuaded  from  this 
step  by  his  parents  who  thought  to  succeed 
in  that  profession  meant  a  life  of  chicanery. 
He,  therefore,  took  uj)  the  profession  of 
teaching  which  he  followed  with  a  marked 
degree  of  success  for  thirteen  years.  During 
five  years  of  this  time,  from  1888  until  1892. 
he  was  jirincipal  of  a  graded  school  at 
Thomasboro  and  in  1892  and  1893  he  was 
at  Ogden.  In  1894  he  entered  upon  journa- 
listic work.  On  the  24th  of  February  of 
that  vear — on  the  dav  on  which  he  was 
thirtv-fi\-e  years  of  age — he  purchased  the 
!Melvin  Transcript  in  Ford  county  and  re- 
mained its  editor  and  publisher  for  five 
vears,  or  until  March,  1S09,  '^vhen  he  sold 
that  paper  and  purchased  the  Ridgefarm 
Republican,  which  he  still  owns.  Its  pa- 
tronange  is  continually  increasing  and  there 
is  now  a  large  suljscription  list  in  addition  to 
which  the  paper  has  become  an  excellent  ad- 
vertising medium.  Several  causes  led  Mr. 
O.sborn  to  abandon  teaching  and  enter  into 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


143 


other  work,  the  close  confincinent  of  the 
school  room,  second,  a  desire  for  a  more  in- 
dependent life,  third,  a  wish,  to  prepare  an 
employment  which  would  keep  the  son  at 
home  when  not  in  school,  and  fourth,  a  wish 
to  deal  with  people  who  had  attained  mature 
years  and  to  become  an  active  factor  in  the 
business  world.  On  the  7th  of  August, 
1889,  Mr.  Osborn  was  united  in  luarriage 
to  Miss  Lillian  Elmira  Thompson,  of  Ran- 
toul,  Illinois,  Dr.  Frank  Crane  officiating. 
The  lady  was  born  in  ^lorris,  Illinois,  in 
1864  and  in  1868  was  taken  by  her  parents 
to  Champaigii  county,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood  and  became  a  teacher,  success- 
fully following  that  [profession  for  nine 
years.  Her  father,  Thomas  Thompson,  was 
a  veteran  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and 
served  under  Commodore  Foote  in  his  oper- 
ations which  terminated  successfully  in 
opening  up  the  Mississippi  river.  Three 
children  ha\e  been  born  unto  i\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Osborn  :  Merwyn  01i\er,  twelve  years  of 
age;  Pauline  Theodora,  aged  eleven  years; 
and  Robert  Thompson,  seven  months  old. 
Mr.  Osborn  has  never  asked  for  nor  held 
an\-  ])ul)hc  offices  yet  he  has  been  a  very  ac- 
tive factor  in  the  progress  and  improvement 
of  various  localities  in  which  he  has  lived 
and  has  left  the  impress  of  his  individuality 
upon  ])ul_)]ic  th(iught  and  feeling.  While  in 
Champaign  county  he  labored  earnestly  and 
effectively  for  the  improvement  of  the 
county  schools  and  for  a  course  of  study 
with  the  result  that  the  educational  interests 
of  that  portion  of  the  state  gained  a  place 
in  the  front  rank  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Osborn 
has  always  iieen  an  earnest  Republican,  un- 
tiring in  his  advocacv  of  the  party  principles 
and  he  has  delivered  many  campaign 
addresses  in  behalf  of  the  men  and  mejisures 
of  that  organization.  Reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  ^Methodist  church,  he  became  one  of 


its  members  wlien  nineteen  years  of  age  and 
while  in  Champaign  county  he  established 
the  first  "evergreen"  Sunday-school  at 
Thomasboro  and  was  also  one  of  the  most 
potent  factors  in  the  founding  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  at  that  place  and  he  is 
now  a  trustee  of  the  church  of  his  denomi- 
nation in  Ridgefarm.  He  is  the  president  of 
the  St.  Paid's  Epworth  League  and  in  1899 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  international  con- 
vention of  the  League  at  Indianapolis.  So- 
cially connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  Mr.  Osborn  held  the  office  of  pre- 
late for  two  years  and  then  declined  to  serve 
longer  on  account  of  illness  in  his  im- 
mediate family.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  \\'oodmen  of  America  and  of  the 
Royal  Circle  and  in  the  latter  he  served  for 
three  terms  as  worthy  ruler  and  then  de- 
clined re-election.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  McKinley  Marching  Club  of  1898.  Ac- 
tivity, energy  and  determination  ha\-e  lieen 
salient  characteristics  in  his  career  and  were 
noticeable  when  in  his  ymith  and  early  man- 
hood he  was  a  social  leader,  while  later  they 
formed  an  important  part  of  his  successful 
w^ork  as  a  teacher  and  are  now  manifest  in 
his  career  as  a  iournalist. 


ja:\[es  u.  prather. 

James  U.  Prather.  who  carries  on  agri- 
cultural ]jursuils  on  section  15,  Ross  town- 
shi]).  where  he  owns  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  \-aluable  land,  was  born  on  the  27th 
of  ■May,  185,1,  in  this  township,  represent- 
ing one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  Ver- 
milion county.  The  Prather  family  has 
long  been  identified  with  pioneer  life,  not 
onh'  in  this  state  l)Ut  in  Kentucky  as  well, 
and  the  great-grandfather    of    our    subject 


144 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  Blue  Grass 
state,  at  the  time  when  the  red  men  were  so 
hostile  to  the  white  settlers  and  killed  so 
many  of  them  that  the  country  became 
known  as  "the  dark  and  bloody  ground." 
Jonathan  Prather  was  reared  and  married 
in  Kentucky  and  there  se\-eral  of  his  chil- 
dren \\-ere  born.  Jerry  Prather,  the  father, 
removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Vermilion 
count}-  ncirtli  of  Dan\ille,  where  he  secured  a 
wild  tract  of  land  afterward  entering  it  from 
the  government.  Turning  the  furrows  in 
his  fields  he  developed  his  place  into  a  richly 
cultivated  farm  upon  which  he  spent  his  last 
years.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky  atout 
1820,  and  shared  with  the  other  members 
of  the  household  in  all  the  hardships  and 
trials  incident  to  the  establishment  of  a  pio- 
neer h(_ime  here.  He  was  married  to  Eve- 
lyn IMiller,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a 
daughter  of  (Airnelius  Miller,  a  pioneer  resi- 
dent of  Fountain  county,  Indiana.  After 
their  marriage  the  young  couple  located  in 
Ross  township,  where  Jerry  Prather  became 
the  owner  of  several  hundred  acres  of  land. 
He  developed  a  good  farm  about  three  miles 
east  of  Rossville  and  was  engaged  in  its 
cultivation  and  improvement.  \\'hen  in  the 
prime  of  life  he  was  called  to  the  home  be- 
yond, passing  away'  in  1859.  His  first  wife 
had  died  some  years  before  and  he  after- 
ward married  again.  His  second  wife,  after 
losing  her  first  husband,  also  married  again. 
James  U.  Prather,  of  this  review,  Avas 
the  youngest  in  a  family  of  seven  children, 
all  of  whom  reached  mature  }ears  and  were 
married,  while  four  of  the  number  are  yet 
living.  Sarah  A.,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of 
Daniel  Kite,  of  Cass  county,  Missouri.  Jon- 
athan is  a  resident  of  Rossville.  Elizalieth 
C.  is  the  wife  of  William  Gundy,  of  Har- 
risonville,  Cass  county,  Missouri.  James  N. 
Prather,  of  this  re\-iew,  was  reared  on  the 


farm  and  as  soon  as  old  enough  to  follow 
the  plow  he  began  work  in  the  fields.  After 
his  father's  death  he  lived  with  his  eldest 
sister  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen )-ears,  when,  in  1869,  he  went  to 
W'right  county,  Missouri,  remaining  there 
for  about  twelve  months,  during  which  time 
he  worked  upon  a  farm.  In  1870,  however, 
he  returned  to  Vermilion  county,  rented  land 
here  and  engaged  in  farming  for  a  number 
of  years.  After  living  upon  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  acres  for  a  number  of  years  he  re- 
moved to  Hoopeston,  where  he  resided  in  re- 
tirement from  labor  for  ten  years.  In  1902, 
however,  he  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
he  now  resides  on  section  15,  Ross'  town- 
ship, located  thereon  and  began  the  further 
improvemerit  of  this  place.  It  is  one  of  the 
fine  farms  of  the  community. 

Near  Carlisle,  Arkansas,  about  1878,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  James  U.  Prather 
and  Mariah  L.  Moyer,  a  native  of  Ver-. 
milion  county  and  a  daughter  of  Satnuel 
Moyer,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Illinois. 
Her  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Xancy 
Gundy  and  they  were  married  in  Ross  town- 
ship. She  is  now  deceased  and  Mr.  Moyer, 
who  has  married  again,  is  now  living  in 
Houston,  Texas.  After  the  war  he  removed 
to  Tennessee,  later  to  Arkansas  and  is  now 
a  resident  of  the  Lone  Star  state.  Mrs. 
Prather  spent  the  greater  part  of  her  girl- 
hood in  Arkansas  and  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  a  successful  teacher.  Four  children 
have  been  torn  of  this  union :  Jennie,  Eth- 
el, James  Forrest  and  Maude  A.,  all  of 
whom  are  still  under  the  parental  rcK:)f. 

Mr.  Prather  has  been  honored  with 
public  offices  by  his  fellow  townsmen  who 
ha\e  recognized  his  worth  and  ability  and 
h:i\e  therefore  nominated  him  for  positions 
of  i)ublic  trust.  He  has  served  as  township 
trustee,    fillin"-    the    office    altogether    for 


LIBRARY 

OF    liJE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


147 


t\\'el\e  years.  He  has  ne\-er  been  a  poli- 
tician, liowever.  in  tiie  sense  of  office  seek- 
ing for  his  business  affairs  have  made  heavy 
demanils  upon  his  time  and  attention.  His 
first  presidential  liallot  was  cast  in  1872 
for  General  U.  S.  Grant  and  he  has 
since  been  unfaltering  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  and  his  wife 
and  two  daughters  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church  and  he  belongs  to 
the  ]\Iasonic  fraternity  in  which  he  has 
attained  the  Royal  Arch  degree.  He 
now  belongs  to  Hoopeston  Lodge  and  is 
also  connected  ^vith  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  The  name  of  Prather  is  in- 
separably interwoven  in  the  history  of  Ver- 
milion county,  as  from  pioneer  times  clcjwn 
to  the  present  representatives  of  the  family 
have  been  prominent  in  promoting  the  sub- 
stantial upbuilding  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  Our  subject  carries  on  the  work 
which  was  begun  by  his  grandfather  and 
continued  by  his  father  and  is  known  as  one 
wliose  interest  in  the  county  is  deep  and  sin- 
cere. 


THO^IAS  WILLIAMS. 

Thomas  Williams  has  passed  the  sev- 
entieth milestone  of  life's  journey  and  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Hoopeston.  The 
regard  in  which  he  is  uniformly  held  is  evi- 
dence of  his  high  character,  and  he  may 
therefore  be  mentioned  as  a  representative 
of  the  best  element  of  citizenship  in  this 
community.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest  in- 
tegrity and  one,  who  by  his  life  of  industr\- 
and  the  exercise  of  ecoiKjmy  and  wise  judg- 
ment, has  obtained  for  himself  a  compe- 
tence. He  is  now  living  retired  from  ac- 
tive labor  in  a  pleasant  home  in  Hoopeston, 
attractively  located  on  East  Penn  street — a 


home  that  was  Ijuilt  in  1901  and  is  a 
model  of  beauty  and  convenience.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams settled  in  this  county  during  his  in- 
fancy and  he  has  assisted  materially  in 
gaining  for  it  its  present  importance. 

Thomas  Williams  spent  the  first  nine- 
teen years  of  his  life  in  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  born  November  29, 
1828.  His  father,  Nathan  Williams,  was  a 
native  of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  to  Har- 
rison county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school  for  two  years.  Prior  to 
this  time  he  had  learned  the  tailor's  trade. 
In  the  Buckeye  state  he  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  near  Georgetown  and  there  de- 
veloped a  good  farm.  He  married  Sarah, 
a  daughter  of  Nathan  Hoopes,  and  unto 
them  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom 
Thomas  of  this  review  was  the  fifth  in  or- 
der of  birth.  The  father  died  in  1841  when 
sixty  years  of  age.  The  mother  retained 
her  residence  in  Ohio  until  after  her  chil- 
dren had  reached  mature  years  and  then  she 
come  to  the  home  of  her  son  in  this  county, 
although  she  did  not  sell  her  property  in 
Ohio.  Her  death  here  occurred  in  1881, 
when  she  was  seventy-nine  j-ears  of  age.  lier 
birth  having  occurred  in  1802.  Like  her 
husband  she  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends. 

Thomas  Williaius  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  lived  with 
his  widowed  mother  until  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age,  when  with  the  natural  desire 
of  youth  for  change  he  left  home  and  went 
to  work  for  his  uncle,  Thomas  Hoopes.  in 
Marion  county,  Ohio.  He  was  thus  em- 
ployed by  the  month  for  seven  years  and 
then  he  came  to  Illinois,  bringing  with  him 
four  hundred  sheep.  He  was  to  engage  in 
sheep  raising  on  the  shares  and  he  made  the 
journey  to  the  west  on  foot,  driving  his  flock 


148 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


through  from  Alarion  county,  Ohio,  to 
where  Hoopeston,  Vermihon  county,  now 
stands,  a  distance  of  four  hundred  miles,  be- 
ing thirty  daj's  upon  the  road.  He  reached 
his  destination  October  20,  1853,  and 
througli  the  succeeding  winter  made  his 
home  with  "Uncle  Samuel"  Gilbert.  His 
attention  was  given  to  caring  for  his  sheep 
which  he  fed  in  the  timber  south  of  Ross- 
ville,  ami  in  the  spring  he  located  upon  a 
farm  owned  by  Mr.  Hoopes  on  section  11, 
Grant  township,  northwest  of  the  present 
site  of  Hoopeston.  At  that  time  his  nearest 
neighbor  lived  two  and  one-half  miles  to  the 
south  and  his  nearest  neighbor  on  the 
north  was  eight  miles  distant,  so  that  there 
was  no  one  but  Mr.  Williams  and  his  hired 
hand  to  keep  the  woh-es  away  from  the 
sheep.  The  dogs  would  chase  the  wolves 
for  a  short  distance  and  then  the  latter 
wouUl  turn  upon  the  dogs  drix-ing  them 
back  to  the  house.  Therefore  Mr.  Williams 
had  to  be  on  guard  all  through  the  day  and 
at  night  he  says  he  "slept  with  one  eye 
open,"  although  he  had  a  wolf-proof  pound 
in  which  the  sheep  were  driven  when  even- 
ing fell.  For  two  years  he  continued  in  this 
business  and  the  second  winter  his  flock  was 
increased  by  an  additional  four  hundred 
head,  but  the  inclement  weather  and  the 
rattlesnakes  made  sad  havoc  among  live- 
stock and  he  was  obliged  to  turn  his  atten- 
tion in  another  direction.  He  then  purchased 
five  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  breaking  plow  and 
for  three  years  was  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie,  being  usually  able  to  make  one 
hundred  dollars  per  month  in  the  summer 
time.  When  the  weather  was  suitable  he 
could  turn  an  eighteen  to  twenty  inch  fur- 
row. In  the  meantime  he  pre-empted  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Iro- 
quois county,  living  thereon  for  a  short  time 


prior  to  his  marriage  and  making  a  number 
of  suljstantial  improvements  there. 

It  was  on  the  9th  of  June,  1859,  that 
Mr.  Williams  was  joined  in  wedlock  to 
Miss  Lovina  McFarland,  of  Iroquois  coun- 
ty. She  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Sarah  McFar- 
land, who  in  1857  removed  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Iroquois  county,  where  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams lived  with  her  parents  until  her  mar- 
riage. Six  children  were  born  of  this  union, 
but  only  three  are  now  living:  Charles  C, 
Walter  \\'.  and  Frank. 

About  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
\\'illiams  erected  a  small  frame  house  and 
added  to  it  a  house  standing  near  by,  thus 
forming  quite  a  comfortable  abode  for  those 
times,  and  in  this  the  newly  wedded  pair 
resided  until  Christmas.  They  then  re- 
moved to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Hoopes- 
ton— the  same  on  which  Mr.  Williams  had 
first  herded  sheep.  He  rented  this  until 
1863  and  later  purchasing  seventy-five 
head  of  cattle,  he  established  himself  south- 
west of  the  present  site  of  the  town,  his 
home  being  along  the  creek  for  about  six 
years.  He  next  purchased  the  Churchill 
Boardman  farm  consisting  of  five  hundred 
acres  partially  improved.  He  then  began 
giving  his  attention  in  an  undivided  manner 
to  stock  raising,  which  business  he  carried 
on  successfully  until  the  railroad  was  built 
through  this  section  of  the  county,  after 
which  he  devoted  his  time  more  generally 
to  farming.  He  shipped  the  first  car  load 
of  cattle  ever  shipped  out  of  Grant  town- 
ship. In  1870,  however,  he  met  with  an  ac- 
cident which  resulted  in  the  breaking  of  his 
leg  and  therefore,  leaving  his  farm,  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  Hoopeston,  where  he  began 
buying  grain  and  also  operated  an  elevator 
in  partnership  with  A.  T.  Catherwood.    For 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


149 


seven  years  they  carried  on  the  business  with 
marked  success,  operating  twelve  different 
elevators  during  the  last  two  years.  ^Ir. 
Williams  then  retired  from  active  life,  hav- 
ing in  the  meantime  accjuired  spelndid  prus- 
perity.  During  these  years  he  had  become 
a  half  owner  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  land  near  Ambia,  Ben- 
ton count}-,  Indiana.  He  was  one  of  a  com- 
pany that  was  the  first  to  experiment  with 
sugar  cane  in  this  locality  and  later  he  be- 
came interested  in  a  canning  factory  which 
canned  the  corn  product  one  nine  hundred 
acres  of  land  during  the  first  year  of  the  ex- 
istence of  the  plant.  ]\Ir.  Williams,  how- 
ever, was  connected  with  this  enterprise 
for  only  two  seasons.  A  man  of  splendid 
business  ability  he  has  carried  forward  to 
successful  completion  whatever  he  has  tm- 
dertaken,  and  he  possesses  marked  business 
foresight  and  enterprise.  Starting  out  with 
only  common-school  advantages  to  aid  him, 
working  at  the  breaking  plow  for  se\'eral 
seasons,  he  was  imbued  with  a  laudable  am- 
bition to  attain  something  better,  and  stead- 
ily he  has  advanced  in  those  walks  of  life 
demanding  keen  discrimination,  unflagging 
energy  and  marked  enterprise.  He  has  tlnis 
arisen  to  a  prominent  position  among  the 
substantial  men  of  the  county.  During  the 
past  seven  years,  because  of  his  invalid  con- 
dition, he  has  given  the  management  of  his 
•affairs  over  to  his  son  Charles,  and  is  thus 
relieved  from  further  laljor.  He  now  owns 
thirteen  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  Indiana,  one  thousand  acres  being  near 
Ambia,  and  the  remainder  near  Frances- 
ville.  He  also  owns  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  near  Gibson  City  in  Ford 
county,  Illinois.  His  extensive  possessions 
are  the  \isible  evidences  of  his  life  of  indus- 
try.    He,  together  with  J.  A.  Cunningham, 


ser\ed  as  executor  of  the  Thomas  Hoopes 
estate,  which  was  the  largest  estate  ever 
settled  in  Vermilion  county. 

Mr.  \\'illiams  has  always  gi\en  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Reiiubhcan  party,  and 
socially  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason, 
while  religiously  he  is  connected  with  the 
Universalist  church  and  was  a  liberal  con- 
tributor toward  the  erection  of  the  present 
house  of  worship  of  that  denomination  in 
Hoopeston.  Upon  locating  in  this  city  he 
purchased  ground  on  Second  avenue  and 
there  lived  for  four  years.  Later,  he  pur- 
chased property  at  the  corner  of  Penn  and 
Fifth  streets,  where  he  is  now  living.  Mr. 
\\  illiams  commands  respect  as  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  residents  of 
Hoopeston.  His  life  has  been  one  of  con- 
tinued activity  in  which  has  been  accorded 
due  recognition  to  labor,  and  to-day  he  is 
numbered  among  those  who  by  reason  of  a 
life  of  industry  are  enjoying  substantial 
prosperity.  His  interests  are  thoroughly 
identified  with  those  of  Vermilion  county 
and  at  all  times  he  is  ready  to  lend  his  aid 
and  co-operation  to  any  movement  calcu- 
lated to  benefit  this  section  of  the  country  01 
advance  its  wonderful  de\cli>i)ment. 


ELMER  E.  CUNNINGHAM. 

Elmer  E.  Cunningham,  a  son  oi  John 
L.  and  Hannah  (Swisher)  Cunningham,  is 
one  of  the  leading,  practical  and  progressive 
farmers  of  Vermilion  county.  Both  of  his 
parents  were  natives  of  this  county  and  the 
father  of  our  subject  here  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  prairie  land  and  forty  acres 
of  timber  land,  clearing  the  latter  and 
breaking  the  entire  tract,  which  he  placed 


ISO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


under  a  liigh  state  of  cullixatiiin,  the  mother 
assisting    her    husliand     in    inipro\-ing'    the 
place..     They  were  married  on  the  lotli  of 
November,  1859,  and  tiie  lady  was  born  in 
this  county  September  3,  1840,  her  parents 
being      Lewis      and       Elizabeth      (Starr) 
Swisher,  who  were  among  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  taking  up  their  abode 
here  when  the  Indians  were  far  more  nu- 
merous than  the  white  people.     Her  father 
was    a    native    of    Guilford    county,  North 
Carolina  and  her  mother  of  Ohio,  and  !Mrs. 
Cunning'ham  was  the  fifth  in  order  of  birth 
of  their  family,  the  others  being  two  broth- 
ers who  reside  in  Danville,  one  in  Iowa,  an- 
other in  Kansas,  and  a  sister  in  Oklahoma. 
John  L.  Cunningham    carried    on    agricul- 
tural pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  9th  of  April,   1868. 
He  had  three  children,  of  whom  Charles  T. 
died  in  infancy,  while  Elmer  E.  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth  and  the  youngest  is 
Louis  M.,  of  Danville.     After  the  death  of 
her    first    husband    the    m<jther    was    again 
married   September  3,    1873,  becoming  the 
wife    of    George    \V.    Justus.      They    had 
seven   children,   of   \\hom   four  are  living : 
Bertha,    now    the   wife   of    William    Starr; 
Cora  M.,  the  wife  of  Roy  Albright :  Frank 
M.,  who  married  Jessie  Swisher;  and  Annie 
C,  who  is  living  with  her  mother.     She  was 
a  school  teacher  for  three  years  and  for  a 
similar  period  held  the  oflice  of  postmistress, 
proving    a    capable    ofticial.       Mr.     Justus 
served  as  a  deacon  and  elder  in  the  Chris- 
tian church  in  which  he  long  held  member- 
ship and  his  life  was  ever  honorable  and  up- 
right.   Through  the  greater  part  of  his  busi- 
ness career  he  carried  on  general  merchan- 
dising, spending  three  years  in  this  way  in 
Danville  and  the  remainder  of  the  time  in 
Blount    township,  conducting   his    store    in 
Potomac,  where  he  died  on  the  7th  of  May, 


1891.  h'rom  the  age  of  twenty-four  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church 
and  was  ever  faithful  and  loyal  to  his  re- 
ligious professions.  Mrs.  Justus  has  long 
been  a  devoted  member  of  the  church  and 
she  now  lives  retired  in  her  beautiful  coiui- 
try  home  in  Blount  township  and  is  a  most 
estimable  lady.  In  the  early  days  in  her  fa- 
ther's household  she  often  assisted  at  the 
spinning  wheel,  preparing  and  weaving 
blankets.  A  de\oted  and  loving  wife  and 
mother  and  a  faithful  friend  she  has  en- 
deared herself  to  all  with  whom  she  has 
come  in  contact. 

Elmer  E.  Cunningham  was  born  on  the 
family  homestead  in  Blount  township.  No- 
'.•eniber  24,  1S64.  and  acquired  a  common 
school  education.  Since  putting  aside  his 
text  books  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  and 
energy  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  his 
home  being  on  section  15,  Bloimt  township, 
where  he  has  a  \'aluable  tract  of  land  that 
is  rich  and  well  improved.  He  has  reecently 
erected  a  s])lendid  home  and  has  also  sub- 
stantial and  commodious  barns  and  other 
outbuildings  necessary  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  slock.  In  his  business  afifairs  he 
has  been  quite  successful  and  is  numbered 
among  the  progressive  and  thrifty  farmers 
of  his  community. 

On  the  22(1  of  August,  1900,  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Tinne  Pate,  who  was  born  in  Oakwood 
township,  December  3,  1870.  Her  father 
was  a  merchant  and  carrietl  i_m  business  for 
fifteen  )'ears  in  Oakwood  and  then  traded 
his  store  for  a  farm  in  Jefiferson  county,  Illi- 
nois. Mrs.  ■  Cunningham  was  reared  by 
her  grandmother  with  whom  she  remained 
until  she  reached  womanhood.  The  grand- 
nKjther  was  a  lady  noted  for  many  benevo- 
lent gifts  and  was  highly  esteemed  through- 
out the  entire  communitv.     Her  charitable 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


151 


spirit  never  allowed  any  one  to  leave  her 
door  hungry  and  the  poor  and  needy  found 
in  her  a  faithful  friend.  Mrs.  Cunningham 
has  two  sisters,  Irella  Reester  and  Mrs.  Del- 
la  Ann  Martin,  of  Oak  wood  township.  In 
the  public  schools  ^Irs.  Cunningham  ac- 
quired a  good  education  and  is  a  lady  of  cul- 
ture and  refinement  who  presides  with  gra- 
cious hospitality  over  her  beautiful  home. 
Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church  and  in  politics  he  is 
a  Republican.  He  servetl  for  three  years  as 
township  clerk  but  has  never  been  a  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  office  seeking.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Odd  Fellows 
Society  at  Bismarck.  His  entire  life  has  been 
spent  in  this  county  where  his  many  friends 
entertain  for  him  high  regartl. 


B.  T.  DOXEY. 


B.  T.  Doney,  who  is  serving  as  ])ost- 
master  of  Flthian,  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Indiana,  February  28,  1848. 
His  father,  Benjamin  Doney,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  after  arriving  at  years 
of  maturitv  he  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Summers,  a  native  of  Maryland. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  in  the  Buck- 
eye state,  where  the  father  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1845,  when  he  reuKjved  with  his 
family  to  Indiana,  living  in  Greene  county 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year 
1858.  The  Whig  party  received  his  politi- 
cal endorsement  and  he  was  an  exemplary 
member  of  the  ^lasonic  fraternity  and  a  de- 
voted Christian  man  who  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  cluuxh.  His  wife  was 
held  in  high  esteem  for  her  good  qualities 
of  heart  and  mind  and  she  passed  away  in 


1889.     In  their  family  were  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  but  only  two  of  the  number 
are  now  living,  the  sister  of  our  suljjcct  be 
ing  Mollie,  the  widow  of  John  FieKls,  ;md  a 
resident  of  Bloomington,  Indiana. 

B.  T.  Doney  pursued  his  education  in 
Greene  count}',  Indiana,  in  the  district 
schools  and  later  attended  the  college  at 
Bloomington,  that  state,  putting  aside  his 
text  books  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 
He  afterward  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  Greene  county 
His  preparations  for  having  a  home  of  his 
own  were  completed  by  his  marriage  on  the 
2d  of  February,  1873,  in  Owensburg,  In- 
diana, Miss  Belle  Owen  becoming  his  wife. 
She  was  born  in  Greene  county,  November 
7,  1856,  a  daughter  of  Kiah  and  IMary 
(Brown)  Owen,  both  born  in  the  Hoosier 
state.  Her  parents  were  also  married  in 
Owensburg  and  the  father  followed  black- 
smithing  and  wagon-building  in  Greene 
county  until  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war,  when  aroused  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism 
he  offered  his  services  to  the  government, 
enlisting  in  Company  H,  Thirty-first  In- 
diana Infantry.  With  his  regiment  he  went 
to  the  front  and  was  killed  at  the  Iiattle  of 
Slii]i)h.  thus  laying  down  his  life  upon  the 
altar  of  the  Union.  In  March,  1889,  h'^ 
widow  became  the  wife  of  Jesse  Doney. 
Mr.  Owen  was  a  Democrat  in  political 
faith.  By  his  marriage  he  had  six  children 
and  by  the  mother's  second  marriage  there 
were  no  children.  F^Dur  children  have  been 
born  unto  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Doney:  John, 
who  married  Lilly  Ward  and  is  a  telegra])h 
operator  at  Goodanole,  Illinois;  Benjamin, 
who  resides  upon  a  farm  near  Fithian  ;  F. 
G.,  who  is  assistant  postmaster  of  Fithian ; 
and  Clyde,  who  is  still  with  his  his  parents. 

The  year  1875  witnessed  the  arrival  of 


•  52 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Doney  in  X'ermilion  county,  at  which 
time  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Fithian,  where 
he  estabhshed  a  blacksmith  shop.  A\hich  he 
conducted   for  eight   years.      He  then   em- 
barked in  general  merchandise,  but  later  he 
sold  his  store  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade. 
Subsequently,    however,   he   again  disposed 
of  his  smithy  and  once  more  turned  his  at- 
tention to  g-eneral  merchandising,  which  he 
has  since  followed.     He  now  carries  a  good 
line  of  eventhing  fountl  in  such  an  estab- 
lishment and  his  trade  is  growing  contin- 
ually because  the  public  recognizes  in  him 
a  merchant  of  reliability,   fair  in  his  deal- 
ings, reasonable  in  his  prices  and  courteous 
in  his  treatment  of  his  patrons.     In  1896  he 
was   appointed  postmaster  of   Fithian   and 
has  continuously  occupied  the  position  since 
that  time.     He  votes  with  the  Republican 
party  and  for  nine  years  he  held  the  office 
■of  township  assessor,  discharging  his  duties 
with  marked  promptness  and  fidelity.     Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with   the   Modern 
\\''oodmen  of  America  and  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 


WILLIA^I  M.  BRIDGETT. 

The  history  of  the  world  proves  conclu- 
sively that  it  is  under  the  pressure  of  adver- 
sity and  the  stimulation  of  opposition  that 
the  best  and  strongest  in  men  are  brought  out 
and  developed.  Those  who  ha\e  been  fac- 
tors in  the  world's  progress,  those  who  have 
Avielded  wide  public  influence  and  have  be- 
come leaders  in  the  commercial  world  are 
not  those  wliose  couch  has  been  one  of  pam- 
pered duxury,  but  who  have  in  youth  be- 
come inured  to  arduous  labor  and  have  come 
to  set  a  true  value  upon  personal  endeavor, 
probity  and  perseverance.     Trained  in  the 


hard  school  of  experience,  yet  learning  there- 
in lessons  of  marked  value,  Mr.  Bridgett  has 
arisen  from  a  humble  financial  position  until 
he  stands  to-day  not  only  as  a  successful 
resident  of  Danville,  but  one  who  is,  as  well 
strong  in  his  honor  and  in  his  good  name. 

A  native  of  Kentuck\-,  he  was  born  in 
Lexington,  April  2,  1865!  His  father, 
Thomas  Bridgett,  was  a  nati\-e  of  Pennsyl- 
\'ania.  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity he  married  Miss  'Sla.vy  Shaffer,  who 
\\as  born  in  Indiana.  They  were  married 
in  Rockville  of  the  latter  state  and  there  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  for  a  time,  after- 
ward follo\\ing  the  same  pursuit  in  Ken- 
tucky. Subsequently  he  removed  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Clark  county,  near  Martinsville. 
The  mother  died  in  Kentucky  and  the  father, 
who  has  married  again,  is  yet  living  in  Clark 
county.  In  his  political  views  he  is  an  earn- 
est Democrat. 

William  X.  Bridgett  was  but  two  years 
of  age  when  his  mother  died  and  at  the  age 
of  eleven  years  he  became  a  resident  of  Illi- 
nois, since  which  time  he  has  been  depend- 
ent ui)i.>n  his  cjwn  etforts  for  a  living".  He 
began  working  on  a  farm  and  for  six  years 
remained  with  his  first  employer,  during 
which  time  he  was  allowed  to  attend  school 
through  the  brief  winter  season.  He  then 
became  a  section  hand  upon  the  railroad  at 
Ridgefami,  Illinois.  After  working  for 
three  months  he  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  foreman  of  a  construction  crew  and 
when  he  bad  served  in  that  capacity  for  six 
months  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  store, 
where  he  was  employed  for  eight  months. 
Then  entering  into  partnership  with  his  em- 
ployer, A.  J.  Darnell,  the  relationship  was 
maintained  for  ten  months,  when  Mr.  Dar- 
nel died.  Mr.  Bridg-ett  then  sold  out  and  re-' 
moved  to  Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  where  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


155 


was  employed  as  a  salesman  in  the  grocery 
store  of  E.  R.  Wright  &  Ct>mpany,  but  after 
ten  months  he  again  became  connected  with 
railroading,  entering  tlie  train  service  as  fire- 
man on  the  Vandalia  Railroad,  where  he 
serxed  for  eleven  months,  when  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  position  of  assistant  claim 
agent  by  the  same  company.  Ten  months 
later  he  returned  to  Ridgefarm  and  after 
three  months  he  came  to  Danville,  entering 
the  train  service  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  Railroad  as  a  fireman.  \\'hile  with 
that  company  he  was  i)romoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  engineer  and  a  }ear  later  he  left  the 
road  to  eng'age  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
this  city,  which  he  has  since  followed  with 
offices  at  Nos.  401-2  Daniels'  building.  He 
is  also  a  loan  broker  and  has  negotiated  a 
numl.ier  of  important  loans  and  realty 
transactions.  He  has  thoroughly  informed 
himseilf  concerning  real  estate  values  and  of 
locations  and  is  to-day  one  of  the  leading 
representatives  of  this  line  of  business  in  the 
city. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1892,  in  Dan- 
ville, was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Bridgett  and  Miss  Nevada  Montgomery, 
who  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Illinois,  No- 
vember 10,  1873,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Ann  (Bishop)  Montgomery,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Clark  county,  where  they  re- 
mained until  after  their  marriage.  Subse- 
quently they  took  up  their  abode  at  Ridge- 
farm. Illinois.  Her  father  is  a  Democrat  in 
his  political  views.  He  l^elongs  to  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  M(jd- 
ern  Woodmen  of  America  and  to  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  ]\Ir.  Bridgett  gives 
his  political  support  to  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  Republican  party,  while  his  fraternal 
relations  are  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  the  Court  of  Honor  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.     He  is  vet 


a  young  man  but  he  has  already  gained  a  ]io- 
sition  in  business  circles  and  public  regard 
that  is  as  enviable  as  honorable.  I\Ian"s  suc- 
cess in  the  world  is  not  measured  Ijy  the 
heights  he  has  reached  but  by  the  altitude 
from  which  he  has  climbed  and  judged  in 
this  way  the  career  of  Mr.  Bridgett  has  been 
most  successful  and  commendable. 


WILLIAM  SANDUSKY. 

William  Sandusky,  of  Carroll  township, 
was  born  >"ovember  19,  1827,  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  within  three  miles  of 
Paris,  and  when  but  three  years  old  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Vermilion  county. 
Tliev  crossed  the  river  at  Cincinnati  and 
came  overland  to  their  destination.  They 
camped  along  the  road  at  night  and  spent 
manv  days  in  making  the  journey.  They 
traveled  in  a  prairie  schooner  and  passed 
comparatively  few  settlements  while  en- 
route.  The  Sandusky  family  took  up  their 
abode  on  the  Little  Vermilion  river  and  there 
was  then  but  a  very  limited  population  in 
this  locality.  William  Sandusky  began  his 
education  in  a  log  schoolhouse  on  the  old 
.\lexander  place,  the  building  being  erected 
of  logs  hewed  on  two  sides.  It  had  a  clap- 
board roof  and  an  immense  fireplace  which 
would  accommodate  an  eight  foot  log  that 
would  burn  for  two  days  as  a  back  log.  His 
first  teacher  was  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Durkev  and  if  a  pujiil  could  read,  write  and 
cipher  it  was  all  that  was  desired  at  that 
time.  The  school  was  conducted  on  the  sub- 
scription plan  and  in  such  a  "temple  of 
learning"  .William  Sandusky  completed  his 
education  with  the  exception  of  one  winter 
spent  in  Indianola,  which  place  was  then 
called  Dallas,  Illinois.     He  continued  to  at- 


1,6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tend  school  at  intervals  until  eighteen  years 
of  age,  spending  the  three  months  of  winter 
In  this  manner  while  during  the  remainder 
of  the  year  he  worked  at  home.  He  would 
break  prairie  using  an  old  wooden  mold 
board  plow  and  later  with  a  rod  mold- 
board  which  would  turn  up  a  twenty-four 
inch  furrow  and  to  which  was  hitched  five 
or  six  yoke  of  oxen.  He  would  also  drop 
corn  as  he  plowed.  When  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  and  his  father  built  him  a  little 
shanty.  There  was  hot  a  thing  but  prairie 
grasses  around  him,  but  he  possessed  the  de- 
termination necessary  for  the  development 
of  a  good  farm.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Eliz- 
abeth Baum,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(\\'eaver)  Baum.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Clermont  county,  Kentucky,  February  15. 
1805,  and  his  wife  in  Ohio,  January  16, 
1804.  They  became  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  are  now  living:  Oliver, 
who  was  bom  January  5,  1828,  in  Clennont 
county,  is  living  in  Sidell  township  and  mar- 
ried Helen  ]\IcClenathan,  by  whom  he  has 
one  child  living.  Mrs.  Sandusky  was  born 
July  4,  1829,  in  Clermont  county:  Charles 
]M.,  was  born  in  A'ermilion  county,  Illinois, 
December  22,  1838,  and  now  living  in  Ari- 
zona, married  Jennie  Craig  and  has  three 
living  children :  Samuel  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work ;  William,  born  in 
\'ermilion  county.  March  19,  1843.  's  living 
in  Indiana;  Angeline,  born  June  6,  1849.  in 
A'ermilion  count}-,  is  acting  as  housekeeper 
for  her  brother  William.  Of  those  deceased, 
Susannah,  born  in  \"ermilion  county,  Sep- 
tember 12,  1831,  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Rice  and  died  leaving  two  children ;  Sarah 
J.,  born  in  \'ermilion  county,  in  1833,  died 
in  childhood;  Catherine,  born  in  this  county, 
December  15,  1834,  was  the  wife  of  Morton 
Pugh  and  left  five  children  at  her  death; 


Francis  M.,  boni  in  \'ermilion  county,  Oc- 
tober II,  1836,  died  in  childhood.  The  fa- 
ther of  this  family  came  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty in  1829  when  Mrs.  Sandusky  was  only 
three  months  old  and  settled  on  what  is  now 
the  Indianola  fair  grounds,  where  he  se- 
cured a  tract  of  land  from  the  government. 
He  lived  to  be  seventy-five  years  of  age  and 
his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
eight.  She  was  a  daughter  of  ^lichael 
Weaver  and  their  remains  were  interred  in 
the  old  Wea\er  cemetery  in  Carroll  town- 
ship. 

The  marriage  of  2\lr.  and  Mrs.  San- 
dusky was  celebrated  April  20,  1849,  ^"d 
they  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of 
whom  a  daughter  died  in  infancy.  Caroline 
is  the  widow  of  James  Snapp  and  resides  in 
Georgetown.  She  had  three  children  by  this 
union.  Belle,  Ivan  and  Willie,  and  by  her 
former  marriage  she  had  two  daug' iters, 
Mary  and  Josephine.  Adeline  is  the  wife  of 
Thompson  AIcMillan,  a  lumber  dealer  of 
Danville  and  they  have  two  li\-ing  children, 
Nellie  and  Edward.  Rochester,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  the  home  place,  is 
one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of  Carroll 
township.  Belle  is  the  wife  of  William  H. 
James,  a  druggist  of  Rossville,  Illinois,  and 
they  have  three  children :  \Villie,  Don  and 
^lary  Margaret.  Mr.  and  ]klrs.  Sandusky 
have  two  great-grandchildren.  These  are 
Fern  and  Ralph  Elliott,  children  of  Mrs. 
Earl  Elliott,  of  Georgetown. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  San- 
dusky started  out  with  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  and  that  he  has  lived  a 
life  of  industry,  earnest  labor  and  persever- 
ance is  sho\s-n  by  the  fact  that  he  added  to 
his  pos.sessions  until  he  now  has  fifteen  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  the  home  place. 
This  is  a  most  creditable  showing  of  a  life 
work  and,  moreover,  Mr.  Sandusky  has  al- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


157 


wavs  maintained  honorable  business  rela- 
tions and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  his  fellow  men.  From  the  beginning 
he  engaged  in  the  cattle  business  and  was  at 
one  time  interested  in  shorthorn  cattle,  be- 
ing an  extensive  raiser.  Whatever  he  has 
undertaken  has  received  his  undivided  at- 
tention and  his  work  has  been  of  a  nature  to 
return  to  him  an  excellent  income.  For 
manv  years  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
prominent  cattle  men  of  Illinois,  buying  cat- 
tle and  feeding  them  to  the  extent  of  about 
three  hundred  head  at  a  time. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Sandusky  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
office.  Since  pioneer  times  he  has  lived  in 
this  county.  In  the  early  days  he  would  ride 
for  miles  in  any  direction  without  coming 
across  fences  to  impede  his  progress.  He 
frequently  enjoyed  a  hunt  for  deer  and  les- 
ser game  and  often  killed  wolves  which  fre- 
quently awakened  the  settlers  from  their 
sleep  by  their  howling.  There  were  geese, 
ducks,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chickens  and 
many  of  these  fowls  furnished  a  meal  for  the 
early  settlers.  To  give  the  life  history  of 
^\'illiam  Sandusky  in  detail  would  be  to  ])ic- 
ture  forth  the  pioneer  conditions  and  the 
agricultural  life  of  Vermilion  county.  I  le 
has  always  been  identified  with  farming  in- 
terests and  to-day  is  the  possessor  of  a  hand- 
some property  as  the  reward  of  a  well  spent 
life. 


B.  I.  POLAND.  M.  D. 

Dr.  B.  I.  Poland,  a  practicing  [ihysician  of 
Danville,  was  born  in  Gallatin  county,  Ken- 
tucky, May  30,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
and  Martha  (Duncan)  Poland,  the  former 
a  native  of  Tennessee  and  the  latter  of  Gal- 
latin   countv,    Kentuckv.     The    Doctor    at- 


tended school  in  his  native  county  and  in 
1861  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois,  liv- 
ing on  the  home  farm  which  was  situated 
across  the  Indiana  state  line.  In  this  local- 
ity he  attended  the  district  schools  until  sev- 
enteen years  of  age,  when  he  began  teaching 
and  for  eight  years  followed  that  profession. 
He  prepared  for  the  practice  of  medicine  as 
a  student  in  the  Bennett  Medical  College,  of 
Chicago,  in  which  he  was  graduated  in  1883. 
He  afterward  entered  the  ^Medical  College 
of  ,\tlanta,  Georgia,  completing  his  course 
there  by  graduation  in  1895.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  general  practice  from  1878  until 
1S85.  when  he  took  up  special  practice  in  the 
treatment  of  diseases  of  the  eye,  ear,  nose 
and  throat.  His  office  is  located  in  the  Tem- 
ple building  of  Danville.  Dr.  Poland  has  a 
large  practice  in  his  specialty,  the  public 
recognizing  his  capability  and  skill. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  October,  1S74,  in  Ver- 
mihon  county,  Illinois,  the  ]3octor  wedfled 
Emma  B.  Leonard,  who  was  born  in  this 
county.  July  14,  1857,  her  parents  being 
Philip  and  Angelina  E.  (Williams)  Leon- 
ard, the  latter  a  native  of  England.  After 
tlicir  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard  lo- 
cated six  miles  north  of  Danville  and  he  was 
munbered  among  the  old  settlers  and  leading 
farmers  of  Vermilion  county.  A  Democrat 
in  politics,  he  earnestly  advocated  the  ])rin- 
ciples  of  the  party  and  for  many  years  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  also  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Christian  church 
and  in  that  faith  died.  His  widow  now 
resides  on  the  homestead  farm.  L^nto  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren :  B.  F.,  born  May  30,  1878;  and  Clar- 
ence S.,  bom  August  11,  1884. 

Dr.  Poland  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  is 
now  United  States  examining  surgeon  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Danville  library  board.  He 


158 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


is  ser\-ing-  as  oculist  for  the  Cliicago  &  East- 
ern Illinois  Railroad  Company  and  for  the  St. 
Elizabeth's  Hospital,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Vermilion  County  ^kledical  Society  and  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society.  In  a  calling 
where  promotion  depends  upon  individual 
merit  he  has  gained  an  enviable  position  as  a 
physician. 


THOMAS  F.  COLLISOX. 

From  early  pioneer  days  Thomas  F.  Col- 
lison  has  been  a  resident  of  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty and  has  been  an  interested  witness  of  al- 
most the  entire  growth  and  improvement 
of  this  portion  of  the  state.  The  traveler 
of  to-day  can  scarcely  realize  the  condition 
of  things  here  during  his  youth.  He  has 
seen  deer  and  other  wild  game  here  and  has 
traveled  over  the  prairies  for  miles  without 
coming  to  a  fence  or  other  indication  of 
ownership  by  man.  He  was  born  October 
12,  1834,  on  a  farm  on  which  he  now  lives. 

His  father,  Absalom  Collison.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pike  county,  Ohio,  and  in  1828  came 
to  Illinois.  He  entered  ft)rty  acres  of  land 
from  the  government  and  began  the  de\'elop- 
ment  of  a  farm.  He  had  previously  worked 
in  the  Kanawha  Salt  ^^'orks  of  West  ^'ir- 
ginia  and  with  little  capital  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois. Here  be  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Chenoweth,  who  was  born  near  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  came  with  her  father,  Thomas 
Chenoweth.  to  Illinois.  It  was  in  his  honor 
that  the  subject  of  this  review  was  named. 
Mr.  Collison  died  in  the  year  1849  ^^'^^^  '^'^ 
widow  afterward  married  John  Smith,  who 
is  now  deceased.  Our  subject  was  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  the  others  be- 
ing F.  Asbury,  who  lives  on  a  farm  adjoin- 
ing Collison:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Martin,  of 
Sumner    county,    Kansas ;  ^Jarv    T<ine,    the 


widow   of  Samuel   Coon,  of   Rantoul.   Illi- 
nois :  John,  who  is  also  li\  ing  in  Rantoul ; 
James,  a    farmer   of  jNIiddlefork  township,  • 
X'ermilion   county ;   and   Samuel,   who  is   a 
banker  of  Rossville,  Ilinois. 

]Mr.  Collison  of  this  review  tegan  his 
education  in  his  own  home,  a  lady  teacher 
being  employed  to  instruct  the  children  of 
the  Collison  household  and  the  children  of 
the  neighborhood  who  would  come  there  for 
that  purpose.  Later  he  attended  the  sub- 
scription school,  which  was  held  in  a  log 
building  with  greased  paper  windows  and  an 
outside  chimney  built  of  mud  and  sticks. 
The  boys  who  attended  the  school  would 
cut  logs  to  be  used  for  fuel.  For  about  sev- 
en years  Thomas  F.  Collison  attended  school 
during  the  winter  months  and  in  the  summer 
season  worked  on  the  farm.  He  never  saw 
a  blackboard  in  all  his  school  days.  The  last 
school  which  he  attended  was  taught  by  Mr. 
]\Iiner,  who  had  our  subject  purchase  a  slate 
which  was  used  as  a  blackboard  for  the 
school.  A  testament  ser\-ed  as  a  reader  and 
an  old  elementar\-  spelling  book  was  used, 
while  the  pens  were  made  of  quills. 

Mr.  Collison  remained  at  home  until  af- 
ter his  father's  death.  He  recei\'ed  from  the 
estate  one  hundred  acres  of  raw  prairie  land 
and  ninetv  dollars  in  cash,  the  land  being 
\alued  at  alxuit  fi\-e  dollars  per  acre.  He 
was  then  married  to  ]\Iiss  IMaiw  Billsland, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana,  near  Co\-ington, 
and  with  whom  he  became  acquainted  while 
she  was  teaching  school  in  this  district.  She 
lived  until  1864  and  then  passed  away,  leav- 
ing four  children:  Francis  R.,  Charles, 
Dora  and  Florence  L.,  all  of  whom  are  now 
living.  After  the-  loss  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
Collison  wedded  !\Iary  Courtney,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  have  three  children :  Al- 
bert T.,  a  banker  of  Windsor:  Elizabeth,  the 
wife  of  George  Grays,  who  is  employed  in  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


i6i 


bank  in  Rossville;  ami  Stella,  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Crays,  who  is  engagetl  in  the  bank- 
ing ])usiness  in  Windsor. 

I'ln-oiighout  his  business  career  ]\lr.  Col- 
lison  lias  been  connected  one  way  or  another 
with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  now  owns 
over  sixteen  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land. 
In  1893  the  railroad  crossed  his  farm  and 
the  conipanv  paitl  hirn  forty-five  hundred 
dollars  for  the  right  of  way.  The  follow- 
ing year  the  town  of  Collison  was  estab- 
lished, about  twenty  acres  of  his  land  Iseing 
included  within  the  town  plat.  He  built  the 
first  buildings  there,  a  dwelling  and  a  black- 
smith shop,  and  later  he  erected  a  brick 
building  and  a  store  building.  During  the 
last  three  years  he  has  rented  all  of  his  land 
with  the  exception  of  his  pastures.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  extensively  engaged 
in  the  stock  business,  'buying,  feeding  and 
shipping.  Tn  uj02  he  shipped  si.x  hundred 
hogs  and  about  130  head  of  cattle,  the  for- 
mer bringing  him  over  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  has  always  given  more  attention 
to  stock-raising  than  farming,  having 
largely  hired  labor  for  the  work  of  cultivat- 
ing the  fields.  He  drove  cattle  and  sheep  to 
Chicago  before  any  railroad  was  built  and  it 
is  within  his  memory  that  the  boundary  of 
Vermilion  county  extended  almost  to  that 
city.  In  1897,  in  connection  with  Eihvard 
Stevens,  he  went  to  Liverpool  in  charge  of  a 
cargo  of  cattle,  visiting  London  during  the 
tri]),  which  consumed  about  forty  days  al- 
together. Mr.  Collison  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  bank  of  Rossville  and  Wind- 
sor, his  stock  to  the  amount  of  ten  thous- 
and dollars  in  Rossville  and  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  in  Windsor,  having  been  placed  to 
the  credit  of  his  son  and  son-in-law. 

Mr.  Collison  was  made  a  Mason  at  New- 
town. Illinois,  but  is  now  demitted.  there  be- 
ing no  lodge  in   his  home  town.      He  is  a 


member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  frater- 
nity anil  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
and  for  twenty  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which 
he  has  served  almost  continuously  as  a  trus- 
tee. He  aided  in  building  the  Pilot  chapel 
t(_)  which  he  gave  three  hundred  dollars  and 
he  also  contributed  six  hundred  flollars  to 
the  building  (jf  the  Collison  church.  In  poli- 
tics he  has  always  been  a  Republican.  His 
is  one  of  the  attractive  homes  of  this  por- 
tion of  the  county.  On  his  farm  he  has  llow- 
ing  wells  and  at  his  home  he  lifts  the  water 
from  the  well  with  a  gas  engine.  He  base  al- 
ways l:>een  progressive  in  his  work,  keepings 
in  touch  with  thq  ad\anced  spirit  of  the 
times  and  everything  about  his  place  is  neat 
and  thrifty  in  appearance.  For  sixty-eight 
years  Mr.  Collison  has  been  a  resident  of 
Vermilion  county.  He  is  a  fine  looking' 
gentleman  with  a  long  white  beard,  a  kindly 
and  strong  face.  All  who  know  him  esteem 
him  for  his  genuine  worth,  and  his  success- 
ful career  commands  the  admiration  of  those 
who  are  familiar  with  his  history.  As  one 
of  the  honored  pioneer  residents  of  the  coun- 
ty he  certainly  deserves  mention  in  this  vol- 
ume, for  his  entire  career  has  been  closely 
interwoven  with  the  development  and 
growth  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 


JAMES  P.  COOK. 


James  P.  Cook,  a  capitalist  and  land 
owner  of  Danville,  belongs  to  one  of  the  old 
faiuilies  of  this  county  and  is  a  worthy  rep- 
resentative here.  Ilis  paternal  grandfather, 
James  Cook,  came  from  Ohio  to  Vermilion 
county  in  the  year  1835,  casting  in  his  lot 
with  its  first  settlers.  Fie  took  up  his  abode 
two  and  one-half  miles  east  of  Westville,  on 


l62 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


section  lo,  Georgetown  township.  The  land 
bought  by  him  was  wild  and  unimproved 
and  the  work  of  progress  and  improvement 
seemed  scarcely  begun.  Deer  and  other  wild 
game  was  to  be  found  in  this  portion  of  the 
state  and  much  of  the  land  was  swampy  and 
full  of  sloughs,  but  there  came  to  this  portion 
of  Illinois  a  progressive,  courageous  class 
of  pioneers,  who  in  due  course  of  time 
wrought  a  great  transformation  in  the  coun- 
ty and  placed  it  with  the  leading  counties  of 
the  state.  The  grandfather  bore  his  part  in 
the  work  of  improvement  and  upbuilding 
and  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits here  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  1 87 1. 

At  that  time  Samuel  Cook,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  took  charge  of  the  old  family 
homestead.  He  had  previously  married 
Melvina  Graves.  Throughout  his  entire 
life  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
until  the  time  of  his  retirement  in  1900.  He 
lived  upon  the  old  homestead  almost  con- 
tinuously with  the  exception  of  two  years 
prior  to  his  marriage.  He  first  had  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  to  which  he 
added  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  and  his  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  became  one  of 
the  valuable  country  seats  of  Catlin  town- 
ship. There  he  was  engaged  in  general 
faiTiiing  until  1900,  when  he  put  aside  busi- 
ness cares  and  removed  to  Danville.  Later, 
however,  he  sold  his  property  in  that  city 
and  also  his  farm  in  Oakwood  and  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  west  of  Catlin. 
His  first  wife  died  about  1855  and  he  after- 
ward married  again,  his  second  union  being 
with  ilartha  E.  Citizen.  By  the  first  union 
there  were  six  children  :  George,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Catlin  township;  James  P.,  of  this 
review ;  Mary,  the  wife  of  John  A.  Wherry, 
who  is  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Catlin 
township;  JVIaggie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 


fifteen  years;  Ellen,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Charles  F.,  who  married  Celia  Podgett 
and  is  living  in  Danville.  Three  children 
have  been  bom  of  the  second  marriage: 
Berta,  Frank  and  Fred,  all  of  whom  are  at 
home. 

James  P.  Cook  of  this  review  was  boni 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Catlin  township, 
Alarch  2"/,  1855.  He  pursued  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  afterward  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  father's  land  for 
two  years.  He  then  purchased  ninety-two 
acres  of  land  where  the  village  of  Westville 
now  stands,  in  1880,  and  commenced  its  cul- 
tivation and  improvement.  Since  that  time 
he  has  divided  this  into  town  lots  and  has  dis- 
posed of  most  of  it  at  a  fair  profit.  He  now 
owns  ten  houses  and  lots  there,  the  dwell- 
ings being  occupied  b_v  miners.  In  addition 
to  his  real  estate  operations  he  has  valuable 
farm  land,  owning  five  hundred  acres  near 
Potomac,  which  he  rents.  He  also  owns  a 
nice  residence  in  Westville  and  has  farm 
property  near  that  place.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  erecting  a  fine  residence  in  Dan- 
ville at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Gilbert 
streets  and  as  soon  as  it  is  completed  he  in- 
tends to  remove  to  that  city  and  make  it  his 
future  home. 

James  P.  Cook  married  Eveline  O'Xeal, 
a  daughter  of  Isaac  O'Neal,  who  was  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  the  county  and  died  here 
in  the  year  1876.  He  was  one  of  the  larg- 
est land  ov.ners  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
and  a  verj'  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen respected  and  honored  by  all  who  knew 
him.  The  marriage  of  Air.  and  ?ilrs.  Cook 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children.  Ger- 
trude is  the  wife  of  Frank  Downing  and  is 
residing  one-half  mile  west  of  \\'est\ille. 
Lena  and  Stella,  twins,  are  at  home.  Her- 
man, bom  December  16,  1885,  is  also  under 
the  parental  roof.     The  parents  hold  mem- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I&3 


bersliip  in  the  Christian  church  of  W'est- 
ville,  in  whicli  our  subject  is  now  serving 
as  a  deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat 
and  for  several  years  he  served  as  a  school 
director  in  his  township.  He  has  made  ju- 
dicious investments  in  property  and  thereby 
has  acquired  a  handsome  competence,  num- 
bering him  among  the  leading  land  owners 
of  Vermilion  county.  He  is  enabled  to  sur- 
round his  family  with  many  of  the  com- 
forts and  some  of  the  lu.xuries  of  life  and 
nothing  gives  him  greater  pleasure  than  to 
minister  to  their  happiness  and  welfare.  In 
business  affairs  he  sustains  a  high  reputa- 
tion, because  he  has  always  been  straight- 
forward in  his  dealings,  prompt  in  meeting 
an  obligation  and  in  keeping  engagements. 
He  is  thus  known  as  an  honorable  man,  is  a 
pleasant  social  companion  and  one  whose 
friends  in  the  communitv  are  man^•. 


E.  R.  E.  KIMBROUGH. 

The  term  "captains  of  industry"  is  a 
familiar  one  in  the  parlance  of  the  day  and 
has  arisen  from  the  conditions  of  tlie  world 
when  business  activity  has  replaced  the  rec- 
ords of  war  and  conquest  in  the  history  of 
civilized  nations.  Each  city  claims  its  rep- 
resentatives who  have  worthily  won  this 
title  in  the  control  of  large  professional, 
commercial  or  industrial  interests,  and  fre- 
quently it  is  found  that  one  man  has  become 
a  master  in  more  than  one  of  these  lines. 
He  who  is  at  all  familiar  with  the  life  record 
of  E.  R.  E.  Kimbrough  will  not  hesitate  to 
place  him  with  his  class  so  prominent  in 
public  regard,  for  his  entire  career  has  been 
one  of  activity,  energy  and  enterprise 
and  the  result  accomplished  well  entitles 
him  to  mention  as  one  of  the  leaders 
in    business    circles    of    Danville.      He    has 


labored  along  many  lines  with  success, 
so  that  his  name  has  figured  in  the  linancial 
records  as  well  as  in  connection  with  great 
productive  interests,  yet  perhaps  he  is  best 
known  in  Danville  as  a  member  of  the  bar. 
well  versed  in  various  departments  of  juris- 
prudence. 

Mr.  Kimbrough  was  born  in  Edgar 
county,  near  Paris,  Illinois,  ^larch  28,  1851, 
and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  H.  and  Sarah  Kim- 
brough, both  of  w"hom  are  living,  as  are 
the  daughters  of  the  family — Laura  antl  L. 
A.  E.  R.  E.  Kimbrough,  the  only  son. 
having  acquired  his  preliminary  education 
in  the  public  schools,  became  a  student  in 
the  State  L^niversity  at  Normal.  Illinois, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1873.  He  entered  upon  the  study  of  law 
under  the  direction  of  E.  S.  Terry,  of  Dan- 
ville, with  whom  he  continued  until  Janu- 
ary 8,  1876,  when  he  successfully  passed  an 
examination  admitting  him  to  the  liar.  In 
the  meantime,  in  1874-5,  he  had  en- 
gaged in  teaching  as  superintendent  of  the 
Golconda  schools.  After  his  admission  to 
the  bar  he  opened  an  office  in  this  city  in  the 
I'irst  National  Bank  building  and  was  asso- 
ciated in  practice  with  W.  D.  Lindsey  until 
Deceml)er,  1882.  when  the  relationship  was 
discontinued.  He  was  then  alone  in  jirac- 
tice  until  July,  1893.  when  he  became  as- 
sociated with  James  A.  'Meeks  and  this  part- 
nership still  obtains.  The  law  practice  of 
the  firm  has  constantly  increased  in  volume 
;uul  importance,  connecting  them  with  muck 
of  the  chief  litigation  tried  in  the  courts  of 
the  district.  Mr.  Kimbrough's  success 
came  soon  because  his  equipment  was  tm- 
usually  good.  Along  with  those  qualities 
indispensable  to  the  lawyer. — a  keen, 
rapid  logical  mind  plus  the  business  sense, 
and  a  ready  capacity  for  hard  work. — he 
brought  to  the  starting  point  of  his  career 


164 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


rarer  gifts, — eloquence  of  language  and  a 
strong  personalit}'.  An  excellent  presence, 
an  earnest,  dignified  manner,  marked 
strength  of  character,  a  thorough  grasp  of 
the  law,  and  the  ability  accurately  to  apply 
its  principles,  are  factors  in  his  effectiveness 
as  an  adx'ocate. 

Air.  Kimbrough  is  also  a  man  of  large 
business  capacity  in  other  directions.  He 
was  formerly  connected  witli  the  Electric 
Light  &  Gas  Company  and  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century  he  was  connected  with  the  First 
National  Bank.  He  is  ar  present  one  of  its 
stockholders  and  a  director,  and  for  two 
years  has  been  its  vice  president.  The  ma- 
terial improvement  of  the  city  has  been  pro- 
moted by  him  for  in  1896  he  erected  in  con- 
nection with  Louis  Piatt,  the  Kimbrough  & 
Piatt  building,  the  first  office  building  in 
the  city,  and  in  conjunction  with  Louis 
Piatt  he  erected  the  Temple  Building,  in 
1901.  He  has  been  connected  wnn  the 
Home  and  Danville  Building  Associations 
as  a  director  and  attorney  for  over  twenty 
years.  Other  property  interests  which  he 
has  include  the  ownership  of  seven  or  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land. 

It  is  usually  found  that  a  man  of  large 
business  interests  and  important  undertak- 
ings has  a  broad  outlook  upon  public  affairs 
and  that  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  is  ac- 
tively interested  in  the  political  situation  of 
the  country.  Mr.  Kimbrough  has  labored 
earnestly  and  effectively  in  the  support  of 
the  political  principles  which  he  thinks  are 
best  calculated  to  conserve  the  nation's  wel- 
fare and  the  general  good  and  is  a  conserva- 
tive Democrat.  He  voted  with  the  regular 
party  until  1896,  when  he  endorsed  the 
wing  favoring  the  gold  standard  and  be- 
came a  delegate  to  the  Indianapolis  conven- 
tion of  Gold-Democrats.     He  had  also  been 


a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  of  the 
party  in  St.  Louis,  in  1888.  and  in  Chicago, 
in  1892.  In  1878  he  was  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  state  senator  from  his  district 
and  was  defeated  by  only  three  hundred  and 
seventeen  votes,  although  the  usual  Repub- 
lican majority  was  two  thousand.  In  1882 
and  again  in  1884  he  was  elected  to  the  gen- 
eral assembly  and  left  the  impress  of  his 
indixiduahty  upon  the  legislation  enacted 
during  those  sessions.  In  the  city  of  his 
residence,  where  he  is  best  known,  ample 
proof  was  given  of  the  public  confidence  in 
his  ability  and  his  loyalty  to  the  general 
good,  when  in  1897  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  Danville  on  an  independent  ticket  over 
three  other  candidates,  when  reform  was 
made  the  issue.  He  carried  out  his  prom- 
ises and  to  the  best  of  his  personal  ability 
and  official  power  labored  for  the  welfare  of 
the  city,  introducing  many  needed  reforms 
and  improvements.  For  nine  years  he 
ser\-ed  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion of  Danville,  and  since  1893  ^^^  '"'^s  been 
a  member  of  the  state  board  of  education, 
having  been  first  appointed  by  Governor 
Altgeld  and  reappointed  by  Go\-ernor 
Tanner. 

In  September.  1876.  I\lr.  Kimbrough 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Julia  C.  Tincher, 
a  daughter  of  John  L.  Tincher.  who  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  First  National 
Bank  and  a  partner  of  J.  G.  English  in  the 
banking  business.  He  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  men 
in  financial  and  commercial  circles  of  Dan- 
ville and  was  also  distinguished  as  a  states- 
man. He  died  while  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  Illinois  senate  in  1871.  L'^nto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kimbrough  was  born  a  son.  Rob- 
ert, but  he  died  in  1886.  at  the  age  of  nine 
years,  this  being  the  first  death  to  occur  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


165 


the  Kinibrimgli  family  llirnugh  many  years. 
]\Ir.  Kimbrough  belongs  to  the  Mason- 
ic fraternity,  in  which  he  has  taken  the  de- 
grees of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  antl  com- 
mandery.  He  is  also  a  representative  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor  and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  has  a  wide 
ac(|uaintance  among  leading  men  through- 
out the  state.  He  has  ever  occupied  a  prom- 
inent position  in  the  foremost  rank  of  the 
legal  practitioners  of  Danville.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  untiring  activitv  and  has 
been  crowned  with  a  hig"h  degree  of  success, 
yet  he  is  not  less  esteeiued  as  a  citizen  than 
as  a  lawyer,  and  his  kindly  imjiulses  and 
charming  cordialitv  of  manner  have  rendered 
liim  exceedingly  poi)ular  auKing  all  classes. 


J.  H.  :\IcIXTOSH. 


Althoug'h  one  of  the  recent  arri\'als  in 
Vermilion  county  Dr.  J-  H.  Mcintosh  has 
already  g'ained  a  liberal  patronage  in  the 
line  of  his  profession  in  Hope  and  in  the 
surrounding  district.  He  is  one  of  the  na- 
tive sons  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  White  comity,  on  the  loth  of  Jan- 
uary, 1872.  He  was  born  upon  a  farm,  a 
son  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Mcintosh,  a  Method- 
ist Episcopal  minister  who  belonged  to  the 
Southern  Illinois  conference.  His  dcatl 
occurred  in  Septemlier,  1899,  but  his  widow. 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  J. 
Hendrick,  is  now  living  with  her  son,  the 
Doctor.  In  their  family  were  eleven  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  still  survive  and  with 
the  exception  of  two  Dr.  ^^Iclntosb  is  tlic 
youngest. 

The  Doctor  pursucil  his  litcrar\-  educa- 
tion in   Lebanon,   Illinois,   as  a  student   in 


McKentlrce  College.  He  afterward  spent 
one  year  as  a  student  in  the  Missouri  Medi- 
cal College  in  St.  Louis  and  then  entered 
the  Barnes  Medical  College  of  the  same  city 
in  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1895.  Soon  afterward  he  located  in 
]\Iaunie,  White  county,  where  he  remained 
for  a  year,  when  he  removed  to  Cravville 
of  the  same  county.  Subsequently  be  prac- 
ticed in  Dewitt,  DeW'itt  county,  and  in  De- 
cember, 1 90 1,  he  came  to  Hope,  where  he 
has  since  remained  successfully  engaged  in 
the  general  jjractice  of  medicine  and  surgery. 

In  Belleville,  Illinois,  in  1895,  ^'""^  Doc- 
tor luarried  .\nnie  Pfeifer,  a  native  of  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  An- 
thony and  Nanette  (Sohm)  Pfeifer.  Her 
parents  were  born  and  reared  in  Ger- 
many and  are  now  residing  in  Hojje  with  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife.  Mrs.  Mcintosh  is  a 
well  educated  lady  of  natural  refinement  and 
is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of  Belle- 
ville. Prior  to  her  marriage  she  engaged  in 
teaching  to  some  extent.  She  has  become 
the  mother  of  three  children :  Florence, 
Stephen  D.   and   l-Iuth. 

The  Doctor  owns  prnpertv  in  Danville, 
ha\ing  purchased  a  lot  there  and  erected  a 
house.  He  carries  a  line  of  drugs  and  com- 
pounds, all  of  bis  own  prescriptions.  He 
is  the  onlv  phvsician  in  Hope  and  his  prac- 
tice covers  a  wide  area.  A  young  man,  he 
entered  upon  his  professional  career 
e(|uii)ped  for  the  responsible  duties  of  that 
])osition  and  he  keeps  abreast  with  the  times 
through  reading  and  research.  He  belongs 
to  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Societv  and  in 
his  fraternal  relations  is  a  Mason,  holding 
membership  with  the  lodge  at  Hope.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  is  a  worker  in  church  and  Sun- 
day-school.    His  political  support  is  given 


[66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to  the  Republican  party  and  at  the  present 
time  he  is  serving  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  in  Hope.  His  position  as  a  leading 
citizen  of  this  portion  of  the  conntv  is  clue 
not  only  to  his  professional  skill  hut  to  his 
public-spirited  devotion  to  the  general  good 
and  his  genial  personal  worth. 


JOHN  LEEMON. 


When  for  miles  the  broad  prairies 
stretched  away  wild  and  unimproved,  when 
the  land  was  still  in  possession  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  the  most  far-sighted  could  not 
ha\-e  dreamed  that  a  few  years  would  make 
a  wonderful  change  here,  John  Leemon 
came  to  Vermilion  county  and  upon  its 
broad  prairie  he  took  up  his  abode  far  from 
any  home,  save  the  one  settlement  which 
was  the  residence  of  Thomas  Hoopes.  He 
assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of  reclaiming 
the  wild  land  for  the  purposes  of  civiliza- 
tion and  certainly  no  resident  of  this  part  of 
the  state  is  entitled  to  more  honorable  and 
distinct  consideration  in  a  work  of  this  char- 
acter than  he  of  whom  we  write — a  pioneer 
whose  labor  brought  not  only  prosperity"  to 
himself  but  was  of  the  greatest  benefit  in  the 
de\-elopment  and  nplnu'lding"  of  this  portion 
of  the  state. 

Mr.  Leemon  was  born  of  Scotch  par- 
entage in  County  Armagh.  Ireland,  on  theSth 
of  May.  1829.  His  father,  Thoinas  Leemon, 
was  likewise  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
to  \\hich  district  his  forefathers  had  been 
dri\-en  during  the  time  of  religious  perse- 
cution in  Scotland.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Thompson,  and  they  reared  a  family  of 
six  children,  all  of  whom  followed  our  sub- 
ject to  America  in  1854,  three  years  after 
his  arrival.     For  a  time  they  resided  in  Jer- 


sey cotmty,  Illinois,  and  then  removed  to 
Christian  county,  where  the  father  died  in 
1S62.  The  mother  survived  him  for  some 
years  and  spent  her  last  days  with  her  son 
John,  passing  away  in  1882. 

John  Leemon  was  reared  and  educated 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity  and  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age  when  he  resolved  to  seek 
his  fortune  beyond  the  Atlantic,  hoping  to 
take  advantage  of  some  of  the  excellent  op- 
portunities which  he  had  heard  were  offered 
young  men  in  the  new  world.  He  did  not 
tarry  on  the  Atlantic  coast  but  came  at  once 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Jersey  county.  Here 
he  began  working  by  the  month  for  twelve 
dollars  and  in  the  winter  season  he  husked 
corn  at  two  cents  a  bushel  and  board.  His 
wants  were  few  and  ex'en  at  that  small  wage 
he  managed  to  save  a  little  money  until  he 
had  enough  to  buy  a  team.  He  then  rented 
a  tract  of  land  in  Jersey  county  and  began 
farming  on  his  own  account,  carrying  on' ag- 
ricultural work  there  until  1857. 

In  the  meantime  he  visited  Vermilion 
county  and  purchased  four  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  wild  land.  As  this  district 
was  still  in  possession  of  the  government 
and  the  pioneer  settlements  had  not  pene- 
trated this  far  into  the  Mississippi  valley, 
land  could  be  purchased  at  almost  a  nomi- 
nal figure.  Mr.  Leemon.  however,  did  not 
buy  for  speculation  purposes  but  with  the  in- 
tention of  developing  a  farm  for  himself 
and  as  soon  as  possible  he  began  the  work  of 
plowing,  planting  and  han-esting  upon  the 
tract  of  which  he  had  become  the  owner.  He 
boarded  in  the  home  of  ]Mr.  Hoopes.  who 
had  the  only  house  upon  the  prairie  in  this 
vicinity  at  that  time.  Night  and  morning 
he  went  to  and  from  his  place  of  work,  a 
distance  of  two  and  one-half  miles.  In  the 
fall  of  1857  he  erected  a  small  liouse  upon 
his    own    farm,    there    keeping    "bachelor's 


LI5R5RY 

or    iME 

UNIVERS:VY  Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


i6y 


hall"  until  the  time  of  his  marriage.  Ener- 
getic, resolute  and  industrious,  his  work  was 
carried  on  with  marked  determination  and 
with  good  effect.  His  labors  wrought  a 
wonderful  transformation  in  the  ai)pearance 
of  his  place  and  its  value.  He  planted  for- 
est and  fruit  trees  and  set  out  many  rods  of 
liedg'e  fence.  With  the  work  of  agricultural 
improvements  he  kept  abreast  and  added  to 
his  farm  everything  that  would  facihtate 
the  work  and  make  his  property  attractive. 
He  placed  upon  his  lanil  two  windmills  and 
a  feedmill  and  his  barn  was  underlaid  witli 
water  pipes,  which  led  to  various  tanks 
wherever  water  was  required  for  stock.  The 
wet  land  was  tiled  and  thus  matle  cultivable, 
his  tiling  being  brought  from  Bloomington. 
He  practiced  the  rotation  of  crops  and  in  an 
intelligent  manner  carried  im  the  active 
work  of  developing  and  improving  his  land 
until  the  Leemon  farm  gained  a  wide  repu- 
tation, unsurpassed  by  any  in  eastern  Illi- 
nois, because  oi  its  producti\eness  and  the 
splendid  improvements  found  thereon, 
(jradually  the  settlements  increased,  the  evi- 
daices  of  frontier  life  gave  way  before  those 
of  an  advanced  civilization,  the  deer  and 
wolves  which  were  once  so  numerous  were 
driven  out.  Air.  Leemon  often  remarked 
that  he  saw  as  many  as  seventy-five  head  of 
deer  in  a  single  herd  and  the  early  settlers 
were  frequently  called  for  a  wolf  hunt  when 
hunger  liad  made  the  wolves  so  venturesome 
that  they  would  steal  to  the  very  doors  of 
the  cabins  in  order  to  get  the  venison  found 
hanging  by  the  side  of  the  house.  Many 
winters  he  killed  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
head  of  deer  and  it  was  he  that  killed  the  last 
deer  known  to  have  been  slain  upon  the 
prairies. 

It  was  on  the  26th  of  August,  1865,  in 
Rossville,  that  Mr.  Leemon  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Lodema  Brown,  of  Butler 


township.  She  was  born  near  Lockport,  Ni- 
agara county.  New  York,  a  daughter  of  John 
Brown,  wlio  removed  to  Indiana  with  his 
family  when  Mrs.  Leemon  was  only  about 
seventeen  years  of  age.  There  she  lived  un- 
til she  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  when 
the  family  came  to  East  Lynn,  \'ermilion 
county.  Her  father  spent  his  last  days  in 
Marysville,  Tennessee,  where  he  died  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Catherine  Bears,  remained 
with  Airs.  Leemon  until  shortly  before  her 
death  in  1888.  At  the  time  of  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  Leemon  took  his  bride  to  the  home 
which  he  had  already  prepared  and  as  the 
years  passed  children  were  added  to  the  hous- 
hold  to  the  number  of  six.  They  lost  their 
eldest  child,  however,  a  daughter,  Izele,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  The  others 
are :  Lida ;  Robert  A.,  who  married  Bessie 
Gilson,  of  Chicago,  in  1895,  and  is  now  liv- 
ing on  Penn  street  in  Hoopeston ;  John  A., 
Charles  N.  and  Edith  L.,  all  of  whom  are 
with  their  mother  in  Hoopeston.  They  ha\-e 
been  provided  with  excellent  eilucations, 
Robert  having  attended  school  in  Quincy, 
Illinois;  Lida  in  Onarga,  this  state;  John 
and  L'harles  in  Galesburg  and  Chicago ; 
while  Edith  has  been  a  student  in  Lake  For- 
est. 

I'pon  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Lee- 
mon became  an  advocate  of  the  Democracy 
but  at  local  elections  where  no  isstie  was  in- 
volved he  voted  independently.  His  fellow 
townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and  abil- 
ity, frequently  called  him  to  public  office  and 
he  filled  creditably  every  official  position  in 
town  and  township.  For  eight  years  he  was 
justice  of  the  peace,  was  a  school  director 
and  trustee,  and  for  four  years  was  super- 
visor. He  uniformly  distinguished  himself 
as  a  man  of  progressive  and  liberal  ideas, 
one  willing  to  give  his  time  and  infiuence  to 


I70 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


those  enterprises  calculated  for  tlie  general 
good.      He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  his  life  was  e\er  an 
honorable  one,  industry  and  foresight  being 
salient  features  in  his  career.  He  never  used 
liquor  or  tobacco   nor  abused   nature  laws 
and  therefore  enjoyed  good  health.     When 
his  labors  had  brought  a  sufficient  capital  to 
enable  him  to  think  of  retiring  from  business 
life  and  to  plan  for  an  enjoyment  of  a  well 
earned  rest,  the  community  was  shocked  in 
hearing  of  his  death  on  the  15th  of  Decem- 
ber. 1890.  He  dro\-e  to  Hoopeston  for  a  load 
of  lumber  and  was  returning  home  when  his 
tean:  became  unmanageable  and  ran  away. 
He  was  thrown  to  the  ground  and  the  awful 
weight  of  the  load  of  lumber  was  dragged 
over  his  body,  crushing   out    his    life.     He 
lived  for  only  two  days  after  the  accident 
and  was  thai  laid  to  rest  in  Floral  Hill  cem- 
etery at  Hoopeston.     It  is  safe  to  say  that 
no  citizen  of  this  community  has  ever  been 
more  deeply  mourned  than  was  John  Lee- 
mon,  for  he  was  known  as  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  who  had  endeared  himself  to  all  with 
whom  he  had   come  in   contact  in   ties   of 
friendship    which    naught   but    death    could 
sever.     As  long  as  the  history  of  Vermilion 
county  is  known  to  its  citizens  so  long  will 
the  name  of  John  Leemon  be  honored  be- 
cause of  what  he  accomplished   in  pioneer 
times.     He  was  a  very  successful  business 
man  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  his  landed 
possessions  were  very  extensive.     He  owned 
in   \"ermilion    and    Iroquois   counties    more 
than  eighteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in  addi- 
tion to  a  two-thirds  interest  in  eighteen  hun- 
dred acres  in  Scott  county  and  some  landed 
possessions  in  Christian  county.     Since  his 
death  these  lands  have  been  divided  among 
the  heirs.     He  was  one  of  the  org'anizers  of 
the  Hamilton.  Leemon  &  Lateer  Bank,  con- 
tinuing with  it  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 


since  which  time  it  has  become  what  is 
known  as  the  Hamilton  &  Cunningham 
Bank  of  Hoopeston. 

-Mrs.  Leemon  has  in  her  possession  some 
\alual)le  residence  property  in  Hoopeston. 
In  1897  she  decided  to  leave  the  farm  and, 
purchasing  property  on  Washington  street 
in  Hoopeston,  she  had  this  remodeled  after 
her  own  plans  and  now  has  a  ver}'  beautiful 
and  in\iting  home,  valued  at  eight  thousand 
dollars.  Into  this  she  moved  with  her  fam- 
ily and  is  now  a  valued  resident  of  the  town. 
She  holds  membership  in  the  Universalist 
church  and  to  its  support  'Sir.  Leemon  was 
a  liljeral  contributor,  although  he  never  held 
membership  with  any  religious  denomina- 
tion. His  was  a  character  of  great  breadth 
and  purity,  however,  and  to  his  family  he 
left  the  precious  leg-acy  of  the  memor)-  of  a 
noble  life  that  is  well  worthv  of  emulation. 


F.  D.  TO:\ILIXSOX. 

F.  D.  Tomlinson  is  a  well  known  repre- 
sentative of  the  farming  interests  of  \'er- 
milion  county.  He  has  fi\e  hundred  acres 
of  rich  and  arable  land  in  Ross  township 
and  is  accounted  one  of  the  successful  and 
progressive  agriculturists  and  also  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  locality,  for  since 
1856  he  has  made  his  home  in  the  county. 
He  was  born  near  ^larshfield,  in  Warren 
county.  Indiana,  JNIarch  25,  1842.  His  fa- 
ther. Jesse  Tomlinson,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity 
remo\-ed  westward,  settling  in  Warren 
county  in  1827,  among  the  early  settlers  of 
that  part  of  the  state.  He  took  up  his  abode 
upon  a  farm  and  there  he  remained  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1853. 
He  was  married  there  to  !Marv  jMcFarland, 
a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  with- 
in two  months  of  her  husband's  demise. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


171 


The  subject  ot  tliis  review  is  called  Dean 
Tonilinson  by  his  many  triends  ami  the  cir- 
cle' ot  his  acquaintance  is  a  \-ery  wide  one 
in  Vermilion  county.  He  is  the  youngest 
in  a  family  of  fi\e  sons  and  six  daughters. 
all  of  whom  reached  mature  years,  although 
he  anil  his  two  sisters  arc  the  only  ones  now 
living.  His  sister  Frances  resides  with  him 
acting  as  his  housekeeper  since  the  death 
of  his  wife.  The  other  sister.  Juliet,  is  the 
wife  of  \V.  B.  Miller,  of  Marshfield.  In- 
diana. After  the  death  of  his  father  in 
1853  F.  D.  Tomlinson  came  to  Illinois. 
being  at  that  time  a  youth  of  fourteen  years. 
He  lived  with  his  brother-in-law  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  rented 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count. After  two  j'ears  he  settled  upon  his 
own  place,  where  he  now  resides.  He  se- 
cured a  tract  of  raw  prairie  which  he  broke 
and  fenced,  continuing  its  cultivation  as  the 
years  passed  until  its  rich  productive  fields 
constitute  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  the 
community.  His  first  home  was  a  log 
cabin,  which  he  occupied  for  several  years 
while  clearing  and  developing  his  farm, 
but  it  has  long  since  been  replaced  by  a 
commodious,  neat  and  substantial  residence. 
He  also  has  a  good  barn  upon  his  place, 
convenient  outbuikhngs  and  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery.  An  orchard  of  his  own 
planting  bears  its  fruit  in  season  and  shade 
trees  surround  the  home.  The  place  is  well 
tiled  so  that  the  land  has  become  arable, 
and  fences  divide  the  farm  into  fields  of 
convenient  sizes.  He  raises  good  stock  in 
addition  to  the  cultivation  of  his  crops  and 
his  is  one  of  the  modern  and  model  farms 
of  the  county. 

In  this  county,  in  Newell  township.  No- 
vember 12.  1872.  Mr.  Tomlinson  was  united 
in  marriage  to  ^Matilda  C.  Young,  a  native 


of  this  county,  born  in  XewcU  township, 
January  26,  1853.  Her  father.  Charles  S. 
^'(lung•  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from  Kentucky,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Bourbon  county,  that 
state,  in  1809.  He  established  his  home  in 
Newell  township  at  a  \'ery  early  period  in 
its  impro\ement  and  was  there  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1889  Mr.  Tomlinson  was 
called  upon  to  moiuni  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
who  passed  away  on  the  22d  of  February, 
av^d  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  burial 
ground  near  Marshfield,  Indiana.  They 
had  four  children:  Elizabeth  F.,  the  wife 
of  O.  W.  Cannon,  of  Danville,  by  whom 
she  has  a  son,  William  D. ;  Charles  S. ; 
Jesse  Dean ;  and  John  R.  They  also  lost 
three  children :  ]\Iary,  who  died  when  a 
child  of  se\-en  years ;  Walter,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years:  and  an  infant  son. 
When  age  conferred  upon  Mr.  Tomlinson 
the  right  of  franchise  he  proudly  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  General  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1868  and  has  given  his  support  to 
each  presidential  nominee  of  the  partv  since 
that  time.  Forty-six  years"  residence  in  this 
country  entitles  him  to  mention  among  the 
old  settlers  and  he  belongs  to  that  class  of 
enter]irising  citizens,  who.  while  promoting 
their  individual  success,  have  also  taken  a 
helpful  interest  in  the  work  pertaining  to 
the  general  welfare.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  northeastern  section  of  the  count}-  and 
his  intelligence,  worth,  and  integrity  have 
made  him  a  valued  citizen. 


WILLIAM  H.  C.VRTER. 

\'crmilion  county  figures  as  one  of  the 
most  attractive,  progressive  and  prosperous 
division  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  justly  claim- 


17: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ing  a  high  order  of  citizenship  and  a  spirit 
of  enterprise  which  is  certain  to  conserve 
onsecuti\e  de\eiopnient  and  marked  ad- 
vancemnt  in  the  material  upbuilding  of  the 
section.  The  county  has  been  and  is  sig- 
nally favored  in  the  class  of  men  who  have 
controlled  its  affairs  in  official  capacity,  and 
in  this  connection  the  subject  of  this  review 
demands  representation  as  one  who  has 
served  the  county  faithfully  and  well  in  posi- 
tions of  distinct  trust  and  responsibility. 
He  is  now  acceptably  filling  the  position  of 
county  recorder,  to  which  he  was  elected 
in  1900  for  a  term  of  four  years. 

]\Ir.  Carter  was  born  in  Peoria  county, 
Illinois.  September  15,  1863,  and  is  a  son 
of  Abraham  and  Eliza  (Baum)  Carter.  He 
comes  of  Welsh-American  ancestry.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Charles  Baum,  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois.  He  came  from  Ohio  to 
this  county,  settling  in  Carroll  township 
when  that  region  was  still  wild  and  unim- 
proved. He  bore  his  part  in  the  work  of 
development  and  progress  and  he  lived  to 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-eight  years.  Of 
his  children  there  is  but  one  survivor,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Carter,  the  mother  of  our  subject. 
She  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  for  one-third 
of  a  century  has  been  a  widow,  for  Abraham 
Carter,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  in 
1869.  He  was  a  native  of  Illinois.  By 
this  marriage  there  were  three  children, 
Charles  E..  now  deceased;  Frank  A.,  who 
is  living  in  Indianola,  Illinois;  and  William 
H.,  of  this  review. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Indianola  Will- 
iam H.  Carter  acquired  his  literary  edu- 
cation. His  early  youth  was  spent  upon  the 
home  farm  and  after  entering  upon  his  bus- 
iness career  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  In- 
dianola.    Later  he  served  as  deputy  clerk 


and  recorder.  In  1900  he  was  elected  re- 
corder of  Vermilion  county  on  the  Republi- 
can ticket  for  a  term  of  four  terms,  so 
that  he  is  now  filling  that  position.  He  has 
also  held  township  offices,  having  served  as 
collector.  Socially  he  is  identified  with  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  No  trust  reposed 
in  him  has  ever  been  betrayed  and  he  is  a 
most  capable  official,  discharging  his  dutie; 
in  a  prompt  and  able  manner,  placing  the 
general  good  before  personal  advancement. 


ROBERT    V.  CHESLEY. 

Upon  the  public  life  of  Danville  Robert 
V.  Chesley  left  an  indelible  impression  and 
he  wrote  his  name  upon  the  keystone  of  the 
legal  arch  of  Illinois,  figuring  during  the 
middle  portion  of  the  nineteeth  century  as 
one  of  the  most  skilled  lawyers  and  gifted 
orat(5rs  that  appeared  before  courts  of  the 
state.  No  citizen  of  Danville  was  ever  more 
re.?pected  and  no  man  ever  more  fully  en- 
joyed the  respect  so  freely  accorded  him. 
Honorable  in  business,  loyal  in  citizenship, 
charitable  in  thought,  kindly  in  action,  true 
to  every  trust  confided  to  his  care,  his  life 
was  of  the  highest  type  of  American  man- 
hood. He  was  one  of  the  great  lawyers  of 
the  Illinois  bar  who  lives  in  the  memories  of 
his  contemporaries  encircled  with  the  halo  of 
a  gracious  presence,  charming  personality, 
profound  legal  wisdom,  thrilling  oratory, 
purity  of  public  and  private  life  and  the  quiet 
dignitv  of  an  ideal  follower  of  his  calling. 

Mr.  Chesley  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  May  9,  1832,  a  son  of  Alexander  P. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


175 


Chesley,  who  after  removing  to  Danvilfc  be- 
came postmaster  of  the  city.  The  son  at- 
tended school  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  came  to  X'ermilion  county,  where  he 
entered  upon  his  business  career  as  an  ap- 
prentice to  the  harness-maker's  trade  under 
AV'illiam  Myers.  When  his  three  years'  term 
of  service  had  expired  he  continued  with  his 
employer  as  a  journeyman  for  a  number  of 
years  and  then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the 
Humphrey  drug  store.  Subsequently  he  be- 
came a  salesman  in  the  dry-goods  store  of 
Prosper  and  Victor  Leseure,  after  which  he 
established  a  harness  and  saddlery  store  of 
his  own,  his  shop  standing  at  the  corner  op- 
posite the  First  National  Bank.  He  re- 
mained in  that  business  for  a  time  and  then 
again  engaged  in  clerking,  this  time  in  the 
employe  of  William  E.  Russel,  a  dry-goods 
merchant. 

About  this  time, — on  the  Jist  of  Octo- 
ber, 1852, — in  Danville,  Mr.  Chesley  was 
united  in  marriage  to  ]\liss  Helen  }\I.  Rus- 
sel. a  native  of  Litchfield  county,  Connecti- 
cut, born  August  16,  1830,  a  daughter  of 
William  E.  and  Emeline  (Bradley)  Russel, 
the  former  a  native  of  Middletown.  Connec- 
ticut, and  the  latter  of  Litchfield  county, 
where  they  were  married.  Her  father  was 
engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  in  the 
east  and  after  his  removal  to  \'ermilion 
county  in  1833  followed  the  same  line  of 
business.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  land 
and  loan  business  and  did  a  great  deal  of 
business  for  the  county,  also  filling  a  number 
of  offices,  including  that  of  justice  of  the 
peace.  Prominent  in  i)ul)hc  affairs  his  ac- 
tivity proved  of  benefit  to  the  community 
along  many  lines.  His  political  support  was 
given  the  Democracy  and  socially  he  was 
connected  with  the  Masonic  fralernit\-  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  !'"cllows, 
while  in  religious  faith  he  was  a  L'niversa- 


list.  He  died  in  March,  1856,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  on  the  7th  of  Xo\-ember,  1866. 
Mrs.  Chesley  was  one  of  a  family  of  four 
children.  She  has  one  li\ing  brother,  .\1- 
bert  Russel.  who  is  retired  in  Danville. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Chesley  contin- 
ued clerking  until  September.  1861,  when 
\\  itli  ]i;itriotic  impulse  to  .aid  in  the  preserva- 
tion oi  the  L'nion  he  joined  Company  C,  of 
the  Twelfth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry, 
ser\ing  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Mc- 
Arthur  and  General  U.  S.  Grant.  He  was 
engaged  in  se\cral  battles  and  skirmishes,  in- 
cluding the  engagement  at  Fort  Donelson, 
where  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  rifle 
ball.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital, 
where  he  was  discharged  after  serving  for  a 
year.  When  he  had  recovered  he  took  up 
the  studv  of  law.  lie  had  previously  de- 
\'oted  much  time  to  reading  law  while  work- 
ing at  his  trade,  often  sitting  up  nights  until 
between  one  and  two  o'clock  pouring  over 
some  text-book.  After  his  return  from  the 
army  he  continued  his  reading  in  the  office 
of  O.  L.  Davis  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
after  successfull}'  passing  the  rc(|uired  exam- 
ination. He  then  opened  an  office  and  began 
practice  in  Danville.  He  was  interested  in 
the  trial  of  a  number  of  cases  with  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  they  became  fast  friends.  He 
was  also  associated  with  Stephen  .V.  Doug- 
las and  other  eminent  men  of  the  time, 
manv  of  whom  attained  n.'itional  reputations. 
A  lirilliaiU  orator,  his  gift  in  this  direction 
was  one  of  the  potent  elements  of  his  suc- 
cess, but  added  to  this  was  his  logical  reason- 
ing, his  comprehensi\e  knowledge  of  the  law 
and  his  careful  preparation  of  cases.  His 
political  support  was  given  to  the  Republican 
party  and  had  he  asij^cd  to  ])olitical  honors 
he  undoubtedlv  could  ha\e  won  fame  in 
that  direction  but  be  always  refused  to  hold 
office. 


176 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Air.  and  Airs.  Chelsey  became  tlie  par- 
ent.s  of  five  cliildren  :  Charles  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Ida  Dicken,  by  whom  he  has  five  chil- 
drai,  is  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Chesley 
Boiler  Works  and  resides  in  Danville;  Fred- 
erick H.,  who  wedded  Elizabeth  Thomas  and 
has  two  children,  is  also  living  in  Danville 
and  works  for  his  brothers  in  the  boiler  fac- 
tory; John  L.,  who  married  Eliza  Ham- 
nett,  is  engaged  in  boiler  manufacturing  in 
this  city;  L.  A.,  who  married  Helen  S.  Stew- 
art and  has  three  children,  is  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Danville  Foundry  Com- 
pany; Helen  May,  born  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, January  i,  1866,  is  the  wife  of  W.  S. 
Rowlson,  who  was  born  in  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana, Februar)'  24,  1858,  their  marriage 
taking  place  Alay  14,  1885.  His  father,  I.  L. 
Rowlson,  is  a  native  of  Watertown,  New 
York,  and  was  married  in  Terre  Haute  to 
Mrs.  Mildred  McGaughey.  W.  S.  Rowlson 
is  now  engaged  in  the  carriage  business  in 
Danville.  He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views  and  a  member  of  the  Alodern  Wood- 
men fraternity.  He  and  his  wife  reside  at 
No.  927  North  Walnut  street  and  they  have 
one  son,  Chesley,  born  February  24.   1895. 

Air.  Chesley  held  membership  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  at- 
tended the  Presbyterian  church.  He  peidiaps 
had  more  friends  in  this  portion  of  the  state 
than  ariy  other  man.  He  was  popular  soci- 
ally and  it  is  said  that  no  man  was  more 
graceful  or  gallant  in  a  ball  room  or  at  a 
social  function.  He  had  a  wonderful  mem- 
ory for  faces  and  incidents,  a  most  polished 
manner  and  genial  cordiality  and  all  this  ren- 
dered him  a  most  pleasant  entertainer.  As 
a  lecturer  he  had  no  equal  in  Danville  and  in 
fact  his  superior  ability  won  for  him  the 
title  of  "the  silver-tongued  orator  of  the 
west."     On  the  platform  such  was  his  per- 


sonal popularity  and  such  his  personal  mag- 
netism that  his  appearance  to  address  the 
people  was  the  signal  for  tumultuous  en- 
thusiasm and  when  it  was  known  that  he 
was  to  speak  at  a  public  or  political  gather- 
ing people  came  for  miles  to  hear  him  until 
the  place  of  meeting  was  always  taxed  to  its 
utmost  capacity  and  his  remarks  were 
cheered  to  the  echo.  But  his  was  not  alone 
the  oratory  of  the  master  of  rhetoric,  his  ut- 
terances rang  with  truth,  originality,  logic 
and  power.  His  eloquence  made  his  law 
pleas  memorable  and  his  law  library  was  one 
of  the  finest  of  the  state.  The  term  "Our 
Bob."  so  often  applied  to  him,  was  a  token  of 
endearment — an  indication  of  the  tender  re- 
gard which  his  fellow  townsmen  had  for 
him.  In  his  family  he  was  a  devoted  hus- 
band and  father  and  put  forth  every  eft'ort  in 
his  power  to  promote  the  welfare  and  happi- 
ness of  his  wife  and  children.  He  had  a 
most  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  scrip- 
tures and  while  he  made  no  professions  of 
religion,  he  who  attempted  to  enlist  him  in  a 
Biblical  argument  found  that  he  must  look 
to  his  own  laurels.  He  lived  religion  rather 
than  professed  it,  and  no  man  was  more 
generous  to  the  poor  and  needy,  more  ready 
in  s}-mpatliy  or  shed  around  him  more  of  the 
sunshine  and  happiness  of  life.  His  name 
is  inscribed  on  the  records  of  the  bar  of  iTli- 
nois,  but  in  the  city  where  he  made  his  home 
and  throughout  the  state  where  he  had  ac- 
quaintances, it  is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  were  proud  to  call  him  friend. 


AIRS.  IDA  J.  PASTUER. 

The  field  of  journalism  has  drawn  to 
its  ranks  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
country,   men   whose   patriotic   devotion   to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


177 


the  general  good,  combined  with  business 
abibly,  has  enabled  them  to  establish  papers 
having  marked  inikience  upon  the  growth 
and  substantial  progress  of  the  localities 
with  which  they  are  connected.  Compara- 
tively few  women,  however,  have  entered 
the  journalistic  realm,  but  if  others  could 
do  so,  manifesting  the  same  capability  and 
success  that  has  been  shown  Ijy  ]\lrs.  Pas- 
tuer,  it  would  certainly  be  a  work  worthy 
of  the  best  efforts  of  womankind.  She  of 
whom  we  write  is  the  editor  of  the  Gazette, 
of  Indianola.  Upon  her  husband's  death  she 
took  up  the  work  which  he  was  forced  to 
lay  down  and  with  the  assistance  of  her 
two  sons,  H.  M.  and  W.  R.  Pasttter,  she 
has  made  the  paper  a  credit  to  the  commun- 
ity and  a  worthy  representative  of  the  news- 
paper field  of  this  portion  of  the  state  of 
Illinois. 

Mrs.  Pastuer  is  a  native  of  Terre  Haute. 
Indiana,  and  became  the  wife  of  Francis 
J.  Pastuer,  who  established  the  Gazette. 
The  Danville  Press  said  of  her :  "She  is 
a  woman  of  much  versatility  and  governs 
a  newspaper  with  the  dignity  of  a  society 
woman  in  her  drawing  room.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  courageously  took 
charge  of  his  business  and  reared  her  little 
family.  She  mastered  the  business  and  made 
a  success  of  its  every  detail."  The  paper  now 
has  a  paid  circulation  of  one  thousand  cop- 
ies, and  is  an  excellent  advertising  medium. 
It  is  an  eight  page  journal  and  the  plant  is 
equipped  with  everything  necessary  for  the 
publication  of  a  modern  up-to-date  paper. 
Mrs.  Pastuer  is  ably  assisted  by  her  two 
sons,  H.  M.  and  W.  R.,  and  the  latter  is 
not  only  serving  as  city  editor  but  is  also 
city  clerk  of  Indianola.  The  former  occu- 
pied the  position  of  foreman  of  the  printing 
office  and  possessed  marked  ability  as  a  car- 


toon artist,  his  work  in  this  direction  being 
fa\'oralily  conimenleil  upon  Ijy  expert  judges 
in  this  line  in  New  York.  He  is  at  present 
a  student  in  the  New  York  Cartooning 
school,  and  will  take  a  position  as  cartoon- 
ist with  a  leatling  Memphis,  Tennessee,  pa- 
per upun  recei\ing  his  diploma.  Mrs.  Pas- 
tuer reads  broadly,  thinks  deeply,  and  with- 
out strongly  marked  prejudice  she  presents 
the  subjects  of  which  she  treats  in  a  fair 
,'md  just  manner.  Through  the  columns  of 
her  paper  she  has  labored  earnestly  for  the 
welfare  of  Indianola,  and  the  town  is  proud 
of  the  Gazette  and  of  its  editor. 


D.  C.  HINSHAW,  :\I.  D. 

Since  1887  Dr.  D.  C.  Hinsliaw  has  re- 
sided in  the  \illage  of  Ridgefarm  and 
throughout  the  southern  part  of  the  county 
has  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, a  liberal  patronage  being  accorded 
him,  because  he  has  demonstrated  his  skill 
and  ability  to  cope  successfully  witli  the 
many  intricate  problems  which  are  con- 
tinually facing  the  physician.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Hamilton  county,  Indiana,  born 
April  22,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  Hinshaw,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  North  Carolina,  and,  removing  to 
Hamilton  county,  Indiana,  in  1851,  became 
early  settlers  of  the  latter  locality.  The 
father  purchased  a  tract  of  land  and  has 
since  carried  on  farming  there  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the  Friends 
church  and  people  of  the  highest  respecta- 
bility, wh(^  enjoy  to  an  unusual  degree  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  those  with  whom 
they  are  associated.  Their  marriage  was 
blessed  with  eight  children,  namely :  Isaac.' 


178 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


who  is  residing  in  Kansas ;  Thomas,  a  phy- 
sician, whose  home  is  in  IndianapoHs,  In- 
diana; Martha  J.,  a  resident  of  \\"estfield, 
Indiana ;  .\ndre\v,  who  is  hving  in  Hamil- 
ton county ;  D.  C. ;  Aseneth,  whose  home  is 
in  Plainfield,  Indiana ;  Lydia  Ann,  of  To- 
ledo, Ohio;  and  William,  who  resides  with 
his  parents  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Hamil- 
ton county,  Indiana. 

Dr.  Hinshaw,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  near  the  home  farm  and 
afterward  continued  his  studies  in  the  high 
school  at  Westfield,  Indiana.  He  then  en- 
tered upon  his  medical  course,  going  to 
Indianapolis,  where  he  spent  three  years 
as  a  student  in  the  Medical  College  there 
and  was  graduated  on  the  ist  of  March, 
1882,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  He  had 
applied  himself  closely  to  the  mastery  of 
the  branches  which  formed  the  curriculum, 
and  thus  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  he  opened  an  office 
in  Vermilion  Grove,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  short  time,  coming  thence  to 
Ridgefarm,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
From  the  beginning  of  his  residence  here 
he  has  enjoyed  a  very  liberal  patronage, 
which  has  continually  grown  until  now  his 
practice  is  a  large  and  profitable  one.  He 
has  practiced  here  longer  than  any  other 
physician  in  the  village  and  he  has  a  well 
equipped  office  in  the  central  part  of  the 
town. 

Dr.  Hinshaw  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Effie  R.  Dicken,  a  native  of  \^ermilion 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  David  Dicken, 
a  farmer  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion.  He  spent  his  last  years, 
however,  in  retirement  from  active  labor 
and  died  in  Danville.  The  Doctor  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife  in  1901. 


she  passing  away  on  the  19th  of  February, 
of  that  year.  There  were  two  children  of 
that  marriage,  but  the  elder,  Glenn  Craw- 
ford, died  at  the  age  of  five  months.  Hazel 
E.,  bom  in  October,  1886,  resides  with  her 
father  in  Ridgefarm. 

The  Doctor  is  not  only  prominent  pro- 
fessionally but  is  also  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  and  enterprising  citizens  of  the 
village,  devoted  to  the  general  good  and  ever 
allied  to  the  best  interests  of  the  town.  For 
two  years  he  acceptably  served  as  mayor 
of  Ridgefarm.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can and  fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  with  the  ^lod- 
ern  Woodmen.  In  religious  faith  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  a 
profession  where  ad\ancement  depends  up- 
on individual  merit  he  has  steadily  pro- 
gressed, each  year  adding  to  his  efficiency 
by  reason  of  his  continued  study  and  in- 


JAMES    S.  SCO.XCE. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  east- 
ern Illinois  is  "Fairview."  A  palatial  resi- 
dence, it  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  well  kept 
lawn,  which  slopes  gradually  to  the  road,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  a  winding  drive 
leading  up  to  the  house,  which  is  embowered 
in  stately  trees.  Far  and  wide  to  the  right 
and  to  the  left  stretch  the  l)road  and  richly 
cultivated  fields  of  the  estate,  and  the  evi- 
dences of  care  and  cultivation  are  every- 
where seen.  "Fairview"  is  a  monument  to 
the  life,  the  enterprise  and  the  energy  of 
James  S.  Sconce,  whose  well  directed  efforts 
in  the  business  world  resulted  in  the  acquire- 
ment of  this  splendid  property,  which  he  left 
as  a  legacy  to  his  wife  and  children,  when 


Of    [.iE 
UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


i8i 


liis  life's  labors  were  ended  in  tlealh  and  he 
was  called  to  the  home  beyond.  His  mem- 
ory is  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  all  who 
knew  him,  for  he  endeared  himself  to  all  by 
his  straig'htforwartl  conduct,  his  gentle  man- 
ner and  his  sterling  worth. 

Hack  to  an  earl_\-  epoch  in  .Vinerican  his- 
tory can  the  ancestry  of  the  family  be  traced 
and  in  many  events  which  left  their  impress 
upon  improvement  and  progress  representa- 
tives of  the  name  were  active.  \\'hen  civili- 
zation made  its  way  into  the  wilderness  of 
Kentucky  the  Sconces  joined  the  vanguard 
and  the  great-grandfather  of  James  S. 
Sconce  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Bourbon 
county.  Kentuck}'.  where  he  lived  in  a  large 
log  house.  l)uilt  especially  to  resist  Indian  at- 
tacks. There  were  eight  brothers  in  the 
family  and  they  were  am<ing  the  lirave  early  ' 
settlers  who  reclaimed  that  beautiful  coun- 
trv  from  the  domain  of  the  sa\'ages.  Near- 
ly  all  of  these  brothers  emigrated  to  the 
south  and  west,  bearing  part  in  the  reclama- 
tion of  wild  districts  for  the  purpose  of  civ- 
ilization. There  are  now  many  representa- 
tives of  the  name  in  Texas. 

Samuel  Sconce,  the  father  of  oiu"  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1802,  and  was  there  reared  amid 
the  scenes  of  frontier  life,  sharing  in  the 
hardships  and  trials  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
until  tlie  year  1828,  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  \"ermilion  county  the  fol- 
lowing year.  Here  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Nancv  Waters,  who  was  born  in  Bourbon 
county.  Kentucky,  in  1808,  and  in  1829 
came  with  her  parents  to  Brooks  Point,  V'er- 
inilion  countv,  where  the  marriage  was  cele- 
brated. For  a  few  years  they  resided  in  that 
locality  and  Mr.  Sconce  gave  his  attention 
to  agriculturrd  pursuits,  which  he  followed 
very  successfully.  In  1852  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  merchandisine:  in  Indianola  as  a 


member  of  the  firm  of  Bailey  &  Sconce, 
which  proved  a  prolitajjle  venture  until  the 
store  was  destroyed  by  fire,  when  Mr.  Sconce 
retired  from  business  life.  He  died  in  1874, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years,  anil  his  wid- 
ow passed  away  in  1897,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
ty-nine. They  were  the  parents  of  three 
children  who  reached  mature  years:  James 
S. ;  America  J.,  of  Indianola,  who  is  the  wid- 
ow of  Dr.  Oliver  Calvert,  by  whom  she  had 
a  daughter  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years;  and  Thomas  J.,  who  was  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Carroll  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  and  died  January  i,  1888. 

James  S.  Sconce  was  born  near  Brooks 
Point,  November  14,  1831.  and  acquired  a 
good  education,  attending  first  the  district 
schools,  later  the  more  advanced  schools  of 
Danville  and-  subsequently  the  (ieorgetown 
Academy,  at  that  time  the  leading  educa- 
tional institution  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
He  was  also  early  trained  to  hard  work  on 
the  home  farm  and  when  twenty-four  years 
of  age  he  entered  his  father's  store  as  a  clerk 
and  for  four  years  drew  a  salary  of  only 
three  hundred  dollars  per  year.  In  1859, 
thinking  he  might  find  better  business  oppor- 
tunities west  of  the  Mississippi,  he  went  to 
Kansas,  where  he  pre-empted  one  hundred 
and  sixtv  acres  of  land  in  Lyons  county.  He 
remained,  however,  for  only  three  month.s 
and  then  traded  his  property  for  a  similar 
tract  of  land  in  Illinois  and  here  began  his 
career  as  a  stockman  and  dro\cr.  During 
this  time  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  the 
lady  whom  he  sought  as  his  wife,  and  in  Sep- 
tember. 1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  Sodowsky,  the  only  daughter  of 
Harvey  Sodowsky.  She  was  reared  at 
W'oodlawn.  her  father's  country  home  and 
suijplenienled  her  early  education  by  attend- 
ance at  the  Georgetown  Academy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Sconce  lived  for 


l82 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


a  year  with  his  father-in-law  and  then  lo- 
cated on  the  place  which  is  now  the  home  of 
his  widow  and  son.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  addetl  to  his  property 
until  lie  became  the  owner  of  twenty-one 
hundred  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  He  erected 
thereon  a  splendid  residence  in  the  midst  of 
tall  and  g-raceful  trees,  which  shade  a  spaci- 
ous lawn,  adorned  by  the  arts  of  the  land- 
scape gardener.  To  this  place  Mrs.  Sconce 
very  appropriately  gave  the  name  of  Fair- 
view.  Mr.  Sconce  not  only  g'ave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  cultivation  of  the  cereals  best 
adapted  to  soil  and  climate,  liut  was  also  an 
extensive  raiser  and  dealer  in  stock,  his  vol- 
ume of  business  in  this  department  reacliing 
a  large  figure  annually.  The  estate  left  by 
him  was  one  of  the  largest  ever  probated  in 
Vermilion  county  and  to  the  widow  and 
children  also  came  the  satisfaction  of  know- 
ing that  it  was  gained  through  strictly  legit- 
imate and  honorable  business  methods. 

Unto  }ilr.  and  Mrs.  Sconce  were  born 
three  children :  Anna,  the  wife  of  William 
G.  Catbcart.  the  banker  of  Sidell,  Illinois,  by 
whom  she  has  a  daughter,  Celia ;  Harvey  J. ; 
and  Samuel,  who  died  in  infancy.  It  is  said 
that  "sorrows  come  not  singly,"  and  so  it 
seems  for  }klrs.  Sconce  lost  her  husband,  her 
father  and  her  mother  within  a  year.  Mr. 
Sconce  passed  away  September  21,  1888,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 

While  his  success  excited  the  admiration 
of  those  who  knew  him,  it  was  his  personal 
characteristics  that  drew  around  him  so 
many  warm  friends.  He  was  a  man  of  fine 
appearance,  six  feet  in  height,  broad  shoul- 
dered, and  with  the  keen,  blue  eye  so  char- 
acteristic of  the  family.  He  would  have  at- 
tracted attention  in  any  gathering".  Politi- 
cally he  was  a  Democrat  from  conviction 
and  principle  and  in  1882  he  consented  to  be- 


come a  candidate  for  state  senator.  He  made 
a  brilliant  race,  running  far  ahead  of  his 
ticket  in  a  county  which  is  strongly  Repub- 
lican. He  served  as  supervisor  of  Carroll 
township  and  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
public  afl:'airs.  A  well  filled  library  indicated 
his  literary  taste,  and  he  read  broadly  and 
deeply,  spending  manv  of  his  most  pleasant 
hours  with  his  favorite  authors.  Educa- 
tional matters  always  awakened  his  earnest 
interest  and  hearty  co-operation  and  for  a 
number  of  years  he  was  one  of  the  regents 
of  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Blooming- 
ton,  Illinois,  which  was  also  favored  by  his 
generosity.  He  was  a  C(jnsistent  and  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  he  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  in 
the  Woodlawn  cemetery,  at  Indianola.  The 
funeral  was  attended  by  an  immense  throng 
and  the  cortege,  headed  by  three  hundred 
Masons  in  mourning,  was  over  three  miles 
in  length,  probably  the  larg'est  funeral  ever 
held  in  Vermilion  county.  It  was  remarked 
by  one  who  knew  ^Ir.  Sconce  well  that  "a 
secret  society  which,  commanded  the  fealty 
of  a  man  like  James  Sconce  nuist  ha\e  some- 
thing in  it."  If  he  loved  Alasonry  it  was 
also  true  that  the  brethren  of  the  craft  loved 
him.  He  lived  a  life  of  simplicity,  gentle- 
ness, kindness  and  charit)-,  and  he  ne\er  al- 
lowed the  accumulation  of  wealth  to  in  any 
way  influence  his  action  toward  those  less 
fortunate,  unless  it  was  to  make  him  more 
considerate  and  gracious.  He  regarded  only 
the  worth  of  character  in  those  whom  he 
made  his  friends  and  he  had  the  highest  re- 
gard for  upright  manhood.  It  was  therefore 
a  logical  result  that  he  should  draw  around 
him  a  circle  of  friends  that  was  almost  co- 
extensive with  his  circle  of  acquaintances, 
and  that  his  death  should  come  as  a  personal 
bereavement  to  the  great  majority  who 
knew  him. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


i«3 


His  widow  still  lix'es  at  Ijeautitul  Fair- 
view.  She  is  well  versed  in  literature  and 
art,  and  "one  is  never  alone  who  has  the 
companionship  of  the  old  masters."  As  a 
friend  remarked  to  the  writer:  "It  matters 
not  who  goes  to  the  home  of  ]\Irs.  Sconce, 
be  they  rich  or  poor,  they  all  receive  the  same 
gracious  welcome."  To  her  husband  she  was 
a  devoted  companion  and  helpmate  and  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  they  trav- 
eled life's  journey  together  in  a  most  con- 
genial companionship  that  made  her  be- 
reavement very  heavy,  yet  left  her  with 
many  precious  memories  of  happy  years  of 
wedded  life. 


HARVEY    J.   SCONCE. 

One  of  die  largest  and  most  substantial 
property  owners  of  Vermilion  county  is 
Harvey  J.  Sconce,  who.  though  still  a  young 
man,  has  the  responsibility  upon  his  shoul- 
ders of  taking  care  of  his  large  landed  intei'- 
ests.  This  he  is  thoroughly  capable  of  do- 
ing, for  he  well  understands  progressive  ag- 
ricultural luethods  and  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  every  improvement  that  will  add  to  the 
value  and  attractive  appearance  of  his  splen- 
did farm. 

Mr.  Sconce  was  born  at  l*"air\'iew  farm, 
I\Tarch  7,  1875.  His  father  was  James  S. 
Sconce,  who  was  a  man  pronu'nent  in  all  of 
the  affairs  of  the  county  in  which  he  made 
his  home  and  well  known  throughout  the 
state,  not  only  as  a  great  agriculturist  and 
stock-raiser  but  also  as  a  progressive  and 
public-spirited  citizen  who  had  at  heart  the 
best  interests  of  Vermilion  county.  He  was 
born  near  Brooks  Point  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, November  14.  1831.  and  died  September 
21,  1 888.  His  ])arents,  Sanuiel  and  Xancy 
Sconce,   were  natives    of    Bourbon  count  v. 


Kentucky,  and  came  to  \'erniilion  county  in 
1829.  Theirs  was  a  happy  married  life  and 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  i)ro- 
gressive  and  influential  agriculturist. 
Through  the  enterprise  and  efforts  of  this 
couple  the  great  Sconce  estate  was  created, 
which  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  finest  coun- 
try estates  in  the  Cnitcd  States.  I'.esides 
their  son  James  S.  they  had  two  other  chil- 
dren :  America  J.,  the  widow  of  Oliver  Cal- 
vert and  a  resident  of  Indianola :  and 
Thomas  J.,  who  died  January  i,  1888. 
James  S.  Sconce  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  county  and  the  schools  of 
Danville.  He  married  Miss  Emma  Sodow- 
sky,  a  daughter  of  Harvey  Sodowsky.  who 
was  one  of  the  farmer  "princes"  of  Ver- 
luilion  county.  She  was  born  June  25,  1842, 
and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of 
three  clu'ldren  :  Anna,  Har\-ey  J.,  and  Sam- 
uel, who  died  in  infancy.  Anna  is  now  the 
wife  of  \^'ilIiam  G.  Cathcart,  of  Sidell,  \'er- 
milion  county,  and  has  one  child,  Celia.  aged 
nine  years. 

Harvey  J.  Sconce  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Vermilion 
county  and  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
delightful  farm  called  Fairview,  situated  in 
the  western  part  of  Carroll  township,  where 
he  yet  resides.  Later  he  entered  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois,  taking  the  special  agricult- 
ural course  and  graduating  in  the  class  of 
1897.  While  in  college  he  took  an  active 
interest  in  athletics  and  played  on  the  'var- 
sity football  eleven  for  three  years  and  on 
the  'varsity  nine  for  one  year. 

Upon  his  return  from  college  Mr. 
Sconce  immediately  assumed  control  of  his 
father's  estate  which  had  been  under  the  su- 
pervision of  his  mother  during  his  minority. 
The  farm  comprises  thirty-one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  the  finest  land  in  the  state. 
In  connection     with    the    cultivation  of  his 


1 84 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


land  Mr.  Sconce  is  also  engaged  in  feeding 
stock  on  a  large  scale  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  pure  bred  shorthorns,  having  a  herd  of 
pure  white  shorthorns  at  the  present  time  in 
addition  to  his  red  herd.  He  is  regarded  as 
good  authority  on  all  agricultural  subjects. 

On  the  2(1  of  June,  1897,  Mr.  Sconce 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  Fisher, 
who  was  bom  July  22.  1876,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Marietta  Fisher,  of 
Indianola.  One  child  blesses  this  union, 
Emma  Frances,  born  May  9,  189S.  The 
members  of  the  Sconce  household  now  con- 
sists of  our  subject,  his  mother,  wife  and 
child,  and  theirs  is  a  happy  home,  made  at- 
tractive by  all  the  modern  conveniences  of 
this  ])rogressive  and  enlightened  age.  Elec- 
tric lights  illuminate  all  of  the  farm  build- 
ings as  well  as  the  palatial  residence,  which 
consists  of  Ijeautifullv  furnished  rooms, 
fitted  up  in  the  most  perfect  taste.  A  de- 
lightful conservatory  is  one  of  the  embel- 
lishments of  the  home  and  it  contains  beau- 
tiful and  rare  plants  and  flowers,  while  a 
billiard  room  contributes  to  the  entertain- 
ment of  those  who  enjoy  such  pastime. 

Fraternally  J\lr.  Sconce  is  a  Mason,  be- 
ing past  master  of  Sidell  Lodge,  No.  798, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Be- 
nevolent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  at 
Danville  and  to  the  Kappa  Sigma,  a  Greek 
letter  fraternity.  His  religious  views  are  in- 
dicated by  his  membership  in  the  Methodist 
church  and  in  ])olitics  he  is  a  Republican,  be- 
lieving firmly  in  the  ])rinciples  <if  that  party. 
He  is  deeply  interested  in  the  general  wel- 
fare of  his  county  and  state  and  keeps  well 
informed  on  the  (juestions  and  issues  of  the 
day.  Patriotic  and  progressive,  public  spir- 
ited and  enterprising,  he  is  one  of  Vermilion 
comity's  representative  men  and  is  held  in 
the  highest  respect  and  esteem  by  all  wlio 
know  him. 


EDWARD    ROUSE. 

Edward  Rouse  is  a  pioneer  settler  of 
Vermilion  county,  having  located  here  in 
1834.  He  had  previously  visited  the  ci.nmty 
in  1832,  and  returned  to  Ohio,  his  natixe 
place,  in  1833,  but  he  again  came  to  \'ermil- 
ion  county  the  next  year,  locating  in  Dan- 
\-ille  township,  and  removed  to  Newell  town- 
ship in  1849.  Here  he  has  remained  and 
during  the  succeeding  years  has  been  a  \ery 
prominent  man  in  his  locality  and  has  taken 
an  important  part  in  the  work  of  improve- 
ment and  development  of  the  same.  He  was 
born  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  March  t8. 
1825.  and  is  the  son  of  Reason  and  Martha 
(Olehy)  Rouse,  who  were  natives  of  Dela- 
ware and  V^irginia,  respectively,  and  were 
married  in  Ohio.  The  subject  of  this  review 
is  one  of  a  familv  of  six  children.  Isaac  died 
in  December,  1883.  Rebecca  Ann  died  in 
Ohio,  on  the  return  of  Mr.  Rouse  to  diat 
state,  in  1833.  The  subject  of  this  review  is 
the  third  in  order  of  Irirth.  John  resides  on 
the  state  line  in  Warren  county,  Indiana, 
and  also  lived  in  \'erniilion  county  for  some 
years.  Dennis  died  about  the  year  1896. 
Flizalieth  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Joseph 
Huston.  She  left  one  child,  who  also  died 
later. 

Edward  Rouse  of  this  review  attended 
the  subscription  schools  in  the  months  of 
•winter  and  worked  upon  the  farm  in  the 
summer  .seasons.  He  came  from  Ohio  in  a 
co\ered  wagon  and  hired  a  man  to  make  the 
trip,  which  consumed  about  three  weeks. 
His  father  had  died  when  he  was  about 
six  years  of  age  and  the  mother  died  the  fol- 
lowing March,  in  1833,  leaving  six  orphans. 
Edward  Rouse  made  his  home  after  this 
with  his  mothers  brothers  and  was  reared 
bv  them.  He  lived  with  his  uncles  until  he 
was  al)out  eighteen  years  of  ag'e,  wlien  he  be- 


LIBRARY 

OF    1,;E 

nNlVEfiSirV  OF  ILLIN0I5 


EDWARD   ROUSE. 


MRS.  EDWARD  ROUSE. 


/ 


LIBRARY 

OF    IME 

UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


189 


gan  working  out  by  the  month,  at  first  re- 
ceiving seven  dollars.  He  continued  work- 
ing until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Oc- 
tober 4,  1S46,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
]\Iinerva  Martin,  who  was  born  in  Newell 
township.  \'ennilion  county.  August  16. 
1829.  She  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity.  The  family  were  pioneers  of 
\^ermilion  county,  and  Mrs.  Rouse  is  the 
onlv  sur\i\ing  member.  The  familv  was  es- 
tablishetl  in  the  state  before  there  were  any 
railroads  constructed  and  Mrs.  Rouse  now 
lives  within  one  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  old 
homestead  on  which  she  was  reared.  There 
was  a  race  to  enter  the  piece  of  land  north  of 
where  she  was  born. 

.Vfter  his  marriage  Mr.  Rouse  oi  this  re- 
view rented  land  for  one  year  and  in  1848 
he  bought  forty  acres  at  four  dollars  per 
acre.  This  was  all  wild  and  unimproved, 
but  with  characteristic  energy  he  proceeded 
to  cultivate  it  and  place  it  under  a  high  state 
of  productiveness.  He  made  all  of  the  im- 
provements thereon,  and  his  neat  and  attrac- 
tive residence  and  substantial  barns  and 
granaries  indicate  the  ])rogressive  spirit  of 
the  owner.  He  has  l)een  verv  industrious 
and  energetic,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  estima- 
ble wife  he  has  succeeded  in  winning  a  com- 
fortable competence.  The  wife  has  not  only 
done  the  house  work,  but  has  made  all  the 
clothing  and  otherwise  has  b(Trne  the  bur- 
dens and  endured  the  hardships  incident  to 
pioneer  life,  when  the  advantages  of  an  old- 
er civilization  were  not  obtainable.  Both 
Mr.  Rouse  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  a  log 
cabin.  .After  their  marriage  Mr.  Rouse  built 
a  frame  house  in  1861  on  his  farm.  The 
nearest  trading  points  to  their  home  were 
Covington  and  Perrysville.  and  their  grain 
was  hauled  to  Lafayette  and  Chicago  in  ex- 
change for  groceries,    salt    and    provisions. 


They  made  the  journey  with  teams,  camp- 
ing out  on  the  way  to  and  from  the  city. 
Mr.  Rouse  hauled  apples  to  Ottawa  on  the 
Illinois  river,  and  to  Chicago,  in  1849.  In 
case  of  a  drought  in  their  part  of  the  state,  he 
would  return  with  a  load  of  potatoes  bought 
at  sex'enty-fne  cents  and  sold  at  one  dollar 
an.d  a  half  per  bushel.  There  being  no  rail- 
roads in  .the  state,  the  interchange  of  com- 
merce was  slow  and  not  extensive.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rouse  well  remember  the  first  railroad 
that  was  constructed  into  Danville,  known 
as  the  Toledo,  Wabash  &  Western  Railroad, 
in  1857.  That  also  was  the  year  in  which 
Mrs.  Rouse  lost  her  mother  by  death. 
Twenty  years  previous  to  this. 'during  the 
early  boyhood  days  of  Mr.  Rouse,  he  worked 
at  teaming  on  a  railroad  that  was  begun  liut 
was  never  finished  until  it  was  revived  in 
1857.  Mr.  Rouse  is  now  in  his  seventy- 
eighth  year  and  can  see  to  read  without 
glasses,  which  he  has  done  for  the  past  ten 
years,  now  having  his  "second  eye-sight." 
For  thirty  3-ears  previous  to  that  he  wore 
glasses.  He  was  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  the  year  1900.  but  since  that  time 
has  lived  retired  upon  the  old  home  farm. 
He  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding Octolier  4.  1896.  and  all  of  the  children 
and  grandchildren  e.Kcept  two  of  the  family 
circle  were  gathered  around  the  old  home 
fireside  to  participate  in  the  joyous  function. 
The  two  not  present  were  Mrs.  .Mice  Stew- 
art, of  Kansas,  and  John  B..  of  Nebraska. 
Invitations  were  sent  out  and  about  two 
hundred  were  present.  This  was  a  happy 
re  union  for  the  family,  and  many  reminis- 
cences of  former  days  were  indulged  in.  and 
comjjarisons  made  between  the  ]')rimitive 
IKist  and  the  progressive  i)resent.  The  ven- 
erable father  and  mother  of  this  family  of 
children  were  made  young  again  in  spirit  by 
the  presence  of  their  loved  ones. 


190 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Unto  yir.  and  Mrs.  Rouse  were  born 
twelve  children,  as  follows :  Martha  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Alackin  and  resides  in  Ver- 
milion county.  They  are  the  parents  of  sev- 
en children,  live  of  whom  are  living.  Den- 
nis II.  married  Sarah  Crouse  and  resides  in 
Danville.  They  have  one  living  child  and 
lost  two.  The  third  member  of  the  Rouse 
familv  is  Susan,  who  lives  upon  the  home 
farm,  and  is  caring  for  her  aged  parents. 
John  B.  married  Josephine  Herrin  and  they 
reside  in  Nebraska,  having  three  children. 
Rosann  is  the  wife  of  Alex  Stewart  and 
they  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. They  reside  in  Kansas.  Their  oldest 
girl  is  married  and  lives  in  Colorado.  ]\Iary 
Ann  is  the  wife  of  W.  T.  Hanson.  They 
had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing. They  reside  one-half  mile  north  of  the 
old  home  farm  in  Newell  township.  They 
have  one  daughter  who  is  married  and  has 
one  child,  the  latter  being  the  great-grand- 
child of  jMr.  and  Airs.  Rouse.  Rebecca  Ann 
is  the  wife  of  Leroy  Walker,  is  living  in 
Dan\-ille,  and  has  four  children.  Julia  Ann 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  T.  Long.  They  had 
nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  and 
make  their  home  in  Danville  township. 
!Minerva  is  the  wife  of  L.  P.  Adams,  of 
Newell  township,  and  has  four  living  chil- 
dren. They  also  lost  one.  Sarah  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  John  J.  Long,  residing  in  Danville 
township,  and  they  have  seven  children,  all 
living.  One  child  died  in  infancy;  and  Ed- 
win Austin,  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family,  died  Octol)er  iS,  1886,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  ten  months  and  two  days. 

I\tr.  and  Mrs.  Rouse  have  lived  in  Ver- 
milion county  for  many  years.  There  were 
scarcely  any  towns  or  villages  here  at  that 
time.  They  have  since  sprung  up  into  flour- 
ishing and  enterprising  towns  and  cities  and 
thus  the  progress  of  the  great  state  of  Illi- 


nois has  been  assured.  Mrs.  Rouse  has  made 
trips  to  Danville  for  her  mother  when  there 
was  only  one  store  in  the  place — a  wonder- 
ful change  is  now  seen  in  this  thriving"  city 
of  the  west.  At  that  time  the  land  abounded 
in  sloughs.  Her  mother  died  in  her  sixty- 
eighth  year,  January  28,  1857,  in  the  pres- 
ent home  of  Mr.  Rouse  and  his  wife.  Her 
father  died  in  Washington  territory  near 
Vancouver,  in  March.  1861.  He  was  one  of 
the  highly  respected  pioneers  of  Vermilion 
county  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
about  se\-enty-five  years  of  age. 

!Mr.  Rouse  and  his  wife  are  among  those 
who  ha\-e  helped  to  build  up  Newell  town- 
ship, and  their  prominence  and  popularity  in 
the  township  is  inilicated  by  the  fact  that 
their  many  friends  took  occasion  on  their 
golden  wedding  to  present  them  with  many 
valuable  presents.  Among  these  were  two 
walking  canes,  one  gold  headed  and  the  oth- 
er made  of  pure  glass  in  the  glass  works  at 
Dan\-ille.  The  gold  headed  cane  was  pre- 
sented by  friends  at  Danville.  Their  chil- 
dren presented  each  with  a  beautiful  gold 
watch.  The  dishes  presented  by  Danville 
friends  are  gold  lined,  beautiful  and  costly 
sou\enirs.  ^Mrs.  Rouse's  sister's  children 
presented  them  with  a  golden  pitcher  of  ex- 
quisite taste  and  design  and  two  golden  can- 
dlesticks representing  the  fiery  serpent  were 
among  the  presents.  This  plainly  shows  the 
high  esteem  and  honor  in  which  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Rouse  are  held  by  their  many  friends, 
and  the  pages  of  the  history  of  Vermilion 
county,  past  and  present,  will  be  enhanced 
by  mention  of  these  pioneer  citizens.  In 
their  comfortable  home  happiness,  peace  and 
contentment  reign,  as  the  result  of  lives  no- 
bly spent.  The  home  is  tastefully  furnished 
and  arranged.  Their  daughter,  Susan,  who 
is  acting  as  housekeeper  and  general  mana- 
ger, ha!5  splendid  business  ability  and  great 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


191 


taste  in  arranging;  the  home  and  grounds. 
She  is  gifted  in  the  art  of  the  taxidermist 
and  has  a  charming  and  beautiful  collection 
of  native  birds.  Slie  has  natural  ability  in 
this  line  and  the  birds  are  arranged  very 
artistically  in  a  case  and  have  a  very  natural 
and  life-like  appearance.  She  has  a  collec- 
tion of  almost  every  species  of  native  birds, 
among  them  being  two  mud  hens. 

[Mr.  Rouse  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  the  very  best  improved  land  in 
\'ermilion  county,  and  every  foot  of  the 
same  has  been  put  under  its  present  state  of 
cultivation  through  the  hard  work  of  Mr. 
Rouse.  Only  eight  acres  were  cleared  when 
it  came  into  his  possession.  His  land  is  so 
di\-ided  in  various  portions,  that  it  may  be 
equally  distributed  among  his  children.  In 
addition  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Kansas.  The  labors  of  this  honored 
cor.ple  have  brought  to  them  a  comfortable 
competence  and  they  are  now  enjoying  a 
well  earned  rest  frcim  the  toils  of  life.  For 
many  years  they  have  lived  together  in  hap- 
piness, their  mutual  love  and  confidence  in- 
creasing as  the  years  have  passed.  The  land 
that  he  possesses  is  partly  in  his  \vife's  name, 
she  having  forty  acres  deeded  to  her.  Of 
the  other  portion  of  the  farm,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  acres  are  in  Danville  town- 
ship, and  sixty-seven  acres  are  in  Newell 
township,  making  in  all  about  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  Before  his  retirement  from 
active  life  Mr.  Rouse  had  been  identified  for 
fifty-four  years  with  farming  and  stockrais- 
ing.  He  has  also  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs.  He  served  for  one  term  as 
supervisor  of  Newell  townshi]).  beginning  in 
the  early  ]iart  of  the  year  1862,  and  has 
helped  build  schools  on  his  own  and  other 
land.  He  and  his  wife  are  identified  with 
the    Primilive    Bajitist    church,    which    he 


helpeti  t(i  build  on  his  land,  gi\'ing  the  asso- 
ciation the  site  and  aiding  in  its  material 
and  spiritual  growth.  Many  of  the  meet- 
ings of  this  association  are  held  at  his  house. 
Mr.  Rouse  has  always  votetl  the  Democratic 
ticket,  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for 
Louis  Cass,  and  he  has  since  been  a  standard 
bearer  of  the  part\^,  of  which  he  is  very 
proud.  Horace  Greeley  is  the  onlv  Demo- 
cratic nominee  for  the  presidency  whom  he 
failed  to  vole  for.  During  his  active  busi- 
ness life  Air.  Ivonse  was  a  \ery  successful 
farmer  and  his  land  was  s(_)  cultivated  as  to 
yield  him  a  fine  return,  his  annual  corn  crops 
yielding  him  now  forty  to  fifty  bushels  and 
oats  twenty-fi\e  to  fifty  bushels  to  llie  acre. 
He  is  a  noble  representative  of  the  pioneers 
of  \^ermilion  county,  and  his  life  record 
should  be  an  inspiration  to  future  genera- 
tions. 


GEORGE  TANNER. 

To  the  heroes  who  fought  and  suft'cred, 
giving  several  of  the  best  years  of  their 
earlv  manhocid  tn  the  jireservation  of  the 
Union  under  whose  flag  they  were  born, 
universal  tribute  of  gratitude  is  given  and 
it  is  fitting  that  their  patriotic  service  should 
find  mention  in  the  annals  (if  their  county, 
state  and  naton.  Those  wIkj  arc  enjoying 
the  peace  and  prosperity  which  have  come 
as  a  direct  result  of  that  long  and  terrible 
struggle  between  the  north  and  south  can- 
not have  impressed  uifon  their  minds  too 
often  the  great  price  which  it  cost.  Wher 
the  tocsin  of  war  sounded  George  Tanner 
was  among  those  who  res])onded.  and 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  Civil  war 
he  wore  the  blue  uniform  of  the  nation  and 
valiantly  fought  its  battles. 


i9i 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Tanner  was  born  in  Carroll  county. 
Indiana.  January  30,  1839,  '^'^  parents  be- 
ing Jacol)  and  Elizabeth  (Pilcher)  Tannei . 
the  former  a  native  of  New  York  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  The  father  followed  farm- 
ing throughout  his  entire  business  career 
The  mother  died  in  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, near  Danville,  and  of  the  fourteen 
children  of  the  family  but  three  are  now 
living:  Samuel,  Sarah  and  George.  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Elias  Marion.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  the  father  married 
Mrs.  Boggs  and  his  death  occurred  in  Aug- 
ust, 1890,  in  Urbana. 

George  Tanner  pursued  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Ford  county,  Illinois, 
and  remained  at  home  through  the  period 
of  his  youth,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the 
home  farm,  when  not  pursuing  his  studies. 
He  began  farming  on  his  own  account  on 
rented  land  and  after  two  years  thus  passed 
he  purchased  forty  acres  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  the 
journey  of  life  he  chose  Miss  Eliza  Speers 
and  they,  were  married  near  Pilot  Grove. 
Illinois,  November  17,  1858.  The  lady  was 
a  native  of  Virginia  and  died  on  the  15th 
of  November.  1859,  leaving  one  child. 
Francis   Marion,   who   resitles   in   Danville. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1862.  in  response 
to  his  country's  need,  Mr.  Tanner  enlisted 
at  Chambersburg,  Indiana,  as  a  member 
of  Company  H,  Seventy-second  Indiana  In- 
fantry, under  Captain  R.  B.  Hanna  and 
Colonel  A.  O.  Miller.  The  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 
under  General  Thomas,  who  commanded 
the  corps  for  about  a  year.  They  were 
mounted  infantry  of  Wilder's  Brigade  and 
afterward  joined  Long's  corps  of  cavalry, 
remaining  in  the  cavalry  service  until  the 
close  of  hostilities.     Mr.  Tanner  was  also 


with  Sherman  throughout  the  Chattanooga 
campaign  and  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 
He  was  also  in  the  engagements  at  Stone 
River,  Hooxer's  Gap,  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
Buzzard's  Roost,  Ringgold  and  numerous 
others  of  lesser  importance.  During  the 
Atlanta  campaign  his  entire  brigade  were 
in  their  saddles  for  forty-two  days  and 
nights,  protecting  the  troops  of  infantry. 
After  this  campaign  the  regiment  fell  back 
with.  Thomas,  at  Nashville,  and  engaged 
in  the  pursuit  of  Hood.  Later  they  were 
detached  and  sent  to  follow  Sherman  on 
his  march  to  the  sea,  proceeding  as  far  as 
Macon,  within  three  days'  march  of 
Atlanta  when  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender 
was  received.  On  that  occasion  the  Sev- 
enty-second Indiana  fell  l)ack  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  was  there  mustered  out,  Air. 
Tanner  receiving-  an  honorable  discharge 
at  Indianapolis,  on  the  26th  day  of  July. 
1S65.  He  w^as  within  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  of  IMcPherson  when  that  general  was 
killefl.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Selma. 
Alabama,  on  the  Sunday  when  the  Union 
troops,  numbering  only  twenty-fi\-e  hun- 
dred, engaged  the  forces  of  General  Forest, 
numbering  seven  th.ousand  men.  Thev  cap- 
tured Selma,  Alabama,  in  one  hour  and 
forty  minutes,  and  lost  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  both  commanders.  Long  and  Mil- 
ler, being  wounded.  They  secured  one 
thousand  prisoners,  over  one  thousand 
horses,  and  killing  more  than  a  thousand 
of  the  Rebel  troops.  The  citv  was  fortified 
by  a  line  of  breastworks  and  was  consid- 
ered one  of  the  best  fortified  strongholds 
of  the  entire  south,  but  the  Union  troops 
with  marked  gallantry  captured  this  place, 
destroying  the  southern  arsenal  with  all  its 
guns,  cannon  and  ammunition.  Mr.  Tan- 
ner  ser\-ed    for   three  vears   as  one  of  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


193 


valiant  defenders  of  the  old  flag,  never  wa- 
\ering  in  his  allegiance  or  faltering  in  his 
faith  as  to  the  tinal  outcome  of  the  Union 
arms.  His  health  was  much  impaired  dur- 
ing the  service,  and  in  fact  he  has  never 
lull)   recovered  to  this  day. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Tanner 
returned  to  l-'ord  county  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  home  farm  for  a  short  time. 
He  then  went  to  Ohio  on  a  visit  and  was 
there  married  to  Julia  A.  Tanner,  of  Pales- 
tine, in  the  year  1866.  He  remained  in  the 
Buckeye  state  for  two  years,  carrying  on 
farming,  after  which  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
taking  up  his  abode  in  \'ermiIion  county 
upon  his  father's  land  near  East  Lynn.  He 
then  cared  for  his  parents  until  his  mother's 
death.  On  account  of  ill  health  contracted 
in  the  service  he  was  advised  by  his  phy- 
sician to  leave  the  farm  and  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  carpenter's  trade  which  he 
followed  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
li\-ing  at  East  Lynn  and  working  as  a  buikl- 
er  in  that  vicinity.  In  1S90  he  came  to 
Hoopeston.  where  he  continued  his  carpen- 
try work  for  six  years  and  then  on  account 
of  ill  health  he  was  obliged  to  retire  from 
business  life.  He  is  now  serving  his  thiri 
term  as  justice  (^f  the  peace  in  Hoopeston 
and  discharges  his  duties  in  a  manner  that 
is  alike  creditable  to  himself  and  satisfac- 
tory to  his  constituents.  He  is  also  acting 
as  agent  for  fire  and  tornado  insurance 
companies  and  writes  a  fair  anmunt  of  jinli- 
cies  each  year. 

L'nto  Mr.  Tanner  liy  his  second  wife 
were  born  four  children,  l)Ul  only  one  is 
now  li\ing,  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Lester 
D.  Knight,  now  of  Clarion,  Towa.  but  at 
the  time  of  their  marriage  a  merchant  of 
Hoopeston.  ^Ir,  Tanner  has  also  reared 
a  grandson,   Luther  .-Xmold.  who  has  been 


a  membci  nl  his  househokl  from  the  age  of 
six  years.  Mr.  Tanner  resides  on  East 
Penn  street  where  he  owns  a  pleasant  and 
attractive  home.  In  his  political  \iews  he 
is  a  stalwart  Rei)ublican  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  notary  public,  lie  likewise  belongs 
to  the  Grand  .\rmy  nf  the  Republic,  in 
which  he  served  for  one  term  ;is  adjutant. 
His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  church.  .\s  a  citizen 
he  has  been  fathful  to  his  duties  in  times 
of  peace  as  well  as  in  times  of  war.  He 
made  a  great  sacrifice  for  his  country  in 
the  hour  of  her  danger  l)nt  he  iie\er  CDunted 
the  cost  when  the  stability  of  the  L'nion 
was  threatened.  He  relates  many  interest- 
ing incidents  of  his  army  life.  He  tells 
how  on  New  Year's  eve  of  1863.  ;i  detail 
of  ten  men  out  of  each  company  of  the  bri- 
gade was  made  and  a  detachment  from  the 
Fourth  Regulars,  from  the  Seventh  Penn- 
syhania.  the  Second  Xew  Jersey  ;ui(l  the 
Second  Tennessee,  started  with  these  men 
from  Mr.  Tanner's  tjrigade  upon  a  raid. 
It  was  a  memorable  night  because  of  the 
intense  cold.  The  sleet  lay  so  thick  on  the 
ground  that  it  made  an  icy  covering  and 
the  men  found  it  impossible  to  remain  in 
their  saddles.  The  second  day  out  they 
were  on  the  Cumberland  mountains  and 
stopped  that  night  in  Savannah,  Tennessee, 
where  they  went  into  camp  on  the  Tennes- . 
see,  and  from  there  to  Memphis,  Tennessee. 
Mr.  Tanner  was  among  the  number  de- 
tailed, and  with  the  others  he  proceeded  on 
the  road  to  Memphis,  and  from  there  dnwn 
through  Mississipi^i  to  West  Point,  where 
they  met  General  h'orrest.  'iiie  Union 
troops  were  compelled  to  fall  back  and  had 
a  running  fight  with  the  Rebels  for  five 
days  and  nights,  falling  back  through  Holly 
Springs    and    then    back    to  Memjibis.  Ten- 


194 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


nessee.  Mr.  Tanner  was  the  first  man  that 
carried  chspatches  over  the  Cumberland 
mountains  from  Tracy  City  to  Jasper,  Ten- 
nessee. The  government  now  grants  him  a 
pension  of  fourteen  dollars  per  month  in  re- 
cognition of  what  he  did  for  his  Country,  ;d- 
though  this  is  totally  disproportionate  to  his 
services  and  the  sacrifice  it  has  cost  him  in 
vices  and  the  sacrifice  it  has  cost  him  in 
health.  He  is  widely  known  in  Vermilion 
county  and  in  office  he  has  gained  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  associated.  His  friends  are  many 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  to 
tliem  this  record  of  his  life. 


WILLIAM  HUBB. 


From  an  early  epoch  in  the  settlement 
of  Vermilion  county  William  Hubb  ^-as 
one  of  its  residents  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  work  which  changed  this  from  a  wild 
frontier  region  to  one  of  the  leading  coun- 
ties of  this  great  commonwealth.  He  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  born  September  12, 
1 81 2.  His  father,  Adam  Hubb,  was  also 
born  in  Germany,  where  he  spent  his  entire 
life.  There  he  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  and  followed  it  continuously  until  his 
death.  Three  of  his  children  came  to  Amer- 
ica— our  subject  and  two  sisters — but  all 
and  now  deceased. 

During  his  boyhood  days,  passed  in 
Germany,  William  Hubb  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  and  worked  at  that  pursuit 
with  his  father  until  1845,  when  he  resolved 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  new  world,  with  its 
broader  business  opportunities.  Accordingly 
he  severed  the  ties  which  bound  him  to  his 
native  land  and  sailed  for  America,  landing 


in  Xew  York  city,  where  he  followed  shoe- 
making  for  two  years.  During  that  time 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alagda- 
lenc  Willem,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  in 
June,  1818,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Willem,  a  cooper  by  trade  and  also  a  large 
fruit  raiser  of  the  fatherland.  He  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Germany.  The  marriage  of 
j\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Hubb  was  blessed  with  seven 
children:  William,  who  died  in  1886, 
Charles,  who  died  in  Carthage,  Missouri, 
in  1898;  Magdalene,  the  wife  of  E.  C. 
Vorse,  of  Crawfordsville,  Indiana;  Fritz, 
who  married  Callie  Johnson  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  at  the  corner 
of  Madison  and  Pine  streets  in  Danville; 
Lou,  deceased;  Marie,  the  wife  of  Charles 
M.  Smith,  owner  of  an  art  and  stationery 
store  on  Vermilion  street,  in  Danville;  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  now  make  their  home  with  her 
mutb.er  and  they  have  one  child,  Hubb. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hubb  came  di- 
rect from  New  York  city  to  Danville,  ar- 
riving here  in  1847,  among  the  early  set- 
tlers. He  found  a  small  town  in  the  midst 
of  a  prairie  country,  which  was  then  but 
sparsely  settled.  He  at  once  opened  a  shoe 
shop  and  began  working  at  his  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  several  years.  Later  he  es- 
tablished a  shoe  store,  handling  ready  made 
goods,  thus  engaging  in  retailing  shoes  mi- 
til  his  later  years,  when  he  disposed  of  his 
store  and  practically  lived  in  retirement 
from  business  cares,  although  he  assisted 
liis  sons  to  some  extent  in  their  grocery 
store.  He  prospered  in  his  undertak- 
ings and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
considerable  property,  which  was  divided 
among  his  children.  He  belonged  to  the 
German  Lutheran  church  of  Danville,  of 
which  his  wife  is  also  a  member.     In  poll- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


195 


tics  he  was  an  earnest  Democrat,  believing' 
firnil}-  in  the  principles  of  the  part}-,  tint 
thongh  he  was  often  solicited  to  become  a 
candidate  for  of^ce  he  wonld  never  do  so. 
His  life  was  one  of  marked  industry  and 
earnest  toil  and  his  labor  was  followed  by 
the  natural  result — a  comfortable  conmct- 
ence.  He  passed  away  December  4,  rSSo, 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had 
many  friends  among  the  early  settlers  of 
the  city  as  well  as  many  of  the  more  recent 
arrivals  here  and  he  enjoyed  the  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  had  lieen  brought  in  con- 
tact, through  business  or  social  relations. 
His  widow,  Mrs.  Hubb.  and  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Smith,  reside  in  a  pleasant  home  at 
No.  II  Franklin  street,  which  was  erected 
at  an  early  day  by  William  llubb. 


JONATHAN    PRATHER. 

The  name  of  Prather  is  closely  asso- 
ciated with  the  history  of  Vermilion  county, 
especially  in  connection  with  the  agricul- 
tural development  of  .this  section  of  the 
state.  Jonathan  Prather  is  a  resjiected  and 
worthy  member  of  this  family  and  is  classed 
with  the  intelligent  and  enterprising  farm- 
ers of  Ross  township.  He  owns  a  farm 
lying  partly  within  and  also  adjoining  the 
corporation  limits  of  Rossville.  It  is  well 
improved  and  valuable.  He  also  has  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tions 9  and  10.  Ross  township,  and  thus 
his  landed  possessions  class  him  with  the 
substantial  residents  of  his  community. 
About  1847  he  became  a  resident  of  this 
locality  and  throughout  all  the  intervening 
years  he  has  been  known  as  one  true  to  the 
duties  of  public  and  private  life. 


Jonathan  I'rathcr,  his  grandfather,  re- 
mo\cd  with  his  family  from  Kentucky  to 
Indiana  and  became  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  ^'ennilion  county,  that  state,  spend- 
ing his  remaining  days  there.  His  son, 
Jeremiah  Prather,  the  father  of  our  sub 
ject,  was  born  in  Kentnckv',  but  was  reared 
in  tlie  Hoosier  state  and  when  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority  he  wedded  Evelyn  Mil- 
ler. She,  too,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Cornelia  Miller,  an  aunt 
of  George  W.  Miller,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Abnul  the  year 
1847  Jeremiah  Prather  removed  to  \'er- 
milion  county,  Illinois.  Much  of  the  land 
still  remained  in  possession  of  the  govern- 
ment. He  entere<I  a  tract,  bought  other 
land,  and  became  the  owner  of  nine  hun- 
dred acres,  upon  which  he  dexelojied  an 
excellent  farm,  spending  his  last  years  at 
the  old  family  homestead  in  Ross  township, 
where  he  died  about  1859.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  a  few  years  previous. 

In  Ross  township,  Jonathan  Prather 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
He  acquired  a  common-school  education 
and  after  his  father's  death  began  providing 
for  his  own  support  by  working  as  a  farm 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
hand.  On  the  i6th  of  September,  1863, 
howe\-er,  he  put  aside  all  business  and  per- 
sonal considerations  in  order  to  aid  in  the 
])reser\-ation  of  the  Union,  and,  joining  the 
Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  was  sent  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  where  the  regiment  was  at- 
tached to  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  the 
valley  of  the  Shenandoah  under  General 
Phil  Sheridan.  He  participated  in  the  seven 
days'  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  in  many 
similar  engagements.  He  was  also  in  the 
battles  of  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek  and  the 
mo\-ements  of  the  army  around  Petersburg, 


Iy6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


continuing  with  his  regiment  until  the  final 
surrender  ot  Lee's  troops.  He  was  never 
absent  from  duty  and  always  stacked  arms 
with  his  company.  Faithful  and  loyal  he 
was  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  whether 
on  the  picket  line  or  the  firing  line,  and  after 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Indianapolis,  August  3,  1865, 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Illi- 
nois. 

Mr.  Prather  then  followed  farming  in 
\'ermilion  count}',  Illinois,  until  1867,  when 
he  removed  to  Wright  county,  ^Missouri, 
where  he  spent  two  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  however,  he  again  came 
to  Vermilion  county,  renting  a  farm  and 
subsequently  purchased  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  improved  land?  This 
he  at  once  began  to  cultivate,  working  in 
the  fields  until  they  were  made  rich  and 
l^roductive.  He  also  added  more  land  as 
his  financial  resources  increased  buying  ad- 
joining tracts  and  now  he  has  three  hun- 
dred anil  twenty  acres,  all  in  one  body. 
On  this  he  has  erected  a  neat  house  and 
substantial  barns,  has  also  planted  an  or- 
chard and  has  drained  his  fields  by  tiling 
until  the  farm  is  very  rich  and  productive. 
About  1887,  however,  Mr.  Prather  removed 
to  Rossville  and  later  bought  a  seventy  acre 
tract  of  land  on  the  east  border  of  the  town. 
Hereon  he  erected  a  large  and  attractive 
home  and  has  since  given  his  attention  to 
the  improvement  of  his  farm,  in  addition 
to  the  cultivation  of  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Prather  was  married  in  Grant 
township,  this  county,  in  1879,  to  Mary 
Seager,  a  native  of  ^Michigan,  who  was  born 
and  reared  near  Jackson.  She  was  well  ed- 
ucated and  successfully  engaged  in  teach- 
ing both  in  Michigan  and  Vermilion  coun- 
tv.      Her    father.    James    Seager,    removed 


from  that  state  to  Illinois,  settling  in  \'er- 
niilion  county,  and  here  the  daughter  met 
and  married  Mr.  Prather.  Their  union  ha& 
been  blessed  with  one  son,  Arthur,  now  a 
young  man. 

Mr.  Prather  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Democracy  but  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Republican,  unfaltering  in  his  advocacy  of 
the  party  and  its  principles,  but  he  has  never 
sought  office  as  a  reward  for  his  party  loy- 
alty. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Rossville  Christian  church  and  he  belongs 
to  the  Grand  Army  Post,  thus  mamtaining 
pleasant  relations  with  his  old  comrades 
who  wore  the  blue  uniform  of  the  nation. 
He  is  to-day  as  true  and  loyal  to  his  duties 
of  citizenship  as  when  he  followed  the  old 
flag  on  southern  battle-fields  and  in  Xer- 
niilion  county,  where  he  has  so  long  made 
his  home,  he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard, 
because  he  has  been  found  straightforward 
in  his  business  dealings  and  honorable  in 
his  treatment  of  his  fellow  men  in  all  social 

relations. 

»« » 

JOSEPH    G.  ENGLISH. 

A  half  century  has  passed  since  this  gen- 
tleman arri\-ed  in  Danville  and  he  is  justly 
numbered  among  her  honored  early  settlers 
and  leading  citizens.  He  has  been  prom- 
inenth-  identified  with  her  business  interests 
as  a  merchant  and  banker  and  as  the  proprie- 
tor of  many  enterprises  which  have  not  only 
advanced  his  individual  success,  but  have 
also  contributed  to  the  general  welfare  and 
prosperitv.  His  is  an  honorable  record  of  a 
conscientious  man.  who  by  his  upright  life 
has  won  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  come  in  contact.  He  has  rounded  the 
Pslamist's  span  of  three-score  years  and  ten,. 


JOSEPH  G.  ENGLISH. 


LIBRARY 

Of    fnE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


199 


and  although  tlie  snows  of  several  winters 
ha\e  whitened  his  hair,  he  has  the  vigor  of 
a  much  younger  man,  and  in  spirit  and  in- 
terests seems  vet  in  his  prime.  Old  age  is 
not  necessarily  a  synonym  of  weakness  or 
inactivity.  It  needs  not  suggest,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  want  of  occupation  or  helpless- 
ness. There  is  an  old  age  that  is  a  benedic- 
tion to  all  that  comes  in  contact  with  it,  that 
gives  out  of  its  rich  stores  of  learning  and 
experience,  and  grows  stronger  intellectually 
and  spiritually  as  the  years  pass.  Such  is 
the  life  of  Air.  English,  an  encouragement  to 
his  associates  antl  an  example  well  worthy 
of  emulation  to  the  young. 

Joseph  Gibson  English  was  born  in  Ohio 
county,  Indiana,  near  the  village  of  Rising 
Sun,  on  the  17th  of  December,  1820.  In  the 
paternal  line  the  ancestry  is  traced  back 
through  several  generations  to  the  time  of 
the  early  settlement  of  Connecticut,  and 
and  Charles  English,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  New  Ha\'en.  that 
state.  After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity 
he  married  Miss  Ann  Wright,  who  was  of 
English  nativity.  The  paternal  g'randfather 
removed  to  Nova  Scotia,  but  subsequently 
his  children  returned  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  various  localities.  Charles 
English  became  a  resident  of  Ohio  county, 
Indiana,  and  was  there  identified  with  indus- 
trial pursuits,  engaging  in  blacksmithing 
and  carpentering.  In  1829  he  left  that  lo- 
cality and  became  a  resident  of  Perrysville 
in  the  Wabash  valley. 

It  was  in  the  latter  place  that  J.  G.  Eng- 
lish largely  spent  his  boyhood  days.  If  the 
horologe  of  time  could  but  turn  upon  the  ])ast 
and  we  could  look  at  Perrys\ille  as  it  a])- 
peared  six  or  seven  decades  ag(3,  wc  would 
find  there  a  little  log  schoolhouse  such  as  was 
tisually    seen    in    pioneer   districts.      It   had 


a  puncheon  lloor  and  primitive  furnishings 
a'l.d  among  the  students  was  Joseph  English, 
then  a  little  lad,  who  owes  his  school  train- 
ing entirely  to  the  pri\-ileges  found  in  that 
"temple  of  learning."  As  his  parents  were 
in  somewhat  straiglitened  financial  circum- 
stances he  early  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world  and  from  the  age  of  four- 
teen has  depended  entirely  upon  his  own  ef- 
forts for  a  living.  He  entered  the  services 
of  the  firm  of  Taylor  &  Linton,  general  mer- 
chants of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  five  years.  His  position  was  by- 
no  means  a  sinecure  for  he  had  to  begin 
work  in  the  early  morning  light  and  continue 
at  his  tasks  until  long  after  dark.  On  mar- 
ket days,  which  occurred  thrice  weekly,  he 
arose  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the 
niorning  to  sweep  the  store  and  prepare  it 
for  the  reception  of  the  Dunkard  customers, 
who  utilized  the  earlv  morning"  hours  to 
make  their  piu'chases.  Although  this  seemed 
rather  a  hard  life  for  a  Ijoy,  it  develojjed  in 
Mr.  English  a  self-reliance  and  force  of 
character  that  have  pro\-ed  to  him  of  incal- 
culable value  in  later  years.  While  perform- 
ing his  daily  tasks  he  obtained  a  good 
knowledge  of  niercantile  business  and  was 
thus  qualified  to  engag-e  in  merchandising  on 
his  own  account  at  a  later  day.  He  received 
for  his  services  his  board  and  clothing — a 
little  compensation  for  such  long  hours  of 
steady  work.  .After  he  had  been  with  the 
firm  for  five  years  his  employers  failed  and 
he  then  obtained  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  gen- 
eral store  in  Perrysville,  at  a  salary  of  forty 
dollars  jier  month.  When  three  years  had 
liassed  he  found  himself  in  possession  of 
.about  four  hundred  dollars  for  he  had  tuade 
a  rule  alwav-s  to  save  something  from  his 
earnings.  With  this  capital  he  determined 
to  marrv  and  establish  a  home  of  his  owii 


200 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


aiul  was  joined  in  wetllock  to  Aliss  Mary 
Hicks,  a  native  of  Perrysville  and  a  repre- 
sentative of  an  old  New  England  family. 

In  i8-]4  Mr.  English  entered  the  mer- 
cantile field  on  his  own  account  as  a  partner 
of  his  father-in-law.  George  Hicks,  under 
the  firm  style  of  Hicks  &  English.  The  new 
enterprise  met  with  success  from  the  be- 
ginning. They  stocked  their  store  with  dry 
goods,  groceries,  produce  and  grain;  they 
earnestly  desired  to  please  their  customers 
and  moreover  they  followed  honorable  busi- 
ness methods,  which  would  bear  the  closest 
investigation  and  win  for  them  the  confi- 
dence and  therefore  the  patronage  of  the 
public.  Business  methods  were  then  some- 
Avhat  different  from  those  of  the  present  day. 
Merchandise  was  purchased  and  sold  on  a 
credit  of  twelve  months  and  the  products  of 
the  central  IMississippi  valley  were  trans- 
ported to  market  in  New  Orleans  by  way  of 
the  fiver  route,  for  the  era  of  railroad  trans- 
portation had  not  then  dawned  upon  the 
country.  The  marketable  products  of  In- 
diana and  Illinois  were  sent  down  the  Ohio 
and  ^lississippi  rivers  and  it  was  thus  that 
the  firm  of  Hicks  &  English  shipped  their 
-wheat,  corn,  pork  and  other  commodities  to 
Kew  Orleans  on  fiatboats,  the  subject  of  this 
review  frequently  acting  as  an  oarsman  on 
such  journeys. 

The  year  1853  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
INIr.  English  in  Danville.  He  sold  his  store 
in  Perrysville,  Indiana,  and  coming  to  this 
city  became  a  partner  of  John  L.  Tincher, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Tincher  &  English. 
Their  general  store  also  proved  a  profitable 
investment,  being  successfully  conducted 
until  1856,  when  the  firm  became  the  as- 
signees of  the  Stock  Security  Bank,  a  "wild 
cat"  institution,  which  was  forced  into  bank- 
ruptcy in  the  early  days  of  the  widespread 


panic  of  1856-7.  iVl  that  time  Messrs. 
Tincher  &  English  disposed  of  their  mercan- 
tile affairs  in  order  to  give  their  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  duties  which  devolved  upon  the 
firm  in  connection  with  the  bank.  While 
thus  engaged  they  gradually  began  trans- 
acting a  brokerage  and  exchange  business, 
which  grew  until  it  had  eventuallv  become  a 
private  banking  enterprise.  In  February, 
1863,  the  national  bank  bill  passed  congress 
and  these  gentlemen  were  among  the  first  to 
seek  a  charter  and  organize  a  national  bank. 
They  established  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Danville,  which  was  capitalized  for  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  Mr.  English  became 
the  president,  continually  filling  that  posi- 
tion until  July,  1899,  when  he  resigned.  In 
187J,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Tincher,  the 
capital  stock  was  increased  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  "where  it  still  re- 
mains, with  a  surplus  of  over  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  The  success  of 
this  institution  was  assured  from  the  first, 
because  of  the  reliability  of  the  men  at  its 
head,  their  sound  judgment  and  conserva- 
tive business  methods.  Banking  institutions 
arc  the  heart  of  the  commercial  body,  in- 
dicating the  healthfulness  of  the  trade,  and 
the  bank  that  follows  a  safe  conservative 
pnlicy  does  more  to  establish  public  confi- 
dence in  times  of  widespread  financial  de- 
pression than  anything  else.  Such  a  course 
has  the  First  National  Bank  of  Danville  ever 
followed  under  the  able  management  of  him 
who  was  so  long  its  president.  It  has  stood 
strong  in  hours  of  danger,  its  integrity  un- 
questioned and  its  course  above  suspicion. 
Mr.  English  is  a  man  of  resourceful 
liusiness  ability,  who  is  not  only  able  to 
realize  the  opportunities  of  the  moment  but 
has  also  looked  beyond  the  exigencies  of 
the  present  to  the  possibilities  of  the  future. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


20I 


His  labors  have  been  extended  into  otlier 
fields  of  business  activity  outside  that  of 
banking-.  He  has  been  one  of  the  heaviest 
real  estate  dealers  in  this  section.  He  has 
inxested  largely  in  farm  property  and  has 
also  platted  several  additions  to  the  city  of 
Danville.  Business  enterprise  auginenting 
the  commercial  activity  and  consequent 
prosperity  of  the  city  also  owe  their  success- 
ful conduct  largely  to  his  wise  council.  For 
a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been  a  menil^eer 
of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  and  an  enumera- 
tion of  the  business  affairs  with  which  he 
has  been  associated  would  be  to  gi\e  in  a 
considerable  degree  the  industrial  and  C(_)ni- 
mercial  history  of  his  adopted  city. 

After  a  happy  married  life  of  twenty 
years  Mr.  English  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  death  of  his  wife  in  1864.  They  had  be- 
come the  parents  of  seven  children  :  George ; 
Charles  L.,  who  is  now  the  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Danville;  Harriet, 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  D.  Lind- 
sey,  who  died  in  July,  1893;  Irene  J.,  now 
the  wife  of  George  W.  Partlow,  of  Danville; 
John  T. ;  Annie  Alartha,  the  deceased  wife 
of  Talxir  Mathers  of  Jacksonville;  and  Ed- 
ward. In  1865  Mr.  English  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Maria  L. 
Partlow,  ^with  whom  he  lived  for  twenty- 
one  years,  when  she  died  in  August,  1886. 
Tlieir  children  were  J.  C. ;  and  Otis  Hardy, 
who  died  in  infancy.  On  the  14th  of  June, 
1899,  ^Ir.  English  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Airs.  Mary  E.  Forbes,  a  native  of  Dan- 
ville and  a  daughter  of  William  Ilesscy,  who 
was  an  early  settler  of  this  county. 

W'hile  Mr.  English  has  led  a  very  busy 
life  and  his  commercial  and  financial  affairs 
have  made  constant  demands  upon  his  time 
and  attention,  he  has  yet  found  opportunity 


to  faithfully  discharge  his  duties  of  citizen- 
ship and  by  his  felow  townsmen  he  has  twice 
been  called  to  the  office  of  chief  exccuti\e  of 
Danville.  He  pro\ed  a  most  capable  mayor, 
his  administration  being  practical  and  pro- 
gressive. In  1872  he  became  a  member  of 
the  first  Ix)ard  of  equalization  of  this  state. 
He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  po- 
litical aft'airs,  yet  has  never  sought  or  desired 
political  office.  On  attaining  his  majority 
he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party, 
with  which  he  affiliated  until  1862,  when  the 
Democratic  state  convention  inserted  the 
"peace"  plank  in  its  platform  and  he  then 
renounced  his  allegiance  thereto  for  he  be- 
lieved in  the  active  prosecution  of  the  war 
\\'hich  was  to  preserve  the  Union.  He  then 
joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party  and 
throughout  the  period  of  the  Rebellion  was 
a  strong  supporter  of  the  Union  and  an  ad- 
vocate of  the  national  administration.  In 
1863  lie  bad  charge  of  the  subscription  list 
for  filling  the  quota  of  men  for  the  army 
from  Danville  and  county. 

For  forty-six  years  Mr.  English  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
contributing  liberally  to  its  support  ami  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  its  work  in  its  various 
departments.  He  is  now  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  trustees  and  for  fifteen  years 
he  occupied  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  tlie  Sunday-school.  In  1872  he  was  elect- 
ed liy  the  lay  delegates  of  the  Illinois  con- 
ference as  a  delegate  to  the  general  confer- 
ence of  the  church,  which  was  held  in  Brook- 
lyn in  that  year  and  has  served  once  since 
that  time  in  a  similar  capacity.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity of  Bloomington.  His  success  has 
come  to  him  through  energy,  labor  and  per- 
severance, directed  by  an  evenly  balanced 
mind  and  bv  honorable  business  principles. 


202 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


From  early  life  he  made  it  his  plan  to  spend 
less  than  his  income.  He  has  made  the  most 
of  his  opportunities  and  coukl  never  justly 
be  called  extravagant  unless  it  was  in  the 
line  of  his  benevolences.  He  is  not  slow  to 
condemn  injustice  and  dishonesty  nor  is  he 
slow  to  reward  faithfulness  and  there  is  in 
him  a  deep  sympathy  and  abiding  charity 
which  has  won  for  him  the  respect  and 
goodwill  of  his  fellow  men.  He  is  a  man  of 
distinctive  ability  and  his  character  is  one 
which  is  abo\e  a  shadow  of  reproach.  He 
has  been  faithful  to  the  high  business  and 
political  offices  in  which  he  has  been  called 
to  serve  and  is  widely  known  and  respected 
by  those  who  have  been  at  all  familiar  with 
his  honorable  and  useful  career. 


JOHN   C.   STEWART,   D.   V.   S. 

Dr.  John  C.  Stewart,  who  is  success- 
fully engaged  in  the  practice  of  veterinary 
surgery  in  Danville,  was  born  in  Ayrshire, 
Scotland,  August  22,  1849.  a  son  of  Ouin- 
tin  and  ^largaret  (AlcCrindle)  Stewart, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Ayrshire.  The 
father  was  a  highly  educated  raan.  being 
a  graduate  of  the  Glasg'ow  University,  and 
for  some  years  he  was  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  Ochiltree,  Scotland,  where  he  died 
in  1898.  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  had  passed  away 
some  years  previous.  Thev  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  still 
living  in  Scotland  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject. 

Dr.  Stewart  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  land  and  acquired  his  education  in 
the  school  of  which  his  father  had  charge. 


and  he  began  his  business  career  as  an  em- 
ploye in  the  office  of  the  National  Bank  of 
Scotland.  On  leaving  home  he  went  to  the 
West  Indies  with  his  brother-in-law,  John 
Wilson,  but  in  1873  returned  to  Scotland 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  came  to  Ameri- 
ca. After  spending  about  four  years  in 
\'irginia  he  went  to  Indiana,  in  1877.  and 
became  interested  in  the  importation  of  fine 
horses  from  Scotland.  In  1880  he  was  i 
student  in  the  \'eterinary  College  ot  On- 
tario, Canada,  and  was  later  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  veterinary  surgery  in  Indiana. 
Dr.  Stewart  removed  to  Danville.  Illinois, 
in  the  summer  of  1886,  and  here  he  has 
since  made  his  home  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  spent  in  Chicago,  having  been 
appointed  by  President  Harrison  as  veter- 
inary inspector  in  the  stockyards  of  that 
city,  which  position  he  held  for  that  length 
of  time.  On  his  return  to  Danville  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  his  profession  and  to- 
day has  a  splendid  practice  which  extends 
far  into  the  country  for  many  miles  in  every 
direction. 

At  Danville.  November  11,  1896,  Dr. 
Stewart  married  Miss  Ethel  W'elch.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  have  a  handsome  homi 
at  Xo.  128  N^nrth  Walnut  street  and  he 
also  owns  other  real  estate  in  Danville,  in- 
cluding his  office  and  hospital  at  No.  17 
the  same  street.  He  has  met  with  excellent 
success  in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion and  is  now  serving  as  assistant  state 
veterinary.  Socially  he  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  Olive  Branch  Lodge.  F.  &  A.  M. : 
Hesperian  Lodge.  K.  P.,  of  Franklin.  In- 
diana :  the  Order  of  Ben  Hur  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member  in  the 
old  country,  and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican   party   and    its   principles.      He 


LIBRARY 

OF    liiE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


U.  R.  EADER. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


203 


stands  cleser\'eill_\-  liigli  in  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow  citizens  and  commands  the  confi- 
dence and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
conies  in  contact. 


ROY   L.  MURPHY. 

Roy  L.  ]\Iurph\'.  the  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Fairmount  Review,  was  born 
at  ^lahomet,  Illinois.  July  7,  1879,  his  par- 
ents being  David  A.  and  Asenath  Murphy. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
was  a  well  known  citizen  of  Champaign 
county.  The  subject  of  this  review  pur- 
sued his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
^lahomet.  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1896.  after  which  he  attended  busi- 
ness college  at  Bloomington.  Illinois,  for 
two  years.  In  his  early  youth  he  enterefl 
the  printing  office  of  his  brother.  C.  ^^^  ^lur- 
phy.  and  finding  the  profession  congenial 
he  has  since  followed  it.  On  the  15th  of 
May.  1894.  he  became  an  employe  in  the 
office  of  the  Sucker  State  Printing  Com- 
pany at  ]\Iahomet  and  there  learned  the 
trade,   working   until    the    ist   of   October 

1897.  with  the  exception  of  the  periods 
which  he  spent  in  school.  Later  he  wa'^ 
employed  on  different  papers  in  Champaign 
and  afterward  in  the  same  capacity  in  other 
cities  in  the  state.    On  the  ist  of  September. 

1898,  however,  he  embarked  in  a  journal- 
isic  venture  on  his  own  account,  purchasing 
the  Courier  at  Ogden.  Illinois.  He  was  the 
youngest  editor  in  this  part  of  the  state 
at  that  time,  being  but  nineteen  years  of 
age.  He  remained  in  charge  of  the  Courier 
until  the  ist  of  February.  1899.  after  which 
he  was  employed  in  various  printing  offices 
until  the  ist  of  December,  following,  when 
he    purchased   the    Review    at    Fairmount. 


where  he  has  since  been  located.  In  the 
publication  of  this  paper  he  has  met  with 
success,  the  circulation  having  increased  as 
well  as  the  advertising  and  job  printing 
patronage.  The  enterprise  is  now  proving 
a  profitable  one  and  Mr.  Murphy  has  a  well 
equipped  ofifice.  from  which  he  weekly  is- 
sues a  paper  that  is  a  credit  to  the  town  and 
to  its  owner.  In  his  political  afifiliations  he 
is  a  Republican  and  through  the  columns 
of  his  journal  he  advocates  the  cause  of  the 
party. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1899,  at  Sid- 
ney. Illinois.  Mr.  Murphy  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Maude  Ethel  McXichols, 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Airs.  A.  W.  McNich- 
ols.  old  and  respected  citizens  of  Tolono, 
Illinois,  where  the  former  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  and  grocery  business.  They  now  have 
an  interesting  daughter,  Lois  Mae,  Ijorn 
December  31.  1900.  Socially  Mr.  Murphy 
is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America  at  Fairmount  and  with  the  Ameri- 
can Home  Circle. 


U.  R.  EADER. 

L'.  R.  Eader  is  a  prosperous  resident  of 
Danville,  whose  success  has  practically  been 
won  since  1894  although  the  previous  years 
of  his  connection  with  business  affairs 
])rovecl  an  excellent  training  school  for  him, 
enabling  him  to  carry  forward  to  successful 
coni])letion  all  that  he  has  undertaken  since 
he  began  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
is  now  in  control  of  one  of  the  successful 
and  important  concerns  of  Danville,  being 
engaged  in  the  repair  and  manufacture  of 
bicycles  and  dealing  in  guns  and  sporting 
goods  and  electrical  and  gas  fixtures,  also 
doing  work  along  the  lines  of  electrical  con- 
struction. 


204 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Eader  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
of  Vermihon  county  that  Ohio  has  fur- 
nished to  this  locahty.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Lima,  that  state,  on  the  i4tli  of  June, 
1856,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and  Ellei: 
(Coons)  Eader,  botli  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  In  the  year  i860  the  family 
came  to  Ilhnois.  The  father  purchased  land 
in  Vermilion  county  upon  which  he  carried 
on  s'eneral  farmino-  until  1871.  In  that  vear 
he  came  to  Danville,  purchased  property 
and  was  here  connected  with  the  Danville 
Lumber  Company  for  about  ten  years.  He 
then  sold  his  property  and  removed  to  No- 
blesx'ille,  Indiana,  where  he  purchased  prop- 
erty and  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  dealing 
in  real  estate  and  merchandising.  He  is 
also  connected  with  the  furniture  and  gen- 
eral store  at  that  place  and  is  in  partnership 
with  his  son,  David  F.  Eader,  in  a  similar 
enterprise  at  Noblesville,  Indiana.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  at  Noblesville, 
Indiana,  in  1896,  and  in  igoi  the  father 
was  again  married.  By  the  first  union  there 
were  ten  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of 
this  review  is  the  eldest.  The  others  yet 
living  are:  D.  F. ;  Samuel;  Frederick; 
Mrs.  Mary  Shumaker;  Mrs.  ^liranda 
Mead ;  Mrs.  Rosa  Hanners ;  and  Sarah. 

In  the  schools  of  Vermilion  countv  Mr. 
Eader  of  this  review  pursued  his  education 
and  from  the  age  of  eight  years  he  has  been 
dependent  entirely  upon  his  own  resources 
for  a  living.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
for  his  father  and  also  for  others  in  the 
neighborhood  but  not  wishing  to  make 
agricultural  pursuits  his  life  work  he  even- 
tually turned  his  attention  to  other  lines 
of  industry.  In  1871  he  became  connected 
with  the  Danville  Lumber  Company  and 
learned  the  machinist's  trade.  For  eighteen 
years  his  connection      with   that   company 


was  continued,  during  which  time  he  was 
advanced  from  one  position  to  another  as 
he  gave  evidence  of  having  mastered  the 
duties  that  devolved  upon  him,  and  he  long 
ser\'ed  as  foreman  and  manager.  When 
he  entered  the  service  of  that  company  he 
received  ninety  dollars  per  year  and  during 
the  eighteen  years  which  he  served  as  fore- 
man he  was  paid  four  dollars  and  seventy- 
five  cents  per  day,  a  fact  which  stands  in 
incontrovertible  evidence  of  his  value  to 
the  compau},-.  In  1895,  however,  he  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  the  company  and 
entered  business  on  his  own  account.  He 
at  first  handled  bicycles  only  and  later  he 
added  sporting  goods  and  established  a  re- 
pair department.  At  the  present  time  the 
wheels  which  he  handles  are  manufactured 
in  his  establishment.  These  are  called  "Our 
Own  i\Iake"  and  there  are  four  models. 
The  output  in  1903  will  reach  one  thousand 
wheels.  He  is  now  employing  nineteen 
men  in  the  conduct  of  the  business,  which 
IS  divided  into  four  departments :  repairing 
and  maiuifacturing,  the  sporting  goods,  the 
gun  department  and  the  electrical  and  gas 
department.  He  employs  an  experienced 
electrician  and  is  engaged  in  electrical  con- 
struction and  deals  in  electrical  supplies. 
This  branch  of  his  business  has  proved  one 
contributing  in  no  small  degree  to  his  in- 
come. In  fact  his  enterprise  in  all  its  de- 
partments is  now  paying  well  and  the  busi- 
ness amounts  to  more  than  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars  annually.  \lr.  Eader  is 
also  interested  in  gold  mining  in  ^^'ashing■- 
ton,  being  a  stockholder  in  three  mines,  in- 
cluding the  "Fortune,"  in  which  several 
prominent  Danville  capitalists  arc  inter- 
ested. 

On  the  20th  of  September.  1883.  in  this 
citv.  Mr.  Eader  was  united  in  marriage  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


205 


Miss  Lavinia  Tanner,  of  Clianipaign.  Illi- 
nois. Her  parents  are  both  deceased.  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  this  nnion  of 
i\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Eader:  Alakel  ami  Horace, 
aged  respectively  seventeen  and  nine  years. 
The  former  will  graduate  in  the  high  school 
of  this  city  in  1903  and  is  now  pursuing 
special  work  in  music  and  elocution.  The 
family  home  is  at  No.  1002  Xorth  W'ahiul 
street  and  is  an  attractive  residence  valued 
at  six  thousand  dollars.  Socially  Mr.  Eader 
is  connected  with  the  ^Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  with  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur 
and  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  in  his  political 
affiliations  is  a  Republican.  His  splendid 
success  in  business  has  been  achieved  since 
1894.  When  he  first  opened  his  bicycle 
business  he  had  no  capital,  but  he  possessed 
an  untarnished  name  and  good  credit.  The 
growth  of  his  business  demanded  larger 
quarters  in  the  second  vear  and  has  since 
annually  increased  in  volume  and  import- 
ance. A  man  of  much  natural  ability  his 
success  during  the  past  nine  years  has  beer 
uniform  and  rajiid.  As  has  been  truly  re- 
marked, after  all  that  can  be  done  for  a 
man  in  the  way  of  giving  him  early  oppor- 
tunities for  obtaining  the  requirements 
which  are  sought  in  schools  and  in  book? 
he  must  essentially  formulate,  determine 
and  give  shape  to  his  own  character  and 
this  is  what  Mr.  Eader  has  done.  He  has 
persevered  in  the  pursuit  of  a  persistent 
purpose  and  has  gained  a  most  satisfactory 
reward. 

ORIN  L.  McCORD. 

Orin  L.  McCord,  who  is  well  known  as 
a  representative  of  mercantile  affairs  in 
Danx'ille,  is  now  filling  the  position  of  coun- 


ty treasin-er  and  is  a  worthy  custodian  of  the 
public  funds.  With  business  dispatch  lie 
discharges  the  iluties  of  the  position  and 
his  integrity  and  honor  are  above  question. 

Mr.  McCord  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Putnam  coun- 
ty, on  the  6th  of  April,  1863.  He  is  a  son 
of  Ninon  A.  and  Susan  (Child)  McCord. 
The  father  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight 
}'ears,  but  the  mother  still  survives  and  i.'; 
now  living  at  East  Lynn,  N'ermilion  county. 
Ninon  A.  McCord  was  a  native  of  Bond 
county.  Illinois,  and  in  1875  removed  to 
this  county,  settling  in  Butler  township, 
\vhere  he  followed  farming  throughout  his 
remaining  days,  being  recognized  as  one 
of  the  progressive  agriculturists  of  his  com- 
munity. Unto  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
five  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living  in 
\'ermili(in  cmnty.  These  are:  Orin  L., 
\\'ilmot  J.,  Warren  C,  Charles  C.  and 
Frank  P." 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
Orin  L.  McCord  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  known 
in  Vermilion  county  for  he  was  brought 
here  by  his  parents  when  onlv  tweK'c  years 
of  age.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  East  Lynn  and  during  the 
months  of  summer,  when  school  was  not 
in  session,  he  became  familiar  v.-i(h  the  work 
of  fielcl  and  meadow,  assisting  in  the  labors 
of  the  home  farm  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  He  then  entered  upon  his 
business  career  and  not  desiring  to  follow 
the  pursuit  to  which  he  had  been  reared, 
he  sought  and  obtained  a  clerkship  in  the 
employ  of  B.  M.  Ludden  &  Company  of 
East  Lynn,  remaining  in  that  emplov  from 
1874  until  1878.  In  the  latter  year  he  re- 
moved to  Georgetown,  Vermilion  cotmty, 
where  he  l)cgan  business  on  his  own  account 


2o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


as  proprietor  of  a  grocery  and  restaurant, 
which  he  conducted  for  three  years.  .\t  tliat 
time  Mr.  AlcCord  came  to  Danville  and  was 
employed  as  a  salesman  in  the  clothing 
house  of  Mike  Plant  &  Company,  with 
whom  he  remained  continuously  until  1902. 
His  long  connection  with  the  house  plainly 
indicates  his  fidelity  to  duty,  his  close  ap- 
plication and  his  unfaltering  lionesty  in 
business  matters.  On  the  8th  of  February. 
1902,  he  received  the  nomination  for  the 
office  of  treasurer  of  Vermilion  count}',  be- 
ing given  a  majority  of  thirteen  hundred 
and  seventy-seven,  which  was  the  largest 
ever  bestowed  upon  a  Republican  candidate 
for  the  office  of  treasurer  of  A^ermilion 
county. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  1888,  Mr. 
McCord  was  united  in  marriage  to  IMiss 
Ella  M.  Barnes  of  Hoopeston,  Illinois,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
interesting  children,  namely:  Stella  L., 
Edwin  .\.  and  Clarence  A.  The  name  of 
I\Ir.  ]\[cCord  is  on  the  membership  rolls  of 
Damascas  Lodge,  K.  P. :  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  No.  69;  Northcott  Camp,  'SI.  W. 
A. :  and  of  the  Royal  Neighbors,  and  of  all 
of  these  he  is  a  valued  representative,  be- 
cause of  his  pleasing  personal  character- 
istics, his  strict  adherence  to  the  teachings 
and  principles  of  the  orders.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Rebecca  de- 
gree of  Odd  Fellowship  and  of  the  Court 
of  Honor,  and  he  was  formerly  president  of 
the  retail  clerks'  union.  He  is  now  inter- 
ested in  the  breeding  of  thoroughbred  poul- 
try, making  a  specialty  of  Buff  Cochins, 
and  is  an  expert  judge  of  poultry,  being  at 
the  present  time  secretarv^  of  the  Illinois 
State  Poultry  Association.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  continuous  activity,  in  which 
has  been  accorded  due  recognition  of  labor: 


and  to-day  he  is  numbered  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  liis  county.  His  inter- 
ests are  thoroughly  identified  with  those  of 
the  west,  and  at  all  times  he  is  reach- 
to  lend  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  any 
movement  calculated  to  benefit  this  section 
of  the  country  or  advance  its  wonderful 
development. 


.1.  STEELE    CATHERWOOD. 

Tames  Steele  Catherwood,  a  well  known 
broker  and  real  estate  dealer  of  Hoopeston, 
was  born  in.  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  April 
12,  1845,  '1  son  of  James  and  Lydia  (Tus- 
sey)  Catherwood.  The  father  was  a  native' 
of  Ireland  and  the  mother  of  the  state  of 
Delaware.  During  his  boyhood  da\-s  the 
former  came  to  the  L'nited  States  and  here 
learned  the  trade  of  a  wea\-er.  Later  he  and 
his  wife's  brother  operated  a  cotton  factory. 
In  his  early  married  days  he  remo\-ed  from 
tlic  east  to  Belmont  county,  Oh.io,  where 
he  engaged  in  merchandising,  while  later  he 
turn.ed  his  attention  to  farming.  His  death 
occurred  in  Guernsey  couny,  Ohio,  in  1854, 
when  the  subject  of  this  review  was  only  nine 
years  old  and  in  1857  his  widow  removed 
to  Shelby  county  and  afterward  to  Christian 
county,  Illinois,  where  she  died  at  the  very 
advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years.  She  was 
the  mother  of  ten  children,  of  whom  J.  S. 
was  the  youngest  son.  but  he  had  a  younger 
sister. 

Mr.  Catherwood  of  this  review  acquired 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  Ohio  and  of 
Christian  county,  Illinois.  His  early  oppor- 
tunities in  that  direction,  however,  were 
limited  and  his  knowledge  has  largely  been 
obtained  since  he  reached  his  majority.  In 
April,    1864,   Mr.   Catherwood  enlisted   for 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


207 


service  in  the  Union  army  as  a  member  of 
Compan}-  E,  One  Hnndred  antl  I'^orty-littli 
Illinois  Infantry,  with  whicli  he  served  for 
six  months,  spending  most  of  that  time  in 
Missouri  in  guarding  commissaries.  Aflei- 
his  return  lie  worked  upon  a  farm  for  two 
years  and  in  the  winter  of  1866  he  again 
attended  school.  He  then  went  to  Decatur, 
Illinois,  and  continued  his  studies  in  the 
vicinity  of  that  city.  Snl.isequentl\-  he  he- 
came  a  student  in  the  Concordsxille  Acad- 
emy at  Concords\ille,  Penns}lvania,  where 
he  remained  for  a  year.  He  next  entered 
the  general  store  of  his  brother  in  Old  Ston- 
ington.  Christian  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
received  his  first  business  training,  but  as 
there  were  indications  of  failing  health  he 
went  to  Saline  county,  Kansas,  which  was 
then  Considered  the  "far  west."  This  was 
in  18(19  and  for  five  years  he  remained  upon 
the  ])lains  herding  cattle.  He  owned  a  ranch 
and  herd  of  his  own  and  for  two  years  he 
was  located  in  Saline  county,  for  one  year 
in  ^IcPherson  county  and  for  two  yeru's  in 
Ellsworth  county,  meeting  with  a  fair  de- 
gree of  success  tmtil  the  countr\-  became  in- 
vohcd  in  the  financial  panic  of  1873-4. 

-Mr.  Catherwood  then  returned  to  In- 
diauapolis,  Indiana,  and  entered  the  employ 
of  I'.'s  linnher  as  a  tra\'e]ing  salesman.  He 
co\ered  the  territories  of  Illinois,  Indiana 
and  Ohio  and  for  three  years  was  upon  the 
roach  (Jn  the  expiration  of  that  peril  ul  he 
began  merchandising  on  his  own  account  at 
Fairfield,  a  little  country  crossroad  town, 
being  associated  with  L.  L.  Bennett  under  the 
firm  name  of  L.  L.  Bennett  &  Company. 
Thev  carried  groceries,  drugs,  boots  and 
shoes  and  dry  goods. 

It  was  in  that  year,  on  the  27th  of  De- 
cember, ^Sjy.  that  Mr.  Catherwood  was 
united  in  marriao'e  to  Miss  Marv  Hartwell. 


who  later  became  distinguished  as  an  au- 
thoress of  marked  ability.  She  is  rejire- 
sented  on  another  page  of  this  work.  The 
marriage  took  place  at  the  home  of  his 
brother,  A.  T.  Catherwood,  west  of  Hoopes- 
ton.  For  a  time  our  subject  and  his  bride 
li\ed  in  some  rooms  above  his  store,  spend- 
ing almut  two  years  there.  Mr.  Catherwood 
then  sold  out  to  his  partner  and  went  to  In- 
dianapolis, where  he  was  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery Inisiness  until  October,  1882.  He  then 
again  sold  out  and  came  to  Hoopeston. 
Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  brother, 
.\.  T.  Catherwood,  as  a  bookkeeper,  a  rela- 
tion that  was  maintained  until  .\pril,  1885, 
when  James  Steele  Catherwood  was  ap- 
pointed, postmaster  at  Floopeston  by  Grover 
Cleveland,  succeeding  Dale  Wallace,  who  is 
now  his  partner.  Mr.  Catherwood  dccupied 
that  jiosition  until  July,  1889,  when  he  was 
succeeded  b}-  Charles  W.  W'arner.  While 
acting  as  postmaster  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Charles  .\.  Allen  in  the  loan,  insurance 
and  collecting  business  and  tog'ether  they 
Clint inued  operations  until  May,  1890.  cov- 
ering a  period  of  four  years.  When  this 
partnership  was  dissohed  Mr.  Catherwood 
entered  into  partnership  relations  with  Dale 
\\'allace  and  they  have  since  been  thus  con- 
nected. The  firm  does  a  general  insurance, 
loan  and  land  lirokerage  business.  They 
ha\-e  disposed  of  a  number  of  additions  to 
Ihiopeston  and  have  done  the  leading  real 
estate  business  of  the  town  for  the  past 
twehe  years.  To-day  their  real  estate  in 
this  city  is  valuable.  In  February,  1888,  the 
Xorth  ^'ermilion  Loan  &■  Sa\'ings  .Associa- 
tion was  formed  and  .Mr.  Catherwood  was 
chosen  its  secretary,  in  which  position  he  has 
serxed  continuously  since,  covering  a  period 
of  fifteen  consecuti\'e  years.  He  and  his  wife 
owned  a  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Iro- 


208 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


quois  county  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  Grant  townsliip,  Vermilion 
county. 

Unto  Air.  and  Airs.  Catherwood  were 
bom  two  children,  a  son,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Hazel,  who  is  now  an  art  student 
in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Catherwood  died  Decem- 
ber 26,  1902,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Floral 
Hill  cemetery.  For  twenty-one  years  James 
Steele  Catherwood  has  been  a  resident  of 
Hoopeston  and  gradually  he  has  advanced 
to  a  prominent  position  in  business  circles. 


AIRS.   AIARY   HARTWELL  CATHER- 
WOOD. 

Beauty  is  nature's  language.  It  tinds  ex- 
pression in  earth  and  sky,  in  the  towering 
mountain,  the  boundless  prairies,  the  ever- 
changing  sea  or  the  tiny  flower  which  grows 
in  crannied  wall,  and  above  all  in  the  char- 
acter dex'elopment  of  luan,  when  the  soul 
speaks  through  its  environment  in  an  ex- 
pression of  eternal  principles.  \\'ell  may 
art  be  accorded  the  highest  place  among  the 
works  of  man  uhen  it  re]3rdduces  in  any 
form  this  language  of  nature,  whether  upon 
the  canvas,  in  the  marble  or  through  the  pen 
pictures  which  perhaps  more  clearly  than 
any  other  art  forms  perpetuate  the  good  and 
the  beautiful.  The  world's  debt  of  gratitude 
can  never  be  paid  to  those  great  souls  who 
in  story  and  song  have  presented  with  great 
clearness  the  beauty  of  life  in  its  personifi- 
cation of  our  highest  ideals,  giving  us  an  in- 
spiration for  good  which  is  as  the  "echoes 
that  roll  from  soul  to  soul,  and  grow  for- 
ever and  forever."  A  brave-hearted  girl, 
whose  beauty  and  purity  of  soul  blossomed 
into  the  highest  type  of  womanhood.  Alary 
Ilartwell    Catherwood   left   to  the  world   a 


rich  legacy  in  her  literary  productions  and 
Hoopeston,  which  for  some  years  claimed 
her  as  a  resident,  will  ever  honor  and  vher- 
ish  her  memory.  She  was  born  in  Luray, 
Ohio,  December  16,  1847,  but  in  1856  ac- 
companied her  parents  to  Alii  ford,  Illinois. 
Perhaps  her  life  story  has  been  best  told  in 
the  words  of  Dale  Wallace,  who  read  the 
following  sketch  at  a  banquet  of  the  Alary 
Plartwell  Catherwood  Club  of  Hoopeston, 
on  wdiich  occasion  Airs.  Catherwood  was 
present.     He  said : 

"Dr.  Hartwell  was  an  ambitious  young 
man.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and 
possessed  the  fine  intellect  and  hardy  phys- 
ique of  the  rugged  pioneers  of  the  west. 
Married  quite  young,  even  before  he  fin- 
ished his  course  in  college,  he  and  his  still 
younger  wife  and  the  Ijabies  migrated  from 
the  red  hills  of  Ohio  to  the  black  loam  of  IllL- 
nois,  locating  in  the  old  village  of  Alilford 
and  living  in  the  little  brick  house  about  a 
block  north  of  the  old  mill.  Here  he  prac- 
ticed his  profession  and  gave  the  cliildren  the 
lienefits  of  the  limited  school  facilities  then 
in  vogue.  There-  was  inuch  malaria  and 
fevers  unlimited  in  those  early  days  and  the 
young  doctor  was  overworked.  Then  he  was 
himself  stricken  with  the  prevailing  mal- 
ady, and  after  a  brave  struggle,  passed  be- 
yond. During  the  year  following,  the 
youngest  child  of  the  family — Alarcus — 
was  bom.  But  the  mother,  so  wholly  de- 
pendent upon  the  strong  arm  and  directing 
intellect  of  her  Inisband,  seeing  nothing 
ahead  but  discouragement  and  possible  des- 
titution, grieved  herself  into  the  grave  a 
year  later,  leaving  three  helpless  bairns  de- 
uendent  upon  the  generosity  of  friends. 

"Poverty  de\-elops  genius.  Wealth  be- 
gets indolence.  Show  me  the  child  born 
with  a  silver  spoon  in  the  mouth  and  I  will 
show  vou  a  creature  of  ease,  and  laxitv  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


211 


languor.  There  are  few  exceptions  to  tliis 
rnle.  Ambition  is  deadened  and  energy  is 
not  reqnired.  If  Alary  Hartwell's  father 
had  left  her  in  an  independent  financial  con- 
dition, the  world  might  have  been  deprived 
of  her  splendid  g'enius. 

"At  ten  she  was  g'iven  a  home  and  taken 
in  charg'e  by  her  grandfather  Thompson  at 
New  Heljron,  Oliio,  and  placed  in  the  vil- 
lag"e  schools.  At  fonrteen  she  was  teach- 
ing, being  thrown  upon  her  own  resources 
to  obtain  proper  clothing  and  to  prepare  the 
way  for  entrance  into  the  female  college  at 
Granville,  Ohio,  where  she  completed  a  four 
years"  course  in  three  years.  She  retired 
from  that  institution  eight  hundred  dollars 
in  debt.  Her  uncle,  Cyrus  Hartwell,  hear- 
ing of  this,  agreed  that  if  she  would  pay  the 
debt  in  four  years  by  her  own  efforts,  he 
would  make  her  a  present  of  live  humlred 
dollars.     She  did  it — so  did  he. 

"While  still  a  little  girl  in  pinafores  and 
pigtails  down  her  back,  she  contributed 
poems  to  the  local  papers  of  New  Hebron. 
She  loved  the  wild  and  weird  in  nature  and 
often  roamed  in  the  woods  alone  to  dream. 
Like  Joan  d'  Arc,  she  would  hear  voices  and 
songs  and  rippHng  laughter  and  the  verses 
would  come  to  her  without  effort.  An  eld- 
erly gentleman  of  rare  perception,  remarked 
that  while  her  poems  were  very  beautiful, 
her  field  lay  in  prose  story  telling,  and  ad- 
vised her  to  try  it.  Then  she  began  'seeing 
things'  as  Riley  says.  The  ambitious  im- 
planted in  her  being  by  the  elder  Hartwell 
took  entire  jjossession  of  her  and  the  future 
unrolletl  before  her.  She  foreshadowed  her 
destiny.  She  lielieved  her  career  had  been 
unveiled.  If  vigor  and  vim,  tireless  energy, 
unceasing  perseverance,  economy  and  pri- 
vations would  enable  her  to  win,  the  in- 
domitable determination  had  her  within  its 
grasp,   and   she  started   on  the  voyage  de- 


termined to  never  cease  until  she  had  reached 
the  goal.  Did  she  win,  my  friends?  Did 
the  little  homeless  orphan,  who  mastered  a 
four  years"  course  in  college  in  three  years 
by  working  nights,  Saturdays  and  holidays 
— did  she  win  ?  1  say  to  }'ou  that  Mary 
Hartwell  C'atherwood"s  name  will  be  em- 
blazoned in  glittering  gold  on  the  scroll  of' 
fame  lung  after  _\-ou  ;uid  1  are  dead  and  for- 
gotten. 

"She  wrote  a  short  serial  for  Frank  Les- 
lie— 'The  Mill-Scott  Million',  and  recei\-ed 
her  first  check.  Oh.  the  joy  of  that  first 
check !  The  hai)piness  wrapped  up  in  that 
first  commercial  recognition  of  her  brain 
work  was  far  and  away  beyond  the  size  of 
the  check.  The  new  ribbon  it  would  buy, 
and  gowns,  and  brooches,  and  the  many  lit- 
tle gim-cracks  and  furbelows  that  girls  love 
to  wear.  She  was  sa\-e(l.  The  die  was  cast. 
She  journeyed  out  into  the  woods  to  hold 
sweet  communion  with  her  very  own  self, 
and  to  tell  the  good  news  to  the  birds,  the 
trees,  and  the  llowcrs  and  to  the  voices  in  the 
air,  and  the  spirits  of  her  departed  parents. 
And  she  dreamed  of  the  day  when  Mary 
llartwell  would  ha\-e  a  whole  library  of 
books  all  of  her  own  composition.  Wasn't 
that  a  ray  of  sunshine  through  the  rift  in 
the  clouds  that  had  hovered  over  her  from 
the  da\-  of  lier  mother's  death?  Then  she 
began  contributing  to  the  lesser  magazines 
— I.ippincott,  Wide  Awake,  (jolden  Hours, 
Wood's  Household.  Youth's  Companion — 
rdl  short  stories.  The  Wide  Awake  Com- 
pany published  foiu"  of  her  ju\'eniles  that 
met  with  immediate  ])o])ularity  and  have 
since  liecome  classics.  Then  she  was  re- 
c|nested  to  contribute  to  a  magazine  called 
'Outing".  She  demanded  a  deposit  of 
twentv-five  dollars  in  advance,  which  was 
cheerfully  comi)Iie(l  with.  She  forwarded 
the  storv  and  in  due  course  it  was  returned, 


212 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


scratcheel,  interlined  and  obliterated,  with  a 
request  to  make  some  alterations.  The  de- 
mand was  unjust  and  she  knew  it.  But  her 
carefully  prepareil  manuscript  was  practi- 
cally ruined.  She  refused  to  comply  with 
their  demand  and  also  retained  the  retainer, 
which  was  entirely  satisfactory  to  the  pulj- 
lishers.  Some  time  later  they  requested  her 
to  submit  them  another,  and  this  one,  prov- 
ing exactly,  in  harmony  with  their  ideas 
they  accepted  and  remitted  promptly,  but  de- 
ducted the  twenty-five  dollars  which  they 
had  advanced  on  the  other  article.  Then 
there  was  an  earth(|uake.  But  it  was  not 
destructive. 

"As  Mrs.  Catherwood  is  present  this 
e\'ening  I  feel  perfectly  safe  in  anuduncing 
that  slie  was  born  in  18 — 47.  Thirty  years 
later  she  was  married  in  the  house  on  the 
Perkins  farm,  northwest  of  this  city.  Then 
a  few  years  later  came  her  baby  boy,  who 
remained  to  bless  the  union  but  a  moment, 
then  passed  on  to  the  higher  life.  It  was 
during  this  periled  of  sorrow  following  that 
she  conceixed  'The  Romance  of  Dollard,'  in 
the  preparation  of  which  she  lived  for  a  time 
in  Canada,  and  was  about  three  years  in  get- 
ting it  ready  for  the  publishers.  I  doubt  if 
there  is  a  person  in  this  audience  who  knows 
that  the  publishers  to  wdiom  she  first  sub- 
mitted that  beautiful  historical  romance  de- 
clined it.  but  such  is  the  fact.  Harpers  re- 
turned it.  It  was  then  for  the  first  time  that 
Mrs.  Catherwood  faltered  by  the  wayside. 
Her  heart  was  cracking  and  breaking  up  into 
bits,  and  she  was  thoroughly  discouraged. 
And  it  was  here  that  her  husband  came  in 
with  one  of  his  beautiful  songs:  'Ne\-er 
Give  L'p  the  Ship,  Mary,'  and  said  'Go  down 
to  New  York  and  beard  the  lion  in  his  den,' 
and  in  a  few  days  she  was  in  the  office  of  the 
Century,  proud,  independent  and  defiant,  but 
quaking  inwardlv.     She  submitted  the  work 


to  Mr.  Gilder,  the  editor,  who  inc|uired  as 
to  the  nature  of  it.  'It  is  a  serial — an  his- 
torical romance."  'Aiy  dear  matlam,'  ex- 
ciamied  the  kind  old  man,  'don't  you  know 
that  we  can't  use  that  class  of  work  here  in 
New  York?"  She  arose,  and  there  was  the 
smell  of  burning  tow  somewhere  about  the 
premises.  'Mr.  Gilder,  will  you  do  me  the 
lavor  of  reading  that  manuscript?'  T  will 
send,  it  out  to  our  regular  reader  and  when 
it  is  returned  then  1  will  read  it.  But  there 
is  just  as  much  chance  of  your  being  struck 
l)y  lightning  as  there  is  of  our  acceptance  of 
your  work  and  publication  as  you  desire  it. 
As  it  will  be  several  days  before  we  can  give 
>'ou  a  reply,  you  need  not  be  to  the  trouble 
and  expense  of  remaining-  in  New  York. 
Leave  me  your  address  and  I  will  write  you.' 

"Richard  W^atson  Gilder  had  been  up 
against  propositions  of  various  kinds  in  his 
long  experience  in  the  ]nil)lishing  Ijusiness, 
but  he  did  not  know  ]\[rs.  Catherwood. 

"  'I  will  remain  in  New  York,  Mr.  Gilder, 
until  you  accept  or  reject  that  work.' 

".\  few  days  later  IMr.  Gilder  notified 
Mrs.  Catherwood  that  lightning  had 
struck,  to  call  at  the  ofiice  and  get  her  check. 

"Idiat  publication  elevated  her  into  a 
conspicuous  position  among  the  literary  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States,  and  the  demand 
upon  her  pen  from  all  the  leading-  publish- 
ing houses  was  so  great  she  was  unable  to 
onlv  i^iartially  meet  it.  She  was  called  the 
Parkman  of  the  west  and  as  Francis  Park- 
\r:m  was  the  most  famous  historical  writer 
and  romancer  of  the  past  generation,  no 
greater  compliment  could  have  been  be- 
stowed u]ion  her.  She  received  a  personal 
letter  of  congratulation  from  that  eminent 
man,  complimenting  her  accuracy  of  detail 
and  correctness  of  data,  and  expressing  a 
wish  to  make  her  acquaintance.  'It  is  so 
rare.'   he  remarked,   'in   our   latter  da^•  his- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


213 


torical  romances  to  find  the  historical  facts 
so  accurately  portrayed".  This  was  one  of 
Mrs.  Catherwood's  most  conspicuous  char- 
acteristics. Her  descriptions  are  perfect 
and  from  nature.  Her  facts  are  derived 
from  personal  observation  and  contact.  Her 
characters,  with  few  exceptions,  are  real. 
W'e  all  lo\-e  history  and  when  we  can  ha\e  it 
interspersed  with  facinating  romance  we 
lo\e  it  all  the  more.  She  loved  to  visit  the 
ruins  of  the  forgotten  past  and  live  over 
again  in  her  imagination  the  tragedies  and 
comedies  enacted  there.  If  there  w-as  an  old 
hermit  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity — Indian, 
Frenchman,  Englishman  or  American — she 
would  spend  hours  with  him,  pulling  his- 
torical chestnuts  out  of  the  coals  with  the 
tongs  of  his  retenti\'e  memory,  .And  thus 
slie  broadened  into  the  field  which  she  has 
occupied  for  two  decades  without  a  success- 
ful rival. 

"Seventeen  years  ago  this  night,  Mrs. 
President,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
blessed  by  the  arrival  of  a  daughter,  anil 
Hazel  has  indeed  proven  a  blessed  comfort 
to  her  mother.  W'e  are  celebrating  the  an- 
niversary of  that  happy  event.  Cheerful- 
ness, ambition,  energy,  determination,  all 
came  rushing  back  to  her  upon  the  advent  of 
the  little  sunbeam.  And  then  followed  in 
due  coiu'se  some  of  the  most  remarkable  pro- 
ductions of  historical  remance  in  the  whole 
scope  and  range  of  American  literature. 

"Did  you  know^  that  ]\Irs.  Cathervvood 
in  her  earlier  career  contributed  columns  and 
columns  of  stories  to  various  publications 
under  a  nom  de  plume?  Do  any  of  you  re- 
member reading  short  fiction  sketches  writ- 
ten by  one  'Lewtrah?''  the  name  Hartwell 
spelled  backward?  Did  you  ever  read  the 
novel  'A  Woman  in  Armor?'  Mrs.  Cather- 
wood  is  not  at  all  proud  of  that  work.  But 
from  Tontv  to  Lazarre,  the  record  is  with- 


out a  blemish.  Lazarre  is  the  last  ami  great- 
est and  l)rightest  of  the  whole  gala.xy.  It  is 
the  climax  of  her  career.  She  may  write  an- 
other as  gooil,  but  none  better. 

"Those  of  us  who  knew  her  ijest  will  re- 
member her  not  onlv  for  her  literary  attain- 
ments, but  also  for  her  home  accomplish- 
ments. .\s  a  wife,  as  a  mother,  as  a  neigh- 
bor, she  was  an  exemplary  character.  There 
was  no  envy  there,  no  jealousies,  no  bick- 
erings. Because  of  her  great  renown  as  a 
gifted  author,  we  feel  honored  to  have  been 
classed  among  her  intimate  friends.  And 
our  babies  a  few  years  ago,  who  were  her 
■Rosel)uds"  in  the  Sunday-school  will  some 
day  be  proud  of  that  distinction. 

"It  required  a  struggle  for  Maiy  Hart- 
well  Catherwood  to  give  up  her  home  and 
.sever  the  friendly  ties  of  this  city.  She  was 
married  here,  her  children  were  born  here, 
and  her  little  boy  sleeps  in  Floral  Hill.  She 
loved  the  people,  she  loved  the  town,  she 
loved  the  country.  But  she  in  early  life 
mai>ped  out  her  career,  and  she  felt  that  she 
had  not  vet  reached  the  zenith,  and  could  not 
with  the  limited  resources  at  her  demand. 
So  she  resolved,  very  reluctantly,  to  leave 
us  for  a  time  and  climb  the  heights  of  fame. 
She  is  almost  at  the  top,  and  when  she 
reaches  the  summit  she  will  come  liack  to  us 
and  when  she  comes  we  will  all  extend  to 
her  the  glad  hand  and  cordial  greeting  of 
true  friends. 


"Ill  .-lII  my  wanderings  aronnd  this  world  of  care, 

In  all  my  griefs — and  God  has  given  my  share — 

I  still  have  hopes  my  latest  hours  to  crown, 

Amidst  those  humble  bow'r,';  to  lay  me  down  ; 

To  husband  out  lifes  taper  at  the  clo.se. 

And  keep  the  fiame  from  wasting,  by  reptise. 

I  still  have  hopes,  for  pride  attends  us  still, 

.•\midst  the  friends  to  show  my  book-learn'd  skill; 

.Around  mv  fire  an  evening  group  to  draw. 

.And  tell  of  all  I  felt,  and  all  I  saw ; 

And,  as  a  hare,  whom  hound  and  horns  pursue. 

Pant's  to  the  place  from  wdience  at  first  she  flew, 

I  still  have  hopes,  my  long  vexations  past.^^ 

Here  to  return — and  died  at  home  at  last." 


214 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  little  maiden  reared  in  a  back- 
woods district  had  attained  national  fame, 
but  more  than  that  she  had  won  love  in 
countless  homes  throughout  the  country. 
Her  friends  were  among-  the  most  distin- 
guished literary  people  of  the  country,  drawn 
to  her  by  the  kindest  spirit  of  genius  and 
congeniality,  and  when  she  passed  away  in 
Chicago,  December  26,  1902,  the  news  of 
her  demise  was  received  as  that  of  a  dear 
friend  by  thousands  throughout  the  United 
States.  James  W'hitcomb  Riley  had  the 
highest  appreciation  for  her  work  and  said 
that  her  death  to  his  mind  was  a  distinct  loss 
to  the  fraternity  of  letters.  He  spoke  of  her 
as  being  conspicuous  for  her  industr}-,  sin- 
cerity and  conscience.  He  sent  his  floral 
tribute  when  death  called  her  as  did  the 
Bowen-Merrill  Publishing  Company  of  In- 
dianapolis, Otis  Skinner,  who  is  now  play- 
ing the  dramatization  of  her  Lazarre,  and 
many  others  of  note,  together  with  countless 
friends  from  her  home  town.  Her  life  work 
is  ended,  but  Mary  Hartwell  Catherwood 
has  joined  "that  choir  invisible  who  live 
again  in  Hves  made  better  by  their  presence." 


THOMAS  HUGHES. 

Thomas  Hughes  is  a  well  known  and 
prosperous  farmer  residing  on  section  15, 
Vance  township,  \'ermilion  county.  Illinois. 
In  his  Hfe  he  exemplified  the  typical  "self- 
made  man,"  for  all  that  he  has  acquired  has 
been  secured  through  his  own  industrious 
efforts.  He  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  28,  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Musick) 
Hughes,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
tliey  were  reared  and  married.  The  father 
engaged  in  coal  mining  and  followed  that  oc- 


cupation for  t\vent_\--fi\e  years.  In  1856  they 
removed  to  Indiana,  and  in  1866  came  to 
\'ance  township,  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
making  their  home  with  the  subject  of  this 
review  who  had  come  to  Vermilion  county 
in  1S64.  John  Hughes  was  a  member  of  the 
English  Lutheran  church  and  his  wife  was 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  church.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  his  political  views  but  always  declined 
to  accept  oilice.  The  father  died  in  1871,  and 
the  mother,  surviving  him  for  seven  years, 
passed  away  in  1878.  In  their  family  were 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  grew  to  years  of 
vnaturity  and  four  are  still  living,  name- 
ly ;  John,  who  is  a  resident  of  Concordia, 
Kansas;  Thomas,  of  this  review;  ]\Iary,  the 
wife  of  James  A.  Burk,  who  lives  at  Bement, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  brother  of  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  and  Lydia,  who  resides  in  Fair- 
mount,  Illinois. 

Thomas  Hughes  had  but  limited  edu- 
cational privileges.  He  was  only  able  to  at- 
tend school  for  three  months,  which  was  all 
the  schooling  he  ever  received.  This  was 
a  subscription  school,  conducted  in  a  small 
frame  schoolhouse  in  Ramsay  Grove.  His 
father  was  not  a  man  of  means,  and  having 
a  large  family  of  children  he  could  not  pro- 
vide them  with  the  educational  advantages 
he  would  have  liked.  When  the  subject  of 
this  review  was  only  ten  years  of  age  his-  fa- 
ther put  him  out  to  work,  where  he  received 
his  board  and  clothes  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  obtained  employment 
as  a  farm  hand  at  two  dollars  per  month  and 
board.  After  this  his  salary  was  increased 
to  three  dollars  and  four  dollars  per  month 
respectively,  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age.  His  father  considered  that  he  was 
rather  extravagant  in  the  way  he  spent  his 
"large  salary"  of  four  dollars  per  month. 
Accordingly  he  hired  him  out  to  a  farmer 


LIBRARY 

OF    TME 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THOMAS  HUGHES. 


MRS.  THOMAS  HUGHES. 


UNIVtKollY   Oh   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


219 


for  thirty  dollars  for  six  moiitlis'  service  or 
five  dollars  per  month,  and  of  this  the  father 
received  one-half.  Mr.  Hughes  worked 
hard,  doing-  his  full  share  of  the  work, 
swinging  a  cradle  side  by  side  with  full 
grown  men  and  working  in  the  harvest  field 
all  day  long.  Later  he  concluded  to  change 
his  occupation  and  learn  a  trade,  becoming 
apprenticed  to  a  carpenter,  but  when  work- 
ing on  the  tall  buildings  he  became  dizzy  and 
ga\e  up  that  occupation.  He  then  worked 
with  his  father  in  the  coal  mines  during  one 
W'inter  and  in  the  spring  became  apprenticed 
to  a  blacksmith,  w'ith  wdiom  he  made  a  con- 
tract to  work  for  three  and  one-half  years, 
and  in  compensation  for  his  services  he  was 
to  receive  his  board  and  clothing  and  at  the 
end  of  the  time  he  was  to  receive  a  suit  of 
clothes  besides  three  months'  schooling.  He 
labored  hard  in  this  position  for  three  years, 
often  working  until  twelve  o'clock  at  night, 
shoeing  horses  and  performing  other  duties. 
During  that  time  he  did  not  i"eceive  one  dol- 
lar, scarcely  presentable  clothing  and  his 
board.  He  then  worked  for  three  months 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  former  em- 
ployer, working  for  him  for  six  months  and 
receiving  a  salary  of  eleven  dollars  per 
month.  He  next  entered  the  employ  of  con- 
tractors who  were  constructing  a  large  dam. 
He  made  the  iron  work  for  this  and  received 
eighteen  dollars  per  month  for  his  services. 
This  was  the  heaviest  kind  of  labor. 

On  the  nth  of  Novemljer,  1852,  in 
^^'estmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  Air. 
Hughes  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
jNIartha  J.  Sanders,  who  was  born  May  16, 
1837,  and  died -March  17,  1858.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Robin- 
son) Sanders,  who  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.     Her  father  was  a  laborer  and  in 


politics  was  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  Hughes  was 
one  of  a  family  of  eight  children,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living,  as  follows :  John, 
Snllie,  Charity,  the  wife  of  \\'illiam  Irvin, 
and  Mrs.  Wilson,  all  residents  of  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania.  Unto  Mr. 
Hughes  and  his  wife  were  born  two  chil- 
dren: John,  born  December  27,  1853,  "lar- 
ried  Mary  Jester,  February  8,  1881,  and 
died  in  October,  1899.  ^^^  widow  is  now 
living  in  Catlin  township,  Vermilion  county, 
with  their  only  child.  Pearl.  Janies,  born 
December  18,  1856,  was  married  Novem- 
\ier  12,  1884,  to  Miss  Effie  Rice,  and  they 
have  one  child.  Earl.  He  is  a  painter  by 
trade  and  they  make  their  home  in  Danville. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  .Hughes  removed 
to  a  small  town  in  Pennsylvania,  near  where 
there  were  some  extensi\e  coal  mines.  Here 
he  opened  up  a  shop  and  began  housekeep- 
ing in  a  miner's  shanty.  He  had  not  a  dol- 
lar in  the  world  but  he  possessed  energy  and 
determination  and  with  the  assistance  of  a 
friend  he  was  enabled  to  buy  his  tools  and 
furnish  his  home,  going  in  debt  to  the  ex- 
tent of  two  hundred  dollars.  Within  a  year 
he  paid  off  this  indebtedness  besides  earning 
his  li\'ing,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  he 
had  cleared  five  hundred  dollars.  He  then 
removed  to  Parke  county,  Indiana,  and 
opened  a  similar  shop  for  himself.  There  he 
remained  for  nine  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
wife,  whose  death  occurred  March  17,  1858. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1859,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  again  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  Xancy  V.  Burks,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  in  Parke  county,  Indiana. 
She  was  born  March  16,  1830,  in  tliat  state 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Louisa  (Van 
Cleve)  Burks,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Kentucky.  The  father  was  born  October 
17.  1802,  and  died  Februarv  21.  1878.   The 


220 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mother's  liirth  occurretl  December  13,  180J, 
and  she  died  about  1S96.  This  couple  were 
married  in  Kentucky  in  1825.  ]Mr.  Burks 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  removed  to 
Parke  county,  IncUana,  in  tlie  "30s.  There  he 
entered  land  and  lived  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  member  and  an  officer  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  and  in  politics  was  a 
Republican.  He  was  the  father  of  eleven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living : 
James  A.,  a  resident  of  Bement,  Illinois; 
A'ancy,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  Louisa  J., 
the  widow  of  Alex  Breckenridge  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Putnam  county,  Indiana,  and  Moses 
R.,  of  Parke  county,  Indiana. 

By  his  second  marriage  [Mr.  Hughes  has 
six  children.  George,  born  ]\Iarch  11,  1861, 
was  married  December  30,  1886,  to  Dora 
Parish.  They  have  two  children,  Charles 
A.  and  Cora,  and  reside  in  Vance  township 
on  the  old  homestead  farm.  William  B., 
born  July  22,  1863,  was  married  February 
18,  1890,  to  Fanny  Garners,  and  also  re- 
sides on  the  old  home  farm.  He  is  traveling 
representative  of  the  Modern  Woodmen. 
Mary  L.,  born  July  24,  1868,  died  Novem- 
ber I,  iS6q.  Charles  '\i..  born  September 
13,  1866,  died  June  18,  1894.  An  infant 
boy  was  born  and  died  on  the  7th  day  of 
Alarch,  1865.  An  infant  daughter  \\as  born 
and  died  on  the  22d  of  June,  1870.  ]\Irs. 
Hughes  also  has  a  daughter  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, iNIargery  A.,  who  was  born  April  29, 
1S4S,  imd  was  married  December  24,  1874, 
to  Robert  ^McXott.  She  died  June  3,  1896, 
and  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  two  of 
whom,  FJarry  and  Nellie,  are  still  living. 

In  July,  1862.  Mr.  Hughes  enlisted  for 
sixty  davs"  service  in  the  L'nion  army,  join- 
ing Company  D  of  the  Seventy-eighth  \'o\- 
unteer  Infantry.  He  took  part  in  th.e  battle 
of  L'niontown,  Kentucky,  and  was  stationed 
on  the  border  line  between  Kentuckv  and  In- 


diana. He  and  his  company  were  captured 
by  the  Rebels,  but  they  were  soon  paroled. 
His  service  embraced  forty-five  days. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Hughes  brought  his  family 
to  \'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  at  eight  dollars 
per  acre.  This  was  prairie  land,  unim- 
proved and  wild.  But  few  settlers  were  in 
the  county  at  the  time  and  wild  game  was 
plentiful,  including  prairie-chickens,  geese, 
ducks  and  deer.  The  prairie  wolves  were 
also  numerous  and  often  howled  at  night 
near  the  pioneer  home.  Fairmount  was  then 
a  town  consisting  of  one-half  dozen  houses 
and  three  stores.  ]\Ir.  Hughes  erected  a 
comfortable  frame  house  of  three  rooms — 
the  finest  and  largest  in  the  vicinity,  in  1864. 
In  1865  he  purchased  an  additional  eiglity 
acres  adjoining  his  original  purchase,  at  fif- 
teen dollars  per  acre,  giving  his  note  in  se- 
curity for  payment.  This  land  he  cultivated 
and  improved,  making  additional  purchases 
as  the  years  passed  and  he  accumulated  the 
capital,  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  two 
huntlred  and  ninety  acres  in  \'ance  and  Cat- 
lin  townships.  His  residence  stands  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Vance  township.  His  home  is  com- 
modious, pleasant  and  attractive  in  appear- 
ance, and  he  has  on  his  place  large  and  sub- 
stantial barns  and  all  necessary  buildings. 
He  also  owns  city  property  in  Marshall, 
Illinois,  yir.  Hughes  is  a  member  of  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  church  of  Jamaica,  be- 
ing a  trustee,  steward  and  district  stewartl  in 
the  same.  He  is  a  prominent  Republican 
and  has  been  associated  with  the  party  since 
1856,  the  year  of  its  organization.  Before 
that  he  was  a  Whig".  Fie  has  held  some  of 
the  offices  in  his  tow  nship.  A  man  of  genial 
manner,  a  delightful  companion  and  a  true 
friend,  he  has  won  the  esteem  and  regard  of 
all  with  w  hom  he  has  been  associated.  The 
sterling   characteristics    which   he   possesses 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


221 


h:i\e  won  for  him  success  and  prominence 
and  he  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  wealthy  men  of  \'ermilion 
county. 


ALBERT  G.  OLMSTED. 

Albert  G.  Olmsted,  whose  connection 
with  pioneer  interests  in  Vermilion  county 
has  made  his  life  record  a  part  of  the  his- 
tory of  this  section  of  the  state,  was  born 
October  14,  1831,  in  the  vicinity  of  James- 
town, Chautaucjua  county.  New  York.  He 
is  descended  from  Puritan  ancestry,  his 
forefathers  having  been  numbered  among 
the  early  residents  of  New  England.  Later 
generations  of  the  family  became  pioneers 
of  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  the  grand- 
parents and  parents  of  our  suliject  spend- 
ing much  of  their  lives  here.  The  Olmsted 
family  purchased  a  Mexican  land  warrant 
in  the  early  days  for  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-five dollars,  and  for  this  amount  secured 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unbroken 
land,  which,  howe^■er,  they  never  impro\-ed. 
Later  owing  to  the  rise  in  land  values  they 
sold  it  for  one  thousand  dollars.  George 
and  Hannah  ( Roberts)  Olmsted.  the* 
grandparents  of  our  subject,  were  natives 
of  New  England,  and  in  1839  they  emi- 
grated from  their  Ohio  home  to  Illinois, 
with  the  father  of  our  subject,  the  grand- 
father dying  in  this  cotinty  two  years  later. 
His  widow  did  not  long  survive  him,  pass- 
ing away  in  September,  1843.  Their  son, 
Stanley  Olmsted,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Hartford.  Connecticut,  and 
was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  ]iioneer 
life  both  in  the  Buckeye  state  and  in  the 
Prairie  state.  After  reaching  years  of  ma- 
turity he  wedded  Almira  Green,  a  native 
10 


of  Vermont  and  they  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  farm  near  Jamestown,  Chau- 
tauqua count V,  .\'ew  York,  where  his  father 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  several 
years,  de\eloping  a  farm  in  the  midst  of 
the  prime\-al  forest  in  that  section  of  the 
country.  lie  subsepuently  removed  from 
there  with  his  family  to  Marietta,  Wash- 
ington count}',  Ohio,  but  when  tive  years 
had  passed  he  again  started  upon  his  west- 
ward way  and  in  1S39  came  to  Vermilion 
count}',  making  the  joiu'ney  down  the  Ohio 
river  and  up  the  Wabash  river  to  Perrys- 
ville,  whence  he  went  to  what  is  now  known 
as  Batestiiwn.  lie  settled  in  that  vicinity 
among  the  pioneers  of  ?.  new  district.  For 
some  time  he  operated  what  was  known  as 
the  Olmsted  sawmill  and  in  adtlition  to 
manufactiu'ing  lumber  he  engaged  in  build- 
ing flatboats.  That  was  the  only  mill  where 
such  boats  were  built  and  he  turned  out 
more  than  an}'  other  man  in  this  section  of 
the  countr}'.  He  became  prominent  and  in- 
fluential in  public  affairs  and  was  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  His  death, 
which  occurred  in  1848,  robl)ed  the  com- 
munity of  a  valued  citizen.  When  ten 
years  had  passed  his  widow  became  the  wife 
of  Thomas  W.  Douglass.  She  has  lived 
an  earnest  Christian  life,  being  a  dcxdut 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Of  the  ten  children  born  unto  Stanley 
Olmsted  and  his  wife,  Albert  G.  Olmsted 
was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  He  was 
but  eight  vears  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
emigration  of  the  familx'  lo  X'erniilion 
county  and  he  i)ursued  his  education  in  a 
log  schoolhouse.  furnished  with  slab 
benches  and  an  immense  fire  place.  An 
entire  log  would  be  hauled  into  the  schor)!- 
room  and  laid  across  the  fire  and  as  the 
middle   portion   was   burned   it  was   pushed 


222 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


o\-er  into  the  embers  until  it  was  entirely 
coiisuinecl.  The  greater  part  nf  his  boy- 
hood was  passed  in  Danville  and  Catlin 
townships.  He  can  remember  how  in  his 
early  days,  before  the  introduction  of 
matches,  fires  were  started  by  striking  flint 
together  until  the  sparks  ignited  tow  which 
was  furnished  for  that  purpose,  and  often 
when  these  necessaries  were  not  to  be  bail 
the  neighbors  would  borrow  from  each 
other.  All  cooking  was  done  in  the  old 
fire  place,  pots  and  kettles  hanging  from 
the  crane  while  the  baking  was  done  in  a 
skillet  placed  among  the  coals.  The  young 
girls  went  liarefooted  to  and  from  church 
services,  onlv  wearing  their  shoes  during 
the  time  of  meeting,  thus  practicing  econo- 
my, which  was  an  important  element  in 
that  pioneer  period.  On  one  occasion  Mr. 
Olmsted  drove  an  ox-cart  to  church,  his 
grandmother  and  mother  riding  in  the  cart 
while  he  walked  beside  it  with  pants  rolled 
up  to  keep  out  of  the  dirt  of  the  road.  Camp 
meetings  were  frequently  heUl  in  the  for- 
ests, candles  being  fastened  to  the  bushes  to 
provide  light.  Mr.  Olmsted  w-as  about  sev- 
enteen years  of  age  when  his  father  died. 
He  never  li\-ed  in  anything  but  a  log  house 
until  the  second  summer  after  his  marriage. 
After  his  father's  death  the  support  of  the 
family  largely  devolved  upon  him.  He 
rented  land  and  began  farming,  his  first 
plow  having  a  wooden  mold  board.  To 
cultivate  grain  he  used  a  single  shovel  plow 
and  single  rope  line,  leather  harness  being 
not  then  in  general  use.  He  cut  grain  with 
a  cradle  and  when  he  was  plowing  the  lady 
who  liecame  his  wife,  then  a  maiden  of  six- 
teen years,  dropped  corn  for  him  in  the  fur- 
rows, never  thinking  then  of  the  marriage 
which  was  afterward  to  take  place.  T\Tr. 
Olmsted  has  seen  many  changes  made  in 


the  machinery  and  farm  im].)lements  and 
has  always  kept  in  touch  with  the  general 
])rogress. 

On  the  22d  of  July,  1855.  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Albert  G.  Olmstetl  and 
Elizalieth  Ann  \\'rig"ht.  who  was  born  in 
this  count}',  September  22,  1832,  a  daughter 
(jf  Thomas  X.  and  ]\lary  Brown  (San- 
dusk})  Wright,  who  were  natives  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Olmsted  was 
bom  on  the  old  homestead  which  now  be- 
longs to  our  subject,  it  having  formerly 
been  the  jiropertv  of  her  parents.  She  was 
a  splendid  housekeeper  and  a  most  ener- 
g'etic  woman.  She  spun  and  colored  the 
yarn  and  made  most  of  the  clothing  for  the 
family  and  i\Ir.  Olmsted  has  in  his  posses- 
sion two  beautiful  quilts  for  which  "she  spun 
and  colored  the  yarn  in  1858.  Hers  was 
also  a  hospitable  home  and  the  stranger 
was  always  welcome  there.  Her  parents 
were  nati\es  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky, 
and  when  her  father  was  nineteen  years  of 
age  and  her  mother  twenty  they  came  to 
A'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  were  mar- 
ried six  weeks  later,  in  1831.  near  Indian- 
ola,  immediately  afterward  settling  on  a 
farm  which  is  now  the  propertv  of  Mr. 
Olmsted.  There  Air.  \\'right  l)uilt  a  log 
cabin.  His  wife  died  May  31,  1851.  leav- 
ing five  children  of  whom  Airs.  Olmsted 
was  the  eldest.  Air.  Wright  afterward 
married  Nancy  Dougherty  and  he  died  No- 
vember 18.  1872,  on  the  old  homestead 
which  he  developed  from  a  wild  prairie.  It 
was  upon  this  same  farm  that  five  children 
were  born  nnto  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
Alary  B.,  now  the  wife  of  John  H.  Palmer; 
Charles,  who  married  Agnes  Emmett, 
who.se  death  occurred  November  17.  1887; 
^^"illiam  C.  who  married  Eva  Beck: 
George  E..  who  wedded  Nora  Champion,  of 


*     LIBRARY 
OF   THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


M.  B.  BAILEY. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


225 


Catlin,  Illinois;  and  Albert  C.  who  married 
Bessie  Da\is  and  is  now  a  bookkeeper  in 
the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  llli- 
nciis  Railroad.  Mr.  Olmsted  also  has  eight 
grandchildren. 

.\fter  their  marriage  the  parents  located 
up'in  a  rented  farm  in  Catlin  township, 
w  liich  was  their  home  for  several  years  and 
after  that  ]\Ir.  Olmsted  pnrchased  a  place 
in  the  \illage  of  Catlin.  He  says  the  first 
beds  he  e\'er  saw  used  were  made  of  a  few 
posts  nailed  together  and  the  bedding  placed 
upon  them.  The  houses  were  built  of  round 
logs.  In  these  early  days  he  used  to  haul 
corn  and  pork  to  river  towns.  Attica  and 
other  places,  and  he  would  go  to  Lafayette, 
Indiana,  to  have  his  wool  carded.  Danville 
was  the  main  trading  point  in  these  early 
days  and  was  but  a  \-illage.  After  remov- 
ing to  Catlin  he  continued  to  rent  land  for 
three  years.  In  1867,  the  second  year  after 
the  purchase  of  the  county  farm,  he  was  aji- 
pointed  its  superintendent  and  owing  to  his 
kindness  to  the  inmates  and  his  efficiency 
he  was  retained  in  that  position  for  eight 
years,  after  which  he  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, desiring  to  invest  in  a  farm  on  his  own 
account.  He  then  became  the  owner  of  the 
property,  which  he  now  possesses  on  section 
23.  Catlin  township,  Mrs.  Olmsted  ha\'ing 
inherited  a  portion  of  this  land,  while  our 
subject  purchased  the  remainder.  He  now 
has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the 
neighborhood,  supplied  with  good  substan- 
tial Iniildings  and  a  splendid  farm  residence, 
where  he  and  his  wife  resided  happily  to- 
gether for  many  years.  He  then  retired  to 
Catlin.  where  he  has  now  resided  for  nine- 
years.  Airs.  Olmsted  lived  to  rear  and  edu- 
cate her  family  and  departed  this  life  Jnl>- 
26,  1901.  She  was  indeed  a  devoted  and 
loving  wife  and  mother,  her  manv  excellent 


qualities  endeiU'ing  her  to  all  with  whom  she 
came  in  contact.  She  was  ever  kindly  and 
charitable  and  her  good  deeds  were  many. 
.Mr.  Olmsted  has  long  been  itlentihed 
with  the  Vermilion  County  Fair  Association 
and  tor  se\-en  years  he  acted  as  gatekeejier. 
He  serx'cd  for  tw(j  years  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  sui)er\'isors.  as  school  trustee  for 
ele\'en  years  and  his  incuml)ency  in  the  office 
of  school  director  dates  back  to  a  period  al- 
most beyond  his  memory.  He  has  served 
as  judge  of  elections  for  several  years  and 
has  been  deeply  identified  with  the  upbuild- 
ing and  progress  of  the  county  along  social, 
material,  moral  and  intellectual  lines.  Hi' 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyter- 
ian church,  of  which  he  is  now  serving  as  a 
trustee  and  he  belongs  to  Catlin  Lodge,  No. 
285,  I"".  &  A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  ser\'ed  as 
master.  Politically  he  is  a  Democrat  and  h;. 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  militia 
during  the  call  for  the  draft.  The  history 
of  Vermilion  count}'  is  indeed  a  familiar 
one  to  him.  becatise  of  his  active  connection 
\\ith  man\-  interests  which  have  contributed 
to  the  general  progress  and  im])ro\-ement 
here,  from  pioneer  times  down  to  the  [ires- 
ent.  He  has  so  lived  that  his  name  is  a 
synonym  of  honor  and  no  man  is  more  de- 
serving of  respect  in  this  community  than 
\lfred   r;.   Olmsted. 


M.  B.  B.MLEV. 


Whatever  else  may  be  said  of  the  legal 
fraternitv,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  members 
of  the  bar  have  been  more  prominent  actors 
in  jjublic  affairs  than  any  other  class  of 
.\mcrican  ])eople.  The  ability  and  training 
which    qualify    one    to    ])ractice    law    also 


226 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


qualify  liiin  in  many  respects  for  the  duties 
which  He  outside  the  strict  path  of  his  pro- 
fession and  which  touch  the  general  interests 
of  society.  The  subject  of  this  record  is  a 
man  who  has  brought  liis  keen  discrimina- 
tion antl  tliornugh  wisdom  to  bear  not  alone 
in  professional  paths  but  for  the  benefit  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lives,  and  he  is 
now  serving  as  mayor  of  Danville  and  state 
senator  from  the  twenty-second  senatorial 
district  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  one  of  Vermilion  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Indianola,  January  23,  1858.  He 
parents  were  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Brackall) 
Bailey.  After  attending  the  public  schools 
of  Georgetown  for  some  time  he  entered 
Earlham  College,  an  old  Quaker  school  at 
Richmond,  Indiana,  and  on  leaving  that  in- 
stitution was  a  student  at  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Normal,  Illinois,  for  a  time.  In 
1883  he  matriculated  at  Columbia  College, 
Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  the  law  department  in  1885.  The  follow- 
ing year  took  a  post-graduate  course 
there  and  was  granted  the  degree  of  Master 
and  Bachelor  of  Law. 

Prior  to  taking  up  the  study  of  law  Mr. 
Bailey  had  taught  school  in  Georgetown 
township  and  also  worked  on  a  farm.  In 
1879  he  went  to  Colorado  and  spent  three 
years  in  the  siher  mines  near  Lead\'ille.  On 
his  return  east  he  was  offered  a  position  in 
the  treasury  department  at  \\'ashington,  D. 
C  and  while  there  he  pursued  his  law 
studies  at  Columbia  College.  He  began 
practice  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  but  only 
remained  there  a  short  time,  returning  ti) 
Danville  on  the  death  of  his  mother  in  1888, 
and  soon  afterward  he  opened  an  office  in 
this  city.  In  1889  he  again  went  to  Wash- 
ington to  accept  the  position  of  chief  of  the 
law    division    of    the    jjcnsion    bureau    and 


served  in  that  capacity  until  1892,  when  we 
again  find  him  in  Danville.  Here  he  has 
since  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion and  has  met  with  most  desirable  suc- 
cess. 

On  the  iSth  of  January.  1899.  'Sir. 
Bailey  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy 
Payne,  a  native  of  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  and 
one  of  the  four  children  born  to  Senator 
Payne  and  his  wife.  Her  parents  were  also 
natives  of  Rock  Island.  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Bailey  have  one  child,  Joseph,  born  Decem- 
ber 6,  1899. 

Since  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Bailey 
has  taken  quite  an  active  and  prominent  part 
in  public  affairs,  and  in  1894  was  elected  to 
the  thirty-ninth  general  assembly,  being  a 
member  of  the  lower  house  for  two  consecu- 
tive terms.  In  1898  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republican  party  for  state  senator,  but 
iiwing  to  the  supreme  court's  decision  on  the 
apportionment  bill  no  vacancy  existed.  He 
was  again  nominated,  howe\er,  in  1900  and 
this  time  was  elected  by  a  good  majority. 
He  became  quite  a  prominent  and  influential 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  in  the  thirty- 
ninth  and  fortieth  assemblies  he  served  on 
the  judiciary,  building  and  loan,  assessment 
and  insurance  committees,  of  which  he  was 
also  a  member  after  entering  the  senate.  He 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  school  board 
law,  regulating  the  power  of  the  Ijoards  and 
decreasing  the  cost  of  text  books.  He  also 
worked  hard  to  get  a  bill  passed  reducing 
the  rate  on  railroads  from  three  to  two  cents 
and  prohibiting  passes,  and  took  a  special 
interest  in  mining  leg'islation,  being  instru- 
mental in  getting  a  purer  grade  of  oil  to  be 
sold  to  the  miners  and  also  a  law  passed  pro- 
viding the  wages  for  labor  should  be  paid  in 
cash  and  thus  doing  away  with  the  truck 
store  system.  He  also  secured  the  passage 
of  the  check  weighman  law,  this  giving  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


227 


miners  the  right  to  designate  the  man  to 
weigh  tlie  coal  and  thus  avoiding  disputes 
between  them  and  the  operators.  Mr.  Bailey 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  mines 
and  mining  and  also  the  committee  on  pub- 
lic grounds  during  tiie  last  session.  In 
April,  1899,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Dan- 
ville, and  so  acceptably  did  he  fill  that  office 
that  he  was  re-elected  in  1901,  carrying 
everv  ward  and  precinct  for  the  first  time  in 
the  history  of  the  city,  and  is  the  ])resent  in- 
cumbent. During  his  atlministration  many 
needed  improvements  ha\e  been  made,  in- 
cluding the  extension  of  all  the  railroad 
lines,  and  the  doubling  of  the  sanitary  sewer 
system.  Never  were  the  reins  of  city  gov- 
ernment in  more  capable  hands,  for  he  is  a 
progressive  man,  pre-eminently  public 
spirited,  and  all  that  pertains  to  the  public 
welfare  receives  his  hearty  endorsement. 
Socially  he  is  an  honored  member  of  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
blue  lodge  and  chapter  of  the  ^Masonic  fra- 
ternity, the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Im- 
pro\-ed  Order  of  F-ied  Men.  the  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  \\'orkmen,  the  Fraternal 
Army  of  America,  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  [Modern  Woodmen 
of  .\merica.  He  is  deservedly  popular,  as 
he  is  affable  and  courteous  in  manner  anil 
possesses  that  essential  ciualihcation  to  suc- 
cess in  public  life,  that  of  making  friends 
readily  and  strengthening  the  ties  of  all 
friendships  as  time  ad\ances. 


HARVEY  C.  ADAMS. 

To  his  own  unaided  efforts  may  be  at- 
tril)Uted  whatever  success  Harvey  C.  Adams 
has  achieved  or  whatever  prominence  he  has 

attained.    He  is  yet  a  young  man,  but  at  the 
bar  he  has  won  a  position  which  would  be 


creditable  to  many  an  older  practitioner.  A 
native  of  the  neighboring  state  of  Indiana, 
his  birth  occurred  in  Cass  county  on  the  2d 
of  February,  1870,  his  parents  being  Lewis 
and  Hannah  (  Schuman )  Adams,  both  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  In  the  state  of  his  nativity 
the  father  was  educated  and  reared  to  man- 
hood. After  arrixing  at  years  of  maturity 
he  wedded  Flannah  Schuman.  a  daughter 
of  Christian  and  Anna  (Fall)  Schuman.  and 
they  now  reside  in  Hutsonville,  Illinois, 
having'  li\-ed  in  ijr  near  that  place  continu- 
ously since  1875. 

Harvey  C.  Adams  was  eight  vears  of 
age  when  the  family  took  up  their  al;)ode  in 
FIutson\ille,  and  entering  the  public  schools 
there  he  began  his  education.  He  was  af- 
terward for  a  short  time  a  student  in  the 
L'nion  Christian  College  at  Merom,  In- 
ili.ana.  Desiring  to  broaden  his  knowledge 
and  realizing  how  important  a  factor  in  the 
affairs  of  life  is  education,  he  has  spent 
much  time  in  private  reading  and  study. 
He  pursued  the  Chautauqua  course,  also 
took  a  course  in  shorthand  in  the  Northern 
Indiana  State  Normal  school  at  Valparaiso, 
Indiana,  and  later,  while  acting  as  stenog- 
rapher in  the  office  of  the  firm  of  Callahan, 
Jones  &  Howe  at  Robinson,  Illinois,  he 
tdok'  uj)  the  study  of  law  and  thus  laid  the 
f(nindation  for  his  present  successful  career 
as  a  member  of  the  bar.  He  was  appointed 
by  the  circuit  judge  of  Crawfortl  county, 
Illinois,  to  the  position  of  court  stenograph- 
er. After  passing  the  civil  service  examina- 
tion he  entered  the  treasury  department  at 
Washington.  D.  C  as  stenogra|)her.  When 
six  weeks  has  passed,  during  which  time  he 
gave  proof  of  his  business  skill,  adaptabil- 
ity and  personal  worth,  he  was  transferred 
to  the  civil  service  commission  as  a  stenog- 
rapher, and  while  thus  engaged  he  took  dic- 
tation  from  Theodore  Roosex-elt,  who  was 


228 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tlien  one  of  the  tlirce  ci\il  sei'\ice  commis- 
sioners. Through  the  kinchiess  of  Congress- 
man Joseph  Cannon  Mr.  Adams  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  postofiice  department  and  tliis 
ga\'e  him  an  (ipportunitv  to  pursue  his  huv 
studies.  E\er}'  stei)  wiiich  lie  to(_)k,  every  po- 
sition which  he  tihed,  was  regarded,  as  l.nit  a 
means  to  an  end — that  of  tlie  i)racticc  of 
law.  His  residence  in  Washington  co\-ered 
a  jieriod  of  almost  three  years,  from  1890 
until  the  4th  of  March.  1893.  In  June. 
1892,  he  was  graduated  in  the  Cojn.mhian 
Uni\-ersity  on  the  completion  of  a  law 
course,  and  in  Alarch  of  the  following  vear 
he  resigned  his  position  and  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, seeking  a  location  as  a  lawyer. 

In  April.  1893,  Mr.  Adams  came  to 
Danville,  where  for  the  past  ten  years  he 
has  practiced  his  profession,  gaining  a 
clientage  which  is  very  creditahle  for  one 
so  young.  He  now  holds  the  position  of 
secretary  to  Justice  Jacob  W.  Wilkin  of  the 
Sujireme  Court  of  Illinois.  His  law  prac- 
tice, which  he  pursues  in  addition  to  his  sec- 
retary work,  consists  mainly  of  probate  bus- 
iness, chancery  and  the  settlement  of  es- 
tates. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1892,  was 
performed  the  marriage  ceremony  wdiich 
iniited  the  destinies  of  Har\e}-  C.  Adams 
and  Miss  Blanch  Meserve,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Stephen  Decatur  ^leserve,  of  Roiiinson,  Illi- 
nois, and  they  now  have  one  son,  Stephen 
Meserve  Adams.  The  subject  of  this  re- 
view endorses  the  principles  and  platform 
of  the  Republican  party  and  upon  that  ticket 
lie  was  elected  to  the  office  of  citv  alderman 
in  1899  but  refused  to  serve  a  second  term. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Bene\'olent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  Knights  of 
Pvthias    and     the    ^lodern    Woodmen    of 


^■Vmerica.  I'rom  his  early  boyhood  days 
Mr.  Adams  has  depended  entirely  upon  his 
own  resources  and  efforts  for  advancement 
along  educational,  professional  and  financial 
lines  and  although  he  is  yet  a  young  man 
his  life  historv  pro\'es  conclusively  that  prog- 
ress in  these  directions  may  l^e  made  through 
strong  determination,  honoraljlc  ])ur])ose 
and  laudalile  ambition. 


ELISHA    C.  B.  FITHIAX. 

"Success,"  said  Xapoleon,  "depends 
upon  three  things,  energy,  system  and  per- 
se\'erance."  W  ith  the  realization  of  this 
truth  Elisha  C.  B.  l-'ithian  has  so  directed 
his  business  aftairs  that  he  has  prospered  in 
his  undertakings  and  to-day  he  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  landowners  of  \'ermilion 
county.  He  is  also  one  of  its  pioneer  citi- 
zens, for  his  l)irth  occurred  November  8, 
1837,  in  Danville,  when  that  city  was  Init  a 
village.  His  parents  were  Dr.  ^^'illiam  and 
Orlethea  T.  (Berry)  Fithian,  who  are  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  \'olume.  The  son 
pursued  his  early  education  in  a  little  log" 
building  called  the  Williams  school,  his  first 
teacher  being  a  Scotchman  named  Robin- 
son. He  was  not  only  a  good  instructor, 
but  he  also  exemplified  his  belief  in  the  old 
adage  "spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child." 
This  was  a  subscription  school  and  the 
teacher  "boarded  around"  in  the  homes  of 
the  different  pupils.  Later  Mr.  Fithian  was 
a  student  in  the  White  Seminary,  a  Presby- 
terian institution,  where  he  ci.intinueil  for 
some  time,  acquiring  a  good  English  edu- 
cation. 

-\fter  comjileting  his  school  duties  he 
entered   the   general    store   of    his    father   in 


E     C.   B     FIT 


UNIVERSITY   Of   ILLIMOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


2;  I 


Damille,  remaining'  there  tor  aljout  a  vear. 
He  tlien  came  lo  tlie  farm  in  Oakwood 
township,  for  he  l)ehe\'e(l  that  the  ontdoor 
life  woiiid  ])ro\c  lienetlcial  to  his  faihng" 
healtli.  He  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm 
of  thirty-se\'en  hunih'ed  acres,  \ery  httle  of 
wiiich  was  at  that  time  under  cidti\-ation. 
Mr.  Fithian  Itegaii  hreaking  the  jirairie.  us- 
ing five  or  si.\  yoke  of  o.xen  to  a  breaking 
jilow  whicli  would  turn  a  furrow  of  twenty- 
two  inches.  Pie  broke  a  thotisand  acres  in 
this  way.  l)iit  nuicli  of  it  had  to  be  gone  o\"er 
again,  often  as  many  as  three  cir  four  times, 
for  there  had  been  no  ditching  done  and  the 
warm  water  would  again  start  the  prairie 
grasses.  Finally  .Mr.  Mthian  ga\'e  tip  the 
attempt  to  transform  into  cultivable  fields 
the  low  land  and  used  it  as  pasture.  He 
turned  his  attention  to  the  stock  lousiness 
on  an  extensi\e  scale.  His  father  was  a 
large  stock  man  antl  he  had  gained  practical 
knowledge  of  the  business.  When  the  rail- 
roads were  built  through  this  portion  of  the 
state  he  made  shipments  of  his  cattle  to 
Chicago.  He  remembers  distinctixely,  how- 
ever, the  early  conditions  of  the  county 
when  there  was  much  game,  includ- 
ing prairie  cliickens,  ducks,  brant  and  geese. 
There  were  also  large  numbers  of  prairie 
wohes  that  might  be  heard  howling  at  night 
or  seen  skirring  over  the  country  in  the  day- 
time. Mr.  Fithian  has  seen  as  many  as 
sixteen  deer  in  a  single  herd  pass  through 
his  orchard.  .\t  night,  if  the  corn  was  not 
well  fenced,  the  deer  would  enter  the  fields 
and  eat  and  lram|)  down  the  crt)p.  .\s  time 
passed,  however,  marked  improvements 
were  made  in  nietiiods  of  agriculture,  with 
all  of  which  Mr.  Fithian  ke])t  abreast,  in 
fact,  he  has  ever  been  regarded  as  one  of 
the  mijst  progressive  agricultiuMsts  of  this 
part  of  the  state  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
extensive  and  prosperous  landowners. 


On  the  _'3d  of  b'ebruary,  i^(i~,.  occiu'red 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  iMthian  and  Miss  Anna 
M.  Hayes,  a  native  of  Athens  county,  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Adaline  (  Neb- 
lock)  Hayes,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  PenusyKania  and  were  of  Scotch  ;uid 
Cerman  descent,  respectively.  Their  mar- 
riage was  celel)rated  in  Ohio  and  Mr.  Hayes 
was  a  carpenter  b_\-  trade.  Jn  1850,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  children,  he  drove 
across  the  country  to  Danville  in  a  jjrairie 
schooner,  as  the  old  covered  wagons  at  that 
time  were  called.  The  journey  occupied 
twenty-one  days  and  at  night  the  family 
camped  by  the  roadside.  .\fter  reaching 
X'ermilion  county  Mr.  Hayes  spent  a  few 
months  in  Danville  and  then  located  a  half 
mile  south  of  the  old  town  of  Homer, 
Cham]);iigu  county.  There  he  purchased 
land  upon  which  he  resided  for  se\en  or 
eight  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  \'er- 
milion  cotmty,  where  he  lived  upon  a  farm 
a  half  mile  from  the  Fithian  honieslead, 
his  home  being  in  Oakwood  township, 
where  he  s].)ent  his  remaining  days.  There 
his  death  occurred  in  1885  and  his  wife 
jjassed  away  on  the  home  place  in  i8()4. 
The_\-  were  the  ]jarents  of  twelve  children, 
of  whom  six  are  now  living,  namely:  Mrs. 
h'itbian :  John,  of  X'ermilion  county:  Mrs. 
Edith  McCoy,  of  Kansas:  William,  of  In- 
diana: Mrs.  Lydia  Cass,  of  Danville:  and 
James,  who  is  also  living  in  this  county. 
The  marriage  of  .\lr.  and  Mrs.  Fithian  has 
Ijeen  blessed  with  li\e  children:  I'aid  H. 
is  a  jiracticing  physician  of  Fithian:  Lalla 
is  at  home:  Elisha  C.  B.  is  lixing  upon  a 
])arl  of  liis  father's  farm,  and  is  married  to 
Christiana  111k,  by  whom  he  has  two  chil- 
dren, George  William  and  Anna  Dorothy; 
John  Charles,  who  is  also  upon  his  faliier's 
farm,  married  Sarah  Reese  and  has  one  son, 
Orion    1').;   and    Dax'id   W'.    is   a   practicing 


232 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


dentist    of    Rossville.      He    wedded    Jessie 
Fellow. 

^Ir.  Fithian  was  made  a  Mason  in  1875 
and  belongs  to  Fairmount  Lodge,  No.  590, 
F.  &  A.  M.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  his  political  support 
is  given  the  Republicans,  but  while  he  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day  he 
has  never  consented  to  hold  office  except 
that  of  school  director.  He  has  eleven  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land  and  for  some 
years  he  has  been  living  practically  retired, 
having  rented  almost  all  of  his  land  to  his 
sons.  Mr.  Fithian  is  well  informed  con- 
cerning the  history-  of  \'ermilion  county 
from  an  early  epoch  in  its  history.  In  tlie 
5^ear  1S34  he  ha<I  an  aunt  in  Iowa  who  re- 
turned to  Danville  on  her  wa}-  to  Ohio  and 
here  she  was  joined  by  the  mother  of  our 
subject  who,  taking  her  baby  son  with  her, 
accompanied  the  aunt  to  thoir  old  home  in 
the  Buckeye  state,  making  the  entire  trip 
on  horseback.  This  fact  goes  to  show  what 
the  pioneer  women  of  that  day  were  capa- 
ble of.  On  one  occasion  Mr.  Fithian's  fa- 
ther sent  by  wagon  to  Ohio  for  two  McCor- 
mick  reapers,  which  could  not  then  be  pur- 
chased in  the  west.  In  those  early  days  our 
subject  hauled  wheat  to  Attica.  Indiana, 
and  if  prices  were  "high"  he  could  sell  for 
forty  cents  per  bushel.  Corn  brought  eight 
and  ten  cents  per  bushel  and  in  his  boyhood 
'Mr.  Fithian  would  measure  corn  from  the 
crib  in  a  half  bushel  measure  and  would 
pass  it  through  the  window  to  the  men  on 
the  outside.  As  time  passed  Mr.  Fithian, 
taking  his  part  in  the  agricultural  work  of 
the  county,  became  a  leader  in  progress  and 
improvement  in  his  line  of  activity  and  by 
the  capable  control  of  his  business  interests 
he  won  splendid  success.  He  has,  however, 
never  allowed  the  accumulation  of  wealth 
to  in  any  way  warp  his  kindly  nature  and 


there  is  no  man  in  the  community  who  en- 
joys to  a  wider  extent  the  esteem  and  regard 
of  those  with  whom  he  was  associated. 


WTLLIAAI  M.  SILVER. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  a  com- 
plete history  of  Hoopeston  without  mention- 
ing William  ^I.  Silver,  for  no  resident  of 
the  town  has  done  so  much  for  its  improve- 
ment as  Mr.  Silver,  who  in  the  line  of  his 
business  afifairs  has  continually  added  to  the 
city's  growth  and  upbuilding.  He  is  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  and  a  large  part  of  the 
brick  structures  in  the  town  stand  as  monu- 
ments to  his  enterprise  and  skill.  He  enjoys 
a  splendid  reputation  as  a  representative  of 
this  department  of  business  activity  and  is 
a  nran  whose  business  honor  and  integrity 
are  beyond  question. 

Mr.  Silver  was  born  in  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  town  of  Sidney,  in  1844.  His 
father.  Peter  Silver,  was  born  in  Frank- 
fort. Kentucky,  and  having  arrived  at  years 
of  maturity  he  wedded  Mar\'  Benham.  of 
Ohio.  He,  too,  was  a  contractor  and  build- 
er and  died  in  Hoopeston  in  1883,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1888.  They  had  been 
residents  of  this  place  from  1875.  and  were 
well  known  people  here.  They  had  the  fol- 
lowing children :  William  M.,  of  this  re- 
view; Joseph  M..  a  resident  of  Leavenworth, 
Kansas:  Mrs.  Sarah  ]\Iorris.  of  Peoria.  Illi- 
nois :  Mrs.  Abbie  Boggs.  who  is  living  in 
\\'arsaw,  Indiana :  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Plall. 
of  Hoopeston. 

\\'hen  only  about  six  months  old  ^^'ill- 
iam  yi.  Silver  of  this  review  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Elkhart  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  until  fifteen  years  of  age, 
during  which  time  he  attended  school.  He 
then   went   to  Kosciusko  countv,   Indiana, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


233 


and  from  that  place  entered  the  army  t>n 
the  27th  of  April,  1S62,  when  only  ahont 
eighteen  years  of  age,  joining  the  Twelfth 
Indiana  Infantry  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Samuel  Boughton  and  Colonel  W". 
H.  Link.  He  was  also  under  Generals  Lo- 
gan and  Sherman  and  he  served  for  morv 
than  three  years  but  was  never  wounded. 
At  Riclimond,  Kentucky,  on  the  30th  of  Au- 
gust, 1862,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  after- 
ward was  paroled  and  sent  to  Indianapolis 
tu  the  parole  camp,  where  he  remained  until 
the  14th  of  November,  of  that  year.  On 
that  date  he  was  exchanged  and  went  to  the 
south  at  once,  proceeding  to  jMemphis,  Ten- 
nessee, and  on  to  Vicksburg,  partici])ating 
in  the  siege  of  that  city  until  its  surrender. 
Later  he  went  with  his  command  to  Chatta- 
nooga and  also  took  part  in  the  battles  nf 
Missionary  Ridge  and  Knoxville,  and  later 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  Scottsboro, 
Alabama.  .\t  that  point  he  remained  until 
the  1st  (if  Alay,  1864,  when  the  regiment 
started  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  participat- 
ing in  many  of  the  hotly  contested  engage- 
ments which  preceded  the  siege  and  fall  of 
the  city.  With  his  regiment  Mr.  Sihcr  then 
ciintinued  with  Sherman  on  his  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea  and  after  the  surrender  of 
Savannah  he  was  in  the  Carolina  campaign 
and  continued  northward  to  Washington,  1). 
C,  his  regiment  participating  in  the  grand 
review,  leatling  Sherman's  anuy  in  that  cel- 
eljrated  militarv  pageant  on  the  24th  nf  May. 
1865.  Mr.  Silver  was  there  mustered  out 
on  the  8th  of  June  and  received  his  final 
discharge  on  the  20th  of  June  following. 
He  was  in  twenty-one  engagements,  taking 
part  in  e\ery  battle  in  which  his  regiment 
participated  with  one  exception.  He 
marched  a  little  more  than  six  thousand 
miles  in  three  vears  and  was  in  all  of  the 


southern  states  except  Texas  anil  Florida. 
During  all  of  this  time  he  made  the  long 
marches  on  foot.  His  military  record  is  a 
most  creditable  one  and  he  certainly  deserves 
the  gratitude  of  the  nation  for  what  he  ac- 
complished in  aiding  in  the  struggle  to  main- 
tain the  L'nion  intact. 

After  his  return  Ikjiuc  Mr.  Silver  began 
learning  the  brick  layer's  trade  at  Warsaw, 
Indiana,  beginning  that  work  in  1866.  He 
remained  there  four  years.  During  that 
time  he  was  married  in  the  month  of  b'eb- 
ruary,  1866,  to  Miss  Sarah  Bybee,  who  died 
ele\en  months  later.  In  1868  he  was  joined 
in  wedlock  to  Jennie  McGrew,  of  Warsaw, 
Indiana,  and  remo\-ed  to  h>lkhart,  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  until  1871.  In  that 
year  his  second  wife  died  and  the  two  chil- 
dren of  that  union  both  passed  away  in  in- 
fancy. Succeeding  the  great  fire  in  Chicago 
in  1 87 1  ^,Ir.  Silver  went  to  that  city,  where 
he  followed  his  trade  for  eighteen  months 
and  then  came  to  Logan  count  v.  Illinois. 
In  January,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mary  A.  Weaver,  and  removed  to  Mid- 
dletown  and  later  lived  in  ^Lincoln,  where 
he  continued  until  1879,  the  year  of  his  ar- 
ri\al  in  Hoopeston.  Mr.  Silver  began  con- 
tracting here  for  Ijrick  and  stone  work  and 
still  follows  his  business  with  splendid  suc- 
cess. He  has  taken  contracts  for  work  all 
o\er  the  eastern  part  of  Illinois  and  western 
Indiana.  In  Hoopeston  he  erected  the  citv 
hall,  the  west  side  school,  the  N^.  Brillhart 
house,  ten  storerooms  for  J.  S.  ^McFerren,  and 
with  three  exceptions  all  of  the  brick  store 
buildings  in  Hoopeston.  He  also  erected  the 
Cunningliatu  House,  the  Catherwood  resi- 
dence and  the  additions  to  the  McFerren 
residence.  He  built  the  first  building  of  the 
Union  Canning  Company  and  many  others 
of  the  business  structures  here,  his  services 


234 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


being  in  constant  demantl  because  of  his 
thorougli  understanding  of  tlie  l)usiness  and 
his  faith fuhiess  to  the  terms  of  a  contract 
and  his  known  reliability  in  all  trade  transac- 
tions. 

In  1901.  Air.  Silver  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  second  wife,  who 
passed  awav  in  January  of  that  year,  leaving 
three  li\'ing  children.  There  was  also  one 
child  by  the  first  wife.  Alibie  J-.  now  the  wife 
of  X.  E.  \\'eaver,  of  Hoopeston,  who  is  as- 
sociated with  her  father  in  the  contracting 
business.  She  has  five  children.  The  other 
members  of  Mr.  Silver's  family  are:  Le- 
ona  G. ;  Xellie,  the  wife  of  L.  A.  Blakeley. 
a  brick  layer  of  Danville ;  and  Harry  Clyde, 
at  iKime. 

In  social  relations  Mr.  Silver  is  promi- 
nent, being  a  valued  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  His  political 
su])port  is  given  to  the  Republican  party  and 
he  is  the  present  member  of  the  city  council 
from  the  third  ward.  He  is  now  serving  his 
third  term  in  that  position  and  he  filled  tlv 
position  of  township  supervisor  for  one  full 
term  and  for  one  year  of  an  unexpired  term. 
His  home  is  on  Market  street  and  he  owns 
five  tenement  houses  here.  His  time  and  at- 
tention are  largely  given  to  his  contracting 
and  building  interests  and  dviring  the  winter 
months  he  also  operates  a  broom  factory 
which  adds  in  a  degree  to  his  income.  Mr. 
Silver  well  merits  his  success,  for  it  has  been 
W'Orthily  won.  He  found  the  opportunities 
he  sought — which  by  the  way  are  always 
open  to  the  energetic,  ambitious  man — and 
making  the  best  o-f  these  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward.  He  possesses 
resolution,  perseverance  and  reliability  and 
his  name  is  now  enrolled  among  the  best 
citizens  of  Vermilion  county. 


ERXST    BLAXKEXBURG. 

Ernst  Blankenburg,  who  is  the  leading 
retail  dealer  in  wines,  liquors  and  cigars  in 
Danville,  was  liorn  in  Eberswaldr,  Prussia, 
on  the  6th  of  October,  1S43,  his  parents  be- 
ing William  and  Caroline  (Torge)  Blanken- 
burg, both  of  whom  were  nati\-es  of  Prus- 
sia, The  father  died  in  the  year  1871, 
when  sixty-nine  years  of  age.  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1874,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
two  years.  They  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children.  In  the  '60s  they  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  the  new  world,  establishing  their 
hop.ie  in  Danville.  Our  subject  was  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine 
children,  oi  whom  those  still  living  are: 
(iottlieb:  August;  Louise,  the  wife  of 
George  Rust;  and  Ernst.  Those  who  have 
passed  away  are:  William,  Frederick, 
Christian,  Lewis  and  I'erdinand. 

In  the  pul)lic  and  private  schools  of  his 
nati\e  town  in  Prussia  Ernst  Blankenburg 
pursued  his  education.  He  has  been  a  res- 
ident of  Danville  since  1867,  coming  here 
when  a  young  man  of  twentv-four  vears. 
He  was  first  employed  as  a  clerk,  serving 
in  that  capacit}  for  three  years  in  the  dry- 
goods  store  of  William  Hessey,  after  which 
he  established  a  brewery  which  was  later 
sold  to  John  Stein.  In  1875  he  established 
his  present  business  which  he  has  now  con- 
ducted for  more  than  twenty-seven  years. 
He  retails  wines,  liquors  and  cigars  and  is 
conducting  the  largest  establishment  of  the 
kind  in  Dan\ille.  realizing  a  handsome  and 
gratifying  profit  from  the  enterprise. 

In  1889  Mr,  Blankenburg  was  united 
in  marriage  to  I\Iiss  Mary  S.  Lee  of  this 
city  and  they  now  have  two  children,  a 
daughter  and  a  son,  Edna  and  Russell, 
They  also  lost  one  son,  Herman,  who  died 


ERNST  BLANKENBURG. 


0,    ■   ■- 

UNIVEKSIIY   Oh  iLuNOlS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


237 


at  the  age  of  three  years.  Mr.  Blankenburg 
is  a  niemlier  of  tlie  Imlependent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  is  secretary  of  the  Dan- 
ville Socialer  Tm'n  \'erein.  He  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  affal)le  manner,  genial  and  com"- 
tcous  and  is  a  leading  German-American 
citizen  of  nan\-ille. 


(iEORGE  T.  RAV. 


There  is  nothing  in  this  world  that  will 
take  the  place  of  skillfully  directed  labor  and 
this  fact  Mr.  Ray  has  realized  as  he  has  car- 
ried on  his  life  work.  It  is  to  his  industry 
and  enterprise  that  he  owes  his  place  among 
the  progressive  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Ross  township,  his  home  being  on  section 
30.  Among  the  honored  pioneer  settlers  he 
is  dikewise  nnmliered  for  he  dates  his  resi- 
dence in  Vermilion  county  from  1835.  The 
family  is  of  German  origin,  his  great-grand- 
father being  a  native  of  (iermany.  The 
grandfather,  George  Ray,  was  born  in  Union 
county,  Pennsylvania,  whence  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  settling  near  Circleville.  in  Picka- 
way county.  His  son,  John  Ray,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Buffalo  \^alley, 
Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
reared  to  mature  \ears  in  Ohio,  where  lie 
formed  the  acquaintance  and  married  Eliza- 
beth Glover,  who  was  likewise  a  natixe  of 
the  Keystone  state.  He  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  wiiich  he  followed  in  Pick- 
away county  for  a  number  of  years  and 
in  183 1  he  came  to  Illinois,  settlitig  in  Will 
coun(\.  wliere  he  resided  until  the  spring  of 
1832  wdien  he  had  to  take  his  family  to  Fort 
Dearborn  on  account  of  an  Indian  uprising. 
After  a  short  time,  however,  he  mafle  his 
wav   .southward    to    \'ermilion   countv,    In- 


diana, w  iiere  he  continued  until  the  Indian 
troubles  were  settleil,  lie  then  removed  to 
this  county  in  1835,  entering  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Ross  township, 
located  on  .section.s  29  and  30.  He  at  once 
began  to  break  this,  fenced  it  and  in  course 
of  time  developed  a  good  farm.  The  entire 
country  around,  too,  was  an  almost  un- 
broken wildei'uess  and  in  tiMie  pioneer  st\le 
the  family  lixed.  There  the  father  spent  his 
remaining  days,  passing  away  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1836.  llis  wife  long  survived 
him  and  was  called  to  her  linal  rest  February 
13,  1882.  in  their  family  were  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  but  two  of  the  daugh- 
ters are  now  deceased.  Those  li\-ing  are: 
\Villiam  G.,  who  resides  in  .Mvin:  lohn,  who 
owns  and  operates  a  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead: and  Sarah  .\nn,  the  wife  of  John 
llilcliens,  a  blacksmith  of  Al\in. 

\Vhen  but  a  small  boy  George  Ray  1)6- 
came  a  resident  of  \'ermilion  county  and  on 
the  old  home  farm  his  boyhood  days  were 
passed.  Amid  the  wild  scenes  (jf  the  fron- 
tier he  shared  with  the  family  in  all  the  hard- 
ships a.nd  trials  incident  to  the  establishment 
of  a  home  amid  pioneer  surroundings  and 
wdien  his  strength  and  age  would  permit  he 
assisted  in  the  work  of  clearing  and  develop- 
ing the  farm.  As  a  com]ianion  and  helpmate 
for  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Mary  E. 
Hickman,  their  wedding  being  celebrated  in 
Catlin  township,  October  29,  1863,  the  lady 
being  a  daughter  of  Hiram  Hickman,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentuckv,  who,  when  a  small  boy, 
went  to  Tennessee  and  afterward  to  Ohio. 
In  die  latter  state  he  married  Martha  .A. 
.Mien  and  subsequently  they  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  Vermilion  county  about 
1833.  Mrs.  Ray  w-as  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  was  reared  in  this  county,  and  pursued 
her  education  here  and   in  the  Georgetown 


238 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


high  scliool.  For  several  years  prior  to  iier 
marriage  she  was  a  successful  teacher  and  is 
a  most  estimable  lady,  who  has  been  to  her 
husband  a  faithful  companion  anil  helpmate 
on  life's  journey.  They  began  their  domes- 
tic life  on  a  part  of  the  old  Ray  homestead, 
our  subject  clearing  the  land  and  preparing 
it  for  the  plow.  He  afterward  built  a  good 
substantial  residence,  a  large  barn  and  made 
many  important  and  valuable  impro^•ements. 
The  home  was  blessed  by  the  presence  of  fi\"e 
children:  Daniel  V.,  who  is  married  and 
has  three  children,  ]\Iary  E..  Angelena.  and 
George  T.,  and  resides  in  Jamesburg.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine;  George  A.,  a  lawyer  of  Ross- 
ville:  Frank  H.,  who  is  married  and  is  living 
in  Chicago,  having  two  children,  Ruth  and 
Paul  Keneth ;  Benjamin,  who  is  married,  has 
one  child,  Bertha  M.,  and  resides  with  his 
parents ;  and  Charles,  who  completes  the 
family. 

Politically  Mr.  Ray  is  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  who  in  1852  voted  for  Franklin 
Pierce,  age  ha\ing  gi\-en  to  him  the  right  of 
franchise  f(jr  the  first  time  at  that  election. 
He  served  for  several  years  as  township 
school  trustee  and  also  as  director  and  has 
ever  been  earnestly  interested  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  schools  and  the  employ- 
ment of  good  teachers,  belie\'ing  that  edu- 
cation is  one  of  the  I^uhvarks  of  our  nation. 
From  ])ioneer  times  down  to  the  present  he 
has  been  a  witness  of  the  substantial  de\el- 
opment  of  \'crmilicin  county.  He  came 
here  when  much  of  the  land  appeared  just 
as  it  did  when  nature  completed  her  wcirk. 
It  was  the  haunt  of  deer  and  other  wild  ani- 
mals and  venison  ftu'nished  many  a  meal  for 
the  early  settlers,  while  wild  fowls  were  fre- 
quently seen  on  the  pioneer  board.  A  num- 
ber of  years  have  passed  ere  the  wild  prairie 


grasses  IkkI  entirely  been  replaced  bv  the 
fields  of  waving  grain  in  the  midst  of  which 
to-da\-  stand  substantial  farm  houses,  while 
towns  and  villages  have  here  and  there 
sprung  up.  ]\Ir.  Ray's  memory  forms  a 
connecting  link  lietween  the  pioneer  past 
and  the  progressi\-e  present  and  he  has  many 
interesting  incidents  to  relate  of  Vermilion 
county's  histor}'. 


J.  P.  BAILEY. 

J.  P.  Bailey,  a  well  known  carpenter  and 
contractor  of  Danville  and  an  honored  vet- 
eran of  the  Ci\-il  war,  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  February 
8,  1842.  se\-en  miles  southeast  of  George- 
town on  the  horseshoe  bend  of  the  Little 
A'ermilion  river.  His  father,  James  S. 
Bailey,  was  bom  in  Chillicothe,  Ross  coun- 
tv.  Oliio,  and  on  reaching  manhood  was 
married  in  Newport,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Orena 
West,  a  native  of  A^ermilion  county,  that 
state,  who  died  on  the  3d  of  November, 
1853.  Fie  continued  to  reside  in  Newport 
unti'  1867,  when  he  removed  to  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred 
December  25,  1873,  his  remains  being  in- 
terred in  Blunk  cemeteiy,  fifteen  miles 
southeast  of  Springiield.  By  trade  he  was  a 
cooper.  In  religious  faith  he  was  a  Pres- 
byterian, was  also  connected  with  the  Mason- 
ic lodge  and  was  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party.  His  brother,  William 
Bailey,  was  a  prominent  old  settler  of  \'er- 
niilion  county,  Indiana,  where  he  served  as 
sheriff  and  county  clerk  at  an  early  day. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  three 
children,  but  his  brother  is  deceased.  His 
sister.    ]\larv.    is    the  wife   of   \A'illiam   H, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


239 


Gowdy,  of  Covington,  Indiana.  ]\Ir.  Bailey 
began  liis  education  in  the  Billings  school 
at  the  crossroads  near  his  home  prior  to  the 
election  of  President  Pierce,  the  "temple  of 
learning"  being  a  log  structure  furnished 
with  slab  seats,  and  the  school  was  con- 
ducted on  the  subscription  plan.  After  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Perr_\s\ille.  Indi- 
ana, he  attended  the  public  schools  at  that 
place  and  made  his  home  there  until  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  Since  the 
death  of  his  mother,  when  he  was  eleven 
years  of  age,  he  has  been  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  for  a  livelihood,  working  on 
a  farm  the  hrst  summer.  The  folknving 
winter  he  carried  the  mail  from  Perrysville 
to  Georgetown  and  Danville,  Illinois,  and 
the  next  summer  drove  a  three-mule  team 
on  the  canal  from  Perrysville  to  Toledo, 
Ohio.  During  the  next  winter  he  drove  the 
stage  for  Teller  Brothers  from  Covington 
to  .\rmiesburg,  Indiana,  and  on  giving  up 
that  position  he  began  learning  the  mill- 
•  Wright's  trade  in  the  construction  of  tlie 
old  Williams  mill  at  Hillsboro.  Indiana.  La- 
ter he  was  employed  on  the  Smith  &  Jones 
mill  in  Fountain  county,  that  state;  the 
Kirkpatrick  mill  at  Perrysville  and  the 
woolen  mill  at  that  place.  He  helped  to 
build  the  old  Xorth  street  church  in  Dan- 
ville in  1S57,  and  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  seminary  at  Perrysville  in  1859.  l)esides 
a  great  many  mills  throughout  the  coimtry. 
During  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion, 
howexer.  Mr.  Bailey  laid  aside  ail  personal 
interests  and  offered  his  services  to  his 
couritry.  enlisting  at  Perrysville,  Indiana, 
September  9.  1861,  in  Company  D,  Thirti- 
eth Indiana  \'olunteer  Infantry  under  Cap- 
tain Weldon  and  Colonel  I.  Bass,  of  Fort 
Wayne.  His  regiment  was  mustered  in  at 
Indianapolis  and  assigned  to  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.     They  participated  in  quite 


a  number  of  skirmishes  in  Tennessee  and 
their  lirst  important  engagement  was  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  in  1862.  In  1864  the  com- 
m;uul  was  transferred  to  the  .\rmy  of  the 
Tennessee  and  was  with  Sherman  on  his  At- 
lanta campaign  until  the  surrender  of  that 
city,  after  which  they  returned  to  Xasbville 
under  the  command  of  General  Thomas. 
They  next  went  to  Iluntsville.  Alaliama, 
and  from  there  started  to  Richmond  to  re- 
lieve the  .\rmy  of  the  Potomac,  but  in  the 
spring  of  1865  were  transferred  to  New  Or- 
leans and  from  there  went  to  Victoria,  Tex- 
as, where  Mr.  Bailey  was  mustered  out  on 
the  25th  of  November.  1865.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  left  side  by  a  minie  ball  dur- 
ing the  second  day's  fight  at  Nash\ille,  De- 
cember 16,  1864. 

Returning  home  Mr.  Bailey  resumed 
work  at  the  millwright's  trade,  which  he 
c(jntinued  to  follow  until  1890,  since  which 
time  he  has  de\oted  his  attention  to  carpen- 
tering and  contracting  with  good  success 
and  is  to-day  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Danville,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1879.  He  has  erected  a  great 
many  of  the  elevators  in  this  county  liesides 
other  buildings  and  has  always  faithfully 
fulfilled  his  part  of  every  contract. 

On  the  25th  of  March.  1865.  in  New- 
port, Indiana,  Mr.  I'.ailey  married  Aliss 
I'rances  A.  Seay,  who  was  born  in  George- 
town. Illinois.  April  26,  1846,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  A.  Seay.  As  a  child  she  made 
her  home  with  Elisha  Rainey.  of  George- 
town, but  was  later  adopted  by  Dr.  Perkins, 
of  Eugene,  Indiana.  After  a  short  married 
life  of  fourteen  years  she  died  April  12, 
1879.  leaving  four  children,  namely:  Min- 
nie, the  wife  of  William  lUicklcy.  of  St.  Lou- 
is, Missouri;  John  G..  a  candy  manufacturer 
of  that  city;  William  IL,  who  married  Lena 
Miller  and  resides  in  Danville,  where  he  as- 


240 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


sists  his  father  in  business;  and  Maud,  wife 
of  Jerome  ^laloy,  of  Perth  Amboy.  Xew 
Jersey. 

Mr.  Bailey  was  again  married,  I'~ebru- 
ary  16,  t886,  his  second  union  Iseing  with 
Miss  Amie  E.  Ohver.  wlio  was  born  eigiit 
miles  north  of  Danville.  in"\  ermilion  count)-, 
April  6,  1S60,  a  daughter  of  Bushrard  and 
Melvina  (Kritzer)  Oliver.  Her  father  was 
a  native  of  Bourbon  county,  and  her  mother 
of  Rainesville,  Indiana,  but  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Danville.  Illinois.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  a  Democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
He  died  on  the  23d  of  May,  1894.  but  iiis 
wife  is  still  living  and  now  makes  her  home 
with  our  subject.  In  their  family  were  six- 
teen children,  of  whom  twelve  are  still  living. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  a  prominent  meml)er  of 
several  civic  societies,  including  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  the  Royal  Neighbors  and  the 
Mutual  Protection  League.  Politically  he  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  and  has 
taken  a  \-ery  influential  and  prominent  part 
in  public  affairs,  having  served  as  deputy 
sherifif  at  Dexter,  Alissouri.  and  as  city  mar- 
shal, councilman  and  mayor  of  Dexter.  He 
is  pre-eminentlv  public-spirited  and  progres- 
sive and  as  faithfully  discharges  his  duties 
of  citizenship  in  times  of  peace  as  when  he 
followed  the  old  flag-  to  victory  on  southern 
battle-fields. 


THO:kIAS    \\OOLVERTOX. 

Among  the  native  sons  of  Vermilion 
countv  is  numbered  Thomas  Woolverton 
and  his  life  history  sets  at  naught  the  old 
adage,  that  "a  prophet  is  not  without  honor 
save  in  his  own  countrv."     There  is  there- 


fore particular  interest  attaching  to  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  in  liis  business  career. 
He  is  a  native  son  of  the  county  where  he 
has  passed  his  active  life  and  has  so  directed 
his  ability  and  efforts  as  to  gain  recognition 
as  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Hoopes- 
ton.  He  to-day  is  the  ouner  of  the  Hoopes- 
ton  machine  shops,  an  enterprise  of  magni- 
tude and  importance  returning  to  the  owner 
and  proprietor  a  very  desirable  annual  in- 
come. 

;\lr.  \\'ooh'erton  was  but  thirteen  years 
of  age  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. His  birth  occurred  in  Grant  town- 
ship in  1 85 1.  His  father.  Colonel  Abel 
Woolverton,  was  commander  of  a  regiment 
in  the  war  of  18 12  and  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  came  of  a  family  that  lived 
near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  prior  to  the  emigra- 
tion to  Illinois.  In  the  year  1850,  how- 
ever. Colonel  Woolverton  sought  a  home  in 
the  Mississippi  valley  and  located  in  Grant 
township.  \"ermilion  county,  settling  on 
go\-ernment  land  on  the  North  Fork.  He 
became  on.e  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  com- 
munitv.  Fie  had  firm  faith  in  the  future  of 
this  portion  of  the  state  and  he  foretold  the 
building  of  the  two  railroads  which  now 
cross  the  county.  Colonel  Woolverton  se- 
cured a  large  tract  of  land  in  this  locality 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm.  There 
were  many  wild  animals  here,  including 
wohes,  and  among  the  wild  game  there 
were  numbered  deer,  geese,  brant  and  ducks. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was 
but  six  years  of  age  and  the  father  afterward 
married  again.  Thomas  Woolverton  has 
one  sister,  Airs.  Sophia  J.  Holmes,  of 
Hoopeston,  and  one  brother.  Charles. 

At  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  was  thirteen  )ears  of 
age,  Thomas  Wooherton  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account.     He  was  but  a  bov,  vet 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


J41 


he  possessed  courag^e  and  self-reliance  and 
determined  that  lie  wonld  win  for  himself  a 
creditable  position  in  the  business  world. 
He  herded  cattle  at  an  early  day  and  en- 
gagfed  in  farm  labor  until  his  marriage, 
which  occiu"red  in  1871.  Aliss  Eliza  J.  I'ort- 
ner  liecoming  his  wife.  The  lach'  is  a  native 
of  Indiana  and  her  parents  are  both  now  de- 
ceased. By  this  marriage  there  are  two  liv- 
ing children,  Mrs.  Ed.  R.  Knox,  whose  hus- 
band is  deputy  circuit  clerk  in  I^an\ille,  and 
X.  G.,  a  lawyer  who  is  now  in  partnership 
with  Charles  iV.  Allen,  of  Hoopeslon,  and 
is  serving'  as  city  attorney. 

For  several  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
\\'oolverton  engag"ed  in  farming  and  was 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
\-alnable  land,  but  after  alK)ut  six  years  he 
abandoned  the  plow  and  removed  to 
Hoopeston,  where  he  opened  a  meat  market 
which  he  conducted  for  six  years.  By  going 
security  he  was  forced  to  begin  life  anew. 
Later  he  was  elected  township  assesstir  and 
constable  and  servetl  in  this  office  until  about 
seventeen  years  ago  when  he  began  selling- 
farm  machinery  in  a  small  way.  He  has  car- 
ried on  this  business  with  ever  increasing 
success  and  he  is  now  proprietor  of  the 
Hoopeston  machine  shops  and  does  an  ex- 
tensive business  in  McCormick  harvesters, 
the  Deere  plows,  buggies,  wagons  and  har- 
ness ;  in  fact,  he  carries  everything  needed 
upon  a  farm  in  connection  with  its  cultiva- 
tion. He  has  a  machine  shop  and  a  g'eneral 
repair  shop,  forty  by  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty feet,  and  jiart  of  this  is  two  stories  in 
height.  During  the  busy  sea.son  he  employs 
fifteen  men  in  the  shop  and  does  all  kinds  of 
repair  work  from  the  repairing  of  a  hammer 
to  a  threshing  machine.  I  lis  niacine  sho]) 
and  implements  are  upon  the  west  side  oi 
Bank  street,  the  harness  and  buggy  empor- 
ium on  the  east  side,  but  these  are  near  to- 


gether so  that  he  gives  his  personal  super- 
visitMi  to  all  branches  of  his  business.  He 
engages  in  the  manufacture  as  well  as  the 
repairing  of  harness  and  also  repairs  bug- 
gies. The  shop  on  the  east  side  of  the 
street  is  fifty  by  sixty  feet  and  he  also  nas 
two  stores  which  he  rents.  The  business  has 
constantly  grown  in  \-olume  and  importance 
until  it  is  now  the  leading  industrial  and 
commercial  concerns  of  the  town  and  the 
owner  has  become  one  of  the  substantial 
residents  of  Hoopeston.  Long  since  has  he 
regained  his  lost  possessions,  pushing  for- 
ward to  continued  success  in  the  conduct  of 
the  enterprise  which  has  proved  to  him  a 
])rofital)le  one. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  W'oolverton  is 
a  stalwart  Republican  and  was  appointed  to 
fill  the  unexpired  term  of  \\".  R.  Clark  on 
.  the  board  of  supervisors.  At  the  next  reg- 
ular election  in  1894  he  was  elected  to  fill 
that  office,  which  he  lias  held  continuously 
since,  and  by  re-election  he  is  now  serving 
for  the  fourth  term  and  is  one  of  the  niost 
prominent  and  valued  members  of  the 
board.  He  has  served  as  its  chairman  for 
two  difi'erent  terms  and  is  now  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  buildings  and  grounds. 
For  eight  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
in  (]rant  township  and  was  at  one  time  a 
nieniber  of  the  city  council  of  Hoo])eston, 
filling  the  office  before  the  city  was  divided 
into  wards.  No  public  trust  reposed  in  him 
has  e\cr  been  betrayed  in  the  slightest  degree 
and  he  has  the  entire  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low men  concerning  matters  of  importance 
to  the  city.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  blue  lodge  of  Masons,  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  noble  grand,  with  the  I'orest- 
ers  and  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  at  the 
corner  of   Bank  and   Penn  streets   and   he 


242 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


owns  hall  a  block  in  the  center  of  the  town 
on  which  are  located  his  bnsiness  blocks. 
He  was  a  resident  of  this  place  when  the 
entire  locality  was  covered  with  rosin-weed 
and  milk-weed  and  [)rairie  grasses  grew  in 
abundance.  He  herded  cattle  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Hoopeston,  but  as  the  years  have 
passed  he  has  witnessed  great  changes,  a 
transformation  being  wrought  which  has 
contributed  in  a  marked  degree  to  the  im- 
provement and  upbuilding  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. I\Ir.  \\'oolverton  possesses  marked 
energy  and  keen  perception.  This  enables 
him  to  form  his  plans  readily  and  he  never 
wavers  in  carrying  them  to  a  successful 
completion.  His  close  applicati(.)n  ti:>  busi- 
ness and  his  excellent  management  have 
brought  to  him  the  high  degree  of  prosperity 
which  is  to-day  his. 


H.  W.  HARRIS. 


H.  W.  Harris  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  on  his  farm  on  section  15,  Ross  town- 
ship, five  miles  east  of  Rossville.  Here  he 
has  a  valuable  property  of  two  hundred  and 
fort}^  acres  and  thereon  has  made  his  home 
for  forty-eight  years.  His  residence  in  the 
county  covers  a  longer  period,  however,  for 
he  arrived  here  in  February.  1S4S.  He  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  July  6, 
1827,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  English  an- 
cestry. His  grandfather,  Samuel  Harris, 
settled  in  ^Maryland  at  an  early  day  and 
there  Jesse  Harris,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  on  the  21st  of  July,  1800. 
In  the  citv  of  his  nativitv  he  was  reared  and 
was  there  united  in  marriage  to  L\dia  Ann 
Warner,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper 
and  followed  that  pursuit  throughout  most 
of  his  active    business    life.     In    his    later 


years,  however,  he  became  general  agent  for 
H.  J.  Williams,  a  prominent  attorney  of 
Philadelphia.  In  the  year  1841  he  left 
Pennsyhania  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  seven 
years,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  here  set- 
tled in  Ross  township,  Vermilion  county, 
spending  his  last  years  upon  the  home  farm 
of  his  son,  H.  W.  Harris. 

The  last  named  was  reared  in  Philadel- 
phia to  the  age  of  fourteen  years  and  began 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  there. 
The  remainder  of  his  boyhood  days  were 
passed  in  Ohio  upon  his  father's  farm  and 
in  1848  he  came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  began  earning  his  own  liv- 
ing by  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
month.  In  the  fall,  however,  he  returned  to 
the  Buckeye  state,  making  the  journey  on 
horseback  in  order  to  vote  for  Zachan*-  Tay- 
lor, casting  his  first  ballot  in  that  year. 
A\'hen  his  mission  was  accomplished  he  once 
more  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  worked  on 
a  farm  until  he  decided  to  engage  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  his  own  account  and 
rented  a  tract  of  land.  In  the  new  work  he 
prospered  and  \\hen  he  had  acquired  some 
capital  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  1853.  It 
was  then  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  on  which 
not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  im- 
pro\-ement  made,  but  he  broke  it  and  fenced 
it  and  otherwise  developed  the  property, 
n^aking  it  a  valuable  tract  of  land,  which 
returned  to  him  golden  harvests  in  reward 
for  the  care  and  labor  which  he  bestowed 
upon  the  fields.  As  his  financial  resources 
increased  he  added  to  the  farm  and  now 
within  its  boundaries  there  are  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  good  land.  He 
erected  a  neat  and  substantial  residence, 
also  a  large  barn  and  other  necessary  out- 
buildinc's.     These  were  but  a  few  of  the  im- 


H.  W.  HARRIS. 


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UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


245 


lirovcnieiits  wliich  he  made.  He  planted  an 
orchard,  tiled  his  fields  and  divided  the 
farm  hy  well  kept  fences.  He  also  raised 
good  stock  and  although  he  came  to  Ver- 
milion county  a  poor  man  he  gradually 
worked  his  way  upward  until  he  gained  a 
place  among-  the  substantial  residents  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  Harris  has  been  twice  married.  In 
Indiana  in  1853,  he  wedded  Nancy  Clark, 
who  died  in  1864,  leaving  five  children:  H. 
P..  wlio  is  married  and  lives  near  Wichita, 
Kansas;  Emma,  the  wife  of  Walter  Wood, 
of  Hoopeston ;  Isabella,  the  wife  of  Chris- 
topher Fred,  of  Fulton,  Indiana;  Edwin 
Stanton,  who  is  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Oklahoma;  and  Olive,  who  married 
George  Holtz,  of  Ross  tow-nship.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Harris  wedded 
Mary  Money,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  who, 
when  a  young  lady,  came  to  this  county 
and  on  the  22d  of  June,  1865,  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Mr.  Harris.  There  are  six 
children  of  this  marriage:  Salome  J.,  the 
wife  of  Charley  W.  Smith;  Lydia  A.  ;  Jose- 
piiine;  Julin;  Minnie,  the  wife  of  .\Ibert 
Statzell,  of  Williamsport,  Indiana ;  and 
Jesse  S.,  who  with  John  assist^-  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  farm. 

Politically  Mr.  Harris  was  originally  a 
Whig  and  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republi- 
can party  upon  its  organization.  He  voted 
for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856  and  has  never 
failed  to  cast  his  ballot  for  each  presidential 
nominee  of  the  party  since  that  time.  He 
first  voted  for  Taylor  in  1848.  In  1875  ''^ 
was  a])pointed  to  the  position  of  school 
treasurer  and  was  elected  and  re-elected  to 
the  ortice  until  he  served  for  twenty-seven 
consecutive  }'-ears.  He  has  also  been  a  del- 
egate to  numerous  county  conxentions  of 
his  party.     From  pioneer  times  down  to  the 

present  he  has  watched  the  growth  and  de- 
11 


velo])ment  of  Vermilion  county,  having  seen 
a  swampy  land  reclaimed  for  purposes  of 
civilization  hy  tiling  and  cultivation  and 
modern  farming  methods  have  been  intro- 
duced and  carried  on  until  the  country  has 
been  made  to  bloom  and  blossom  as  the 
rose.  The  work  of  progress  has  also  been 
instituted  in  this  city  and  Mr.  Harris  feels 
a  just  ])ride  in  what  has  been  accomplished 
here.  He  is  now  a  venerable  man  of  seven- 
ty-fi\e  years,  receiving  the  respect  and  hon- 
or which  should  e\-er  be  accorded  one  who 
has  advanced  far  on  life's  journey. 


A.   WARD. 


Eighty  acres  of  good  farming  land  on 
section  i,  (jeorgetown  township,  constitutes 
the  farm  of  A.  Ward,  wdio  is  there  carrying 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock- 
raising.  He  has  resided  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty since  1871  and  is  a  native  of  Switzerland 
county,  Indiana,  born  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1833.  His  parents  were  Bennett  and  Xancy 
(Boggs)  Ward,  the  former  a  n:itive  of 
Xorth  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
In  an  early  day  the  father  removed  to  Indi- 
ana, where  he  li\-ed  iov  a  number  of  years. 
He  afterward  spent  a  few  years  in  Alis.souri 
and  while  there  his  wife  died.  Subsequent- 
ly he  returned  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
making  his  home  with  the  subject  of  this  re- 
\icw  until  his  deatli.  which  occurred  on  the 
^^(\  of  July,  188 1. 

.\.  Ward  is  the  only  one  of  the  children 
born  unto  his  parents  now'  residing  in  Ver- 
milion county.  He  pursued  his  education 
in  tiie  district  schools  of  Delaware  county, 
Indiana.  He  settled  upon  a  farm  there, 
making  it  his  ])lace  of  abode  until  1871, 
when  he  came  to  this  county.     In   1875  he 


246 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


boiiglit  his  present  farm  on  section  i, 
Georgetown  township.  Throughout  his  en- 
tire hfe  he  has  carried  on  the  occupation  to 
wliich  he  was  reared  and  in  his  farming 
methods  is  progressive,  keeping  in  touch 
with  the  best  methods  of  cultivating  the  soil 
and  caring  for  stock  which  are  in  vogue  at 
the  present  day.  When  he  located  here  the 
land  was  all  covered  with  timber,  but  he 
cleared  this  and  has  placed  his  fields  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His  farm  is  to- 
day well  improved  with  modern  equipments 
and  he  is  successfully  carrying  on  general 
farm  work  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Ward  was  first  married  while  liv- 
ing in  Delaware  county,  Indiana,  to  Aliss 
Phoebe  Edginton,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Her 
father  removed  to  Delaware  county,  Indi- 
ana, at  an  early  day  and  there  died.  Mrs. 
W'ard  passed  away  at  her  home  in  this  coun- 
ty in  1877.  Of  seven  children  born  of  that 
marriage  five  are  yet  living:  Alonzo,  who 
resides  in  Kansas;  Wilson,  who  married 
Maggie  Rogers  and  is  living  in  Mead  coun- 
ty. Kansas;  Franklin,  who  resides  at  home 
with  our  subject;  Grant,  who  wedded  Mary 
Rosenbarger  and  is  living  in  Veedersburg, 
Indiana;  and  Cooley,  who  married  Maude 
^lanle}'  and  resides  in  Georgetown,  where 
he  is  conducting  the  Rival  Restaurant. 
Those  deceased  are  Mary,  Amanda  and  Cal- 
vin. After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr. 
\\'ard  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mary  J.  Estes,  a  native  of  El- 
wood  township,  Vennilion  county,  born  in 
October,  1845.  H^r  parents,  Laborin  and 
Polly  (Chambers)  Estes,  w-ere  verj-  early 
settlers  of  this  county,  coming  to  Illinois 
from  North  Carolina  and  here  they  spent 
their  remaining  days. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Christian  church  of  Georgetown 
township  and   are  faithful  to  its  teachings 


antl  principles.  He  has  always  voted  with 
the  Democracy  but  has  never  Ijeen  an  office 
seeker.  His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring 
industry  and  since  coming  to  \'ermilion 
county  he  has  accomplished  a  great  amount 
of  work,  in  clearing  his  land,  preparing  it 
for  the  plow  and  placing  it  under  the  high 
state  of  cultivation  in  which  it  is  to-day 
found. 


ROBERT    HOLMES. 

The  storj-  of  a  successful  career  is  al- 
ways a  matter  of  interest  and  although  jeal- 
ousy is  sometimes  manifest  the  great  major- 
ity rejoice  in  advancement,  especially  when 
one  has  risen  to  prominence  and  success  from 
a  humble  financial  position.  This  Robert 
Holmes  has  done  and  to-day  he  is  controlling 
one  of  the  most  extensive  and  important 
industrial  enterprises  of  A'ermilion  county. 
He  was  born  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  December 
25,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Re- 
becca (Thomas)  Holmes,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Xew  Castle,  Dela\vare,  and  the  latter 
of  Wales.  They  were  married  in  Sandusky 
and  a  year  later  located  in  Clarion,  Ohio. 
The  father  was  a  machinist  by  trade  and 
conducted  a  shop  there,  making  that  place 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  1 8th  of  December,  1872.  His  political 
suppi)rt  was  given  the  Republican  party  and 
he  was  ever  a  progressive  and  loyal  citizen. 
His  wife  died  March  18,  1899.  In  their 
family  were  five  sons  and  four  daughters, 
of  whom  three  sons  and  three  daug'hters  are 
yet  living.  Robert  being  the  eldest.  Grant, 
a  partner  of  our  subject,  now  conducts  a 
machine  shop  and  makes  his  home  in  Dan- 
ville. Sherman  is  eng\aged  in  gold  mining 
in  Dutch  Guiana,  South  America,  and  is 
also  a  partner  of  the  firm  of  Robert  Holmes 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


247 


■&  Brotliers,  incorporated.  Alary  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  W.  H.  Snaveley,  a  resident  of  Seff- 
ner.  Florida.  Alattie  is  the  wife  of  J.  A. 
Jolmson,  who  is  li\"ing  in  Thomotosassa. 
Florida;  and  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Howard 
Bolander,  of  Marion,  Ohio. 

Robert  Holmes  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Marion  and  afterward 
worked  in  machine  shops  there.  Owing  to 
his  father's  early  death  he  was  forced  to  be- 
gin work  when  only  thirteen  years  of  age 
and  was  there  employed  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  In  1880  he  came  to 
Danville  and  secured  a  position  as  a  ma- 
chinist in  the  Chicago  and  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  shops,  where  he  remained  for  six 
months.  He  then  accepted  the  agency  of 
the  Huber  engine  and  thresher  which  is 
manufactured  in  Marion.  He  established  an 
agency  in  this  city  in  partnership  with  P.  T. 
Baker  and  conducted  the  business  with  suc- 
cess for  ten  years,  when  his  partner  sold  out 
to  W.  W.  Kent  and  the  latter  relation  was 
maintained  for  a  year.  Mr.  Holmes  then 
])urchased  his  partner's  interest  and  in- 
creased the  business,  extending  its  scope.  In 
1893  his  brothers  removed  to  Danville  and 
he  became  a  partner  in  the  business.  It  was 
then  that  the  firm  established  a  machine  shop 
at  Xos.  30  and  36  North  Hazel  street. 
Since  then  the  business  has  constantly 
grown  and  they  now  occupy  not  only  the 
machine  shop  space  but  also  a  btiilding  one 
hundred  and  twenty  by  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet,  extending  from  No.  49  to  No.  53 
North  Hazel  street.  It  is  in  this  laiilding 
that  the  main  oflices  are  located.  The  firm 
of  Robert  Holmes  &  Brothers  employs  more 
than  fifty  workmen  in  the  machine  shops. 
They  make  a  specialty  of  locomotive  bell 
ringers  and  air  compressors  and  also  of  the 
manufacture  of  shaker  screens  for  coal  min- 
ers.   Thev  do  a  big  business  in  mill  and  mine 


machine-repairing  and  sell  everything  in  the 
line  of  farm  machinery  and  also  "everything 
on  wheels,"  as  their  advertisement  reads. 
This  includes  all  kinds  of  vehicles,  making  a 
specialty  of  high  grade  automobiles.  The 
output  of  the  house  is  now  very  extensive 
and  the  business  has  reached  large  and  prof- 
itable proportions. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Holmes  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  ne\-er  sought  or  de- 
sired office  and  in  fact  has  always  refused 
to  become  a  candidate  for  political  prefer- 
ment, although  as  a  private  citizen  he  is  ever 
true  to  the  welfare  of  his  city,  state  and  na- 
tion and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  success 
of  party  principles.  He  belongs  to  Damas- 
cus Lodge,  K.  P.,  and  to  the  Danville  Lodge 
of  Elks.  Coming  to  this  city  without  cap- 
ital, accepting  a  position  as  an  employe,  he 
stands  to-day  as  a  worthy  representative  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  through  earnest 
efYort  combined  with  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  business  undertaken,  capable  manage- 
ment in  its  control  and  honorable  dealings 
in  the  relations  with  the  public. 


M.  F.   PORTERFIELD. 

M.  F.  Porterfield.  a  representative  of  the 
banking  interests  of  Vermilion  county  now, 
owning  and  conducting  the  Porterfield  Bank 
at  Fairmount.  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  17th  of  February,  1849.  His  parents, 
James  B.  and  Elvira  H.  (Blaine)  Porter- 
field, were  also  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 
The  father  was  a  tanner  and  harness-maker 
and  in  the  year  1856  came  westward  with 
his  family,  first  settling  in  Monmouth.  War- 
ren county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for 
a  year.  He  then  remo\'ed  to  Champaign  and 
became  a  contractor  for  the  Illinois  Central 


248 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Railroad  Company,  making  his  home  in  that 
place  until  the  fall  of  1862.  He  next  set- 
tled upon  a  farm  near  Sidney,  this  state,  and 
later  he  retired  from  active  life,  spending  his 
last  years  in  the  town  of  Sidney.  There  he 
died  in  Fehruary,  1891.  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1895.  In  their  family  were  six  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living,  namely:  M.  ¥.,  of  this  review; 
Mary  B.,  who  is  living  in  Sidney;  E.  N., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan 
business  at  Kearney,  Nebraska;  S.  E.,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  grain  business  with  his 
youngest  brother,  J.  Bert,  at  Sidney;  J.  C. 
who  is  employed  in  the  veterinary  depart- 
ment of  the  Union  Stock  Yards  of  Chica- 
go; Carrie  F.,  the  wife  of  Charles  J.  Free- 
man, a  resident  of  Decatur;  L.  W.,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade  in  Champaign ; 
and  Xettie.  the  wife  of  John  F.  Largent.  a 
lawyer  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

M.  F.  Forterfield  pursued  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  near  Sidney  anil 
later  continued  his  literary  course  in  the 
State  University  of  Illinois,  at  Urbana, 
while  he  prepared  for  business  life  in  a  com- 
mercial college.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
students  of  the  State  LTniversity.  entering 
in  the  winter  of  1869-70.  After  putting 
aside  his  text  books  he  lived  upon  the  farm 
with  his  father  until  1873.  when  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  southeast  of  Sidney 
and  began  farming  on  his  own  account, 
there  carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  un- 
til 1 89 1.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Fairmount 
and  established  the  Forterfield  Bank,  which 
he  is  now  conducting.  It  is  a  jjrivate  bank- 
ing institution,  well  meriting  public  support 
because  of  the  capability  and  enterprise  of 
the  owner.  Mr.  Forterfield  also  owns  the 
bank  building  and  other  business  lilocks  in 
Fairmount  and  an  elegant  residence  which 
is  the  family  home. 


On  the  ist  of  January,  1885,  near  Philo, 
Illinois,  Mr.  Forterfield  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Belle  J.  Cole,  who  was  born 
in  W'orthinglon,  Massachusetts,  August  5, 
1 86 1,  a  (laughter  of  Charles  F.  and  Maria  J. 
(Pease)  Cole,  who  were  likewise  natives  of 
the  Bay  State.  In  the  year  1863  they  came 
west,  locating  near  Philo,  Champaign  coun- 
ty, upon  a  farm.  There  the  father  died  in 
1898  but  the  mother  is  still  living.  In  their 
familv  were  three  sons  and  four  daughters, 
but  one  son  and  one  daughter  have  now 
passed  away.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Forterfield  has  been  blessed  with  three  chil- 
dren :  N.  Raymond,  X.  Mildred  and  W'il- 
lard  B. 

Mr.  Forterfield  is  a  member  of  the  !^Iod- 
ern  Woodmen  Camp  and  of  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  he  belongs  to  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church.  His  father  was  a 
Whig  and  upon  attaining  his  majority  ^Ir. 
Forterfield  became  a  Republican,  having 
since  given  earnest  and  loyal  support  to  the 
party.  While  there  has  been  nothing  excit- 
ing or  adventuresome  in  his  business  career, 
the  history  of  his  success  is  one  of  interest, 
because  it  shows  what  can  be  accomplished 
when  one  has  strong  determination  and 
laudable  ambition,  guided  by  sound  judg- 
ment. These  are  the  qualities  which  have 
gained  success  to  Fairmount's  popular 
banker,  making  him  a  prosperous  citizen  of 
X'erinilion  countv. 


ABRAM    B.  SMITH. 

Abram  B.  Smith,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Danxille.  was  born  in  eastern  Tennessee  on 
Christmas  Day.  1817.  He  is  a  son  of  Jos- 
eph and  Sarah  (  Brown)  Smith,  both  of 
whom    were   natives   of   eastern   Tennessee, 


LIBRARY 

OF    T,IE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


A.  B.  SMITH. 


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MRS.  A.  B.  SMITH. 


UNlVtRSlVY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


!53 


and  resided  there  until  1828.  when  tliey 
came  to  \'erniihon  county.  Illinois,  casting 
in  their  lot  with  its  first  settlers.  Only  ten 
years  before  had  the  state  been  admitted  to 
the  Union  and  this  portion  of  Illinois  was 
largely  wikl  and  unimproved,  awaiting  the 
awakening-  touch  of  the  white  race  to  trans- 
form it  into  one  of  the  richest  agricultural, 
industrial  and  commercial  sections  of  this 
great  commonwealth.  Joseph  Smith  took 
up  his  abode  in  Georgetown  township, 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  improxed  a  good  farm,  upon  which  he 
made  his  home  until  called  to  his  final  rest 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  His  wife 
has  also  ])assed  away.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  thirteen  cliildren.  of  whom  five  are 
now  lix'ing:  Eliza,  the  widow  of  William 
Gantz  and  a  resident  of  Georgetown  town- 
slii]);  Abram  B.,  of  this  review ;  Amanda, 
the  wife  of  Andrew  Runnells,  of  George- 
town township;  Michael  E.,  who  is  engaged 
in  selling  farm  implements  in  Brockstown. 
Illinois;  and  Catherine,  the  wife  of  Adam 
Kyger.  of  Missouri.  The  others  were  all 
reared  here  and  most  of  them  died  in  Ver- 
milion county. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
Abram  11  Smith  pursued  a  common-school 
education,  the  schoolhouse  being  fi\'e  miles 
from  his  home,  lie  was  only  eleven  years 
of  age  when  with  his  parents  he  came  to 
\'ermilion  county.  In  1841  he  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Georgetown  township,  where  he 
lix'ed  until  his  removal  to  Dan\ille,  devot- 
ing his  energies  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil. 
He  married  Eliza  E.  Lockett,  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  a  daughter  of  Richard  Lock- 
ett, who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Georgetown  township  and  of  Danville. 
Thrrnif^lmut  his  entire  life  Mr.  Luckett  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  early 
days  he  also  conducted  a  grist  mill  in  Dan- 


leath    occiuTcd     in 


ville     township.       Hi 
Georgetown. 

For  many  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
tra\'eled  life's  jovu'ney  together  and  were 
then  separated  liy  the  death  of  the  wife, 
which  occiu^red  December  6,  1898,  while  she 
was  on  a  visit  to  a  cousin  in  Chicago.  Unto 
them  were  born  nine  children  but  Lockett 
R.,  Sarrdi  J.,  Dora  E.  and  Mary  Alice  are 
all  deceased  and  buried  in  the  McKindree 
cemetery.  David  A.  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Georgetown  township.  Matilda  A.  is  the 
wife  of  Hiram  W.  Ross,  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville. Joseph  H.  is  a  farmer  of  Edgar  coun- 
ty. Illinois.  Tilmon  C.  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  Danville.  Charles  New-- 
ton  was  born  in  Georgetown  township.  Jan- 
uary 2^.  i860,  and  from  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  he  entered  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illinois, 
graduating  from  that  institution  in  the  clas.s 
of  1882.  Choosing  the  profession  of  medi- 
cine as  a  life  work,  he  then  matriculated  at 
Rush  IMedical  College  of  Chicago  and  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1885.  For  two 
years  he  successfully  engaged  in  practice  at 
lldnier,  Illinois,  but  on  account  of  failing 
health  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  prac- 
tice and  is  now  living  retired  in  Danville. 
He  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Walker,  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  Walker,  deceased,  who  was  an 
early  settler  and  prominent  citizen  of  Taze- 
well county*  Illinois. 

After  his  marriage  Abram  B.  Smith  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Georgetown  township 
until  his  removal  to  Danville.  He  took  up 
his  abode  here  on  the  4th  of  August.  1899, 
and  has  since  lived  retired,  occupying  a 
pleasant  iiome  at  No.  509  Buchanan  street. 
He  also  owns  a  house  on  Jackson  street, 
another  on  Park  street,  and  has  two  houses 
and  lots  in  Homer,  Illinois.  He  is  likewise 
the  iiwner  of  three  hundred  and  forty  acres 


254 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  land  ill  Georgetown  township  and  tlie 
rental  of  his  property  brings  him  a  good  in- 
come. His  success  in  life  was  due  entirely 
to  his  own  labor  and  diligence,  together 
with  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife. 
By  their  frugality  they  became  the  owners 
of  six  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  choice 
land  in  Vermilion  county,  a  part  of  which 
has  since  been  divided  among  his  children, 
though  Mr.  Smith  still  retains  the  old  home- 
stead of  three  hundred  and  forty  acres. 

While  residing  upon  his  farm  he  served 
as  school  director  but  has  never  been  an 
off'ce  seeker,  his  farming  and  stock-raising 
interests  leaving  him  no  time  for  political 
work.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  al- 
though his  father  was  a  Democrat.  He  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  William  Henry 
Harrison  and  after  the  dissolution  of  the 
Whig  party  became  independent.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Georgetown  township  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  retired  citizens  of  Danville. 

For  seventy-four  years  I\Ir.  Smith  has 
resided  in  \'ermilion  county  and  its  history 
is  therefore  familiar  to  him.  He  has  been 
an  eye  witness  of  almost  its  entire  growth 
and  development ;  has  seen  its  wild  lands 
claimed  for  farming  purposes  and  devel- 
oped into  verv  rich  and  productive  tracts ; 
has  seen  the  county  crossed  by  a  network  of 
railroads  so  that  it  is  supplied  with  splendid 
transportation  facilities;  has  seen  hamlets 
grow  into  thriving  towns  and  villages, 
while  Danville  has  developed  from  a  little 
country  crossroads  into  a  city  of  metropoli- 
tan proportions.  Throughout  all  these 
years  Mr.  Smith  has  followed  the  even  ten- 
or of  his  way  as  a  farmer,  yet  has  kept  in 
touch  with  the  general  progress  and  im- 
provement, has  kept  informed  concerning 
the  leading  questions  of  the  day.  and  at  all 
times  he  has  been  loval  and  true  to  the  best 


interests  of  his  community,  so  that  he  well 
deserves  representation  in  this  volume  as 
one  of  the  representative  men  of  Vermilion 
countv. 


D.  BYRON    HAGGARD. 

Through  the  yeai's  of  his  identification 
with  the  business  interests  of  Danville  D. 
Byron  Haggard  enjoyed  the  highest  respect 
of  his  fellow  townsmen  b\  reason  of  his 
strict  integrity  and  sterling  worth,  and  in  his 
death  the  community  realized  that  it  had 
lost  a  valued  citizen.  He  was  torn  in  Lo- 
gansport,  Indiana,  on  the  6th  of  December, 
1839,  a  son  of  John  and  Cynthia  Haggard, 
of  that  state.  His  father  was  a  tinner  by 
trade  and  for  some  time  conducted  a  hard- 
ware store  in  Logansport.  Both  he  ami  his 
wife  died  in  Kokomo,  Indiana. 

During  his  boyhood  David  Haggard  had 
only  the  advantages  of  a  common-school  ed- 
ucation but  by  reading  and  observation  in 
subsequent  years  he  became  a  well  informed 
man.  In  1858  he  received  the  offer  of  a  po- 
sition in  the  dry-goods  store  of  Mr.  Moore, 
of  Danville,  who  had  formerly  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Lafayette.  Indiana,  and  with  whom 
Mr.  Haggard  had  previously  been  ac- 
quaintetl.  Accepting  the  office  he  came  to 
Danville  that  year  and  engaged  in  clerking 
for  a  few  years  or  until  Mr.  Moore  sold  out. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  a  Mr. 
Miller,  under  the  firm  name  of  Miller  & 
Haggard,  and  they  embarked  in  the  retail 
boot  and  shoe  business,  which  they  carried 
on  quite  successfully  until  their  store  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1861.  With  character- 
istic energv'  they  then  rented  a  small  room  on 
Vermilion  street  and  put  in  a  stock  of  boots 
and  shoes.  Prospering  in  their  business 
they  subsequently  remo\ed  to  more  commo- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


255 


dioiis  quarters  in  order  to  meet  tlie  growing 
demands  of  their  trade.  Tlie  partnership  be- 
tween Mr.  ]\liller  and  Mr.  Haggard  was  of 
comparatively  short  duration  and  after  it 
was  dissolved  our  subject  was  alone  in  busi- 
ness throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  brother  Edward,  who  was  a  shoemaker 
bv  traile,  worked  for  him  in  the  store  until 
the  Civil  war  broke  out,  when  he  entered 
the  Union  army  and  died  in  Andersonville 
prison.  They  were  the  only  members  of  the 
family  to  come  to  this  county. 

In  April,  1859,  ^Nlr.  Haggard  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte  Creamer,  who 
was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1840.  Her  parents,  Moses  and 
^Margaret  (Reed)  Creamer,  were  natives  of 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and 
the  father  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  Buck- 
eye state,  wliere  he  died  when  Mrs.  Haggard 
was  quite  young.  Her  mother  subsequently 
married  John  Moffitt,  now  deceased,  antl 
his  death  occurred  in  December,  iqoi. 
I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haggard  were  born  five 
children :  Minnie,  a  graduate  of  the  Dan- 
ville high  school,  is  now  a  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  city  and  resides  at  home 
with  her  mother.  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  John 
Elwood,  a  civil  engineer  living  in  Chicago. 
Ella  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Harmstead,  who 
is  a  dealer  in  harness,  buggies,  etc.,  in  Ur- 
b;uia,  Ohio.  Grace  is  the  wife  of  George 
Rearick,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Danville. 
Royal,  the  only  son,  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years. 

Mr.  Haggard  continued  in  active  busi- 
ness until  a  few  months  prior  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  7th  of  December, 
1872,  and  he  was  one  of  the  leading'  shoe 
merchants  of  the  city.  He  was  what  the 
world  terms  a  self-made  man,  for  all  that 
he  iiad  was  obtained  through  his  own  well 
directed  efforts.     He  began  business  in  Dan- 


ville on  capital  borrowed  from  his  father  and 
his  partner,  Mr.  Miller,  but  he  was  soon  able 
to  pay  off  this.  By  untiring  industiy,  strict 
attention  to  his  business  affairs  and  sound 
judgment  he  met  with  well  merited  success 
in  his  undertakings  and  won  aii  enviable  po- 
sition in  business  circles.  By  his  ballot  he 
usually  supi^orted  the  men  ;md  measures  of 
the  Republican  party,  but  he  never  cared  for 
official  honors.  Socially  he  was  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Masonic  order  in  Dan\illc. 
His  widow  still  makes  her  home  in  Danxillc, 
occupying  a  pleasant  residence  at  No.  312 
North  Hazel  street,  where  she  and  her  hus- 
band lived  for  a  number  of  years,  and  she 
also  owns  other  valuable  property  in  the 
same  locality.  She  is  an  earnest  member  of 
the  First  Alethodist  Episcopal  church  of  the 
city,  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady  of  many 
sterling  qualities,  who  has  a  large  circle  of 
friends  in  Danville. 


JOHN  W.  KEESLAR. 

John  W.  Keeslar,  who  is  filling  the  po- 
sition of  states  attorney  in  Danville,  having 
been  elected  to  the  office  in  1900,  for  a  term 
of  four  years,  is  one  of  Vermilion  county's 
native  sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
24th  of  August,  1864.  His  parents  were 
Charles  \V.  and  Sarah  (Snyder)  Keeslar, 
natives  of  New  York  and  Ohio  respectively. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  also  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  state,  emigrated  westward 
with  his  family  in  1849  and  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Pilot  townshi]).  \'er- 
milion  county.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject settled  in  the  same  township  in  1858 
and  is  li\-ing  a  retired  life  there,  after  many 
years'  connection  with  agricultiu'al  pursuits. 
He  has  also  been  prominent  in  public  atfairs 


256 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  from  1878  until  1885  lie  tilled  the  office 
of  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred 
to  vary  tlie  routine  of  farm  life  for  John  \\  . 
Keeslar  in  his  youth.  He  became  a  student 
in  the  public  schools  and  later  continued  liis 
stuilies  in  the  University  of  Illinois,  as  a 
pupil  in  the  law  department  of  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University  of  Bloomington  and 
on  the  completion  of  his  course  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1888  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  Danville  in  1889.  He 
continued  in  practice  imtil  1899  and  formed 
a  partnership  in  that  year.  In  1900  he  was 
elected  states  attorney.  In  this  office  he 
was  elected  in  1 900  as  States  Attorney.  In 
this  office  he  is  displaying  conscientious  re- 
gard for  duty  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. During  his  term  in  office  he  has 
sent  more  people  to  the  penitentiary  than 
from  any  other  count}'  outside  of  Cook.  In 
the  prosecution  of  cases  which  come  to  him 
he  is  diligent  and  persevering,  entering  the 
courtroom  well  prepared  by  reason  of  pre- 
vious study  and  investigation  of  the  authori- 
ties and  percedents  bearing  on  the  points  in 
controversy.  While  a  young  man  the  pub- 
lic and  the  profession  have  confidence  in  his 
ability,  because  of  his  native  talents,  his 
strong  individuality  and  an  earnest  desire 
to  succeed,  which  is  manifested  in  liis  wt  rk 
in  the  courtroom. 

In  1891  Mr.  Keeslar  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Eftie  Sandusky,  a  daughter  of 
J.  C.  and  Mary  J.  Sandusky,  of  Vance  town- 
ship, Vermilion  county.  Their  home  is  now 
brightened  by  the  presence  of  an  interesting 
daughter,  Nellie.  Mr.  Keeslar  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  lodge,  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity,  to  the  Court  of  Honor  and  to  the 
Modern  Woodman  Camp  of  Danville,  but 
while  he  enjoys  social  life  and  its  pleasures 
and  has  the  high  regard  of  many  friends  he 


lets  no  outside  inlluence  or  attractions 
swerve  him  from  the  faithful  performance 
of  his  duty.  His  preparation  of  cases  is 
thorough  and  he  seems  almost-  intuitively  to 
grasp  the  strong  points  of  law,  in  fact  no 
detail  seems  to  escape  him  and  his  cases  are 
fought  with  such  skill,  ability  and  power 
that  he  rarely  fails  to  gain  the  verdict  de- 
sired. 


TOSI.VH    SANDUSKY. 

Progress  and  improvement  depend  upon 
labor  and  energy,  and  the  upbuilding  of 
Vermilion  county  was  due  to  the  aggregate 
endeavor  of  men  of  strong  determination, 
unflagging  diligence  and  honorable  purpose. 
Among  this  class  was  numbered  Josiah  San- 
dusky, who  for  many  years  was  actively  and 
prominently  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  was  a  man  whose  business  record 
was  unassailable  because  he  did  not  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  necessities  of  his  fellow  men, 
but,  in  the  legitimate  channels  of  trade 
gained  the  competence  which  ultimately 
crowned  his  efforts. 

Mr.  Sandusky  was  born  in  Carroll 
township,  this  county,  on  the  nth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1837,  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Jane 
Sodowsky.  The  Sodowsky  famil\-  was 
founded  in  America  by  James  Sodowsky,  a 
Polish  exile  of  noble  birth,  proud  spirit  and 
lofty  patriotism.  When  his  love  of  liberty 
could  no  longer  tolerate  the  despotic  rule 
of  Russia,  he  became  the  leader  in  a  rebel- 
lion against  the  czar,  and  when  defeated,  but 
not  subdued,  he  came  to  America — "the 
land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave." 
Later  he  married  the  sister  of  Governor  In- 
slip.  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  and  among 
their  descendants  was  Harvey  Sodowsky.  a 
brother  of  the- subject  of  this  review.      In 


LIBRARY 

OF  T.IE 

UNIVERSITY  OF   ILLINOIS 


THE   -BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


259 


the  course  of  years  representatives  of  tlie 
family  changed  the  speUing  of  the  name,  in- 
cluding" the  brothers  of  our  subject.  Two 
of  these  brothers,  ^^'illiam  and  Al)rahani 
Sandusk}',  are  now  prominent  farmers  and 
stockmen  of  Carroll  township.  \'ermilion 
county.  Harvey  Sodowsky,  however,  re- 
tained the  ancestral  spelling'  of  the  family 
name. 

The  sjjirit  which  led  James  Sodowsky. 
the  emigrant,  first  to  fight  for  liberty  and 
then  come  to  America  has  been  manifest  in 
his  descendants  throughout  succeeding 
generations.  It  was  shown  by  the  Sodow- 
skys  who  fought  for  the  liberty  of  the  colo- 
nists of  the  new  world,  and  how  their  hearts 
must  have  rejoiced  at  the  glorious  outcome 
of  the  struggle;  it  was  again  shown  by  g'al- 
lant  soldiers  of  the  name  in  the  war  of 
181 2;  and  in  the  subjugation  of  the  western 
wilderness  they  bore  a  part.  Daniel  Boone 
opened  the  gates  of  Kentucky  and  soon  he 
was  followed  into  "the  dark  and  bloody" 
region  by  the  grandfather  of  our  su])ject, 
who  settled  there  just  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Abraham  Sandusky. 
the  father,  was  born  in  that  state  and  mar- 
ried Jane  McDowell,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
cliddren,  of  whom  Josiah  Sandusky  was  the 
youngest.  As  will  be  seen  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  faiuily  have  anglicized  the  spell- 
ing of  the  old  Polish  name,  while  others 
have  retained  the  original  orthography. 

Josiah  Snnduskv  obtained  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  in  early  youth  and 
through  reading,  observation  and  experi- 
ence in  later  years.  He  became  an  extreme- 
ly well  informed  man  for  he  not  only  read 
broadly  but  mastered  what  he  read  and  ])os- 
sessed  a  retenti\e  memoiy.  .\s  the  years 
passed  he  gathered  a  large  and  well  selected 
librarv  with  the  contents  of  which   he  be- 


came very  familiar  and  many  of  his  most 
pleasant  hours  were  spent  in  the  compan- 
ionship of  his  books.  Throughout  his  busi- 
ness career  he  carried  on  general  farming 
and  stock-raising.  He  remained  at  home 
until  his  father's  death,  which  occurred 
when  the  son  was  about  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  After  this  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother  Abraham,  which  connec- 
tion was  continued  for  many  years.  From 
his  father  he  inherited  some  land  but  to  this 
he  added  from  time  to  time  until  at  his 
death  he  was  the  possessor  of  about  one 
thousand  acres  of  valuable  land  in  eastern 
Illinois.  He  became  one  of  the  best  known 
cattle  men  of  the  state  and  at  the  time  of  his 
demise  j)ossessed  one  of  the  largest  herd  of 
duchess  cattle  in  the  world.  Stock  dealers 
would  come  from  all  parts  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada  and  buy  of  him,  and  he 
was  also  one  of  the  leading  breeders  of  fast 
horses,  bntb  running  and  trotting  stock.  At 
the  sale  ^vhich  was  held  subsequent  to  his 
death  his  horses  brought  about  five  thou- 
sand dollars,  while  the  sale  of  cattle  re- 
turned to  the  family  ten  thousand  and  seven 
hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Sandusky  did  much 
to  improve  the  grade  of  stock  raised  in  this 
portion  of  the  state  and  thereby  materialh'' 
ad\-anced  prices,  thus  his  labors  proxdng  of 
benefit  to  the  entire  locality.  In  the  man- 
agement of  his  affairs  he  was  careful,  sy.ste- 
matic  and  methodical  and  above  all  he  was 
strictly  honest  in  every  trade  transaction. 
He  became  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Indian- 
ola  Fair  Association  and  he  did  everything 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  interests  of  ag- 
riculturists. 

Mr.  Sandusky  was  united  in  marriage 
on  the  i8th  of  December,  1873,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Moreland,  a  native  of  Bourbon 
countv,     Kentuckv,     and     a     daughter     of 


26o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Thomas  and  Catherine  T.  (Hedges)  More- 
land,  who  were  also  natives  of  Kentucky. 
On  the  paternal  side  Mrs.  Sandusky  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  Her  great-grand- 
father, \\'il!iam  Moreland,  came  to  Penn- 
sylvania before  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
it  was  his  son  William  who  removed  to 
Kentucky  and  in  that  state  married  Marga- 
ret W'haley.  There  he  lived  at  the  town  of 
Morelandville,  in  Fayette  county,  about 
twehe  miles  from  Lexington  on  the  Paris 
and  Lexington  pike.  The  village  was 
named  in  his  honor  and  the  Masonic  lodge 
at  that  place  also  bears  his  name.  William 
Moreland  and  his  wife  were  the  parents  of 
three  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  whom 
Thomas  Aloreland,  the  father  of  Mrs.  San- 
dusky, was  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
Thomas  Moreland  engaged  in  breeding  and 
dealing  in  fine  horses  in  Kentucky  and  when 
his  health  gave  way  he  came  to  Illinois, 
hoping  here  to  regain  his  strength.  He  set- 
tled in  Carroll  township,  Vermilion  county, 
in  1857,  but  died  in  1864.  In  Bourbon 
county  he  had  married  Miss  Catherine  T. 
Hedges,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Hedges,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia.  Tiie  Hedges  family  was 
connected  with  the  nobility  of  England,  be- 
ing descended  from  Sir  Charles  Hedges, 
who  was  prominent  at  the  court  of  Queen 
Elizabeth.  The  first  of  che  name  to  come  to 
America  was  Joseph  Hedges,  who  was  dis- 
inherited by  his  father  for  marrying  out- 
side of  the  nobility,  but  he  w-as  true  to  the 
woman  whom  he  loved  and  wedded,  a  mer- 
chant's daughter.  He  then  brought  his 
bride  to  tlie  new  world,  settling  with  the 
^'irginia  colony  at  Jamestown.  Thomas 
Moreland  and  his  wife  Ijecame  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  now  liv- 
ing: Susan  M.,  the  widows  of  Josiah  San- 
duskv;  Iv.nnie  Z..  who    makes    her    home 


with  her  elder  sister;  William  H.,  a  resi- 
dent  of  Paris,  Illinois;  Peter  H.,  of  Indian- 
ola;  John  T.,  of  Marshall,  Missouri;  and 
Kate,  tlie  wife  of  Charles  Cooper,  of  Green- 
castle,  Indiana.  Mr.  Moreland  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1864,  and  his  widow,  long  surviving 
him,  passed  away  in  August,  1897,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-nine  years. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Sandusky 
was  blessed  with  fixe  children,  but  the  first 
born,  a  daughter,  died  in  infancy,  and  the 
third,  a  son  also  died  in  infancy.  Pearl,  the 
second  child,  is  the  wife  of  Forrest  Pyne, 
of  Los  Angeles,  California,  whom  she  mar- 
ried on  the  29th  of  October,  1902.  Abe 
H.  and  Will  J.  are  at  home  with  their  moth- 
er and  the  latter  is  attending  school  in  In- 
dianola. 

Josiah  Sandusky  was  a  home  man  and 
was  happiest  when  he  had  his  family 
around  him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republi- 
can, but  never  consented  to  hold  office,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  energies  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs  and  to  the  enjoyment  of  the 
pleasures  of  the  home  circle.  He  passed 
away  February  13,  1901,  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  the  Sandusky  cemetery  in  Carroll 
township.  The  life  record  of  Mr.  Sandusky 
covered  more  than  sixty-two  years  and  his 
history  is  that  of  an  upright,  honorable  man 
who  always  li\ed  at  peace  with  his  neigh- 
bors and  was  trustworthy  in  all  life's  rela- 
tions and  who  enjoyed  the  unqualified  con- 
fidence and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he 
was  associated.  The  companionship  be- 
tween himself  and  his  wife  was  largely 
ideal,  their  mutual  love  and  confidence  in- 
creasing as  the  years  passed  by.  He  found 
in  her  a  faithful  and  devoted  companion 
and  helpmate  and  was  to  her  a  loving  and 


considerate  husband. 

a  name  untarnished  bv  anv  tuiworthv  act. 


He  also  gave  to  them 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


261 


GEORGE    F.  COBURN. 

George  F.  Coburn,  wlio  is  a  practitioner 
at  the  Vermilion  county  l)ar  and  makes  his 
home  in  Danville,  was  born  in  Brown  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  December  29,  1841,  his  parents 
being  Francis  D.  and  Nancy  (Daulton)  Co- 
burn.  The  father  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  a  son  of  Jerah  Meel  Col- 
burn.  In  colonial  days  the  family'name  was 
spelled  \\ith  an  "1."  hut  in  recent  \'ears  that 
letter  has  been  dropped  from  tlie  surname. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier  who  fouglit  for  the 
independence  of  the  nation,  when  the  yoke 
of  British  oppression  became  intolerable. 
He  served  in  the  liattle  of  Bunker  Hill  and 
Concord  and  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  Eurgoyne.  He  was  a  native  of  Alassa- 
chusetts  and  after  the  establishment  of  the 
Republic  he  removed  from  that  state  to  New 
Hampshire  and  later  to  Maine,  settling  near 
Paris  about  1800.  In  iSi  i  he  started  over- 
land for  the  new  and  wild  district  of  the 
west  and  in  (812  he  t^lok  up  his  abode  near 
]\!a\sville.  Kentuckv,  where  he  spent  his  re- 
niaining  days,  passing  away  about  1820, 
when  seventy-hve  years  of  age,  his  remains 
being  interred  in  the  Maysville  cemetei"y. 
He  married  Miss  Davis,  who  was  born  on 
the  island  of  Nantucket  and  died  about 
1823,  when  seventy-five  years  of  age. 

In  his  early  youth  Francis  D.  Coburn  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
the  south.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he  became 
a  resident  of  \'ermilion  county,  locating  in 
the  southern  portion  of  Danville  township, 
where  he  lived  until  called  to  his  final  rest. 
Flis  second  wife  died  May  4.  1847,  ^^  the  age 
of  thirty-two  years,  having  been  born  Au- 
gust 5,  1814.  She  passed  away  when  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  only  six  years  of 
age,  leaving  four  children :     Lucy,  deceased 


wife  of  Henry  T.  Kyg^er;  Henry;  George 
Francis ;  and  John,  now  deceased.  After 
the  death  of  his  first,  wife  Francis  D.  Coburn 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Cynthia  (Bock) 
Morgan,  a  daughter  of  Achilles  ^Morgan,  one 
of  tlie  pioneer  settlers  of  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  who  died  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Co- 
burn,  the  father  of  our  subject,  on  the  20th 
of  January,  i860,  when  he  had  attained  the 
ag"e  of  eighty-seven  years,  six  months  and 
eleven  days.  The  third  marriage  of  I-Vancis 
D.  CoJjurn  occurred  in  January,  1848,  at 
which  tirue  both  he  and  his  wife  were  fifty 
years  of  age.  He  followed  farming  through- 
out his  business  career  and  was  an  enterpris- 
ing and  progressive  agriculturist.  He  kept 
everything  about  his  place  in  a  neat  and 
tlirifty  condition  and  was  also  a  prominent 
Mason,  a  well  read  man  and  a  gentleman  of 
excellent  judgment,  whose  sterling  worth 
commended  him  to  the  confidence  and  re- 
gard of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
His  third  wife  died  .\ugust  28,  1882.  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years,  nine  months  and 
eleven  days.  She  was  an  excellent  Chris- 
tian woman  and  a  devoted  mother  to  her 
step-children.  During  the  last  five  years  of 
her  life  she  was  blind  but  she  bore  her  afflic- 
tion with  Christian  fortitude  and  patience. 
The  sick  of  the  neighborhood  found  her 
very  helpful  and  her  sympatliy  was  broad  _ 
and  her  charity  generous.  While  she  was 
unfaltering  in  her  condeiunation  of  wrong 
she  was  always  quick  and  willing  to  aid  one 
who  had  stepped  from  the  path  of  rectitude 
to  return  to  a  course  that  would  command 
respect  and  confidence.  With  her  husband, 
George  Bock,  she  came  from  West  Virginia, 
locating  in  Vernn'lion  county  in  1830.  From 
that  time  until  her  death  she  remained  an  es- 
teemed resident  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
It  was  in  the  year  1843  tb^t  George  F. 
Coburn  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Ver- 


262 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


milion  county,  Illinois.  Upon  llic  home 
farm  lie  was  reared  and  at  an  early  day  he 
became  accustomed  to  the  tasks  of  field  and 
meadow.  In  the  winter  months  he  attended 
the  common  schools,  but  during  the  summer 
seasons  he  worked  upon  the  home  farm  from 
the  age  of  ten  years.  When  a  young  man  of 
nineteen  years  he  began  teaching  in  the 
country  schools  and  was  quite  successful  in 
that  work.  While  thus  engaged  he  devoted 
his  leisure  hours  to  the  reading  of  law,  mas- 
tering Blackstone  in  that  way.  Through 
five  seasons,  beginning  in  1861,  he  continued 
his  work  as  an  educator  in  the  schoolroom 
and  during  one  summer  he  also  taught.  In 
1866,  when  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  be- 
came a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Judge  O. 
I,.  Davis,  who  directed  his  studies  until. 
having  acquired  a  good  knowledge  of  the 
principles  of  jurisprudence  and  the  methods 
of  legal  procedure,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Vermilion  county  bar.  in  March.  1867.  The 
following  summer  he  opened  a  law  office  and 
continued  an  active  practitioner  at  the  \'er- 
milion  county  bar  until  the  spring  of  1889, 
with  the  exception  of  the  year  1871.  when, 
owing  to  his  father's  illness,  he  was  oljliged 
to  return  to  the  farm,  remaining  there  tor 
ahout  a  year.  In  1872.  however,  he  again 
open.ed  his  office  in  Danville.  He  wa> 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  here  and  served 
for  three  terms  in  a  capable  manner,  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents. He  retired  from  that  position  in 
I  go  I  and  then  resumed  the  private  practice 
of  law,  which  he  has  successfully  continued. 
During  his  services  as  justice  there  came  be- 
fore him  seventy-seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  civil  cases  and  thirteen  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  criminal  cases,  making  a  total 
of  nine  thousand  and  sixty.  His  decisions 
were  strictly  fair  and  impartial  and  few  of 
his    rulings   were   ever   reversed.      He  also 


married  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  couples 
during  that  time. 

Mr.  Coburn  had  two  children,  but  West- 
mer  !-'.  died  June  15,  1877,  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  His  married  daughter,  Mrs. 
Lena  C.  Dibble,  is  living  in  North  Stam- 
ford, Connecticut.  Mr.  Coburn  continued 
to  make  his  home  in  Danville  township  until 
about  twelve  years  ago,  since  which  time  he 
has  maintained  his  residence  in  the  city.  He 
has  one  of  the  finest  libraries  in  eastern  Illi- 
nois and  is  not  only  well  versed  in  his  profes- 
sion, but  has  knowdedge  of  Latin,  Greek  and 
many  sciaitific  subjects.  He  is  also  largely 
acc|uainted  with  history  and  biography  and 
thus  his  reading  has  covered  a  wide  range, 
making  him  a  man  of  scholarly  attainments 
and  broad  general  information.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday- 
school,  having  served  for  thirty-four  years 
as  superintendent  and  teacher  in  that 
branch  of  church  work.  He  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  organization  and  was 
president  of  the  local  camp  some  time. 
.\  man  of  genial  temperament,  of  high  moral 
cliaracter.  of  splendid  intellectual  attain- 
ments and  marked  ability  in  the  line  of  his 
chosen  profession.  George  F.  Coburn  com- 
mand'^ admiration  at  the  bar  and  respect 
among  his  fellow  men  among  whom  he  has 
so  long  lived. 


AUSTIN    S.   PRICE. 

Ffv  thirty  years  Austin  S.  Price  has 
been  cng'aged  in  the  real  estate  business  in 
Dan\-ille  and  is  now  the  land  and  emigra- 
tion agent  for  the  F'risco  System  at  this 
place.  At  eleven  .•\.  m.,  on  the  15th  of  De- 
cember, 1853,  in  company  with  his  father 
and  two  brothers,  he  drove  into  the  ])ublic 


A.  S.  PRICE. 


LIBRARY 

OF    TrlE 

UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


255 


square  of  Danville,  which  was  then  a  village 
of  five  or  six  hundred  inhabitants.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  interested  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  city  and  has  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  its  improvements  and  pro- 
gress, but  his  efforts  ha\-e  also  had  a  wider 
scope  and  range  and  his  labors  have  been 
an  important  element  in  the  development  of 
various  sections  of  the  country,  which 
through  his  labors  have  largely  been 
opened  up  to  the  work  of  cultivation  and 
improvement. 

Mr.  Price  is  a  native  of  Johnson  county, 
Indiana,  Ijorn  on  the  26th  of  June,  1840, 
his  parents  being  William  and  Letitia 
(Huston)  Price,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased, the  father  having  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years,  while  the  mother's 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven 
years  and  the  former  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  at  Danville  and  the  latter  in  Hig- 
ginsville.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  thnjugh  the  tilling  of  the  soil  pro- 
vided for  his  family,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  now  the  only  survi\'ing  member.  Two 
brothers  were  killed  in  the  Civil  war.  Ezra 
died  as  the  result  of  the  ninth  wound  which 
he  had  sustained,  while  John's  death  was 
also  occasioned  liy  wounds  sustained  in 
battle. 

Under  the  ])arental  roof  .\.  S.  Price,  of 
this  review,  was  reared  and  the  pul)lic 
schools  afforded  him  his  educational  priv- 
ileges. For  about  ten  years  after  his  arrival 
in  Danville  he  was  connected  with  agricult- 
iumI  interests  in  \'ermilion  county.  l'"or  a 
time  he  engaged  in  the  operation  of  rented 
land  and  later  he  owned  and  cultivated  a 
tract  of  eighty  acres.  Leaving  this  county 
Mr.  Price  removed  to  Indianapolis,  where 
for  three  years  he  was  connected  with  a 
brewery.  In  1867,  however,  he  returned  to 
Dan\ille  and   for  four  or  five  years  there- 


after was  engaged  in  farming.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  lie  took  up  his  abode 
in  the  city  and  entered  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness which  iie  has  since  carried  on  continu- 
ously for  about  thirty  years,  save  when  he 
traveled  upon  the  road  for  six  months,  sell- 
ing flour  for  Mr.  Gregg,  l-'or  a  nnmijcr  nf 
years  Mr.  Price  conducted  a  heavy  emigra- 
tion business.  At  one  time  he  ran  a  train  of 
ten  cars  of  freight  and  also  carried  thirty- 
three  passengers  to  Greenbrier,  .Mabama. 
He  has  run  emigration  trains  to  Mississi])])i, 
Tennessee,  Missouri  and  Oklahoma,  selling 
lands  in  these  states  and  territories  and  also 
in  Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Iowa.  In  1900 
he  took  up  the  exclusive  work  frum  Dan- 
ville for  the  Frisco  System,  handling  lands 
in  Missouri,  Kansas,  Oklahoma,  Arkansas, 
Indian  Territory  and  Texas.  The  railroad 
system  which  he  represents  owns  and  oper- 
ates eight  thousand  miles  of  its  own  tracks 
and  is  known  as  the  Frisco  System.  Mr. 
Price  says  that  its  tracks  throug'h  the  south- 
west and  soYitheast  are  nearly  as  numerous 
as  were  the  cattle  paths  which  used  to  lead 
tlirough  the  hazel  brush  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty forty-se->-en  years  ago.  Mr.  Price  has 
controlled  land  which  he  has  had  both  for 
sale  and  exchange  all  along  the  line  of  this 
railroad,  his  real  estate  being  as  cheap  for 
the  purchaser  as  were  the  lands  in  Ver- 
milion county  in  the  early  days.  The  busi- 
ness which  be  has  done  has  reached  an  ex- 
tensive figure  and  he  is  a  trusted  representa- 
tive of  the  I-'risco  Railroad  Company  which 
he  represents. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1861,  Air.  Price  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Higginsville,  Illinois, 
to  Sarah  E,  Hull,  who  was  born  in  Indiana, 
h'ebruary  5.  1843.  l-Vmrteen  children  ha\-e 
been  born  of  this  union,  of  whom  only  eiglit 
are  living.  James  W.,  who  wedded  Mollie 
Weingart,     is    a     real     estate     agent    and 


266 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


drauglitsman  living  in  Covington,  Indiana. 
Henry  S.,  who  is  married  and  was  formerly 
foreman  in  the  fertilizer  works  at  Wilming- 
ton. Delaware,  but  is  now  in  .\rkansas. 
Austin  E.,  who  married  Lillie  Thomas,  is  a 
sign  writer  and  printer  of  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois. John  R.  is  a  school  teacher  in  Indian 
Territory.  Edgar  E.  is  at  home.  Evelyn 
is  the  wife  of  L.  S.  Davis,  a  clerk  of  Dan- 
ville, by  whom  she  has  four  children — 
Lewis,  Raymond,  Russell  and  Ruth.  Al- 
pha is  the  wife  of  Theodore  M.  Foot,  of 
Danville,  by  whom  she  has  one  daughter, 
Madge.  Emma  E.,  the  youngest,  is  at- 
home.  All  of  the  children  have  been  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Danville. 

Air.  Price  has  a  pleasant  home  at  No. 
1 130  Gilbert  street  and  also  has  some  prop- 
erty on  Main  street.  Pie  is  a  Se\-enth  Day 
Adventist  and  in  his  political  vievi^s  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist. Pie  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
and  is  widely  known  for  his  progress  and 
business  ability  and  for  the  active  interest 
which  he  has  taken  in  public  affairs  and  in 
the  general  progress.  In  manner  he  is  free 
from  all  ostentation  and  display,  but  his  in- 
trinsic worth  is  recognized  and  his  friend- 
ship is  most  prized  by  those  who  know  him 
best,  showing  that  his  character  will  bear 
the  scrutiny  of  close  acquaintance.  He  is 
a  generous-spirited,  broad-minded  man,  a 
true  type  of  the  American  spirit  and  an  em- 
bodiment of  that  progress  which  in  the  last 
few  years  has  drawn  to  this  country  the 
admiring  gaze  of  the  nations  of  the  world. 


WILLIAM    HART. 


William  Hart,  now  deceased,  was  born 
in  Montgomery,  Ohio,  February  20.  1832. 
his  parents  being  John  and  Nancy  (Ireland) 
Hart,  who  were  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state 


and  were  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  In  tlie 
year  1845  W'illiam  Hart  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty and  li\ed  with  them  until  he  attained  his 
twenty-third  year.  He  was  reared  upon  a 
farm  in  Ohio  and  this  county  and  remained 
upon  the  old  home  place  in  Illinois  until  the 
inauguration  of  the  Civil  war.  In  the  mean- 
time he  had  become  acquainted  witli  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Dougherty  and  on  the  6th  of  De- 
cember, 1853,  they  were  married  in  Oak- 
wood  township.  She  was  born  August  15, 
1833,  '"  Vermilion  county  and  was  reared 
upon  the  Jordan  place.  Her  parents  were 
Maybury  and  Nancy  (Hickman).  Dougher- 
ty, pioneer  settlers  of  Vermilion  county  who 
entered  land  from  the  government  and  here 
developed  a  farm.  Her  mother  rode  horse- 
back from  Brown  county,  Ohio,  carrying  a 
babe  in  her  arms,  this  child  being  now  Mrs. 
Littler,  a  resident  of  Oakwood  township. 
Mr.  Dougherty  drove  a  four-horse  team 
hitched  to  a  prairie  schooner  and  thus  the 
family  made  the  westward  journey  in  the 
year  1831.  Mrs.  Hart  now  has  in  her  pos- 
session an  old  bureau  and  cupboard  that 
were  made  by  hand  and  were  owned  by  her 
mother.  These  she  cherishes  as  mementoes 
of  her  parents  and  as  relics  of  pioneer  times. 
L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dougherty  were  born 
three  daughters  and  a  son :  Mrs.  Melinda 
A.  Littler,  of  Oakwood  township ;  Mrs. 
Sarah  E.  Hart ;  Mrs.  Margaret  Jeffers,  of 
Vermilion  countv;  and  Jacob  B.,  who  died 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted  in  the 
Union  army  and  being  taken  ill  passed  away 
nine  days  after  leaving  the  hospital  at  Keo- 
kuk, Iowa. 

Mrs.  Hart  was  married  in  her  twenty- 
first  year  and  with  her  husband  she  went  to 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  engaged  in  gener- 
al agricultural  pursuits,  there  living  until  af- 
ter the  president  issued  his  call  for  loyal  men 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


267 


to  aid  in  suppressing  the  rebellion  of  the 
south.  He  then  enlisted  in  Company  G.  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  IlHnois  Infantry 
and  he  too  was  taken  ill  while  in  the  serxice 
and  died  of  bone  er}'sipelas  in  the  liospital 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  had  enlisted  in 
September,  1862,  and  had  parti.cipated  in  the 
battle  of  Perrysville.  He  was  appointed  ser- 
geant and  held  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  2d  of  April,  1S63. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  have  been  bom 
five  children:  John,  who  is  living  on  the 
•old  family  homestead ;  Samuel,  who  is  rep- 
resented on  another  page  of  this  work;  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Watkins,  of  Oakwood  township ; 
William,  who  is  an  invalid  living  with  his 
mother ;  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Hart  has  twenty-fi\-e  grandchildren  and  one 
great-grandchild. 

At  our  subject's  death  ^Irs.  Hart  was 
left  with  the  care  of  her  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom  was  but  nine  years  of  age.  She 
has  since  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
with  the  assistance  of  her  sons,  and  she  pur- 
■chased  forty-eight  acres  of  land  to  which  she 
has  added  another  tract  of  forty  acres,  so 
that  she  now  has  a  good  farm  that  yields 
rich  crops,  bringing  to  her  an  excellent  finan- 
-cial  return.  In  the  early  days  she  was  noted 
for  her  spinning  and  weaving  and  her  life 
has  always  been  one  of  earnest  industry  and 
toil.  She  can  remember  well  wdien  corn  was 
hauled  to  Chicago  and  sold  for  fitteen  cents 
per  bushel,  while  com  in  the  shock  was  sold 
for  six  cents  per  bushel.  The  country  was 
full  of  deer  and  all  kinds  of  game  and  during 
her  childhood  days  Indians  were  very  nu- 
merous in  this  portion  of  the  state.  She  can 
remember  attending  church  wnth  her  fa- 
ther's family  seated  upon  a  sled  drawn  by 
oxen,  James  Ashmore  being  the  first  preach- 
er.    She  also  tells  of  the  earlv  settlers  bor- 


rowing fire  from  a  neig^htor  if  their  own  fire 
went  out.  She  has  cooked  many  a  meal  at 
the  old  fashioned  fireplace  long  before  cook- 
sto\-cs  came  into  general  use  and  has  made 
candles  which  were  the  only  means  of  illum- 
ination in  her  girlhood  days.  She  still  makes 
a  few  of  these  in  order  to  have  them  to  carry 
around  the  house.  In  her  girlhood  days  she 
frequently  attended  campmeeting  and  can 
remember  when  as  a  little  maiden  she  would 
carry  her  shoes  to  Sunday-school,  putting 
them  on  just  before  entering  the  meeting 
house  and  removing  them  after  the  school 
was  adjourned.  Such  were  the  pioneer  con- 
ditions which  surrounded  the  family  at  an 
early  day,  and  Mrs.  Hart  has  witnessed  the 
development  of  the  county  throughout  the 
passing  years,  taking  great  interest  in  what 
has  been  accomplished  and  the  improved 
methods  of  work  and  of  living  which  have 
been  introduced. 


JOHN    GOODWINE,  Jr. 

John  Goodwine,  Jr.,  resides  on  section 
I.  Middlefork  township,  and  is  familiarly 
called  "Jack"  by  his  numer(nis  friends  in 
\'ermilion  county.  He  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  and  stock  dealers  of  this  lo- 
c.HJity  and  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  fif- 
teen hundred  acres  of  well  improved  land, 
pleasantly  situated  within  about  a  mile  of 
Potomac.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  this  county  De- 
cember 2,  1848,  his  parents  being  John  W. 
and  Jane  (Charlton)  Goodwine.  A  sketch 
of  the  father  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  The  subject  of  this  review  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  county,  spent  his 
boyhood  days  on  the  old  home  farm  and  in 
the  common  schools  he  acquired  his  educa- 


268 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tion,  also  attending  Warren  Academy  in  In- 
diana. Wlien  about  nineteen  years  of  age 
he  left  home  ad  started  out  on  his  own  ac- 
count, lie  was  engaged  in  iierding  stock 
and  in  other  work  until  1870. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1870,  Mr. 
Goodwine  was  imited  in  marriage  to  Mary 
K.  Alexander,  who  was  horn  in  Middlefork 
township  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Esther  Alexander,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  the  county.  The  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
farm.  Mr.  Goodwine  began  to  improve  the 
place  upon  which  he  now  resides.  The  happy 
married  life  of  the  young  couple  was  of 
.short  duration,  however,  for  on  the  29th  of 
Oct(.iher,  1872,  Mrs.  Goodwine  passed  away. 
After  her  death  the  husband  went  west  to 
Colorado,  where  he  remained  until  the  fol- 
lowing year,  returning  then  to  Vermjlion 
county.  On  May  14,  1874,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Lidora  A.  Lane,  a  daughter 
of  R.  H.  and  Mary  Lane,  who  came  to  Ver- 
milion county  from  Ohio  about  1864,  the 
daughter  being  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Goodwine  took  his  wife  to  his 
farm  whereon  he  is  yet  living  and  at  once 
Iiegan  to  cultivate  and  improve  the  place. 
He  commenced  here  with  about  five  hundred 
acres  of  land  which  was  partial!)'  improved. 
His  father  has  since  given  him  more  land 
and  he  has  also  purchased  seven  hundred 
acres,  so  that  to-day  his  farm  is  a  very  e.x- 
tensive  one.  embracing  fifteen  hundred 
acres.  He  has  erected  a  good  and  substan- 
tial residence,  commodious  bam  and  out- 
buildings, has  planted  an  orchard,  has  tiled 
and  fenced  his  place,  having  over  thirty-fi\'e 
miles  of  tiling  on  the  farm.  In  connection 
with  the  cultivation  of  grain  he  is  engaged 
in  raising  and  feeding  stock,  fattening  on  an 
a\-erage  of  from  one  to  two  hundred  head  of 
cattle  annually  and  also  a  large  number  of 


hogs.  He  is  now  making  a  specialty  of 
short-horn  and  double  standard  polled  Dur- 
ham cattle  and  has  a  nice  herd  of  some  sev- 
enty-five head.  He  also  has  a  new  breed  of 
Hogs  called  "American  thin  rind  swine." 
They  are  very  prolific  and  good  feeders  and 
his  stock  has  always  found  a  ready  sale  on 
the  market.  Mr.  Cioodwine  is  one  of  the 
first  breeders  of  this  stock  of  hogs  in  the 
country  and  also  one  of  the  most  extensive. 
Some  of  his  hogs  were  placed  on  exhibition 
at  the  (Chicago  Interstate  Swine  Show,  in 
December,  igoi,  where  he  took  a  good  many 
premiums. 

The  home  of  Mr.  Goodwine  was  blessed 
with  one  daughter,  born  of  his  first  mar- 
riage, Anna,  now  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Lane,  a 
farmer  of  Vermilion  county.  Ten  children 
graced  the  second  marriage,  but  they  lost 
three  of  the  number.  Those  still  living  are 
as  follows:  John  \\'.,  who  is  cashier  of  the 
Goodwine  Bank  at  Armstrong,  of  which  our 
subject  is  the  owner:  Wilbur  H.,  who  is 
married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Middlefork 
township;  LHysses  S.,  Cora,  Everett,  Vesta, 
and  Wavne,  all  at  home.  The  children  de- 
ceased are,  Nora,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  and  Villa,  at  the  age  of  two, 
while  one  died  in  infancy.  The  first  two 
passed  away  in  1886,  dying  of  diphtheria 
only  four  days  apart.  Politically  ^[r.  Good- 
wine was  formerly  identified  with  the  Re- 
pulilican  partv  for  a  luimber  of  vears.  1-1  e 
has  ever  been  a  stanch  temperance  man  and 
a  behever  in  the  principles  of  prohibition  and 
for  a  number  of  years  he  has  now  been  iden- 
tilieii  with  the  PiMliibition  party.  He  has 
ne\-er  wanted  or  .sought  office,  preferring  to 
give  his  attention  to  his  farming  and  exten- 
sive business  interests.  In  the  fall  of  1902, 
however,  he  was  the  Prohibition  nominee 
for  the  legislature.  Mr.  Goodwine  has  been 
a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  almost  con- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


269 


tinuously  for  nearly  fifty-four  years  and  has 
witnessed  the  wonderful  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  the  county.  He  has  seen  the 
s\vann)s  and  sloughs  drained,  the  prairies 
broken  and  fenced,  the  roads  constructed 
and  the  towns  built  up.  Janiesburg  is  biult 
on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  in  Blount 
township.  Air.  Goodwine  has  always  been 
a  loyal  and  progressive  citizen  and  at  the 
time  of  the  Spanish-American  war  he  be- 
gan raising  a  company,  of  which  he  was  to 
have  been  captain,  but  was  disappointed  in 
his  patriotic  desire  on  account  of  the  sud- 
den termination  of  the  war.  He  is  well 
known  in  Danville  and  throughout  the  coun- 
ty as  a  man  of  tried  integrity  and  worth. 
who  has  met  with  splendid  success  in  busi- 
ness affairs  and  e\-eiTthing  that  he  under- 
takes he  carries  forward  to  successful  com- 
pletion. He  has  thus  become  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  the  township.  In 
all  trade  transactions  he  has  ever  been  found 
honorable  and  trustworthy  and  those  who 
know  him — and  his  friends  are  many — en- 
tertain for  him  high  regard. 


JAMES  KNIGHT. 

James  Knight,  deceased,  was  for  many 
years  numbered  among  the  leading  and  hon- 
ored citizens  of  Danville,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  make  his  home  until  called  to  his 
final  rest.  He  was  born  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1832,  at  Rouse  Point,  Clinton  county.  New 
York,  his  birthplace  being  near  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  he  was  a  son  of  Dr.  James  and 
Alice  (Henderson)  Knight,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Edinburg,  Scotland,  whence  they 
emigrated  to  America  after  their  marriage, 
locating  at  I^ouse  Point,  New  York.  The 
father,  who  was  a  physician,  engaged  in  the 

12 


practice  of  his  profession  there  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  Our  subject  was  the  only 
son  of  the  family  to  come  to  Vermilion 
county,  but  he  has  one  brother,  Alexander 
Knight,  who  came  to  this  state  and  is  now 
living  in  Centralia,  Illinois.  Another 
brother  brother,  Roljert  Knight,  is  a  resident 
of  Yancou^•er,  British  Columbia. 

Our  sul)ject  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state 
and  there  grew  to  manhood.  Coming  west 
in  1857  he  first  located  in  Springfield,  Il- 
linois, and  soon  afterward  became  identified 
with  the  building  of  the  Wabash  Railroad, 
being  overseer  of  construction  for  a  time. 
In  1858  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Dan- 
ville and  had  charge  of  a  construction  train 
here  for  a  few  years  until  the  ciinipletion  of 
the  road  in  this  section.  In  the  capacity  of 
of  conductor  he  ran  the  first  train  into  Dan- 
ville over  the  Wabash  road,  his  run  for 
some  time  being  between  this  place  and 
Ouincy  and  later  between  Danville  and  To- 
ledo. Lie  remained  in  the  train  service  until 
1865,  when  he  was  made  station  agent  for 
the  same  company  at  Danville,  and  held  that 
position  for  several  years.  On  leaving  the 
railroad  company  Mr.  Knight  embarked  in 
the  l)oot  and  shoe  business,  which  he  carried 
on  for  some  time  and  later  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  real  estate.  Inlying  and  selling  all 
kinds  of  city  property  in  Danville,  but  his 
last  days  were  spent  in  retirement  from 
business  at  that  place. 

In  i860  Mr.  Knight  ^vas  married  u\ 
Danville  to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Probst, 
who  was  bcirn  in  this  city,  December  20, 
1836,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Nancy 
(Barnes)  Probst,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Kentucky,  respectively.  Her  father 
came  to  Danville  at  a  very  early  day  when  the 
Indians  were  still  numerous  in  this  locality. 
In  his  younger  years  he  followed  the  tail- 


270 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


or's  trade,  but  later  disconlinued  business  in 
order  to  devote  his  entire  time  to  his  official 
duties.  For  some  time  he  served  as  constable 
in  Dan\ille  and  subser|uently  filled  the  office 
of  sheriff  of  Vermilion  county  for  a  number 
of  years  and  also  county  treasurer.  After 
leaving  office  he  lived  retired  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  a  very  prominent  and  high- 
ly respected  citizen  of  Danville,  with  whose 
interests  he  was  closely  identified  for  many 
years.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knight  were 
also  born  three  children,  as  follows:  Charles 
F.,  who  now  holds  a  position  with  the  Lartz 
Wall  l'a])cr  Company,  of  Chicago,  and  re- 
sides in  that  city:  -Mice,  wife  of  B.  H.  Bab- 
bit, business  manager  for  the  Albert  Peats 
Wall  l'a])er  Company,  of  Chicago;  and 
Grace,  who  is  at  home  with  her  mother,  'ihe 
family  have  a  beautiful  home  at  204  Frank- 
lin street  and  occupy  an  enviable  position  in 
the  social  circles  of  Danville. 

In  |)olitics  Mr.  Knight  was  a  staunch 
Republican,  but  he  never  cared  for  the  hon- 
ors or  emoluments  of  public  office.  Socially 
he  was  connected  with  the  Masonic  order, 
being  a  charier  member  of  the  Commandery 
of  Daiuille,  and  w.'is  also  a  Knight  of 
1  lonor  and  was  a  ])riiniinc'nl  nienibcr  of  both 
lodges.  In  1H63  he  went  to  California  and 
was  identified  with  railroad  work.  After 
a  useful  and  well  spent  life  he  passed  quietly 
away  on  iju'  jjA  of  October,  1900,  honured 
and  respecled  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  busi- 
ness a(T;iirs  he  was  prompt,  energetic  and 
notably  I'l'liablc,  .-tiid  gcnerallv  carried  for- 
ward III  successful  cmnpU'lion  \\li;itc\or  he 
uuderloiik.  .At  his  de:illi  he  left  consitler- 
able  pro))erly  which  his  widow  still  owns,  in- 
cluding scver.al  business  !)!ncks  on  North 
street  near  the  .Aetna  Hotel,  the  Byers  block 
and  also  much  valuable  jjroperly  on  W'alnut 
street  ;uid  sixteen  .ind  .1  li.ilf  acres  near  l.iii- 
cnln    I '.irk.      Those  wbn   knew    Mr.    Kniijlit 


intimately  speak  in  unqualified  terms  of  his 
sterling  integrity,  his  honor  in  business  and 
his  fidelity  to  all  the  duties  of  public  and 
])rivate  life.  His  death  occasioned  the  deep- 
est regret  throughout  the  community  and 
Danville  thereby  lost  one  of  its  most  valued 
citizens.  Mrs.  Knight  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  is  a  chamiing  lady 
whose  gracious  manner  wins  her  many 
friends. 


SAAIUEL    BLACK. 


Samuel  Black  is  a  retired  farmer  living 
in  l-'ithirm.  Pie  was  born  in  Warren  coun- 
t\-.  Indiana,  August  30,  1837.  His  grand- 
father, John  Black,  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  served  his  country  as  a  loyal  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812.  At  an  early  day 
he  came  to  Kentucky  and  in  the  year  1834 
he  was  killed  by  an  elephant  while  attending 
the  circus  at  Covington,  Indiana.  James 
Black,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Kentucky  anil  in  early  manhood  went  to 
Indiana,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
and  wedded  Eliza  Ami  Odell,  a  native  of 
Xew  ^'ork,  whu  was  descended  from  Hol- 
land ancestry.  They  located  upon  a  farm 
in  \\'arren  county,  Indiana,  where  James 
Black  devoted  hi?  time  and  attention  to  ag- 
riculuiral  jjursuils  until  1856.  He  then 
c.'une  to  \'ermilion  county,  settling  in  Oak- 
wood  township,  three  miles  northwest  of 
Fithi.-iu.  Purchasing  land  he  lived  thereon 
until  his  (le:'th.  which  occurred  in  1894. 
His  wife  had  passed  away  in  1882.  They 
were  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
I'piscdii.al  church  and  Air.  Black  was  first 
:'  Whig  in  politics  and  afterward  a  Repub- 
lican. In  their  family  were  ten  children,  of 
wlidui  I'nur  .are  yet  living:  John,  a  resident 
111'    I'ntlcr  cminlv.   Kansas:   Samuel,  of  this 


LIBRARY 

or  rwE 

XJNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


SAMUEL   BLACK 


MRS.  SAMUEL   BLACK. 


LlBRAr^Y 

Of   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


275 


reriew:  Harriet,  the  wife  of  William  Jen- 
kins who  resides  on  the  old  home  place 
nortliwest  of  l-"ithian ;  and  Rebecca,  the  wife 
of  Oliver  Thompson,  whose  home  is  four 
r.iiles  north\\est  of  Fithian. 

In  early  life  Samuel  Black  suffered 
greatly  from  ill  health.  He  is  to-day,  how- 
ever, a  man  of  robust  manhood,  weighing 
two  hundred  and  forty  pounds.  In  early 
life  he  engaged  in  farming  and  his  pur- 
■chases  of  land  made  him  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres  in  Oakwood  township. 
Throughout  his  business  career  he  carried 
on  its  cultivation  and  improvement  and 
when  his  labors  had  brought  to  him  a  com- 
fortable competence  he  put  aside  farm  work 
in  1892  and  removed  to  Fithian,  where  he 
is  now  living  retired  in  a  splendid  home 
Avhich  he  purchased. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1858,  :Mr.  Black 
"was  united  in  marriage  to  Priscilla  McCarty, 
the  wedding  taking  place  near  Muncie.  Illi- 
nois. The  lady  was  born  in  that  locality, 
August  14,  1840,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Miriam  (Sewell)  McCarty,  both  natives  of 
Ohio.  They  were  married  in  the  Buckeye 
state  and  there  lived  upon  a  farm  until  their 
removal  to  Oakwood  township,  \'enniIion 
■county.  Illinois,  about  1840.  There  they 
lived  until  called  to  their  final  rest,  the  fa- 
ther passing  away  in  1880  and  the  mother 
in  1 901.  He  was  a  Democrat  and  served 
his  fellow  townsmen  in  the  offices  of  con- 
stable and  justice  of  the  peace. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  were  born 
nine  children :  William,  who  resides  in  the 
province  of  Alberta,  British  Columbia, 
where  he  follows  farming,  married  Mattie 
Mansfield  and  they  have  five  children. 
Mary  Alice  is  the  wife  of  John  McKinney, 
who  is  serving  as  deputy  sherifif  of  Cham- 
paign county  and  resides  in  Urbana,  and 
thev  have  five  children.    Minnie  became  the 


wife  of  Myron  laylor  and  afterward  mar- 
ried Jesse  Blue,  a  resident  of  Nebraska, 
b)-  whom  she  has  two  children,  while  two 
two  children  were  born  of  her  first  mar- 
riage. George,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  ^  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Com- 
pan}-  and  resides  in  Danville,  married  Clara 
Anderson  and  has  three  children.  Frances 
married  Alois  Rueb  and  with  their  three 
children  the\'  reside  in  Chandler,  Oklahoma. 
James  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  John 
married  Grace  Kirkpatrick  and  is  living  in 
Fithian.  Illinois.  Abbie  Florence  is  the  wife 
of  W.  W.  Soward  and  resides  !n  Fith- 
ian. They  have  two  children.  Charles 
is  married  and  has  one  child.  His  home  is 
now  in  Collins,  Iowa.  In  February,  1891, 
I\Ir.  Black  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  first  wife,  who  was  laid  to  rest 
in  Stearns  cemetery.  On  the  27th  of  Xo- 
\-ember.  1894.  in  Catlin,  Illinois,  he  wedded 
Mrs.  Jennie  ( Kistler)  Harper,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1850,  a  daughter 
of  ^T.  F.  Kistler,  a  native  of  the  same  state. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son, 
Charles  Harper,  who  is  now  residing  in 
Catlin.  Mrs.  Black  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children  born  of  her  father's  first  mar- 
riage and  by  his  second  marriage  there  were 
two  children.  Mr.  Kistler  was  a  Republi- 
can in  politics  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

When  the  country  became  involved 
in  civil  war,  Mr.  Black  laid  aside  all  per- 
sonal considerations,  and  in  August,  1861, 
enlisted  in  Company  F,  Twenty-sixth  Illi- 
nois \''olunteer  Infantry.  When  his  first 
term  expired  he  re-enlisted  in  the  same  com- 
pany and  regiment  and  during  his  four 
years'  service  participated  in  fifty-four  bat- 
tles. These  included  the  siege  of  Atlanta, 
the  siege  of  Corinth  and  the  battles  of  Cor- 
inth. Goldsboro,  Holly  Springs,  Island  Xo. 


276 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


10,  Jackson,  Mississippi,  Kenesaw  Mount- 
ain, Mission  Ridge,  Resaca  and  Vicksburg. 
He  was  also  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea  and  was  in  the 
grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Al- 
though in  so  many  engagements,  Mr.  Black 
was  fortunately  never  wounded  or  injured 
in  any  way.  It  is  estimated  that  he  marched 
six  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-one 
miles  during  his  service.  The  war  having 
ended  he  was  mustered  out  on  the  22d  of 
July,  1865,  and  finally  discharged  at 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Black  sometimes  supports  the  Re- 
publican party  and  at  other  times  votes  the 
Prohibition  ticket,  being  a  strong  temper- 
ance man.  He  served  as  road  commissioner 
one  term  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in 
the  sense  of  office  seeking.  He  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  serv- 
ing as  one  of  its  trustees.  In  the  enjoyment 
of  a  well  earned  rest,  he  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Fithian  and  is  one  of  the  respected 
citizens  of  that  locality. 


ZACHARIAH   ROBERTSON. 

Zachariah  Robertson  has  reached  the 
eightieth  milestone  in  life's  journey  and  to- 
day he  is  numbered  among  the  highly  re- 
spected citizens  and  pioneer  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion county,  his  home  being  on  section 
3^),  Xewell  township,  where  he  owns  one 
luuulred  and  five  and  a  half  acres  of  land. 
He  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky, 
October  i,  1822,  a  son  of  Zachariah  and 
Elizal)eth  (Jones)  Robertson,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Harrison  county.  Zachariah 
Robertson,  .Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  WHien  our  subject  was 
twelve  years  of  age  the  family  came  to  A^er- 


milion  county,  Illinois.  The  father  was 
married  a  second  time  and  had  nineteen 
children  altogether.  Mr.  Robertson  of  this 
review  has  one  sister  living.  Mrs.  Delilah 
Starr,  the  widow  of  Solomon  Starr.  She  is 
the  second  survivor  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. When  the  Robertsons  came  to  Il- 
linois they  made  the  journey  overland  in  an 
old  tiiue  "prairie  schooner,"  camping  out  by 
the  wayside  at  nights.  Our  subject  waded" 
the  Wabash  river  driving  the  stock  through. 
When  they  arrived  here  deer  was  plentiful 
and  there  were  many  prairie  chickens, 
cranes,  ducks  and  wild  turkeys.  Hunting 
and  fishing  were  sports  in  which  the  settlers 
might  easily  indulge  and  find  good  reward 
for  their  expenditure  of  time.  Zachariah 
Robertson,  Sr.,  lived  to  be  ninety-four  years 
of  age,  dying  in  Newell  township  on  the  land 
where  Bismark  now  stands.  There  his  wife 
also  passed  away.  Mr.  Robertson  entered 
forty  acres  of  land  and  upon  this  he  built 
a  log  cabin.  He  was  numbered  among  the 
pioneers  who  felled  the  forests  and  broke  the 
prairie,  thus  paving  the  way  for  civilization 
and  laying  the  foundation  for  the  present 
progress  and  prosperity  of  the  county. 

Zachariah  Robertson  of  this  review  pur- 
sued his  education  in  one  of  the  old  time  log 
schoolhouses  in  which  an  immense  fire- 
place occupied  an  entire  end  of  the  room. 
The  seats  were  formed  of  slabs,  resting  upon 
wooden  pins  and  the  desks  which  were  used 
were  siiuilarly  constructed.  In  the  stuumer 
months  Mr.  Robertson  assisted  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  he  left  schix)]  altogether  and  began 
working'  in  the  neighborhood  as  a  farm 
hand,  being  thus  employed  for  several  years. 
He  then  rented  land  for  a  time  and  after- 
ward entered  fifty-two  and  one-half  acres 
of  wild  prairie  for  which  he  had  to  pay 
one  dollar  and  a  half  per  acre.     A\^ith  char- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


277 


acteristic  energy  he  began  to  break  and  im- 
prove tliis  and  to  the  property  he  has  added 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  has  one  hun- 
dred and  five  and  a  half  acres.  He  manu- 
factured his  first  plow  which  had  a  wooden 
mold  board  and  the  next  was  a  single  shovel 
plow.  He  first  cut  his  grain  with  a  sickle 
and  afterward  with  a  cradle.  He  knew  the 
use  of  a  crane  from  practical  experience  and 
would  light  the  fire  with  tlint.  It  was  the 
custom  to  always  keep  a  fire  burning  and  if 
it  would  go  out  one  would  often  visit  a 
neighbor  and  borrow  a  little  fire.  The  old 
dipped  candles  were  used  for  illuminating 
purposes  before  kerosene  was  used.  When 
the  young  g'irls  would  go  to  church  they 
would  carry  their  shoes  until  they  neared 
the  house  of  worship,  when  they  would  sit 
down  upon  a  log  and  put  them  on  before 
entering  the  meeting.  Such  were  pioneer 
customs  and  conditions  I)ut  while  the  early 
settlers  had  to  endure  many  hardships  and 
privations  they  also  experienced  many 
pleasures  which  are  not  known  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Through  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  life  Mr.  Robertson  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming  but  is  now  largely  living  retired, 
leaving  the  care  of  his  place  to  his  sons.  In 
early  days  he  made  several  trips  to  Chicago, 
taking  produce  with  him  and  it  required 
twelve  days  to  go  and  come.  He  would 
sleep  out  uixni  the  ground  at  night  l:)v  the 
side  of  his  wagon.  There  were  many 
sloughs  and  ponds,  creeks  and  rivers  to  be 
forded.  He  saw  Chicago  when  it  was  but  a 
village  and  Danville  a  mere  hamlet.  Church 
was  first  held  in  the  home  of  Peter  Starr 
and  afterward  in  a  log  schoolhouse.  In  his 
father's  family  there  were  eleven  daughters, 
who  aided  materially  in  furnishing  the 
family  with  clothing.  Mr.  Robertson  would 
take  the  sheep  to  the  creek  and  wash  them 
and    after   this  thev    were   sheared    and    the 


wool  carded,  then  the  daughters  would  take 
their  place  at  the  spinning  wheel  and  thus 
the  family  clothing  was  supplied.  Mr. 
Robertson  has  ever  taken  a  deep  interest  in 
general  progress  and  improvement,  in  the 
building  of  good  roads,  in  the  establishment 
of  churches  and  schools  and  in  the  develop- 
ment of  farms.  He  has  served  as  township 
commissioner  of  highways  and  as  school 
director  and  has  ever  been  active  and  help- 
ful for  the  general  good. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1842,  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson wedded  Abigail  Starr,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  Starr.  She  was  born  in  Preble  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  July  8,  1824,  and  by  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Priscilla  J.,  the  wife  of  Jacob  Deek ; 
Mrs.  Rachel  Mesmore;  Celina,  wdio  was 
scalded  to  death  wdien  about  seven  years  of 
age :  Jacob,  who  married  Melissa  Britting- 
ham:  Peter,  who  wedded  Belle  Byers;  Cath- 
erine, the  wife  of  William  Cox;  Maggie, 
the  wife  of  John  Smith;  Isaac,  wdio  married 
Irene  Cox;  William,  wdio  wedded  Clara 
Ringel;  James,  who  married  Rebecca  Phil- 
lips, and  died  in  1901 ,  Anna,  the  deceased 
wife  of  William  Chumley;  and  Delilah  and 
Solomon,  twins,  who  died  in  infancy.  The 
mother  departed  this  life  December  25, 
1877,  when  about  fifty-two  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  de\-oted  mother,  a  model  wife 
;md  earnest  Christian  woman  and  thus  she 
left  to  her  family  an  untarnished  name.  Mr. 
Robertson  is  well  preserved  for  a  man  of  his 
years.  His  eyesight  and  physical  faculties 
are  scarcely  impaired  and  he  possesses  the 
vigor  of  a  man  of  much  younger  age.  He 
has  always  voted  the  Democratic  ticket  and 
has  long  been  one  of  the  standard  bearers 
of  the  party  in  this  locality.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has  since 
been  idaitified  therewith,  serving  as  a  class 


278 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


leader  and  as  superintendent  of  the  Sinulay 
school  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  long 
been  numbered  amont;-  the  substantial,  hon- 
ored and  respected  citizens  of  Newell  town- 
ship and  in  this  volume  well  deserves  men- 
tion. 

■»  » » 

HEXRY    B.  KESTER. 

More  than  a  half  century  ag'o  Henry  B. 
Kester  became  identified  with  building  in- 
terests in  Danville  and  to-day  there  stands 
in  the  city  a  building  which  he  erected  in 
1851.  Other  structures  of  his  building  may 
also  be  seen  'as  the  visible  evidence  of  his 
life  of  thrift  and  industry.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  living  retired,  making  his  home 
at  Xo.  718  Wayne  street.  He  came  to  this 
county  on  the  2d  of  Alay,  1850. 

A  native  of  West  Virginia,  he  was  born 
in  Clarksburg,  that  state.  May  28,  1828,  his 
parents,  George  and  Abigail  (Bennett) 
Kester.  being  also  natives  of  Clarksburg. 
The  father  there  resided  until  1831,  when 
he  removed  to  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  which  was  his  home  until 
his  death.  His  widow  afterward  came  to 
Vermilion  county  and  spent  her  last  days 
here.  Of  their  eleven  children.  Ixit  four  are 
living,  tlie  eldest  being  Henry  B.  The  oth- 
ers are :  ]\Iary,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Alath- 
ews,  a  resident  of  Hoopeston,  Vermilion 
county ;  Russell  B.,  a  resident  of  Vermilion 
county;  and  Sarah  J.,  the  wife  of  James 
\\'iiitbeck,  of  Lawrence,  Kansas.  Those 
who  have  passed  aw'ay  are :  Alexander, 
Josiah,  Simon,  Milton,  Hester  A.,  William 
and  Harriett. 

When  about  three  years  of  age  Henry 
B.  Kester  w-as  talcen  by  his  parents  to  Mor- 
row county,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  his 
education  in  the  common  schools.     He  then 


learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  Mt.  Gilead, 
following  it  at  that  place  for  about  four 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
came  direct  to  Danville,  arriving  on  the  2d 
of  May,  1850.  He  soon  secured  employ- 
ment as  a  carpenter  and  as  a  contractor  was 
early  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  rep- 
resentatives of  his  line  of  business  in  this 
city.  He  erected  some  of  the  first  buildings 
here  and  his  patronage  steadily  increased  as 
the  years  passed  by  until  he  employed  a 
large  force  of  workmen  to  assist  him  in  exe- 
cuting his  contracts. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1853,  Mr.  Kester 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Catherine 
Umphenour,  who  was  born  near  her  hus- 
band's boyhood  home  in  West  Virginia. 
Her  father,  George  Umphenour,  was  an 
early  settler  of  Danville  and  followed  farm- 
ing in  this  locality  until  his  death.  Seven 
children  ha\'e  been  born  unto  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs. 
Kester:  Charles  Edward,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; George  Franklin,  deceased;  Albert 
Eugene,  who  married  Martha  Lynch  and  is 
a  carpenter  of  Danville;  Henry  Lewis,  who- 
died  in  childiiood;  Francis  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Flora  E.  Ailsworth  and  is  a  train  dis- 
patcher on  the  Wabash  Railroad  at  Deca- 
tur, Illinois;  and  George  W.  and  Minnie, 
who  died  in  childhood. 

After  his  marriage  ]\Ir.  Kester  contin- 
ued contracting  and  building  until  the  6th 
of  February,  1865,  when  he  joined  Com- 
pany E,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Illi- 
nois Regiment,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain Laferty  and  Colonel  \\'.  C.  Kcifner. 
This  compan_\-  did  garrison  dutv  until  after 
the  close  of  the  war  and  at  Dalton,  Georgia, 
on  the  27th  of  January,  1866,  Mr.  Kester 
was  honorably  discharged.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Danville,  resumed  his  former 
Ixisiness  interests  here  and  until  his  retire- 
ment continuouslv   followed  his  trade  with 


LIBRAI^Y 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


H.  B.  KESTER. 


MRS.  H.  B.  KESTER. 


Of  r.iE 

UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THK    BIOGRAPFIICAL    RECORD 


283 


the  exception  of  the  years  1881  and  i88j, 
which  he  spent  in  Florida  as  a  pattern-mak- 
er for  the  I'lorida  Soutliern  Raih'oad  Com- 
pany. In  1883  lie  again  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Danville  and  in  connection  with 
his  building  interests  he  also  worked  in  a 
planing  mill  here  until  1899,  when  he  re- 
tired from  business  to  enjoy  a  comfortable 
competence  wliich  had  been  secured  through 
indomitable  energy,  persexerance  and  close 
application  to  the  work  in  which,  as  a  young 
tradesman,  he  embarked.  In  that  year  he 
built  his  present  home  which  he  has  since 
occupied,  fie  has  held  a  few  minor  offices 
such  as  school  director,  but  has  ne\'er  been 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking. 
He  votes  with  the  Democracy  on  questions 
of  national  importance  but  at  local  elections 
votes  independentlv  of  party  ties.  A  prom- 
inent and  inlluential  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  of  Danville,  he  served 
as  one  of  its  class-leaders  for  several  years. 
His  life  history  illustrates  most  happily  for 
the  purpose  of  this  work,  that  success  is  not 
a  matter  of  genius  but  the  (outcome  of  judg- 
ment and  experience  and  that  an  upright 
character  commands  respect  and  regard  in 
this  country  which  is  not  hampered  by  caste 

or  class. 

» «  » 

\V.  H.  CURRENT. 

W.  H.  Current,  who  is  engaged  in  grain 
dealing  in  Indianola.  was  born  in  East  Dan- 
^'ilIc.  on  the  4th  of  September,  i860,  a  son 
of  J  M.  CiuTent.  He  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  Danville  and  in  the  country  schools, 
putting  aside  his  text  books  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  afterward  devoted  his  en- 
tire attention  to  work  u])i)n  his  father's  farm 
until  he  vv'as  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  married  and  started  out  in  life  for 


himself.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1883, 
he  wedded  Miss  Lax'ina  Gibson,  who  was 
born  in  X'ermilion  county,  September  13, 
1863,  their  wedding  being  celebrated  at  her 
home  southwest  of  Fairmount.  Her  father 
was  Thomas  Gibson,  a  native  of  Clarion 
count\-,  Illinois.  The  home  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife  has  been  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren:  Bertha  M.,  bom  February  15,  1887; 
Fred  F.,  born  July  29,  1889;  Clara  I.,  born 
August  15,  1893;  and  Se_\-mi)ur  M..  born 
August  24,   1896. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Current  located 
on  a  farm  near  the  old  home  place  and  there 
resided  continuously  until  1892,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Fairmount  where  he  worked  for 
his  father,  who  was  engaged  in  the  grain 
trade.  In  1899.  however,  his  father  sold 
( lut  to  the  firm  of  Hill  &  Crou-,  and  removed 
to  Homer.  Champaign  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  grain  trade. 
In  1898  Mr.  Current  oi  this  review  came  to 
Indianola,  arriving  on  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber. Here  he  purchased  the  Downey  ele- 
vator and  has  since  carried  on  the  grain 
trade  on  his  own  account,  handling  a  large 
quantity  of  corn  and  other  cereals  each  year. 
He  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  four  miles 
southwest  of  Fairmount.  and  his  property 
possessions  also  include  city  real  estate.  He 
is  .likewise  agent  for  a  number  of  insurance 
companies  and  his  varied  business  interests 
are  successfully  conducted,  so  that  he  is  now- 
regarded  as  one  of  the  prosperous  residents 
of  his  community.  I'olitically  he  is  an  earn- 
est Republican  and  is  a  member  of  Ver- 
milion Lodge.  No.  265,  A.  F.  A.  M..  of  In- 
dianola, the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks,  of  Danville,  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Fraternal  Army. 
He  is  also  coimected  with  the  Royal  Ameri- 
cans and  in  two  of  these  lodges,  the  Masonic 
and  Fraternal  Armv,  he  has  filled  the  office 


284 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  secretary.  lie  belongs  to  tlie  jMethodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Indianola  and  is  serv- 
ing as  one  of  its  trustees  and  stewards.  His 
life  has  been  quietly  passed  in  the  faithful 
performance  of  the  duties  of  pubhc  and  pri- 
vate life  in  the  direction  of  his  business  and 
in  the  promotion  of  measures  or  movements 
calculated  to  advance  the  general  welfare. 


A.  H.  CLUTTER. 


A.  H.  Clutter,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Sidell.  was  for  many  years  ac- 
ti\elv  and  prominently  associated  with 
fanuing  interests  in  Vermilion  county.  Pie 
is  also  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Illinois,  dating  his  residence  in  the  state 
from  1855,  so  that  through  almost  a  half 
century  he  has  lieen  a  witness  of  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  which  has  placed  this 
great  commonwealth  in  the  front  rank  nf  the 
galaxy  of  states  which  forms  the  Union. 
Mr.  Clutter  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  his 
birtli  having  occurred  in  Greene  county. 
January  i.  1840.  His  father,  Aliraham 
Clutter,  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1785,  and  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  John  Clutter,  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey  and  served  his  country  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  The 
family  is  of  German  lineage  and  was  found- 
ed in  New  Jersey  at  a  verv  earlv  epoch  in 
American  history.  l'"rom  his  native  state 
John  Clutter  removed  to  Pennsylvania 
where  he  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety 
years.  Abraham  Clutter  was  there  reared 
to  manhood,  and  after  reaching  years  of  ma- 
turity he  wedded  Lydia  W'inget.  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Stephen  \\'inget. 
who  removed  from  Ohio  to  Pennsylvania. 
A   farmer  by  occupation,  Abraham   Clutter 


followed  that  ]uu"suit  in  order  to  provide  for 
his  family  whom  he  reared  upon  a  farm  in 
Greene  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  died  in 
March,  1845,  i'l  ^h  prime  of  life.  His  wife, 
sur\i\-ing  him  for  a  long  period,  carefully 
reared  her  family  to  whom  she  was  a  most 
devoted  mother.  A.  H.  Clutter  of  this  re- 
\'iew  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years  and  reached  advanced  ages,  al- 
though the  subject  of  this  review  and  one 
sister  are  nnw  the  only  survivors,  she  be- 
ing Mrs.  Mary  Elliott,  a  widow  who  is  re- 
siding in  Ohio,  West  Virginia. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  A.  H.  Clut- 
ter was  reared  upi>n  his  father's  farm.  He 
received  but  limited  school  privileges,  but 
his  training  in  the  work  of  field  and  mead- 
ow was  not  limited.  When  a  young  man 
he  came  to  the  west,  arriving  in  Illinois  in 
1855.  He  joined  his  three  brothers  who  had 
previously  located  in  \"ermilion  county  and 
here  he  began  work  as  a  farm  hand  for  one 
of  his  brothers  by  whom  he  was  employed 
for  three  years,  at  feeding  and  caring  for 
the  stock.  In  August,  186:,  Mr.  Clutter 
and  there  took  charge  of  the  home  farm 
which  he  continued  to  operate  for  eighteen 
years,  purchasing  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs  in  the  old  homestead  which  he  suc- 
cessfully conducted.  He  was  married  in 
Greene  county  in  October,  1863,  to  Miss 
Mary  Miller,  who  was  born,  reared  and  edu- 
cated there  and  engaged  in  teaching  prior 
to  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Joseph  Miller, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Greene 
county, 

In  1881  Mr.  Clutter  returned  to  \'ermil- 
ion  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  the  Asa 
Daniels  farm  near  .'^irmstrong,  superintend- 
ing that  place.  Subsequently  he  became  su- 
perintendent of  the  Hiram  Sibley  farms  in 
Vermilion    county,  acting    in    that    capacitv 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


285 


for  six  years.  He  then  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  his  own  account  until 
1895,  when  he  purchased  a  lot  in  Sidell 
and  erected  thereon  a  nice  residence.  He 
afterward  sold  that  property  and  he  has  pur- 
chased and  improved  other  property.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  living  retired,  enjoying 
a  well  merited  rest,  for  his  life  has  heen  one 
of  industry  and  earnest  toil. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clutter  was 
blessed  with  ten  children,  of  whom  two  sons 
and  three  daughters  are  yet  living:  Joseph 
Reed,  who  resides  in  North  Dakota  upon  a 
farm,  and  is  married,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters and  a  son;  Nevada,  the  wife  of  Robert 
Phillips,  a  druggist  of  Springfield,  Illinois ; 
Fannie,  the  wife  of  M.  E.  Pancoast,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Daii\-ille,  by  whom 
she  has  two  sons  and  a  daughter:  John,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Sidell  township,  who  is 
married  and  has  two  sons ;  and  Nettie,  who 
is  occr.p^■ing  a  business  position  in  Omaha, 
Nebr;!ska ;  Thomas  Miller,  who  was  edu- 
cated in  this  comity  and  was  one  of  its  suc- 
cessful teachers.  He  died  January  27,  1903. 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  lacking  three 
weeks.  Of  tlie  children  who  have  passed 
away,  the  first  born  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  William  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
vears.  Jennie  grew  to  mature  vears  and 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  twenty-four.  Ida 
became  the  wife  of  James  Morrison  and  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Clutter  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  having  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  General  George  B.  Mc- 
Clellan  in  1864,  and  for  each  nominee  of 
the  party  since-that  time.  In  local  elections 
however,  he  has  always  been  independent, 
supporting  the  men  whom  he  thinks  best 
qualified  for  office  regardless  of  party  aflili- 
ations.  He  was  elected  and  served  for  one 
term  as  a  member  of  the  town  board,  fillinaf 


the  position  for  three  years,  and  he  is  now 
serxiug  as  police  magistrate  of  Sidell.  He 
also  served  for  a  number  of  years  on  the 
school  board  and  did  effective  service  in  pro- 
moting the  cause  of  education.  Forty- 
seven  years  ago  he  came  to  Illinois,  casting 
in  his  lot  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion county  at  a  time  when  the  work  of 
progress  and  improvement  had  scarcely 
been  begun  here.  There  were  larg'e  herds  of 
deer  and  venison  was  no  rare  dish  upon  the 
board  of  the  early  settlers.  There  were  also 
wild  geese  and  other  wild  game,  and  wolves 
were  frequently  killed,  but  all  these  have 
disappeared  and  the  swamps  and  sloughs 
ha^•e  been  drained,  the  prairies  broken  and 
fenced  and  the  work  of  cultivation  carried 
on  until  now  this  is  one  of  the  g'arden  spots 
of  the  great  state  of  Illinois,  famed  through- 
out the  nation  as  an  agricultural  district. 
He  has  also  witnessed  the  introduction  of 
the  railroad,  the  telegraph  and  telephone, 
and  along  many  lines  of  improvement  and 
])rogress  he  has  assisted  materially,  taking 
a  deep  interest  in  what  has  been  accom- 
])lishe(l  here. 


MRS.  ANN  E.  SMITH. 

For  almost  sixty-nine  years  this  lady  has 
made  her  home  in  Vermilion  county  and  has 
therefore  witnessed  nearly  the  entire  growth 
and  development  of  this  section  of  the  state, 
her  family  being  pioneers  here.  She  has 
seen  the  wild  lands  transformed  into  fine 
farms,  while  towns  and  villages  have  Sjjrung 
u]i  and  developed  into  flourishing  cities  with 
all  the  luxuries  and  advantages  of  the  older 
east. 

^Irs.  Smith  is  the  widow  of  Edwin 
G.  Smith,  who  was  also  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  having  located  here  in 


286 


TPIE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1848.  He  was  a  natix'e  of  England,  bi)m 
in  1823,  antl  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Smith,  wlio 
was  also  l)orn  in  that  conntrv  and  with  his 
family  came  to  America  in  1848.  On  land- 
ing in  this  conntrv  he  made  his  way  direct  to 
\^ermilion  connty,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged" in  farming  nntil  his  death. 

.  Edwin  Giles  Smith  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  land,  being  nearly  grown 
on  the  emigration  of  the  family  to  the  new 
world.  He  had  previously  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade  and  after  coming  to  Dan- 
ville, he  .followed  that  occupation  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life,  but  he  was  not 
long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home  as  he 
died  on  the  5th  of  October,  1854.  at  the  early 
age  of  twenty-nine  years.  His  political  sup- 
port W'as  always  given  to  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  a  \ery  industrious,  energetic 
and  enterprising  man  and  had  already  at- 
tained a  fair  degree  of  success  when  called 
to  the  world  beyond. 

In  Danville  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Smith  and  Miss  Ann  E.  Greggson, 
■ivho  was  also  born  in  England,  October  24, 
1827,  her  parents  being  George  and  Ann 
(Hazeldine)  Greggson.  natives  of  the  same 
countn,-,  where  the  father  was  employed  as 
a  shepherd.  In  18.^4  he  brought  his  family 
to  America  and  took  up  his  residence  in  \^er- 
milion  comity,  Illinois,  where  he  died  the 
following  year.  Of  the  two  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  Charles  E.,  the 
older,  died  in  October,  1854,  and  Edwin  G., 
wlio  became  a  prominent  druggist  of  Dan- 
ville, died  in  1890.  The  father  was  a  char- 
ter meml)er  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge 
of  Danville,  and  Mrs.  Smith  is  a  faithful 
member  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  She  owns  and  occupies  a  nice  home 
at  Xo.  305  North  Hazel  street  and  has  other 
valuable  property  in  Danville,  including  a 
residence  at  Xo.  307  the  same  street.     She 


is  \\idely  and  fa\orably  known  in  the  city 
where  she  has  so  long  resided  and  has  a  host 
of  warm  friends  who  esteem  her  highly  for 
her  sterling  worth. 


» « » 


FRANCIS    GAINES. 

Francis  Gaines  scarcely  needs  an  intro- 
tluction  to  the  readers  of  this  volume.  He 
was  a  participant  in  pioneer  events,  as  well 
as  those  of  later-day  progress,  and  thus  with 
the  "Past  and  Present  of  X'ermilion  Coun- 
ty" he  has  been  identified,  improving  the 
business  opportunities  which  the  county  has 
offered  to  its  citizens,  and  in  return  render- 
ing valuable  aid  in  the  work  of  improvement 
and  progress  here.  l\ir  many  years  he  was 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-deal- 
ing, but  since  1883  has  li\-ed  retired  in  In- 
dianola,  where  he  has  a  commodious  and 
pleasant  home.  His  circle  of  acquaintances 
is  a  wide  one  and  all  who  know  him  are  glad 
to  claim  the  friendship  of  this  honored  man. 

Mr.  (laines  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Clark  county,  near 
South  Charleston,  July  28,  1823.  His 
parents  were  Alexander  and  Mary  (Chris- 
pin)  Gaines,  the  former  a  natix'e  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey.  The 
Chrispin  family  was  of  German  lineage  and 
the  Gaines  family  in  America  is  descended 
from  Irish  ancestry  and  was  represented  in 
the  patriot  army  during  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution. Benjamin  P.  Gaines,  the  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  went  to  Ohio  in  pioneer 
times,  becoming  one  of  the  tirst  settlers  of 
(jreene  county.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by 
trade  and  would  travel  from  house  to  house, 
making  shoes  for  an  entire  family,  and  then 
proceed  to  the  next  house  on  his  route. 
The  farmer  would  take  his  hides  to  the  tan- 


FRANCIS  GAINES. 


LIBRARY 

OF    T.iE 

UNIVERSITY   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


289 


ner,  returning  hoiiiL-  with  the  tanned  leath- 
er, preparatory  to  tlie  \isit  of  the  shoemak- 
er. Benjamin  P.  Gaines  Hved  to  be  about 
se\enty-live  years  of  age  and  followed  his 
trade  to  the  last. 

Alexander  Gaines  spent  his  entire  life 
in  Greene  county,  Ohio.  Settling  in  the 
midst  of  a  heavily  timl:)ered  district  he  be- 
gan to  clear  a  farm.  He  did  not  follow  the 
culti\-atii)n  of  grain  to  any  extent  Ijut  ga\'e 
his  attention  to  the  cattle  business,  first 
making  his  purchases  in  Ohio  and  later  in 
Indiana  and  Illinois.  He  would  come  to 
this  state,  purchase  two  or  three  hundred 
head  of  cattle  and  then  drive  them  to  the 
east,  selling  in  the  markets  of  either  Ohio  or 
Pennsylvania.  He  cimtinued  to  engage  ac- 
tively in  the  cattle  business  until  seventy- 
five  years  of  age,  when  he  retired  to  pri- 
vate life,  having  in  the  meantime  removed 
to  ('edar\ille,  Greene  ct.)unt\'.  01ii(i,  where 
his  last  clays  were  passed.  He  died  Sep- 
temli€r,  1886.  and  had  he  lived  another 
nicmth  he  would  ha\e  reached  the  age  of 
eiglity-six  years.  He  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  leading  cattle  men  of  Ohio,  his  excel- 
lent judgment  concerning  stock  enal)ling 
liim  to  make  very  judicious  investments, 
and  thus  in  his  business  he  prospered. 
I'nto  him  and  his  wife  were  born  eleven 
children,  oi  whom  six  are  vet  living,  but 
none  are  residents  of  Vermilion  county 
^\■ith  the  exception  of  our  subject  and  his 
brother  Jonathan,  who  was  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Car- 
roll township.  Another  brother,  James,  is 
one  of  the  large  landowners  and  prosperous 
residents  of  Edgar  county.  Illinois.  The 
mother  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
fi\'e  vears. 

riic  conditions  which  surroundctl  bran- 
ds Gaines  in  his  youth  were  those  of  most 
farmers'  boys.     He  bad.  perhaps,  more  op- 


portunities than  some  ami  less  than  others. 
Altog"ether  his  early  youth  was  a  period  of 
earnest  toil  for  he  was  the  eldest  of  the  si.x 
sons  of  the  family  and  bis  services  were 
needed  on  the  home  farm.  He  had  to  begin 
plowing  before  be  was  ten  years  of  age  and 
he  used  a  wooden  mold  board  to  turn  the 
furrows.  His  educational  privileges  were 
e.xceedingly  limited.  He  had  to  go  two 
miles  to  school  and  after  wading  through 
the  snow  that  distance  woukl  sit  all  day  in 
wet  boots.  The  schoolbouse  was  built  of 
logs  and  had  a  i)uncheon  floor,  slab  Ijencbes, 
and  a  plank  placed  on  pins  driven  into  the 
wall  served  as  a  writing  desk.  There  were 
no  l>lackboards  and  the  te.xt  books  were 
cfuilc  prin.iitixe.  in  one  end  of  the  room 
was  an  immense  fire-place  that  would  ac- 
commodate a  six-foot  log.  Mr.  Gaines  was 
eleven  years  of  age  before  he  mastered  the 
alpli.-il)et  and  must  of  his  knowledge  has 
been  gained  through  observation,  reading 
and  experience,  Init  possessing  an  oliserx'ing 
eve  and  retenti\e  memory  he  became  a  well 
informed  man  ere  he  bad  l)een  in  the  busi- 
ness world  many  years.  As  a  boy  and 
youth  be  was  always  busy.  His  father  be- 
lie\ed  in  keeping  his  sons  employed  and 
when  the  work  of  the  fields  was  over  they 
were  sent  into  the  timber,  so  that  there  were 
few  leisure  moments  that  fell  to  their  l(_)t. 
The  only  coats  which  b'rancis  Gaines  bad  up 
to  the  time  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age 
were  woven  and  made  Ijy  his  mother,  who 
spun  and  wove  for  her  entire  family.  In 
early  life  the  father  had  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  and  after  working  bard  all  day  he 
would  return  home  at  night  and  assist  his 
wife  in  cutting  mid  m.aking  clothes  for  the 
children. 

In  b"el)ruary.  184J,  Air.  Gaines  came 
with  bis  father  to  Illinois,  visiting  Edgar 
and  A'ermilion  counties,  where  tbev  bought 


zgo 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


two  Inmdrcd  liead  of  cattle,  wliich  tliey 
drove  to  market  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. It  required  alxxit  sixty  days  to 
make  tlie  trip  to  tiie  east.  Danville  was  then 
a  little  villag'e  with  few  improvements. 
James  Gaines  and  our  subject  came  west  in 
1846  and  herded  a  bunch  of  cattle  for  his 
father  for  four  months,  the  father  propos- 
ing to  give  his  sons  half  the  proceeds  for 
their  assistance,  so  when  the  cattle  was  sold 
they  found  that  they  each  possessed  three 
hundred  dollars,  having  sold  them  for  four- 
teen dollars  and  fifty  cents  apiece.  As  Fran- 
cis Gaines  had  married  the  year  before  he 
and  his  wife  started  west  with  four  cows  and 
tN\'enty  head  of  sheep.  They  left  their  Ohio 
home  in  August,  1847,  accompanied  by  his 
sister  and  her  husband,  who  had  a  similar 
outfit.  On  arriving  in  Vermilion  county, 
Mr.  Gaines  took  up  his  abode  in  a  house 
which  his  father  had  purchased  for  him  a 
short  time  before.  Immediately  after  his 
arrival  he  entered  forty  acres  of  land  and 
his  father  had  purchased  eighty  acres  for 
him.  Four  years  later  he  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  that  his  father  had  en- 
tered. He  made  his  first  two  payments 
with  the  proceeds  on  corn  which  he  sold  at 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  bushel,  which 
was  a  good  price  in  those  days.  Mr.  Gaines 
now  has  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land  on  sections  32  and  33,  Carroll  town- 
ship. 

On  the  27th  of  Noveml>er,  1845.  Mr. 
Gaines  was  married  to  Mary  J.  McFar- 
land,  daughter  of  Arthur  McFarland,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Greene  county,  Ohin. 
They  became  the  parents  of  seven  children. 
but  only  two  reached  mature  years.  Sar.ah 
A.  is  the  wife  of  F.  D.  Neblick,  who  is 
farming  on  her  father's  land,  and  they  have 
three  children.  Dale,  Mabel  and  Edith.     Ed- 


mund B.,  the  son,  resides  near  Virginia 
Hill,  Montana,  and  has  three  children,  For- 
rest, Raymond  and  Beulah.  Mrs.  Gaines 
died  on  .\pril  20,  1871,  and  on  the  29th  of 
Octolier  following  Mr.  Gaines  wedded  Mrs. 
Josephine  Gaines,  a  daughter  of  Leonard 
and  Catherine  ( Baum)  Patterson  and  the 
widow  of  his  l.irother  \\'illiam.  The  only 
child  of  this  marriage  died  in  infancy.  By 
her  first  husband  Mrs.  Gaines  had  a  son, 
Frank,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Car- 
roll township.  He  married  Ada  Kilgore 
and  has  one  child,  Buena  Lillian.  ]\Irs. 
Gaines  was  one  of  seven  children  and  the 
eldest  of  the  three  now  living,  the  others 
being:  Emma,  wife  of  William  A'anneman, 
of  Ridgefarm,  Illinois ;  and  John  Harvey 
Patterson,  who  resides  on  the  old  Patterson 
homestead  in  Carroll  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaines  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Indianola,  to 
which  he  has  belonged  for  fifty-two  years 
and  ior  a  half  century  he  has  been  steward 
and  also  a  trustee.  For  many  years  he  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket  but  is  now  a  Prohi- 
bitionist. He  served  as  school  director  for 
twelve  years,  was  commissioner  of  high- 
ways three  years,  was  school  trustee  six 
years  and  was  elected  supervisor  but  refused 
to  serve.  Until  1883  Mr.  Gaines  lived  upon 
his  farm  and  then  built  a  commodious  resi- 
dence in  Indianola,  wdiich  he  has  since  oc- 
cupied. Here  through  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  lived  retired  from  active  busi- 
ness, having  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  been  an  active  factor  in  the  agricul- 
tural circles  of  the  county.  His  trustworthi- 
ness in  business  made  his  word  as  good  as 
any  bond  ever  solemnized  by  signature  or 
seal,  and  his  uprightness  in  all  life's  rela- 
tions has  commanded  for  him  uniform  con- 
fidence and  reg'ard. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


291 


J.  A.  IXGLES,  ^l.  D. 

Xot  to  know  Dr.  Ingles,  of  Hoopeston, 
is  to  argT.ie  one's  self  unknown.  He  has  for 
many  years  practiced  here  and  his  kindly 
manner,  deep  sympathy  and  sincere  interest 
in  his  fellow  men,  combined  with  his  medical 
skill,  have  made  him  the  loved  family  phy- 
sician in  many  a  household.  He  traces  his 
ancestry  hack  to  1750,  when  the  family  was 
founded  in  .America  bv  representatives  of  the 
name  who  came  from  Scotland  to  the  new 
world.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
James  Ingles  who  settled  in  Beaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  there  carrying  on  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  When  the  country  became 
involved  in  war  with  the  mother  country  he 
joined  the  American  army  and  fought  for 
the  independence  of  the  nation.  His  death 
occurred  in  Beaver  county  when  he  had  at- 
tained the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three 
years. 

The  Doctor's  father  was  born  in  the 
same  county  and  became  ■  a  minister 
of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  churcli. 
As  a  pastor  of  that  denomination  he  la- 
bored largely  in  northern  Indiana,  but 
his  death  occurred  in  Edina,  Missouri,  in 
1864,  when  he  was  sixty-six  years  of  age, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  1798.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  J.  Hillis  and 
was  born  in  Madison  county.  Indiana.  Her 
father  being  Judge  David  Hillis,  a  distin- 
guished citizen  of  an  early  day  who  ser\ed 
as  judge  of  the  circuit  court  and  later  rep- 
resented his  district  in  congress.  He  was  a 
civil  engineer  by  profession  and  did  much 
of  the  surveying  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  be- 
coming a  pioneer  settler  of  Jefiferson  county. 
Not  only  did  he  render  his  country  service  in 
civil  life  but  also  in  military  circles  was  he 
known  as  a  defender  of  the  best  interests  of 
his  nation,  for  he  ser\ed  in  the  war  of  181.2. 


He  was  the  only  member  of  his  family  who 
ever  took  a  prominent  part  in  politics,  but  the 
judge  was  recognized  as  a  leader  of  public 
thought  and  action  in  his  community  and  he 
left  the  impress  of  his  indi\-iduality  upon  the 
place  of  his  residence.  His  daughter,  Mrs. 
Ingles,  died  on  the  31st  of  August,  1893, 
when  more  than  eighty  years  of  age.  In 
their  family  were  four  children,  James,  J. 
A.,  Sarah'and  Ealy. 

Dr.  Ingles,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  attended  the  district  common  schools 
of  Indiana  and  worked  for  his  father  until 
the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  started  out  upon 
an  independent  business  career.  Wishing  to 
make  the  practice  of  medicine  his  life  work 
he  prepared  for  this  calling  as  a  student  in 
the  Starling  Medical  College,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  which  he  entered  in  1868.  There  he 
remained  for  two  years,  after  which  he  be- 
gan practice  in  southern  Illinois,  being  lo- 
cated for  twenty  years  at  Morea.  Continu- 
ing his  reading  he  secured  a  certificate  of 
practice  from  the  state  board  of  health  in 
1878.  On  the  19th  of  September,  1889,  he 
came  to  Hoopeston,  where  he  opened  an  of- 
fice and  has  since  remained,  devoting  his  at- 
tention to  medical  and  surgical  work.  He 
has  a  fair  share  of  public  patronage  and  his 
ability  is  being  continually  augmentetl  by  his 
reading  and  research  in  the  line  of  his  pro- 
fession. 

In  Parke  county,  Indiana,  in  1861.  Dr. 
Ingles  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amy 
S.  Ramsay,  a  native  of  that  state.  They 
now  have  four  children,  David  W'.,  who  is  a 
barber,  of  Portland,  Oregon,  and  married 
Carrie  Chafifee :  John  S.,  who  is  express  agent 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Pa.xton, 
this  state  and  married  Marguerite  McCoy ; 
Harry  E.,  a  plumber,  living  at  home:  and 
Amy  Grace,  the  wife  of  J.  F.  Mitchell,  of 
Oklahoma. 


292 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  Doctor  resides  \\  itli  liis  wife  and  son 
on  South  Market  street,  wliere  he  has  a 
pleasant  home.  In  pohtics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  is  a  member  of  the  Tri-County 
Medical  Society.  For  about  three  months 
he  was  in  the  United  States  service  during 
tlie  Rebellion,  being  connected  with  the  Fif- 
tieth Missouri  Mounted  Infantry  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  A,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Wirtz.  The  regiment  was  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  state,  doing  scouting  duty 
to  protect  against  bushwhackers,  being  en- 
gaged in  chasing  Quantrall's  band  most  of 
the  time.  This  was  in  the  latter  part  of 
1864.  The  Doctor  is  a  man  of  many  estima- 
ble qualities.  His  quiet,  easy  manner  is  cer- 
tainly an  excellent  characteristic  for  a  physi- 
cian, in  whom  there  should  be  no  evidence 
of  nervousness  or  excitability,  quiet  being  an 
essential  of  the  sick  room.  He  has,  too,  a 
cheer}'  manner  and  sunny  disposition  which 
have  rendered  him  popular  with  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends  who  also  know  him  as  a  physi- 
ciaxi  of  wortji. 


ANDREW  H.   KOIBROUGH.  M.  D. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Danville  w^hose 
genuine  worth  and  many  excellent  qualities 
have  endeared  them  to  their  fellow  men  is 
Dr.  Andrew  H.  Kimbrough,  whose  position 
in  the  public  regard  is  not  less  the  result  of 
his  professional  power  than  of  his  irre- 
proachable private  life.  The  Doctor  is  a  na- 
tive of  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  born  on 
the  27th  of  February,  1823.  He  is  descended 
from  good  old  Revolutionary  stock,  his  an- 
cestors having  taken  part  in  the  war  which 
brought  independence  to  the  colonies.  The 
line  of  descent  can  l^e  traced  back  directly 
on  the  father's  side  to  General  Ethan  Allen, 


the  distinguished  commander  of  \'ermont 
troops.  Richard  Calvin  Kimbrough,  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina  and  became  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Horseshoe  Bend,  his  arm  being  almost  en- 
tirely severed  by  the  Indians.  He  was  also 
in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  It  was  during 
the  progress  of  the  war  of  181 2  that  the 
Kimbrough  family  was  founded  in  Ken- 
tucky, the  settlement  being  made  near  the 
birthplace  of  Lincoln,  in  Hardin  county.  In 
that  locality  resided  the  family  of  Colonel 
^Morrison,  who  was  an  uncle  of  Dr.  Kim- 
brough. Richard  C.  Kimbrough  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  to 
Jane  Morrison.  He  was  a  tanner  by  trade 
and  in  Kentucky  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  he  continued 
to  cultivate  for  some  time.  At  length,  how- 
ever, he  removed  to  Edgar  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1833.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  was  a  Democrat  and  in  his  religious  faith 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  His 
wife  long  survi\'ed  him  and  died  on  the  ist 
dav  of  June,  1876.  In  their  family  were 
four  children,  three  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity,  but  the  Doctor  is  the  only  one 
who  now  survives. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Dr. 
Kimbrough  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life 
record  of  one  who  has  a  very  extensive  ac- 
quaintance in  Vermilion  county  and  who  is 
honored  by  all  who  know  him.  He  was  but 
a  boy  when  taken  by  his  parents  to  Edgar 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  acquired  his  lit- 
erary education.  Determining  to  make  the 
practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  he  then 
entered  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1858.  He  took  up  the  subject  of  medicine, 
however,  in  1842,  and  removed  to  Paris,  Illi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


295 


iiois.  He  then  practiced  for  four  miMiths. 
,  In  the  year  of  his  graduation  he  located  in 
Georgetown.  \'ermihon  county,  ami  in  1873 
he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  practiced  con- 
tinuously and  successfully  until  ii)oi.  when, 
on  account  of  his  age  and  health,  he  was 
compelled  to  retire.  He  ever  kept  abreast  of 
the  times  with  the  best  thinking  men  of  his 
profession.  He  read  and  studied  extensive- 
ly and  had  the  ability  to  apply  with  accuracy 
and  benefit  to  his  fellow  men  the  knowledge 
that  he  had  acquired.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
\'crmilion  County  Medical  Society."  the 
State  Medical  Society,  the  National  Medical 
Society  and  he  was  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Vermilion  County  Medical  So- 
ciety. The  Doctor  has  been  very  prominent 
in  the  Odd  Fellows  fraternity  of  which  he 
has  l)een  a  member  for  fifty-one  years,  being 
■one  of  the  oldest  representatives  of  the  or- 
ganization in  the  state.  For  sixteen  years 
he  was  elected  high  priest  of  the  order  and 
for  many  years  he  has  been  a  valued  repre- 
sentative of  the  Knights  of  Honor.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  now  a  warm  Democrat  and  while 
he  has  always  kept  well  informed  on  the  is- 
<>ues  and  c|uestions  of  the  day  he  has  always 
refused  to  accept  public  office,  preferring  to 
devote  his  time  and  energies  to  his  l)usiness 
affairs  which  have  been  of  an  imjiortant 
character  and  extensi\'e  proportions. 

On  the  14th  of  March.  1S47,  ne'ir  ^'^'^'^- 
«ha!l,  Clark  county,  Illinois,  the  Doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Ashmore. 
who  was  born  in  that  county  April  10,  1820, 
a  daughter  of  Amos  Ashmore,  whose  birth 
occurred  at  Greenville.  Tennessee.  Her 
mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Patience 
McGuire,  and  was  a  native  of  Marion.  Penn- 
sylvania, in  which  place  she  was  married. 
Mr.  Ashmore  was  the  first  white  child  born 
in  Greenville  and  lived  in  an  old  cabin  there. 
His  father  entered  eleven  hundred  acres  of 


land  on  Duck  river,  in  Kentucky,  but  lost  it 
through  war  claims.     The  great-grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Kimbrough  was  a  professor  in  the 
University  of  Edinburg,  in  London,  and  a 
church  and  street  of  that  city  were  named  in 
bis   honor.     Her  grandfather   was   born   in 
London  to  which  place  his  parents  had  re- 
nio\'ed    from    Scotland.      Her    grandfather 
McGuire  was  born  on  the  ocean  when  his 
parents  were  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  Amer- 
ica.    They  were  strong  Catholics  and  fled 
from  the  Emerald  isle  during  the  period  of 
the  persecution  of  the  Irish  people.    Both  the 
paternal  and  the    maternal    grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Kimbrough  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war  under  Washington.    Her  father  was 
an  own  cousin  of  Sam  Houston,  the  libera- 
tor of  Texas,  and  was  said  to  resemble  him 
greatly  in  personal  appearance.     A  farmer 
by   occupation,   he  also   engaged    in   taking 
contracts    for    the    construction    of    public 
roads.    For  a  time  he  resided  near  Newman, 
Tennessee,  but  before  the  birth  of  his  daugh- 
ter he  removed  to  a  place  five  miles  from 
Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  thence  going  to  Clark 
countv.  Illinois.     Later  he  became  a  resident 
of  Georgetown,  Vermilion  county,  and  died 
in  Elwood  township  in   1863,  at  the  age  of 
eightv-one  years.    His  wife  had  passed  away 
in  1 86 1.    In  his  political  faith  he  was  a  Jack- 
son Democrat  and  in  religious  belief  was  a 
Presbyterian.       Mrs.     Aslimore    had     four 
brothers  who  were   Presbyterian   ministers. 
One  of  these,  Rev.  Stephen  Balch.  was  chap- 
lain of  the  first  congress  that  convened  after 
the  election  of  George  Washington  to  the 
presidency   of   the   United    States.     At    his 
death  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Con- 
gressional   cemetery    at  Washington.     Mrs. 
Ashmore  is  also  a  distant  relative  of  Gen- 
eral   W'ayne   and    it   is   said   personally   re- 
sembled him.     ]\Ir.  Ashmore  in  the  paternal 
line  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  l\e\-.  Wither- 


294 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


spoon,  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  one  of 
the  signers  of  tlie  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, ilrs.  Kiniijrough  now  recounts  many 
events  of  the  Revolutionary  war  which  slie 
heard  from  her  own  people  and  if  written 
would  make  a  very  interesting  volume.  She 
says  that  the  Indians  were  very  numerous  in 
this  state  during  her  early  girlhood,  and  she 
was  personally  accjuainted  with  a  number  of 
noted  chiefs,  including  Killbuck  who  traded 
with  the  whites.  She  came  to  Vermilion 
county  in  185S  and  from  that  time  forward 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  portion  of  the 
state.  She  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  but 
only  three  of  the  number  are  now  living: 
Margaret,  who  is  the  widow  of  Rev.  Isaac 
Bennett  and  resides  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ; 
Mrs.  Kimbrough;  and  Mary,  the  widow  of 
Rev.  Preston  W.  Thompson  and  a  resident 
of  Macomb,  Illinois.  Unto  the  Doctor  and 
his  wife  ha\e  been  born  three  children  :  Lau- 
ra, at  home;  Eugene  R.  E.  and  Ardilla.  The 
son  has  been  a  member  of  the  state  legisla- 
ture for  two  terms — 1878  and  1879,  and  was 
mayor  of  Danville  for  one  term.  When  he 
was  but  a  boy  he  said  he  was  going  to  have 
three  diplomas  and  he  won  the  first  from 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College,  of 
Chicago,  the  second  from  the  State  Univer- 
sity in  1873  and  the  third  upon  his  admission 
to  the  bar.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  ora- 
torical contestants  in  the  State  L^niversity. 
He  married  Julia  C,  a  daughter  of  Senator 
Tincher,  and  they  reside  in  Danville,  where 
he  now  owns  a  half  interest  in  the  Temple 
building.     Their  only  child  is  deceased. 

Dr.  Kimbrough  and  his  wife  celebrated 
their  golden  wedtling  anniversary  on  the 
1 6th  of  March,  1897,  when  tliey  were  ten- 
dered a  magnificent  reception  at  their  beauti- 
ful residence  by  relatives  and  friends  who 
presented  them  with  more  lovely  and  costly 


tokens  of  esteem  than  have  ever  been  give:i 
at  a  wedding  party  in  Danville.  Guests  to 
the  number  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  were 
assembled  and  the  occasion  was  a  most  en- 
joyable one.  For  the  past  twenty  years  this 
worthy  couple  have  attended  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  and  they  are  now  living  in  their 
attractive  home  in  Danville  and  in  the  even- 
ing of  life  are  surrounded  by  many  warm 
friends  and  by  all  that  goes  to  make  life 
comfortable  and  worth  the  living.  Devoted 
to  each  other  as  they  were  in  the  days  of  their 
courtship,  their  mutual  love  and  confidence 
has  increased  as  the  years  have  gone  by  and 
none  of  the  older  couples  of  this  city  are  held 
in  higher  esteem  or  are  more  greatly  beloved 
by  their  friends  than  are  Dr.  and  ]\Irs.  Kim- 
brough. 


ABRAHA-M    MANX,    Sr. 

While  Danville  is  indebted  to  the  men 
of  the  present  for  what  they  are  accomplish- 
ing for  her  welfare  and  further  upbuilding 
she  can  never  repay  the  debt  of  gratitude 
which  she  owes  to  the  pioneers  of  the  coun- 
ty, the  men  who  coped  with  the  natural 
conditions,  who  bravely  faced  the  hardships 
and  difficulties  ever  incident  to  frontier  life 
and  wdio  laid  broad  and  deep  the  founda- 
tion for  the  present  progress  and  prosperity 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  In  the  year 
1832  Abraham  Mann,  Sr..  made  his  way 
into  the  interior  of  Illinois,  here  to  bear  an 
important  part  in  the  founding  of  the  coun- 
ty, and  _\-et  he  was  not  the  first  of  the  name 
who  penetrated  into  the  wild  of  the  ^lissis- 
sippi  valley  and  aided  in  opening  up  this 
great  section  of  the  country  for  the  uses  of 
civilization.  His  father  had  preceded  him 
into  the  central  section  of  the  country  and 
these  honored  pioneers  wrought  along  lines 


ABRAHAM    MANN    SR. 


LI' 

f 


UNlVtKollY    Uh    ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


297 


of  the  greatest  good,  not  only  for  their  own 
generation  hut  for  their  posterity. 

John  Mann,  the  father,  was  a  native  of 
England  and  came  to  America  when  this 
country  was  still  counted  among  the  colonial 
possessions  of  Great  Britain.  He  helonged 
to  a  London  hrm  dealing  in  paints  and  oils, 
and  in  the  interest  of  the  firm  he  came  to 
the  new  world,  locating  first  in  New  Or- 
leans. iM'om  that  point  he  penetrateil  into 
the  interior  at  an  epoch  when  few  settle- 
ments had  been  made  upon  either  side  of 
the  Mississippi  from  the  source  to  the 
mouth.  Howe\-er,  he  proceeded  up  the  Fa- 
ther of  Waters  in  a  canoe,  passed  stretches 
of  country  that  extended  along  the  river 
bank  for  miles  unmarked  by  any  habitation 
or  indication  of  the  ownership  of  the  white 
race.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  make  his 
way  up  the  stream  and  he  penetrated  into 
the  interior  of  the  country  as  far  north  as 
St.  .\nthony's  lualls,  which  later  became  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota,  trading  with  the  Indians 
and  shipping  his  cargoes  down  the  Missis- 
sippi to  the  Crescent  City.  After  the  Revo- 
lution congress  gave  him  grants  of  land  in 
Louisiana  and  New  York  to  the  amount  of 
thirty  thousand  acres  to  compensate  him  for 
the  losses  which  he  sutYered  because  of  the 
hostilities.  Later  he  returned  to  England 
and  spent  his  last  days  in  London. 

I'nto  John  Mann  and  his  wife  Elizabeth, 
on  the  4th  of  October,  1785,  was  born  a  son 
to  whom  they  gave  the  name  of  Abraham. 
T!ie  place  of  his  nativity  is  Leighton-Buz- 
zard,  Bedfordshire,  England,  and  in  that 
country  he  was  reared  and  educated,  be- 
coming connected  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits, whicli  he  followed  continuously  until 
his  emigration  to  .America  in  1832.  The 
new  world,  which  had  attracted  his  father, 
also  proved  of  interest  to  him,  .and  desirous 
of  making  his  home  beyond  the  water  he 

13 


sailed  with  his  family  for  the  United  States, 
taking  passage  at  Liverpool  on  a  sailing 
vessel  which  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks 
reached  the  harbor  of  New  York.  I'rom 
that  place  he  started  inlanil,  in  company 
with  his  brother-in-law,  Joseph  Smith. 
They  made  their  journey  by  way  of  the 
Great  Lakes  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where 
they  purchased  saddle  horses  and  rode 
across  the  country  to  Vermilion  county, 
settling  near  Danville,  which  was  then  but 
a  hamlet.  For  miles  around  stretchetl  the 
wild  prairie,  most  of  it  still  in  possession  of 
the  government,  and  Mr.  Mann  entered  a 
claim  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  on 
which  he  built  a  pioneer  home — a  log  cabin 
— that  stood  near  the  present  residence  of 
his  son  until  a  few  )'ears  ago.  In  the  meant- 
time,  however,  a  commodious  and  attractive 
frame  residence  had  been  erected  and  into 
this  the  family  moved,  theirs  being  one  of 
the  fine  country  seats  of  the  county.  The 
work  of  cultivation,  development  and  im- 
provement was  pushed  forward  rapidly  up- 
on the  farm  under  the  supervision  of  Mr. 
Mann,  and  as  he  found  opportunity  he  en- 
tered other  land  from  time  to  time  until 
he  had  se\eral  thousand  acres.  He  brought 
with  him  to  the  new  world  the  advanced 
ideas  of  farming  of  the  old  country  and 
combined  with  this  was  his  ready  adapta- 
bility to  new  conditions  and  surroundings. 
He  not  only  kept  abreast  with  the  times 
but  was  a  leader  in  the  working  of  advanc- 
ing agricultural  interests  and  was  equally 
prominent  in  regard  to  public'  affairs  per- 
taining to  the  upbuilding  of  the  county. 

Ere  leaving  his  native  land  Mr.  Mann 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Smith,  who  was  born  in  England,  April  15, 
1 791,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
Smith,  also  born  in  the  same  country.  Her 
father  died  September  8,  1839,  at  the  age  of 


298 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


sixty-eiglit  years  and  nine  montlis.  Unto 
Mi*,  and  Mrs.  Mann  were  born  tour  chil- 
tlren :  Mary  Ann,  born  in  Leighton-Buz- 
zard,  England.  July  14,  1823,  died  Febru- 
ary 5.  1890.  Abraham  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  family  and  his  sketch  is 


o'iven  in   this  work. 


jhn  Thomas  is  also 


represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  and 
Katharine  was  the  fourth  member  of  the 
family. 

It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  give 
a  complete  account  of  what  Abraham  ]Mann. 
Sr.,  did  for  Vermilion  county.  Aside  from 
his  work  in  bettering  agricultural  condi- 
tions here,  he  labored  earnestly  and  ettect- 
ively  for  the  general  welfare  along  moral, 
intellectual  and  social  lines.  He  burned 
the  brick  to  build  a  residence  upon  his  farm 
but  as  there  was  no  church  in  the  locality. 
he  used  this  brick  for  the  erection  of  the 
chapel  which  stil!  stands  on  the  homestead 
premises.  It  is  nicely  equipped  and  church 
services  are  still  held  therein.  In  religious 
faith  he  was  a  Methodist  and  he  took  an 
actix'f  interest  in  the  work  of  the  church 
and  the  extension  of  its  influence,  con- 
tributed generously  to  its  support  and  l)y 
precept  and  example  taught  the  power  of 
Christianity.  He  would  ne\er  consent  to 
hold  public  office,  although  in  every  other 
way  possible  he  laboretl  to  benefit  the  coun- 
try and  promote  its  upbuilding.  A  man  of 
considerable  artistic  taste,  he  delighted  in 
the  beautiful  works  of  art  and  when  but  a 
boy  he  displayed  considerable  skill  in  that 
direction  by  drawing  a  map  of  England  in 
1800.  This  was  done  in  Bedfordshire  and 
is  a  magnificent  piece  of  work,  now  in  pos- 
session of  his  son,  Abraham  Mann.  Jr.  He 
had  business  interests  in  his  native  country 
as  well  as  in  America,  being  connected  with 
a  large  company  that  possessed  landed  min- 
ing interests  in  the  new  world. 


Mr.  Mann  died  October  19,  1875,  at  his 
home  in  this  county,  anil  his  wife  passed 
aw  a}-  September  13,  1839,  both  being  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  on  the  old  family 
homesteail.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  rec- 
titutle  of  character  and  of  integrity  above 
question,  of  e\-en  temperament,  of  retined 
character — one  in  wliom  nature  and  culture 
vied  in  making  an  honored  and  interesting 
gentleman.  During  the  formative  period, 
the  crucial  epoch  in  the  history  of  \'ermilion 
county,  he  stood  as  the  promoter  of  every 
measure  tending  to  make  a  firm  foundation 
lor  the  later-day  progress  and  improvement 
and  the  impetus  which  he  gave  to  all  that  is 
good,  beneficial  and  noble,  is  still  manifct 
in  his  influence  o\er  the  li\'es  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact. 


ESTHER    E.    BRAXHAM. 

The  estimable  latly  who  bears  this  name, 
is  a  resident  of  Indianola,  Illinois,  and  the 
widow  of  .\nnanias  Branham.  She  was 
born  in  Monroe  county.  Indiana,  April  i, 
1839.  and  in  her  maidenhood  bore  the  name 
of  Esther  E.  Sunimet.  her  parents  being 
Jacob  and  Esther  (Kerby)  Sunimet,  who 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  named 
children  :  Jeremiah  C.  who  was  killetl  in 
the  Ci\  il  war.  in  1862:  Alice  C.  Everroad, 
who  died  in  March.  1886:  Esther  E..  of 
this  review:  William  A.,  a  real-estate  dealer 
in  Kansas  C'itv,  INIissouri,  who  have  fi\'e  chil- 
dren ;  Henr\-.  a  stone  mason  of  Neodosha, 
Kansas,  who  has  three  children  and  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  war;  and  Emily,  who 
died  in  1875  and  was  the  wife  of  James 
Wakefield,  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and  a 
farmer  by  occupation. 

On   the  5th  of  April,    i860,  Esther  E. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


299 


Suniniet  became  the  wife  of  Annanias  Bran- 
ham.  He,  too,  was  a  iiati\e  of  Monroe 
county,  Indiana.  Their  wedding  was  cele- 
brated while  the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounding, 
and  a  year  and  a  half  after  their  marriage, 
true  to  the  call  of  his  country,  Mr.  Bran- 
ham  left  his  young  wife  with  her  people 
and  joined  the  Twenty-second  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Infantry.  For  three  years  he  served 
his  country  faithfully  and  well,  and  then, 
when  his  services  were  no  longer  needed  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge  and  returned 
to  his  home.  From  Indiana,  Mr,  and  Mrs. 
Branham  removed  to  Edgar  county,  Illinois, 
in  1870,  and  in  1875  they  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Indianola,  where  they  remained  until 
Air.  Branham's  death,  which  (jccurred  Au- 
gust 19,  1894.  Mrs.  Branham  remained  on 
this  farm  until  November  26,  1901,  when 
she  removed  to  the  village  of  Indianola, 
where  she  now  resides  with  her  three  sons, 
Walter,  Lawson  and  Frank.  For  thirty- 
four  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Branham  lived  to- 
gether in  hapjjy  wedded  life,  sharing  the 
joys  and  sorrows,  the  prosperity  and  ad\-ers- 
ity  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  all.  When  Mr. 
Branham  was  called  away  the  community 
lost  a  good  citizen  and  the  family  a  devoted 
husband  and  father. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  Branham 
was  blessed  with  the  following  children : 
Florence,  aged  forty-one,  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Massie,  of  Boise,  Idaho;  Elmer  E,, 
thirty-seven  years  of  age,  married  Ella  Stew- 
art in  December.  1897,  and  had  two  children, 
Init  both  are  now  deceased.  Kerby  E..  thir- 
ty-four years  of  age  and  a  carpenter  of  In- 
dianola. married  Melinda  Martin.  April  11, 
1900.  He  served  as  a  soldier  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  Walter,  aged  thirty-two 
years,  resides  at  home  with  his  mother. 
Hazel   O.   is   the  wife  of   George   Bver,    a 


farmer  of  Georgetown,  Illinois,  She  is 
twenty-eight  years  of  age  and  they  have  one 
little  daughter,  aged  six  years,  Lawson, 
aged  twenty-h\e  years,  is  a  prosperous  young 
merchant  of  Indianola,  and  resides  at  home 
with  his  mother,  hrank.  also  at  home,  is 
twenty-two  years  of  age. 

For  a  cfuarter  of  a  century  Mrs.  Bran- 
ham has  been  a  resident  of  Vermilion  coun- 
t\";  and  she  has  always  been  highly  regarded 
here  for  her  genuine  worth  of  character. 
Her  sons  and  daughters  are  worthy  citizens 
of  their  respective  communities  and  Mrs. 
Branham  has  the  high  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  she  is  associated. 


T.  T.  HEALY. 


A  large  and  well  equipped  department 
store  of  Indianola  is  the  property  of  J.  J. 
Healy,  and  his  business  career  is  one  which 
has  e\er  been  creditable  and  honorable.  At 
the  same  time  he  has  achieved  success  and 
his  lifehistory  shows  that  prosperity  may  be 
gained  through  persistent  and  well  directed 
effort.  Mr.  Healy  was  born  in  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts, November  25,  1855,  and  is  a  son 
of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Tracy)  Healy.  both 
of  whom  are  natives  of  Ireland,  the  former 
l)orn  in  county  Tipperary  and  the  latter  in 
countv  Limerick.  Their  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  Boston,  both  having  come  to  Amer- 
ica in  tlie  year  1845.  The  father  was  em- 
ployed as  a  stationary  engineer  in  the  east 
and  afterward  remo\ed  to  Chicago,  where 
both  lie  and  his  wife  died,  his  death  occurring 
in  1896,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1893. 
The  father  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
views.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy  coujile 
were  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  of  this 


300 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


number  the  following  are  living :  J.  J. : 
William  and  Thomas,  who  are  employed  in 
the  Chicago  postoffice;  and  Elizabeth  and 
Dennis,  who  are  residents  of  Chicago. 

J.  J.  Healy  pursued  his  education  in  the 
Skinner  school  of  Chicago  and  from  an  early 
age  was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources 
for  a  living-.  When  still  quite  young  he 
workeil  during  the  day,  attending  school  at 
night,  thus  paying  for  his  own  education 
for  five  years.  He  had  begun  work  when 
but  a  youth  of  nine  summers,  carrying  brick 
for  the  building  of  sewers  in  Chicago  on  the 
bulkhead.  For  three  years  he  worked  dur- 
ing the  summer  and  attended  school  in  the 
winter.  He  next  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mis- 
souri, when  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  and 
there  he  continued  his  education  at  the  same 
time  following  any  employment  that  would 
yield  him  an  honest  dollar.  His  determina- 
tion to  secure  an  education  was  proof  of  the 
strong  character  which  would  develop  with 
the  passing  years.  He  engaged  in  teaching 
school  for  four  years  in  St.  Joseph  and  then 
returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed 
as  a  salesman  and  bookkeeper  in  a  commis- 
sion house  on  South  Water  street.  After 
filling  that  position  for  about  two  years  he 
went  to  work  for  F.  Salter,  with  whom  he 
remained  for  four  years.  He  continued  to  re- 
side in  Chicago  until  the  latter  part  of  1882, 
when  he  came  to  Indianola,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandising..  This  business  h 
has  continued  to  the  present  time.  He  has 
a  very  large  department  store  which  is 
heavily  stocked  with  everything  found  in  a 
first  class  establishment  of  this  character.  He 
carries  drygoods,  boots  and  shoes,  groceries, 
and  even  farming  implements  and  machin- 
ery', and  his  patronage  is  extensive.  His 
business  methods  are  such  as  require  no  dis- 
guise and  will  bear  the  closest  investigation. 


and  because  of  his  honorable  dealing  and 
his  marked  industry  he  has  won  very  credit- 
able success.  He  has  an  interest  in  the  opera 
house  here  and  owns  an  elegant  modern  res- 
idence which  is  built  in  the  Queen  Anne  style 
of  architecture  and  fitted  up  most  tastefully. 

In  Chicago  on  the  15th  of  September, 
1880.  Mr.  Healy  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  C.  Pattison,  of  Indianola,  Illi- 
nois, who  was  born  in  Ohio,  November  25, 
1848,  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and  Mary  (Cox) 
Pattison.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ohio  and 
her  mother  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Cox,  who 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  this  state  and  she 
was  the  first  white  child  born  in  \'ermilion 
county.  She  is  now  living  in  Indianola  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  is  a  very  active, 
intelligent  lady,  still  doing  her  own  house- 
work. She  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Pattison, 
in  Indianola;  and  he  afterward  devoted  his 
energies  to  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1875.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat  and  he  held  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  the  family 
of  this  worthy  couple  were  six  sons  and 
four  daughters :  \\'.  George,  who  is  vice 
president  of  the  Bohart  Livestock  Commis- 
sion Company,  of  Chicago;  Simeon,  de- 
ceased ;  Ed,  who  resides  in  Indianola ;  Anna 
E.,  of  Chicago;  Emma  C.  the  wife  of  our 
subject;  Franklin  and  Leander  who  are  resi- 
dents of  Indianola ;  Mary  Jane  and  John, 
both  deceased ;  and  Luella,  who  resides  with 
her  mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Healy  have  had 
l)ut  one  child,  Anna  M.,  who  was  Iwrn  in 
1882  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  1900 
in  the  Indianola  High  School. 

Mr.  Healy  gives  his  political  support  to 
the  Democracy  and  has  l)een  honored  with 
a  number  of  public  offices.  He  has  served  as 
township  clerk,  was  also  mavor  and  treas- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


303 


urer  of  his  town,  and  is  now  ser\-ing  as  a 
member  of  the  connty  central  committee 
from  Carroll  townshii).  He  was  also  post- 
master of  Inclianola  during  President  Cleve- 
land's administration,  succeeding  a  man 
who  had  held  the  position  for  twenty  years. 
He  belongs  to  \"ermilion  Lodge.  No.  265, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  their  lodge  room  is  in  his 
building.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp  and  has  memljer- 
ship  relatiiins  with  the  I'Vaternal  Army  and 
the  Knights  of  the  Globe.  When  he  came  to 
Indianola  and  established  his  present  busi- 
ness he  had  a  capital  of  only  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  Since  that  time  he  has 
had  twenty  years'  experience  and  during  this 
long  period  he  has  been  absent  from  his 
business  altogether  but  three  months  and  five 
days.  He  now  owns  one  of  the  largest  de- 
partment stores  in  the  county  and  his  success 
is  due  to  close  application,  a  thorough  un- 
derstanding of  trade  relations  and  marke<I 
enterprise  and  diligence. 


ABRAHAM    MANN,  Jr, 

-Vhraliam  Mann.  Jr.,  living  on  section 
26,  Ross  township,  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  and  stock-raisers  and  feeders 
of  \'ermilion  county.  He  is.  too,  one  of  the 
largest  land  owners  within  its  borders,  hav- 
ing four  thousand  acres  in  Ross  and  Grant 
townships,  all  of  which  is  w-el!  improved 
and  valuable.  No  history  of  the  cotmty 
would  be  complete  without  the  record  of 
his  life,  not  only  because  of  the  splendid 
success  which  he  has  achieved  but  also  be- 
cause he  is  one  of  the  honored  earlv  set- 
tlers of  this  portion  of  the  state,  having 
resided  in  the  county  since   1834. 

He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that 


England  has  furnished  the  United  States, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Leighton-Buz- 
zard,  Bedfordshire,  that  country,  February 
17,  1829.  John  Mann,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  came  to  the  new  world  prior 
to  the  ke\-olutionary  war  and  traveled 
through  the  then  largely  unexplored  west. 
He  made  a  trip  up  the  Mississippi  river  in 
a  canoe  with  the  Indians  and  is  said  to  ha\-e 
been  the  first  man  that  penetrated  as  far 
north  on  the  river  as  St.  .\nthony  h'alls, 
now  St.  Paul,  Minnesota.  After  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  congress  gave  him  grants  of 
lands  both  in  Louisiana  and  New  York  in 
compensation  for  losses  which  he  had  suf- 
fered during  the  period  of  hostilities.  He 
later  returned  to  England  and  spent  his  last 
years  in  London. 

Our  subject's  father,  Abraham  I\Iann, 
Sr.,  was  born,  reared  and  married  in  Eng- 
land, the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Marv  Ann 
Smith.  He  carried  on  farming  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  on  the  merrie  isle  and  four  chil- 
dren were  added  to  the  family  there.  He 
then  emigrated  to  the  new  world  in  1S32, 
spending  the  first  winter  after  his  arrival 
in  Herkimer,  New  York.  Then  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Smith, 
journeyed  westward  to  Illinois  and  selected 
a  location  for  his  family  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  He  entered  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  where  the  subject  of  this 
re\'iew  now  resides  and  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  breaking  the  fields  and  im- 
pro\-ing  the  farm.  In  a  log  house,  which  he 
Imilt,  he  made  his  home  for  several  years 
and  then  replaced  the  [jiimeer  cabin  by  a 
good  frame  house.  He  also  bought  more 
land  and  owned  several  thousand  acres, 
thus  becoming  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
In  )l(lers  in  X'ermilion  county.  He  was  a 
\ery  prominent  agriculturist,  influential  in 
public  affairs,  as  well  as  successful  in  pri- 


304 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


v;ite  business  interests  ami  all  who  knew  him 
respected  him  for  his  genuine  worth.  He 
spent  his  last  years  in  tJiis  county  and  when 
called  to  his  final  rest  many  friends  mourned 
his  loss. 

Abraham  Mann,  of  this  review,  is  the 
only  sur\ivor  of  a  family  of  two  sons  and 
two  daug^hters.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
ujjon  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  and 
when  a  little  lad  of  ten  or  twelve  years  he 
returned  with  his  parents  to  England,  where 
he  was  placed  in  school  at  Biggelswade. 
where  he  completed  his  course.  Previous 
to  this  time  he  had  pursued  his  education 
in  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  The  family  re- 
mained in  England  for  about  four  years 
and  then  again  came  to  the  United  States, 
taking  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  here.  \i- 
ter  the  father's  death  our  subject  and  his 
brother  John  took  charge  of  the  old  home 
place  and  tlie  business  and  together  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  for  several  years. 
Abraham  Alann  has  since  purchased  more 
land  to  the  extent  of  about  one  thousand 
acres.  He  has  on  his  home  farm  a  very 
commodious  brick  residence,  in  the  rear  of 
which  stand  good  barns  and  all  necessary 
outliuildings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and 
stock.  Around  his  home  are  beautiful 
shade  and  evergreen  trees  and  a  broad  lawn 
which  is  well  kept.  He  has  also  planted  an 
orchard  and  the  various  equipments  of  the 
model  farm  of  the  tw'entieth  centur}-  are 
there  found.  He  also  has  several  other 
farms  in  Vermilion  county,  all  of  which 
are  improved  with  substantial  accessories. 
He  makes  a  business  of  raising  and  feeding 
.stock  for  the  market  and  ships  on  an  aver- 
age of  from  ten  to  twenty  car-loads  of  cat- 
tle annually  and  a  number  of  car-loads  of 
hogs.  He  now  has  a  fine  herd  of 
about  one  hundred  head  of  registered 
short-hum    cattle    with    a    fine    Cruikshank 


bull  ;it  the  head  of  the  herd.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  extensive  and  prosperous  stock- 
raisers  and  farmers  of  the  county  and  is 
a  business  man  of  marked  ability,  far- 
sighted,  enterprising  and  purposeful.  He 
is  likewise  a  stockholder  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Danville  and  one  of  its 
directors. 

Mr.  Atann  was  married  in  Vermilion  • 
county,  J.une  13,  1882,  to  Aliss  Margaret 
Ann  Dale,  a  sister  of  John  \\^  Dale,  of  Dan- 
\ille.  Three  sons  have  been  born  unto 
them  ;  John,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Ross- 
ville  high  school :  George  Dale,  a  student 
in  the  Cither  Military  Academy,  of  In- 
diana; and  Edward  Harold,  who  is  a  stu- 
dent it:  the  liomc  school.  Another  memlier 
of  the  household  is  Aliss  Emma  Dale,  who 
has  resitled  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  since 
the  death  of  her  mother. 

When  the  Republican  party  sprung  in- 
to existence,  making  the  opposition  of  the 
further  extension  of  sla\-ery  its  leading  is- 
sue, Air.  Mann  joineil  its  ranks  and  has 
since  been  one  of  its  earnest  supporters, 
voting  for  each  presidential  nominee  of  the 
party  since  he  cast  his  ballot  for  John  C. 
Fremont  in  1856.  His  business  interests 
ha\-e  been  too  extensive  to  admit  of  his  tak- 
ing an  acti\'e  part  in  political  work  even  had 
he  so  desired  and  he  has  never  even  wished 
for  the  rewards  of  office  in  recognition  of  his 
party  fealt)-.  He  has,  however,  been  a 
member  of  the  school  board  and  has  done 
etYective  work  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of 
education.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  ^ 

of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  belong-  V'j/V^O-''*^'*^ 
ing  to  Mninij  Chapel,  and  Mr.  Mann  takes 
a  most  active  interest  in  everything  pertain- 
ing   to    the    general    good    along    material, 
social,    intellectual   and   moral    lines. 

He  has  been  a  resident  of  Vermilion 
county  during  the  great  part  of   tlie  time 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


305 


of  sixty-eight  years  and  has  witnessetl  tiie 
marked  changes  \\hicli  lia\-e  occurretl  as 
development  and  growtii  has  transformed 
pioneer  coiichtions  into  modern  progress. 
He  lias  seen  deer  and  wild  game  here  in 
great  nnmhers.  bnt  the?e  ha\e  disapi:)eared 
anil  now  herds  of  cattle  and  other  domestic 
animals  have  taken  the  place  of  the  wild 
ones.  Air.  Alann  has  witnessed  tlie  con- 
strnclion  of  the  roads  and  of  the  railroads 
and  has  seen  Dan\ille  developed  from  a 
little  village  of  three  honses  until  it  has  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  cities  of  the  state. 
He  has  seen  the  various  farms  opened  and 
developed  and  at  all  times  has  given  an  ac- 
tive co-operation  to  measures  pertaining  to 
the  general  gi:>od.  A  most  successful  ami 
enterprising  business  man,  he  possesses 
keen  discrimination  and  sound  business 
judgment,  unflagging  industry  and  strong 
purpose  and  these  qualities  have  enabled 
him  to  gain  an  enviable  position  among  the 
respected  and  wealthy  citizens  of  Vermilion 
county. 


J.  H.  RHOTEN. 


J.  H.  Rboten,  who  is  actively  engaged  in 
gardening  and  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit 
and  flowers  just  outside  the  city  limits  of 
Danville,  owns  a  valuable  tract  of  seven  and 
one-half  acres  of  land,  and  in  the  conduct  of 
his  business  he  has  become  well  known  for 
his  reliability,  as  well  as  for  the  excellence 
of  his  products.  As  he  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance here  his  life  history  cannot  fail  to  prove 
of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 

J.  H.  Rhoten  was  born  in  Putnam  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  June  21,  1846.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  James  Rhoten,  who  was 
a  nati\e  of  England  and  came  to  America 


in  colonial  days  and  fought  for  the  independ- 
ence of  the  country  at  the  time  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  He  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age 
of  nearly  one  hundred  )'ears.  While  in  the 
service  he  experienced  all  of  the  hardslnps 
and  privations  which  befell  the  .American 
troops  and  on  one  occasion  he  had  nothing 
to  eat  for  three  days  excq^t  two  apples. 
Thomas  Rhoten,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  and 
then  became  a  resident  of  Putnam  county, 
Imliana,  \\here  he  attained  his  majority  and 
was  married,  the  lady  of  bis  choice  being 
Sarah  W'oolery,  who  was  born  in  that  coun- 
ty. Mr.  Rhoten  carried  on  farming  there 
until  1854.  when  he  removed  to  Cumberland 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  opened  up  a  fariu. 
continuing  its  cultivation  for  several  years. 
About  1869  he  came  to  Vermilion  county 
and  took  up  his  residence  upon  a  farm  near 
Danville,  making  it  his  home  throughout  his 
remaining  days.  He  died  about  1876  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years  aiifl  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1871. 

J.  H.  Rhoten  of  this  review  was  a  little 
lad  of  eight  summers  when  with  his  parents 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  he  was  reared  in 
Cumberland  county,  this  state  until  se\en- 
teen  years  of  age.  In  1863  he  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Union  armv.  joining  the  Sixty- 
second  Illinois  Infantry  as  a  member  of 
Company  G.  With  that  command  he  went 
south  and  joined  the  western  de]jartment. 
The  first  battle  in  wdiich  he  engaged  was  at 
Little  Rock.  The  regiment  arrived  there  af- 
ter a  forced  march  from  Tennessee  and  they 
also  did  guard  duty  keeping  the  Arkansas 
river  open  for  fifteen  months,  during  which 
time  they  participated  in  a  number  of  skirm- 
ishes. Later  they  were  sent  to  Port  Gibson, 
remaining    there    for    six    months,    and    in 


306 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Marcli.  1866,  Mr.  Rhotcn  was  honorably 
discharged.  He  then  returned  home,  where 
he  remained  one  year,  after  which  he  went 
to  Douglas  county.  Illinois,  spending  a  year 
on  a  farm  there.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  came  to  \'ermiHon  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  two  years.  He 
next  turned  his  attention  to  bridge  builchng 
and  carpenter  work  in  the  employ  of  the  rail- 
road and  was  thus  engaged  for  nine  years. 
Subsequently  he  was  employed  in  the  coach 
building  department  of  the  shops  at  Danville 
for  a  similar  period,  largely  doing  repair 
work.  \\'hi!e  thus  engaged  he  purchased  the 
land  on  which  his  present  residence  was 
built  and  in  the  spring  of  1902  he  began  the 
raising  of  fruit,  vegetables  and  flowers, 
building  a  large  greenhouse.  The  new  en- 
terprise has  already  proved  a  profitable  one 
and  his  patronage  in  this  direction  is  con- 
tinuously increasing. 

Mr.  Rhoten  was  married  in  \'ennili(in 
county,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Lucy  INIartin.  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  the 
Rev.  Rolla  ^lartin.  one  of  the  first  settlers 
here,  having  come  with  his  parents  in  early 
pioneer  times.  He  was  a  minister  of  the 
Christian  church  and  was  also  prominent  ii 
public  affairs,  being  elected  for  two  terms  to 
the  office  of  county  treasurer.  L'nto  ]\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Rhoten  have  been  born  two  children 
who  are  yet  living.  Jessie  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful .school  teachers  of  the  county,  hav- 
ing been  connected  with  the  Tilton  school 
for  nine  years,  and  Katie  is  at  home.  They 
also  lost  one  daughter,  Edith,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years.  The  parents  and 
daughters  are  active  members  of  tlie  First 
Christian  church  of  Danville,  taking  a  help- 
ful interest  in  its  work.  In  his  political  af- 
filiations Mr.  Rhoten  is  a  Republican  and 
no  one  has  reason  to  question  his  position  on 


anv  political  issue.  He  is  well  known  in 
this  city  where  his  fidelity  to  duty,  his  trust- 
worthiness in  business  and  his  loyalty  in 
friendship  have  made  him  a  man  worthy  of 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 


JOHN   THOMAS   MAXX. 

T!ie  extent  and  scope  of  the  business  in- 
terests which  claimed  the  attention  of  Mr. 
]\Iann  were  certainly  sui'ficient  to  win  for  him 
the  admiration  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens and  yet  he  gained  that  regard  through 
other  qualities  as  well,  his  influence  being  ex- 
erted in  Ijehalf  of  many  measures  which  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  public  good  along  in- 
tellectual and  moral  lines.  The  work  begun 
by  his  illustrious  father  was  carried  on  by 
him  and  his  brother  and  Vermilion  county 
has  no  more  honored  or  honorable  name  upon 
the  pages  of  its  history  than  that  of  Mann. 

He  whose  name  introduces  this  review 
was  born  at  Leighton-Buzzard.  Bedford- 
shire, England.  January  30,  1831.  being  the 
second  son  of  the  four  children  of  Abraham 
and  Mary  Mann,  who  are  represented  else- 
where in  this  work.  His  education  was 
largely  acquired  in  liis  native  country,  al- 
thougli  his  parents  came  to  the  new  world 
when  he  was  oidy  about  a  year  old.  His 
parents  wishing  him  to  enjoy  educational 
pri\i leges  which  could  not  be  secured  in  the 
pioneer  district  in  which  they  lived,  sent  him 
back  to  his  native  land,  where  he  remained 
as  a  student  for  a  number  of  years,  master- 
ing the  branches  of  learning  which  would 
prepare  him  for  the  practical  and  responsi- 
ble duties  of  a  successful  business  career. 
^^'hen  his  education  was  completed  he 
once    more    came    to    America,    taking-    up 


JOHN  THOMAS  MANN 


l;      ;y 

UNIVERiliY   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


309 


his  residence  in  the  homestead  villa, 
which  had  been  erected  by  his  father 
and  in  connection  witli  his  brother,  Abra- 
ham Mann.  Jr..  he  entered  npon  his  bnsi- 
ness  career.  He  always  lived  upon  the 
old  family  homestead  and  the  brothers  were 
closely  associated  in  extensive  agricultural 
and  commercial  pursuits,  making  a  specialty 
of  the  raising  of  cattle.  John  T.  Mann  be- 
came a  great  lover  of  stock  and  a  most  ex- 
cellent judge  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs.  Pie 
learned  readily  to  recognize  the  tine  points 
of  a  domestic  animal  and  he  studied  closely 
their  needs  and  the  conditions  which  would 
produce  the  best  grades  of  stock,  lie  had 
both  a  scientific  and  practical  understanding 
of  the  business  and  his  opinions  were  re- 
garded as  authority  on  matters  relating  to 
stock  over  a  wide  territory  of  Illinois.  The 
brothers  made  extensive  purchases  and  after 
fattening  their  stock  sold  to  the  city  markets, 
Thev  bought  all  o\er  the  southern  part  of 
the  state  and  then  shipped  to  Chicago,  where 
they  never  failed  to  command  the  hightest 
market  prices  because  of  the  excellent  con- 
dition of  the  hugs,  cattle  and  horses,  whicii 
were  sent  to  the  western  metropDlis  from  the 
Mann  farm. 

Living  in  ^"ermilil)n  county  in  pioneer 
days  Mr.  Mann  could  remember  seeing  large 
herds  of  deer  running  oxer  the  farm,  while 
wolves  were  frequently  killed  and  other 
kinds  of  wild  animals  were  hunted.  \'ari- 
ous  kinds  of  wild  game  were  also  to  be  had 
in  abundance  and  pioneer  conditions  every- 
where existed.  The  iiomes  of  the  settlers 
were  widely  scattered  and  many  of  the  early 
residents  li\-ed  in  log  houses,  in  fact,  such 
was  t!ie  primilixe  home  of  the  Mann  family, 
but  after  a  few  vears  it  was  replaced  by  a 
large  and  pleasant  country  frame  residence. 

John  Thomas  Mann  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Martha  Cable,  who  was  born 


on  the  2 1  St  of  December,  1846,  in  Long  Cren- 
dan,  Buckinghamshire,  England,  a  daughter 
of  George"  and  Elizabeth  (Sanders)  Cable, 
who  were  natives  of  Bedfordshire.  I'.ng- 
land,  and  came  to  America  in  1855,  locating 
in  Attica,  Indiana,  where  they  remained  l(.)r 
four  vears,  the  father  there  dex'oting  iiis 
energies  to  agricultural  pursuits.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  went  with  his  family  to 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
for  two  years  and  then  took  u]i  his  abode 
in  Rossville,  this  state,  which  was  his  place 
of  residence  for  three  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  removed  to  Salt  Fork,  near 
Dan\-ille.  where  he  li\-e(l  for  thirteen  years, 
next  becoming  a  resident  of  Homer,  Illinois, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  re- 
maining days.  They  were  the  ])arents  of 
eight  children.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Mann  took  his  bride  to  the  home  farm,  living 
with  his  brother  in  the  large  family  mansion. 
They  had  twt)  children :  Abraham,  who  was 
born  May  15,  1869,  and  died  November  17,- 
1889:  and  Mary  Ann,  who  was  born  April 
18,  T871.  and  (lied  February  J3,  1890.  Mr. 
Mann  passed  away  on  the  19th  of  Octol)er, 
1873,  and  his  wife's  death  occurred  in  Santa 
Barbara,  California,  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1877.  Both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  family 
burying  ground  on  the  old  homestead. 

Mr.  Mann  enjoyed  more  than  local  repu- 
tation as  a  splendid  marksman  and  a  great 
hunter.  He  always  kept  a  pack  of  grey 
hounds  and  deer  dogs  and  at  different  times 
killed  a  large  numter  of  deer.  Hunting  was 
one  of  his  most  enjoyable  sources  of  recrea- 
tion. While  he  was  deeply  interested  in  his 
county  and  its  advancement  he  never  sought 
or  desired  office  and  in  fact  steadily  refused 
to  ser\e  in  any  position  of  a  political 
character.  He  took  a  very  active  interest  in 
school  work,  however,  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion finding  in  him  a  stalw.art  friend,  and  he 


3IO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lieltl  niemhershi|)  in  the  Methodist  church 
;uk1  In-  his  presence  as  well  as  his  material  as- 
sistance aided  in  the  iiphuilding  of  the  cause 
of  Christianity.  Xo  worthy  cause  ever 
sottght  his  co-operation  in  vain,  and.  while 
he  did  not  belie\-e  in  an  indiscriminate  giving 
which  often  fosters  vagrancy  and  idleness. 
he  was  a  most  charitable  and  benevolent  man 
and  to  those  who  were  really  needy  or  in  dis- 
tress he  rendered  ready  and  generous  assist- 
ance. He  possesseil  many  excellent  traits  of 
character,  not  the  least  of  which  was  his  close 
adherence  to  the  golden  rule.  He  made  it 
his  course  of  action  in  business  as  well  as  in 
private  and  social  life  and  no  word  was  ever 
uttered  against  the  honor  and  integrity  of 
John  Thomas  Alann.  His  life  record  is  one 
indeed  well  worthy  of  emulation  and  through 
the  lorfy-two  years  of  his  resilience  in  Ver- 
milion county  he  so  endeared  himself  to  his 
fellow  citizens  that  the  ties  of  friendship  were 
only  broken  by  death  and  his  memory  is  still 
cherished  bv  those  who  knew  him. 


JOSEPH  COL  VANCE. 

In  military  and  political  circles  IMr. 
Vance  has  been  true  to  his  country  and  its 
best  interests  and  to-day  in  a  position  of  pub- 
lic trust — that  of  justice  of  the  peace — he 
is  manifesting  the  same  loyalty  to  the  gen- 
eral good  that  he  displayed  when  he  fol- 
lowed the  stars  and  stripes  upon  the  liattle- 
fields  of  the  south. 

Mr.  Vance  is  a  native  of  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  bis  birth  having  occurred  in 
Oakwood  township  on  the  2(1  of  June,  1844, 
his  parents  having  been  John  W.  and  De 
ziah  (Rathborn)  \'ance.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Germany  and  in  his  boyhood 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  in  the  year 


1822.  the  family  settling  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship. \'ermilion  county.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  there  reared  and  afterward  con- 
ducted salt  works.  He  also  had  farming 
interests  and  in  his  business  affairs  he  met 
with  credital.)le  success.  He  died  in  1856, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  while  his 
wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  in  1865.  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
two  years.  Of  their  family  a  son  and  two 
daughters  now  survive,  the  sisters  of  our 
subject  being  Lena  G.,  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Tilton.  of  Catlin.  \'ermilion  county,  and 
Bridget,  who  is  li\-ing  in  Danville.  There 
were  nine  children  altogether  in  the  family. 

Mr.  \'ance  of  this  review  obtained  a  dis- 
trict school  education  in  early  life  and 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world 
when  a  youth  of  fourteen  }'ears.  He  con- 
ducted a  farm  in  Oakwood  township  for 
some  time  and  afterward  came  to  Danvill^, 
in  the  year  1888.  Here  he  becan>e  connected 
with  official  service  and  for  five  years  was  a 
capable  member  of  the  police  force.  For 
three  years  he  filled  the  office  of  deputy 
sheriff  under  J.  W.  Xewlon.  and  was  then 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  in  iSqq.  to  fill 
(]Ut  the  unexpired  term  of  Park  T.  Martin. 
He  discharged  his  duties  so  faithfully  and 
promptly  that  he  was  made  the  nominee  of 
his  party  at  the  regular  election,  in  the  spring 
of  igoi,  and  was  again  chosen  for  tlie  ofiice. 

Mr.  \'ance  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the 
L^nion  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  by  his 
enlistment  in  July,  1862.  for  tlwee  months 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Seventy-first 
Illinois  Regiment.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  re-enlisted  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  F.  Twenty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. He  went  with  Sherman  on  his  cel- 
ebrated march  to  the  sea,  and  took  part  in 
all  of  the  engagements  from  the  Atlanta 
campaign!,   in    1864.  until   the  close  of   the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


3" 


war.   when  he  was  nuisteretl  out,  receiving 
an  honorable  discharge  in  July.  1865. 

In  1869  Mv.  \'ance  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Lydia  E.  ^latthewnian,  of  \'erniil- 
ion  county.  Illinois,  and  unto  them  have 
been  born  the  following  named :  Alta.  the 
wife  of  James  derringer;  John  P.;  Alberta, 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Saylor;  Jcisephine; 
Ethel :  and  Dean.  Mr.  Vance  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  has  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  the  Knights  of  Labor. 
Having  always  lived  in  \'ermilion  county, 
he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  here  and  that 
his  friendship  is  best  prized  by  those  who 
know  him  best,  is  an  indication  that  his 
career  has  ever  been  an  honorable  one. 
worthy  of  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  men. 


C.  M.  BRIGGS. 


As  a  distinguished  member  of  the  bar 
and  as  a  leading  Democratic  politician  C.  M. 
Briggs  is  so  well  known  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty that  he  needs  no  introduction  to  the  read- 
ers of  this  volume.  His  career  has  conferred 
honor  and  dignity  upon  the  profession  and 
the  ci\'ic  organizations  with  which  he  is 
associated  and  there  is  in  him  a  weight  of 
character,  a  natural  sagacity,  a  far-seeing 
judgment  and  a  fidelity  of  purpose  that  com- 
mand the  respect  of  all.  He  opened  his  law 
office  in  Hoopeston  in  1892  and  has  since 
gained  a  distinctively  representative  client- 
age. 

'Mr.  Briggs  was  born  in  Hardin  county. 
Ohio,  in  i8'65.  a  son  of  Matthew  and  Louisa 
(Webb)  Briggs,  who  were  residents  of 
Richland  county,  that  state.  The  father  fol- 
knved  farming  throughout  the  years  of  his 


business  career  and  is  now  living  retired  in 
Porest.  where  he  served  as  postmaster  under 
President  Cleveland.  In  the  family  were 
four  children :  Louisa,  the  wife  of  C.  E. 
Young,  of  Delphos,  Ohio;  \V.  J.,  a  resident 
of  Huntington,  Indiana;  Mrs.  Olive  Rey- 
nolds, of  Port  Wayne,  and  C.  M. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  C. 
]\[.  Briggs  we  present  the  life  record  of 
one  who  is  now  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  \'ermilion  county.  His  early  education 
was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  and 
supplemented  by  an  academic  course  pur- 
sued in  Forest,  Ohio.  At  the  early  age  of 
fourteen  years  he  entered  a  drug  store  and 
after  being  employed  there  for  some  time, 
during  which  period  he  gained  a  thorough 
and  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness, he  became  the  owner  of  a  drug  store 
in  Hoopeston,  Illinois.  He  also  con- 
ducted a  similar  establishment  in  Morrison, 
this  state,  and  is  a  registered  pharmacist. 
Locating  in  Hoopeston  he  there  conducted 
a  drug  store  with  excellent  success  for  three 
vears,  after  which,  in  1892,  he  sold  out  to 
Dr.  W.  R.  Wilson.  In  1887  he  had  located 
permanently  in  Hoopeston  and  after  a  thor- 
ough coiu'.se  of  law  pursued  under  the  direc- 
tion of  H.  M.  Steeley,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  Illinois  Ijar  upon  passing  an  examina- 
tion before  the  supreme  court  of  the  state 
in  1892.'  He  then  opened  his  law  oflice  in 
Hoopeston  and  has  since  engaged  in  practice 
here.  His  business  has  constantly  grown  in 
volume  and  importance  and  he  has  handled 
much  litigation  which  has  attracted  wide  at- 
tention. Devotedly  attached  to  his  ])rofes 
sion.  systematic  and  methodical  in  habit, 
sober  and  discreet  in  judgment  and  diligent 
in  research — these  qualities  have  enabled 
him  to  take  a  position  in  the  front  rank  of  the 
legal  profession   in   Hoopeston. 


312 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In  1885,  ill  Paxton.  Illinois.  Mr.  BriggT 
was  married  to  Miss  Belle  Doke.  who  died 
in  1899  leaving  one  son,  Jay,  who  is  now 
sixteen  vears  of  age  and  is  a  student  in  his 
father's  law  office.  On  the  12th  of  June, 
1901,  Mr.  Briggs  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Addie  Snively. 
a  native  of  Iroquois  county,  Illinois.  They 
have  a  pleasant  home  on  Second  avenue  in 
the  south  end  of  the  town  and  its  graciou^• 
hospitality  is  cordially  enjoyed  by  their  many 
friends.  Fraternally  Mr.  Briggs  is  con- 
nected with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
stands  at  the  head  of  the  silver  element  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  tlie  northern  part 
of  \'ermiIion  county  and  is  ven,-  active  in 
political  work.  He  is  a  fluent  orator,  a  logi- 
cal and  entertaining  speaker  and  during  the 
two  campaigns  in  which  Bryan  has  been  the 
nominee  of  the  Democracy  for  president  he 
has  delivered  many  addresses  in  behalf  of 
the  Nebraska  statesman.  His  prominence 
in  political  work  resulted  in  his  nomination 
for  congress  in  opposition  to  Joseph  Cannon. 
in  1900.  This  nomination  came  to  him  not 
onlv  unsought  but  entirelv  without  liis 
knowledge.  At  the  time  he  was  in  Danville 
trying  a  case  in  court  when  a  telegram  was 
handed  him  announcing  that  his  name  had 
been  placed  on  the  ticket  in  connection  with 
the  oflice  of  congressman.  Accepting  the 
nomination  he  did  effective  work  in  the  cam- 
paign, using  his  efforts  for  the  success  of  the 
Democratic  party.  It  was  a  foregone  con- 
clusion that  his  election  was  an  impossibility 
but  he  carried  the  full  vote  of  his  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Democratic  county  cen- 
tral committee  and  in  1898  he  served  as  city 
solicitor  of  Hoopeston.  On  numerous  oc- 
casioiT^  he  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  Demci- 


cratic  state  conventions  and  in  the  conven- 
tion of  1900  he  was  a  memljer  of  the  commit- 
tee on  resolutions.  ]\Ir.  Briggs  is  a  young 
man  of  marked  ability,  possessing  excellent 
traits  of  character.  He  is  manly,  sincere  and 
outspoken  and  he  has  gained  a  high  place  in 
his  profession  by  hard  work  and  by  merit 
which  is  widely  recognized  not  only  by  the 
public  but  by  the  members  of  the  legal  fra- 
ternitv  as  well. 


CHARLES  BUHL. 


For  vears  an  honored  and  respected  resi- 
dent of  Danville,  (diaries  Buhl  pjissed  away 
on  the  loth  of  July,  1898.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  years.  As  the  day  with  its  morn- 
ing of  hope  and  promise,  its  noontide  of  ac- 
tivity, its  evening  of  completed  and  success- 
ful effort,  ending  with  the  grateful  rest  and 
c[uiet  of  the  night,  so  was  the  life  of  this 
honored  man.  who  was  for  many  years 
prominent  in  business  circles  and  after  com- 
ing to  Danville  invested  largely  in  real 
estate,  doing  much  to  improA'e  property  in- 
terests here. 

He  was  born  in  Zelienople.  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  8th  of  February,  1812,  his  parents 
being  Christian  and  Fredericka  Buhl,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany,  whence 
they  came  to  America  prior  to  their  mar- 
riage. The  father  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  Keystone  state  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  justice  of  the  peace.  He  after- 
ward ser\-ed  for  a  number  of  terms  as 
county  judge  and  his  decisions  were  strictly 
fair  and  impartial.  He  left  the  impress  of 
his  individuality  upon  the  early  judicial  his- 
tory of  his  county.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  personality,  well  fitted  to  become  a 


LIBRARY 

OF   TliE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


CHARLES  BUHL. 


MRS.  CHARLES  BUHL. 


LIBRARY 

Of   TiiE 

UMVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


3'7 


leader  of  public  tliouglit  and  action  and  in 
the  community  where  he  made  his  home  he 
was  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  same 
age.  In  their  family  were  eleven  children, 
of  whom  Charles  was  the  fourth  in  onler  of 
birth.  All  are  now  deceased  with  the  excep- 
tion of  ^Trs.  Robert  King,  who  is  residing 
in  Detroit,  Michigan:  and  Mrs.  Robert 
Hay,  whose  home  is  in  .Mlegheny  City, 
Pennsylvania. 

In  the  common  school  Cliarles  Buhl  ac- 
(|uired  his  early  education  and  after  putting 
aside  his  text  books  he  became  connected 
with  commercial  life.  Removing  to  the 
west  he  established  a  general  furnishing 
goods  store  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he 
carried  on  business  for  several  years.  Later 
he  became  a  resident  of  Chicago,  where  he 
enjoyed  an  extensive  trade  in  the  same  line 
of  business  for  eleven  years.  On  account  of 
ill  health,  however,  he  was  obliged  to  retire 
from  business  life  and  removed  to  a  farm 
near  Chicago,  where  he  lived  for  ten  years. 
In  1861  came  to  Danville,  where  he  spent 
his  remaining  days.  Here  he  made  ex- 
tensive investments  in  real  estate.  His 
money  was  so  judiciously  placed  that  hfe 
continually  derived  a  growing  income  from 
his  property  interests,  owing  to  the  increase 
in  value  with  the  growth  of  the  city's  popu- 
lation. In  business  affairs  his  judgment 
was  always  faultless  and  he  seemed  readily 
to  look  beyond  the  exigencies  of  the  mo- 
ment to  the  possibilities  of  the  future.  His 
careful  control  of  extensive  commercial 
transactions  brought  to  him  splendid  suc- 
cess and  moreover  he  sustained  an  unassail- 
able reputation  as  an  honorable  business 
man. 

On  the  oth  of  July,  1839,  in  Pemisyl- 
vania,  Mr.  Buhl  was  united  in  marriage  to 


Miss  Klezan  McConnaughy,  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Jones)  McCon- 
naughy, the  former  a  n;ili\e  of  Ohio. 
Unto  this  marriage  were  born  six  children, 
as  follows :  Charles ;  Sidney,  who  is  a  re- 
tired farmer,  li\-ing  in  Danxille;  Walter, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Frank,  also  resident 
of  Danville:  Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of 
William  Myers  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
one  _\ears :  and  Laura,  the  wife  of  John 
Lawrence,  of  this  city.  Mrs.  Buhl,  the 
mother,  was  born  on  the  ist  of  January, 
1820.  and  was  the  youngest  and  is  now  the 
only  surviving  member  of  a  family  of  eleven 
children.  She  possesses  remarkable  vigor 
and  strength  for  one  of  her  years  and  is  a 
most  highly  esteemed  resident  of  Danville, 
where  she  has  made  her  home  for  more  than 
four  decades. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Buhl  was  a 
stalwart  Republican, always  interested  in  the 
(juestions  and  issues  of  the  day,  yet  never 
seeking  or  desiring  public  office.  After  a 
happy  married  life  of  fifty-nine  years  he  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  loth  of  July, 
1898.  His  was  an  upright  character  and  his 
career  displayed  many  sterling  traits  well 
worthy  of  emulation.  A  man  of  domestic 
tastes  he  was  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his 
wife  and  children  and  he  held  friendship  in- 
violable. In  business  transactions  he  was 
the  soul  of  honor  and  at  all  times  he  was 
loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  the  city,  state 
and  nation. 


WILLIAM    W^HITE. 

William  White  is  now  living  on  section 
5,  Xewell  township,  and  was  born  in  Blount 
township  ]\Iarcli  20,  1830.  Among  the  early 
settlers  and  prominent  men  of  Vermilion 
was  his  father,  lames  White,  now  deceased. 


Ii8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  married  Nancy  ^^'iles  and  both  were  na- 
tives of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana.  They 
took  up  their  abode  in  Vermihon  county,  IIH- 
nois,  when  inanv  red  men  stiU  h\ed  in  this 
section  of  the  state,  the  prairies  were  covered 
with  the  native  grasses  and  in  the  forests 
the  trees  stood  in  tlieir  primexal  strength. 
Deer  roamed  among  tlie  trees  or  over  the 
prairies  and  there  were  many  prairie  wolves. 
The  family  arrived  in  a  covered  wagon  after 
having  forded  the  rivers  and  swamps  ami 
here  they  settled  in  the  midst  of  a  barren 
wilderness.  He  entered  government  land 
and  erected  a  log  cabin  with  a  stick  and  clay 
chimney.  The  wolves  often  gathered 
around  this  pioneer  home  making  the  night 
hideous  with  their  howling.  Indians  often 
visited  them  but  uere  friendly.  James  White 
was  a  great  hunter  and  shot  many  deer  and 
even  after  game  began  to  get  scarce  in  this 
locality  he  would  go  miles  to  hunt.  He  saw 
Chicago  when  it  was  but  a  mere  hamlet  and 
many  times  drove  his  ox-team  to  that  mar- 
ket, fording  rivers  and  traveling  over  the 
slougiis  which  cut  up  the  country,  making 
the  land  of  Httle  \'alue  until  it  had  been 
drained.  Upon  the  way  he  would  camp  out 
at  night.  He  frequently  had  his  son  W^ill- 
iam  ride  the  ox  in  front  which  was  harnessed 
up  for  the  purpose.  James  White  cut  down 
many  a  forest  tree  in  preparing  his  land  for 
cultivation  and  he  broke  the  prairie  with 
oxen,  using  six  to  nine  yoke  to  a  breaking 
plow.  He  lived  to  see  the  whole  country  de- 
veloped from  an  unsettled  wilderness  to  one 
of  the  most  highly  cultivated  farming  dis- 
tricts in  this  great  state  dotted  here  and  there 
with  thriving  towns  and  villages  and  a  city 
of  which  the  inhabitants  have  every  reason 
to  be  proud.  He  was  often  heard  to  say  that 
he  and  a  friend  swam  nearly  every  stream 
between  old  Denmark  and  Chicago.  At  the 
birth  of  each  of  his  children  he  would  go  on 


a  hunt  for  a  deer  and  when  his  son  William 
was  born  he  brought  home  both  a  deer  and  a 
wild  goose.  Many  times  he  trampled  upon 
rattlesnakes,  never  knowing  that  they  were 
dangerous.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war  as  did  also  Langford 
Wiles,  the  father  of  Mrs.  William  White. 
James  White  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  dying  in  June,  1887.  In  his  family 
were  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  reached 
adult  age  and  reared  families  of  their  own, 
while  four  died  in  infancy.  The  following 
are  yet  living,  namely:  Mrs.  Mary  Shafer, 
of  Nebraska;  William  Langford,  of  Blount 
township;  Mrs.  Robert  VanVickle,  of 
Blount  township;  Silas  and  Richard,  who 
are  living  in  the  same  township ;  Thomas,  a 
resident  of  Minnesota;  and  James,  of  Blount 
township. 

William  White,  the  second  in  order  of 
birth,  acquired  his  education  in  the  early  sub- 
scription schools  which  he  attended  during 
the  winter  seasons  and  in  the  summer 
months  he  worked  on  a  farm.  From  the 
time  he  was  ten  years  of  age  he  followed  the 
plow  to  which  a  team  of  oxen  was  hitched. 
He  often  plowed  with  a  wooden  mold  board 
and  afterward  with  a  single  shovel  plow, 
while  the  harness  had  a  single  line.  He 
planted  corn  by  hand,  cradled  the  grain  and 
bound  his  wheat  by  hand.  He  also  assisted 
in  dipping  candles  until  the  candle  molds 
came  into  use  antl  at  times  he  saw  a  turnip 
hollowed  out  and  in  this  was  placed  a 
greased  rag.  it  was  then  lighted  and  served 
for  a  parlor  lamp.  In  the  father's  family 
hax  was  used  for  making  cotton  clothing 
and  thread  and  the  wool  was  spun  and 
woven  into  cloth  for  the  winter  clothing, 
spinning  wheels  forming  a  part  of  the  furni- 
ture of  e\-ery  household.  Many  times  Mr. 
White  assisted  his  mother  in  that  work.  He 
can  also  remember  the  davs  when  the  girls 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


319 


wouUl  carry  their  slices  to  church,  wearins;' 
them  milv  (hiring  the  ser\ice  and  tlien  re- 
turning barefooted  in  order  to  economize  be- 
cause only  one  pair  of  shoes  was  allowed  to 
each  person  for  a  year.  Peoi)!e  rode  to 
church  on  horseback,  sometimes  as  many  as 
tliree  peojile  sitting  upon  a  sheejiskin  uptHi  a 
single  horse.  William  White  owned  the  last 
yoke  of  oxen  used  in  the  neighborhood.  It 
was  a  splendidly  yoked  team,  weighing  for- 
ty-seven hundred  pounds,  but  at  length  he 
sold  these  animals,  keeping  the  yoke,  how- 
ever, as  a  relic  of  early  days. 

Mr.  ^N'liite  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Wiles,  who  also  came  of  a  pioneer 
faniilv.  She  was  born  in  Blount  township 
March  20,  1840,  a  daughter  of  Langford 
and  Mary  (Cas.?at)  Wiles.  Two  children 
have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White." 
Mary  was  married  in  1885  to  Alfred  Iiigles- 
by,  a  farmer  of  Blount  township,  and  they 
have  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. Cordelia  Edna  is  the  wife  of  Ed.  Neff 
and  they  were  married  in  1900.  They  have 
a  little  daughter,  Iva  E.,  ten  months  old,  and 
their  lionie  is  in  Blount  township.  Mrs. 
White  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  many  a 
dav  has  droppeil  corn,  following  the  ])low. 
l'"or  se\en  weeks  when  she  was  two  years  old 
her  mother  was  left  all  alone  witli  her  and  a 
brother,  while  the  father  made  a  trip  to  Mis- 
souri. Some  boys  tried  to  scare  her  mother 
with  dogs,  but  although  she  was  alone  with 
her  }oung  children  she  never  flinched  nor 
showed  anv  signs  of  fear.  When  our  sub- 
ject settled  on  the  eight  mile  ])rairic  there 
was  not  a  house  within  miles.  They  lived  in 
pioneer  style,  cooking  over  a  fireplace,  but 
with  the  ad\'aiicing  vears  they  have  ac- 
quired all  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
that  have  been  introduced.  Mr.  White  now 
owns  a  valualjle  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  zy.  Blount  township. 


and  ()ne  hundred  and  lifty  acres  on  section  8, 
a  part  of  this  being  covered  with  timber.  He 
also  has  other  lands  in  Newell  township.  He 
and  his  wife  and  youngest  daughter  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  church,  while*  the 
others  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  ill  his  political  \'iews  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways 
and  as  a  school  (hrector  for  many  years.  He 
is  now  living  retired  in  the  edge  of  Bk)unt 
township,  his  home  being  in  Newell  town- 
ship. 


JOHN    L.  STEWARD. 

John  L.  Steward,  deceased,  was  for 
about  thirty  years  an  honored  and  highly  re- 
spectetl  citizen  of  Vermilion  county,  having 
arrived  here  in  1851,  at  wliich  time  he  lo- 
cated on  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  in  New- 
ell township,  twelve  miles  northeast  of  Dan- 
ville. He  was  born  on  the  i3tli  of  July, 
18 1 6,  in  Broome  county.  New  York,  of 
which  state  his  parents,  John  and  Catherine 
(Catlin)  Steward,  were  also  natives.  From 
there  they  removed  to  l""ountain  county,  In- 
diana, where  the  father  ])urcliased  land  and 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  that  C(_)unty. 

The  primary  education  of  our  subject 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of 
Broome  county.  New  York,  and  he  contin- 
ued his  studies  in  the  ])iiblic  schools  of 
l-'ountain  county,  Indiana,  after  the  removal 
of  the  family  to  that  state.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  to  be  of  any  assistance  he  com- 
menced to  aid  his  father  in  the  operation  of 
the  farm  and  was  thus  employed  until  his 
marriage,  which  important  event  in  his  life 
occurred  on  Easter  .Sunday.  .April  19.  1840, 
Miss  Marv  E.  Johnson  becoming  his  wife. 


320 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mrs.  Steward  was  born  in  Jackson  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  June  25,  1822,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Alilbry  (Graves)  Johnson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  in  1793,  and  the  latter  of  Chat- 
ham county.  North  Carolina.  The  father, 
who  was  an  old  tavern  keeper,  removed  to 
Lafayette.  Indiana,  at  a  very  early  day  when 
Indians  were  still  numerous  in  that  locality 
and  when  the  present  flourishing  city  of  La- 
fayette contained  but  four  houses.  There  he 
took  charge  of  a  hotel,  known  as  the  Seven 
Stars  and  continued  to  carry  it  on  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1830.  In  his  fam- 
ily were  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living,  as  follows :  Harvey,  who  mar- 
ried Amanda  Sewell,  now  deceased,  is  a  re- 
tired farmer  and  land  owner  residing  in  Bis- 
marck, this  county.  Mary  E.  is  the  widow 
of  our  subject.  Colonel  Henderson  Johnson 
married  Susan  Goodlow,  of  Kentucky,  and 
is  now  living  retired  in  Danville.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place.  Those 
of  the  family  now  deceased  are  Margaret 
Jane,  James  Clay,  Josephine  and  William  R. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steward  were  born 
twelve  children,  namely:  Harvey  J.,  de- 
ceased, served  all  through  the  Civil  war  as  a 
member  of  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry; 
Ella  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Gordon,  a  fanner 
of  the  state  of  Oregon ;  Mary,  deceased,  was 
the  wife  of  Martin  Barker,  now  an  officer  in 
the  Soldiers'  Home  in  Danville ;  William 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years;  John  H. 
married  Belle  Pierce  and  is  now  a  retired 
farmer  living  at  Hoopeston,  this  county : 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Henderson,  a 
grocer  of  Crawfordsville,  Indiana ;  Laura  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Peters,  who  holds  a  posi- 
tion in  a  h'mberyard  in  Danville:  Lizzie  died 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years ;  Sue  is  the 
wife  of  C.  A.  Parsons,  a  leading  photogra- 


pher uf  Dan\ille.  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren :  Harry,  burn  November  9,  1886,  and 
Edward,  l)orn  October  21,  1893,  and  they 
make  their  home  with  Mrs.  Steward;  Annie 
is  the  wife  of  William  C.  Thompson,  ex- 
county  treasurer  of  Vermilion  county ;  Bert 
L.  married  Alecia  Jones  and  resides  in  Dan- 
ville, Illinois;  and  Emma  died  young. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Steward  contin- 
ued to  engage  in  farming  in  Fountain  coun- 
t}'.  Indiana,  until  1852,  when  he  came  to 
X'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on 
what  was  known  as  Grand  Prairie  in  Newell 
township,  tuelve  miles  northeast  of  Dan- 
ville, where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  He  made  many  im- 
provements upon  that  place  and  there  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  fanning  and 
stock-raising  until  1879,  when  on  account  of 
ill  health  he  sold  his  property  and  went  west, 
locating  on  a  farm  near  Portland,  Oregon, 
where  he  spent  three  years.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  sickness  again  caused  him  to 
change  locatimi  and  he  returned  to  Ver- 
milion county,  purchasing  property  near  the 
village  of  Bismarck,  where  he  lived  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  ist  of  October, 
1882.  He  held  several  minor  offices  while 
residing  in  Newell  township,  such  as  road 
overseer,  school  director,  etc.,  and  was  ac- 
counted one  of  the  valued  and  representative 
citizens  of  his  community.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  the  Democratic  party,  and 
having  always  been  a  great  reader  he  was 
well  informed  on  the  leading  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day.  At  his  death  he  left  many 
friends  to  mourn  his  loss  as  he  was  a  very 
popular  and  prominent  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived. 

After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Steward 
continued  to  make  her  home  in  Bismarck  for 
two  years,  and  then,  disposing  of  her  prop- 
ertv  there,  she  removed  to  Danville,  where 


n- 


LIBrA^Y 

cr  r.iE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


MRS.  ELIZA   CAMPBELL 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


323, 


she  bought  a  lot  and  erected  her  present  resi- 
dence at  Xo.  119  East  ]\Iadiscin  street.  She 
also  owns  other  property  on  tlie  same  street. 
She  is  a  most  estimable  lady,  who  has  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Danville. 


JOSEPH  CAMPBELL. 

Among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of 
Newell  townshi]).  \'erniilii.)n  countx'.  the 
name  of  Joseph  Campbell,  now  deceased, 
was  prominent.  He  was  born  in  New  York, 
May  27,  1 81 6,  and  his  death  occurred 
March  7,  1858.  No  more  fitting  tribute 
can  be  given  to  the  life  record  of  any  man 
than  to  say  that  the  county  in  which  he  lived 
and  labored  has  been  benefited  by  bis  life. 
This  can  truthfully  be  said  of  Joseph 
Campbell,  for  he  was  ever  faithful  to  his 
duties  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  man. 

He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Harper)  Campbell,  both  natives  of  New 
York,  who  came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  on  the  old  Campbell  farm 
on  section  26,  Newell  township.  There 
Samuel  Campbell  purchased  land  and  the 
family  made  their  home  in  a  primitive  log 
cabin,  which  was  the  only  shelter  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county.  At  that  time 
game  abounded  and  the  prairies  were  un- 
broken and  unculti\-ated,  the  timber  being 
uncut  and  the  entire  land  untouched  by  the 
ci\ilizing  touch  of  man.  The  enterprise  and 
energy  of  such  people  as  the  Campbell  fam- 
ily, however,  have  wroright  a  great  change 
in  this  great  cummonwealtb  and  to-day  it 
stands  among  the  great  states  of  the  ITnion, 
tlirough  the  united  and  consecutive  efforts 

14 


of  those  who  have  laliored  for  its  welfare 
and  upbuilding.  I'nto  Samuel  Campbell 
and  bis  wife  were  Ijorn  se\cn  children,  the 
subject  of  this  review  being  the  youngest  of 
the  family.  In  the  Empire  state  he  received 
his  early  education  and  there  remained  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  with  his  parents 
he  removed  to  Vermilion  county.  Here  he 
continued  his  education,  which  well  fitted 
him  for  the  duties  of  life.  He  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  father's  farm,  which  after- 
ward came  into  his  possession. 

An  important  event  took  place  in  his  life 
when,  on  the  22d  of  December.  1840,  be  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Jane  Mackeson, 
who  was  born  November  28,  1819.  This 
lady  is  now  eighty-three  yearse  of  age  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
McCowan,  in  State  Line,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Campbell  is  a  daughter  cjf  ,\ndrew  and  Han- 
nah (Martin)  Mackeson,  both  natives  of 
Harrison  county,  Kentucky,  and  is  the  oldest 
in  a  family  of  four  children.  L^nto  Joseph 
Campbell  and  his  wife  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Hannah  Jane,  wbn  married 
James  Gahn,  Sqitember  14,  1871.  They 
have  two  children.  The  elder.  Joseph 
Franklin,  is  now  a  lieutenant  in  the  Lnited 
States  army,  stationed  at  Philadelphia.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  West  Point  and  was  the  lieu- 
tenant who  hoisted  the  United  States  flag  at 
I'ekin.  China,  on  the  famous  walls  of  that 
city.  He  has  been  in  the  United  States 
army  for  several  years.  He  was  married 
September  14.  1902,  to  Laura  Andia  Colt. 
Mary,  the  second  child  of  Mr.  ancL  Mrs. 
(iahn,  was  marriel  in  1901  to  Fred  Hard- 
ing, and  resides  in  East  St.  Louis.  John 
D.,  the  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Campl)ell,  is  now  a  farmer  residing  in  New- 
ell township.  Andrew,  of  Newell  township, 
is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.     He  also  fol- 


324 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lows  fanning.  Samuel  also  carries  on  farm- 
ing in  Newell  township.  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  John  Mc  Cowan,  of  State  Line,  Indiana. 
She  was  born  September  12,  1852,  and  was 
married  November  18,  1874.  Air.  Mc- 
Cowan  \\as  born  in  Edgar  county.  Illinois, 
August  26,  1849,  ^'■^'^l  "^^'^s  an  extensive  cat- 
tle dealer  and  shipper.  Coming  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  in  1870,  he  settled 
on  section  18,  Newell  township.  His  par- 
ents were  nati\es  of  Kentucky.  In  June, 
1806.  he  retired  to  State  Line.  Indiana, 
where  he  resides  in  his  comfortable  dwell- 
ing, with  his  wife  and  mother-in-law,  Airs. 
Campbell. 

Mrs.  Campbell  is  of  sturdy  Scotch  an- 
cestrv  and  has  many  of  the  sterling  charac- 
teristics of  her  race  who  have  always  held 
exalted  ideas  of  what  is  right  and  have  lived 
up  to  the  same.  She  is  among  the  pioneer 
residents  of  Vermilion  county  and  has  seen 
great  transformation  wrought  here,  the 
once  unbroken  prairies  being  now  dotted  by 
flourishing  towns  and  villages.  She  is  a 
virtuous  and  estimable  lady  and  is  one  of 
the  best  known  residents  of  the  county. 


WILLIAM    LYNCH. 

William  Lynch,  whose  large  business  in- 
terests make  him  a  valued  representative  of 
commercial  and  industrial  activity  in  Mun- 
cie,  was  born  in  New  "S'ork,  September  15, 
1854,  and  may  truly  be  called  a  self-made 
man,  for  from  an  early  age  he  has  been  de- 
pendent entirely  upon  his  own  labors.  Early 
in  life  he  was  left  an  orphan  and  in  1861 
went  to  live  with  Henry  Sallee,  who  tilled  the 
position  of  township  treasurer  and  township 
clerk  for  thirty-seven  years.  Mr.  Lynch  was 
permitted  to  attend  school   for  about  three 


months  during  each  year  and  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  year  his  labors  were  given 
to  his  employers.  When  twenty  years  of  age 
he  left  school  altogether  as  a  student.  Mr. 
Lynch  was  permitted  to  attend  for  a  short 
time  in  Ladoga.  Indiana,  and  for  six  months 
he  engaged  in  teaching.  He  then  learned  te- 
legrajjliy  which  he  followed  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  became  connected  with  the 
grain  trade  and  also  bought  and  sold  stock. 
He  devoted  his  energies  to  dealing  in  grain 
and  li\-e  stock  for  seventeen  years,  after 
which  he  managed  a  store  for  Air.  Reinstein. 
Later  he  purchased  his  employer's  store  and 
conducted  the  Inisiness  himself  in  connec- 
tion with  his  partner.  A.  L.  Stearns,  a  rela- 
tion that  was  maintained  for  ten  yeiirs.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  began  oper- 
ating the  coal  mine  which  he  now  owns  and 
which  has  been  very  productive.  He  has 
three  partners  in  the  Muncie  Coal  Company 
but  is  one  of  the  largest  stockholders  of  the 
enterprise.  The  mine  has  a  capacity  of 
about  tive  hundred  tons  per  day  and  the  out- 
put is  therefore  valuable.  Mr.  Lynch  also 
owns  a  general  mercantile  store  in  Muncie 
and  a  good  farm  property  of  eighty  acres 
besides  city  real  estate  and  twenty-fi\e  acres 
in  Aluncie. 

In  his  political  atiiliations  Air.  Lynch  is 
a  Republican  but  has  no  aspirations  for 
office.  He  belongs  to  Aloming  Star  Lodge, 
No.  489.  I.  O.  O.  F..  and  Aluncie  Camp.  No. 
4S78.  M.  \\'.  A.  He  is  also  identified  with 
the  Fraternal  Army  of  America  and  in  these 
different  orgaizations  he  enjoys  the  warm 
regard  of  his  brethren. 

He  has  been  twice  married,  having  in 
December.  1875.  in  Muncie  wedded  Marga- 
ret Lowman.  who  was  born  in  Vermilion 
county.  They  l)ecame  the  parents  of  four 
children :  Cato.  Grace,  Blaine  and  Elbert. 
l)ut  the  last  two  are  deceased.    The  wife  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


325 


mother  ilied  in  1886  and  in  Sei)tem1)er.  1888, 
in  Indianapolis,  Mr.  Lynch  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  witli  Sarah 
■CampbeU,  wlio  was  born  in  Coles  counly. 
Illinois.  ']"he\-  Iia\e  three  children:  01i\e. 
aged  tweKe  }ears:  Willie,  nine:  and  \'erla. 
eight. 

This  is  a  utilitarian  age  when  the  prom- 
inent factor  of  a  community  is  he  who  con- 
trols im])ortant  and  extensive  business  enter- 
prises and  fortunate  is  the  community  if  such 
a  man  not  only  has  regard  for  the  growth  of 
his  business  but  also  for  the  de\-elopment  nf 
the  community.  Such  a  quality  character- 
izes the  career  of  Mr.  Lynch  and  while  ad- 
vancing his  indisidual  success  he  also  con- 
tributes to  the  general  prosperity  by  the  con- 
trolling of  his  affairs  and  by  the  active  co-op- 
•eration  which  he  gives  tii  many  measures 
for  the  pul)lic  good. 


WILLIAM    ]\I.  ACTON. 

Among  the  young  men  of  Vermilinu 
•county  successfully  practicing  at  the  bar  and 
also  prominent  in  political  life  is  William 
M.  Acton,  whose  birth  occurretl  in  this  coun- 
ty on  the  30th  of  August,  1876.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  H.  and  Eliza  J.  (Laflin)  Ac- 
ton. The  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
in  183Q  removed  to  Vermilion  county,  lo- 
cating in  Pilot  townshii>,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  stock-raising  and  was 
known  as  one  of  the  progressive  agricultur- 
ists of  his  community.  He  died  February 
.27.  1809,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  His  widow  still  sur- 
vives him  and  is  now  li\-ing  in  Potomac, 
X'ernnlion  county.  The  ijaternal  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject  was  James  Acton,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  and  he  became  a  pioneer 


settlers  of  this  county.  .Matthew  LaHin,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  was  also  one  of  the 
early  residents  of  the  county  and  both  aided 
in  the  material  development  .-md  upbuilding 
of  this  |)ortion  of  the  state. 

.\fter  ac(|uiring  his  literay  education  in 
the  i)ul)lic  schcjols,  William  M.  Acton  fur- 
tlier  prepared  for  the  duties  of  an  active  busi- 
ness career  by  a  course  of  study  in  the  Dan- 
ville Business  College,  of  Danville,  Illinois. 
He  also  pursued  the  classical  course  in  Greer 
College,  in  Hoopeston,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1896  with  the  valedictor- 
ian honors  of  his  class.  Desiring  to  make 
the  jM-actice  of  law  his  life  work,  he  then  be- 
gan reading  in  the  ofifice  of  C,  L.  Chamber- 
lin,  of  Hoopeston,  while  later,  J.  W.  Keeslar, 
of  Danville,  was  his  preceptor.  In  October, 
i8(;Q,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  fonued 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Keeslar.  He  is  now 
assistant  state's  attorney,  to  which  position 
he  was  appointed  in  December,  1900.  His 
success  has  come  .soon,  because  his  equip- 
ment is  unusually  good.  Along  with  those 
qualities  indispensible  to  a  lawyer — a  keen, 
rapid,  logical  mind  plus  business  sense  and  a 
read}-  capacity  for  hard  work — he  brought 
to  the  starting  point  of  his  legal  career  elo- 
cpience  of  language  and  a  strong  personality. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1899,  Mr. 
Acton  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Adolyn 
M.  Herlocker,  a  daughter  of  the  late  U.  R. 
Herlocker,  of  Danville.  The  young  couple 
ha\e  many  friends  in  this  county.  Mr.  .\c- 
ton  is  identitied  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  He  also  l)elongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen,  to  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Mur, 
and  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  all 
of  which  indicate  the  high  character  of  his 
social  life  and  his  religious  belief.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican,  takes  an  acti\e  part 
in  cam])aign  work  and  has  delivered  many 
addresses  in  behalf  of  his  party,  for  he  be- 


326 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lieves  tliat  one  of  the  salient  featnres  of  good 
citizenship  is  tlie  endorsement  of  political 
jtrinciples  pertaining  to  good  go\'ernment. 


ISAAC    CURREXT. 

Among  those  who  have,  after  long  con- 
nection with  agricnltural  pursuits,  put  aside 
the  work  of  the  farm  and  taken  up  their 
abode  in  the  city  of  Danville  is  numbered 
Isaac  Current,  one  of  \'ermili<:)n  county's 
native  sons.  His  birth  occurred  in  Newell 
township,  on  the  17th  of  November,  1845, 
his  parents  being  William  and  ]\Iary  (Bast- 
win)  Current,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Virginia.  The  father  was  born  April 
20,  1803.  The  maternal  grandfather,  Hen- 
ry Bastwin,  was  also  born  in  A'irginia,  and 
on  leaving  that  state  traveled  westward  un- 
til he  took  up  his  abode  in  Danville  town- 
ship, Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  Here  he 
engaged  in  business  as  a  hat  maker,  follow- 
ing that  pursuit  for  a  number  of  years.  La- 
ter he  went  to  southern  Illinois  and  after  his 
retirement  from  business  he  made  his  home 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Current,  for  a  short 
time.  He  next  went  to  Iowa,  where  lie  lived 
with  another  daughter  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  when  he  had  reached  the  very  ad- 
vanced age  of  nearly  one  hundred  years. 

In  1829  William  Current,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  came  to  ^^ermilion  county  with 
a  brother  and  sister,  settling  in  Newell  town- 
ship, where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  a  blacksmith  and  wagon-maker  by  trade 
and  after  coming  west  sold  some  wagons 
of  his  manufacture  in  Chicago,  besides  mak- 
ing those  for  his  own  use.  In  those  early 
days  Chicago  was  the  market  at  which  he 
sold  his  butter,  eggs  and  other  farm  pro- 
duce.    He  continued  farming:  here  until  his 


death,  passing  away  August  6,  1851.  and 
our  subject  now  has  in  his  possession  many 
relics  of  his  father,  including  a  cowbell,  a 
day  l)ook,  a  Bible  and  a  pocket  book,  all  of 
which  are  valued  family  relics.  The  mother 
(lied  in  1S85.  at  the  advanced  age  of  sev- 
enty-eight years.  They  were  the  parents  of 
fi:)urteen  children,  of  whom  five  are  yet  liv- 
ing, namely:  Andrew  J.,  who  is  a  farmer 
residing  in  Tracy,  Iowa ;  George,  who  lives 
in  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Ouincy,  Illinois; 
James,  who  is  a  grain  merchant  of  Homer, 
Illinois;  Isaac;  and  Samuel,  a  grocer  of 
Franklin,  Nebraska.  Those  who  have 
passed  away  are:  Henry  B.,  Nancy,  Martin 
\\'.,  John,  Mary  Jane,  Susanna,  Rebecca, 
Lucinda  and  Matilda. 

Isaac  Current  attended  the  common 
schools  in  his  youth  and  afterward  engaged 
in  farm  work  on  the  home  place.  He  later 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  Covington 
Road  in  Danville  township  and  there  he  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  until  he  re- 
moved to  Danville  on  the  17th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1900,  having  for  many  years  been  ac- 
tivelv  engaged  in  farm  work,  whereby  he 
won  a  competence  that  now  enables  him  to 
enjoy  a  well  merited  rest,  surrounded  by  all 
of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
which  go  to  make  life  worth  the  living. 

^Ir.  Current  has  been  three  times  mar- 
ried. In  1862  he  wedded  Clarissa  E.  Lynch, 
who  was  born  in  this  county,  August  10, 
1843.  ^  daughter  of  Isaac  P.  and  Mary 
Lynch,  who  were  early  settlers  here  and  are 
now  deceased.  Mrs.  Current  passed  away 
June  14,  1869,  leaving  a  daughter,  while 
their  son.  Samuel,  who  was  born  July  2, 
1864,  had  died  in  infancy.  The  daughter, 
Rachel  E.,  born  December  8,  1865,  is  now 
tlie  w  ife  of  Isaac  Bowman  and  they  reside 
upon  her  father's  farm  in  Danville  town- 
ship.    On  the  28th  of  October,   1869,  Mr. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


ISAAC  CURRENT. 


MRS.  ISAAC   CURRENT. 


OF    TM 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


331 


Current  wedded  Mary  (Campbell )  W'yatu 
of  \'erniiliou  county.  Her  father.  Harp 
Campbell,  having  located  here  at  an  early 
period  in  the  development  of  this  portion  of 
the  stale.  The  second  wife  died  June  21, 
1 8" J.  Her  son,  William  Frederick,  born 
;March  20,  1871,  died  in  infancy.  For  his 
third  wife  INIr.  Current  chose  Mrs.  Dorothy 
J.  Noel  and  they  were  married  January  26, 
1873.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Parke  county, 
Indiana,  horn  January  13.  1843,  and  a 
daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Xancy  Jducs,  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter 
•of  Miami  county,  Ohio.  Her  father  was  an 
own  cousin  of  John  Brown,  the  noted  abo- 
lition advocate  and  for  many  years  was  a 
resident  of  Parke  county,  Indiana,  but  died 
in  southern  Illinois.  By  the  third  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Current  there  was  born 
one  child,  Charles  Raymond,  whose  birth 
occurred  November  17,  1876.  He  married 
Katie  Shepherd  and  is  a  farmer  by  occupa- 
tiiin.  residing  in  Danville. 

When  Mr.  Current  removed  to  the  city 
he  built  his  present  beautiful  home  at  No. 
71 1  Illinois  street  and  he  still  owns  his  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  five  acres  on  section  i 
and  6,  Danville  township,  together  with  a 
farm  of  forty  acres  on  section  30  in  the  same 
township  anil  another  forty  acre  tract  near 
Eairmount,  this  county.  He  had  made 
splendid  improvements  up<in  the  old  home- 
stead. He  erected  a  nice  residence  there 
and  it  is  to-day  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township.  He  also  built  houses  on  both  of 
his  small  farms.  He  formerly  gave  his  po- 
litical support  to  the  Democracy  but  is  now 
a  Republican  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
consistent  and  devoted  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  church  of  Danville.  At  all  times 
]\Ir.  Current  has  been  actuated  in  his  con- 
duct and  in  his  relations  to  his  fellow  men 
by  iionorable  principles   and  by  his  Chris- 


tian belief,  and  those  who  know  him — and 
his  acquaintance  is  extensive — therefore 
cherish  for  him  high  respect  by  reason  of 
his  genuine  worth  of  character. 


HARVEV    SODOWSKY. 

When  ci\ilization  made  its  way  into  the 
Mississippi  valley  the  great  farms  of  this 
section  of  the  country  became  the  wonder  of 
the  world.  The  broad  prairies  of  the  valley 
were  transformed  into  vast  country  seats, 
comprising  hundred  and  sometimes  thou- 
sands of  acres.  The  more  mountainous  re- 
g-ions  of  the  eastern  country  had  made  farm- 
ing on  this  extensive  scale  impossible,  but  in 
the  west  nature  provided  splendid  opportuni- 
ties and  agriculture  and  its  kindred  occupa- 
tion of  stockraising  became  the  leading  pur- 
suit of  the  enterprising  people  who  settled 
this  region.  Harvey  Sodow.sky  directed  his 
energies  into  these  departments  of  activity 
and  won  a  place  second  to  none  among  the 
raisers  of  shorthorn  cattle  in  America,  and 
perhaps  second  to  none  in  the  world.  His 
success  was  of  gradual  growth — the  natural 
result  of  energy,  perseverance,  sound  judg- 
ment and  keen  discrimination.  In  his  life  he 
exeni])lihed  many  of  the  sterling  traits  of  his 
I'olisb  ancestry — the  patriotism,  the  fearless 
defense  of  what  he  believed  to  be  right  and 
conscientious  regard  for  the  rights  of  others. 

The  Sodowsky  family  was  founded  in 
America  by  James  Sodowsky,  a  Polish  exile 
of  noble  birth,  proud  spirit  ;inil  lofty  patriot- 
ism. When  his  love  of  liberty  could  no  long- 
er tolerate  the  despotic  rule  of  Russia,  he  be- 
came the  leader  in  a  rebellion  against  the 
czar,  and  when  defeated,  but  not  subdued,  he 
came  to  America — "the  land  of  the  free  and 
the  home  of  the  brave."     Later  he  married 


332 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tlie  sister  of  Goxernor  lnsli]>,  of  the  colony 
of  Virginia,  and  anioiii;-  llieir  descendants 
was  Harvey  So(U)\vsky,  of  this  review.  In 
tlie  course  of  years  representatives  of  tlie 
family  changed  the  spelling  of  tlie  name,  in- 
cluding the  jjrothers  of  uur  subject.  Two 
of  these  brothers.  \\'illiam  and  Aljraham 
Sandusky,  are  now  prominent  farmers  and 
stockmen  of  Carroll  townshi]),  Vermilion 
county.  Har\ey  Sodowsky,  however,  re- 
tained the  ancestral  spelling  of  the  family 
name. 

'I'he  spirit  which  led  James  Sodowsky, 
the  emigrant,  rirst  to  light  for  liberty  and 
then  come  to  America,  has  been  mani- 
fest in  his  descendants  throughout  succeed- 
ing generations.  It  was  shown  by  the  Sod- 
owskys  who  fought  for  the  liberty  of  the  col- 
onists of  the  new  world,  and  how  their 
hearts  nuist  haxe  rejoiced  at  the  glorious 
outcome  of  the  struggle;  it  was  again  shown 
b_v  gallant  soldiers  of  the  name  in  the  war  of 
1812;  and  in  the  subjugation  of  the  western 
wilderness  they  bore  a  part.  Daniel  Boone 
opened  the  gates  of  Kentucky  and  soon  he 
was  followed  into  "the  dark  and  bloody"  re- 
gion by  the  grandfatlier  of  our  subject,  who 
settled  there  just  after  the  close  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary war.  Abraham  Sandusky,  the  fa- 
ther, was  born  in  that  state  and  married  Jane 
McDowell,  by  wlioni  he  had  eight  children, 
of  whom  Harvey  Sodowsky  was  the  eldest. 
In  1830  they  removed  with  their  family  from 
Kentucky  to  Vermilion  county  and  located 
September  20,  1830,  on  the  IJttle  Vermilion 
river,  where  Abraham  Sandusky  made  his 
home  until  his  death. 

The  iiirth  of  Harvey  Sodowsky  occurred 
in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  May  17, 
1S17,  and  when  he  w-as  about  fourteen  years 
of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this  coun- 
ty.    He  was  earl\-  initiated  into  farm  work 


and  he  remained  at  home  until  twenty-four 
years  of  age  when  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Susan    Baum,   a   daughter   of   Charles   and 
Susan  (Moyer)    liaum,  who  hati  emigrated 
from  Ohio  and  taken  up  their  abode  on  the 
Little  Vermillion  ri\er.    Mrs.  Sodowsky  w'as. 
of   Polish    lineage  and   the   founder  of   the 
Baum  family  in  .Vmerica  was  her  grandfa- 
ther, Charles  Baum.     He  married  Miss  Bar- 
bara McDonald,  a  relati\e  of  General  Mc- 
Donald, who  was  attached  to  the  division  of 
the  Continental  Army  that  won  fame  under 
the  command   of  Francis   Marion.     He  did 
reserve  duty  in  protecting  the  frontier  and 
when  the  war  was  ended  he  established  his 
home  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.     Fol- 
lowing Wayne's  treaty  with  the  Indians  he 
sailed  down  the  Ohio  river  with  his  family, 
landing  at  the  mouth  of  Bullskin  creek,  and 
there  close  to  what  is  now  the  river  town  of 
Chilo.  established  the  first  settlement  in  the 
territory  of  (3hio.      It  was  Charles  Baum, 
jr..  a  son  of  Charles  Baum.  the  emigrant, 
who  became  the  father  of  Mrs.  Sodowsky. 
lie    wedded    Susan    Moyer,  whose    father. 
John  Moyer,  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the 
war  for  .\nierican  Independence  and  served 
for  several  years  under  the  immediate  com- 
mand of  General   Washington.      For  some 
time  following    the    close    of    hostilities  he 
made    his   home   in    Pennsylvania   and   then 
joined  the  brave  band  of  pioneers  who  re- 
claimed Ohio  for  the  purpose  of  civilization, 
from  the  hands  of  the  red  men.     In  the  year 
i8^y  Charles  Baum  removed  with  his  family 
to      another      pic_)neer      district — Vermilion 
countv,  Illinois,  and  here  he  reached  the  age 
of  ninety-six  years. 

It  was  on  the  20th' of  May,  1840,  that 
his  daughter  Susan  gave  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Sodowsky,  and  they  began  their 
domestic  life  on  the  farm  which  thev  after- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


333 


ward  called  the  \\'oodla\vn  Stock  I'arni  and 
which  became  known  throughout  the  coun- 
try because  of  the  famous  shortlinrn  cattle 
raised  thereon.  Throughout  the  surround- 
ing states  Mr.  Sodowsky  was  kni)wn  as  a 
breeder  of  pure  Ijred  and  high  grade  short- 
liorns  and  in  his  barns  and  pastures  were 
seen  some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  sliort- 
horn  cattle  in  America,  if  not  in  the  world. 
Tlie  list  of  premiums  which  he  won  is  jier- 
haps  longer  than  that  of  any  other  man 
whose  exhibits  of  stock  were  often  seen  in 
the  leading"  fairs  and  expositions  of  the 
country.  Carrying  on  the  business  for  a 
half  century,  Mr.  Sodowsky  gained  wealth, 
and  also  won  an  honoral)le  name,  for  his 
business  methods  were  such  as  would  bear 
the  closest  investigation.  In  the  acquire- 
ment of  his  fortime  he  ne\er  took  advantage 
of  the  necessities  of  others,  but  bought  and 
sold,  realizing  only  a  fair  profit  upon  his 
stock,  and  in  this  way  adding  annually  to  his 
income  un.til  he  became  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous men  of  eastern  Illinois. 

There  has  been  mi  home  in  \'ermilion 
County  since  the  days  of  its  first  settlement 
more  justlv  noted  for  warm-hearted  hosi)i- 
tality  than  \\o()(llawn  and  Itoth  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sodowsky  were  most  generous  ami 
charitable.  The  poor  and  needy  found  in 
them  a  friend  and  many  a  one  has  reason  to 
renieniber  them  gratefulh-  for  timelv  assist- 
ance rendered  in  the  hour  of  adversity. 
Their  gi\ing  was  always  unostentatious,  and 
in  matters  of  citizenship  Mr.  Sodowsky  was 
public-spirited  and  ])rogressive.  Any  meas- 
ure for  the  general  good  was  siu'e  of  his  sup- 
port and  he  was  a  co-o])erant  factor  in  many 
movements  that  resulted  beneficially  to  the 
county.  Pioth  he  and  his  wife  were  sincere 
Christian  ])eople,  known  and  honored  among 
their  fellow  men  for  their  intrinsic  worth  and 
high  character.     The  husband  passed  away' 


December  18,  1886,  and  the  wife  survived 
him  only  until  March  21,  1888.  For  more 
than  half  a  centurv  thev  bad  li\ed  in  the 
county — theirs  being  a  happy  married  life, 
while  the  example  of  citizenshiii  and  busi- 
ness integrity  left  by  Mr.  Sodo\vsk_\-  is  one 
well  wortliv  iif  emulation. 


C.\RT.    IT'XK. 

Carl  I'unk.  who  is  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery Inisiness  in  Ross vi lie  and  has  been  con- 
nected with  \arious  lines  of  business  activity 
in  Vermilion  county  for  thirty-one  years, 
was  born  in  Prussia,  near  the  city  of  W'ils- 
nack.  June  2S.  1828.  His  father.  John 
Funk,  was  also  a'  native  of  dermany  and  was 
a  house  carpenter.  He  married  Helena 
Tinun,  also  a  native  of  that  country,  an<l  his 
death  occiuTed  about  1838.  His  wife  .limv- 
ever,  siu'vived  him  for  some  time. 

Carl  Funk  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity  and  in  his  ynutb  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  Like  most  \oung  men  who 
start  out  in  life  for  themselves  he  desired  a 
companion  and  helpmate  for  the  journey  and 
thus  on  the  6tli  of  October,  1854,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Wilhelmina  Felsch,  a 
native  of  Ha\elberg,  Germany.  After  his 
marriage  he  carried  on  business  for  over  fif- 
teen years  in  Germany  and  in  1869  he  came 
to  the  new  workl,  crossing  the  Atlantic  to 
New  "N'ork  city.  He  did  not  tarry  in  the 
eastern  metropolis,  however,  but  continued 
his  journey  to  Chicago  and  thence  to  Wash- 
burn, where  he  worked  for  a  few  months. 
Fie  afterward  began  business  at  Pattons- 
burg,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  nearly 
two  years  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  per- 
iod he  came  to  Rossville  and  here  established 
a  shoe  shop,  which  he  carried  on  for  several 


334 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


years.  He  also  carried  the  mail  to  Rossville 
for  nine  years  and  occupied  the  position  of 
<lei)uty  postmaster  under  President  Harri- 
son, remaining  in  the  postoffice  for  four 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  tliat  period 
he  estabhshed  a  grocery  business  in  1895 
and  lias  since  been  actively  engaged  in  this 
line  of  trade,  enjoying  a  liberal  patronage  at 
the  present  time.  His  stock  is  large  and  well 
selected  and  his  progressive  business  meth- 
ods and  earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers 
have  secured  for  him  a  good  trade.  He  has 
also  been  a  prominent  factor  in  the  improve- 
ment of  Ross\'ille  and  here  erected  two  brick 
business  houses,  which  he  still  owns,  includ- 
ing the  store  in  which  he  is  now  conducting 
his  own  trade.  He  has  also  built  five  resi- 
dences here  and  has  thus  been  an  active  fac- 
tor in  the  improvement  of  the  city. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I'nnk  has  been  born 
one  son.  Oscar,  who  is  married  and  resides 
in  Cayuga,  Indiana.  He  has  seven  children : 
Loola.  the  deceased  wife  of  Charles  Shel- 
by; Otto:  Alinnie:  Edith;  Pearl;  Em- 
iel :  and  Roy.  ]Mr.  Funk  also  has  one  great- 
grandchild. Politically  our  subject  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  earnestly  advocating  the 
measures  of  the  party  and  casting  his  ballot 
for  its  candidates.  He  has  served  for  four 
years  as  a  councilman.  He  and  his  wife  be- 
long to  the  Lutheran  church  and  were  reared 
in  that  faith.  Air.  Funk  holds  membership 
in  Rossville  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  V.,  in  which  he 
has  .tilled  all  of  the  othces  and  is  a  past  grand. 
He  has  also  served  as  district  deputy  for  two 
years.  He  came  to  Illinois  a  poor  man  with 
no  capital,  save  strong  determination  and 
unfaltering  enterprise  and  upon  this  as  a 
foundation  he  has  built  his  success.  His  life 
history  is  commendable  because  he  has  la- 
bored diligently  and  along  lines  which  show 
that  he  has  adhered  closely  to  honorable 
principles.     He  is  now  well  known  in  Ross- 


ville and  the  surrounding  country'  and  en- 
joys the  high  regard  of  many  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 


LAWRENCE   AI.  WITHERSPOON. 

L.  M.  A\'itherspoon  is  serving  as  post- 
master of  Jamaica  and  is  one  of  the  pros- 
perous and  leading  farmers  of  \'ermilion 
county.  He  was  born  in  Gibson  county.  In- 
diana May  30,  i860,  and  is  a  son  of  W".  P. 
W'itherspoon,  a  native  of  Alabama.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
direct  descendant  of  John  R.  Witherspoon, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. W.  P.  \\'itherspoon  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Gibson  county,  Indiana,  to 
Sitha  A.  McDaniel,  a  native  of  that  county. 
He  then  engaged  in  teaching  school  until 
1S61,  when  with  his  family  he  removed  to 
Fairmount,  Illinois,  and  purchased  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  1871.  He  then 
took  up  his  abode  on  the  old  Witherspoon 
homestead,  Avhich  was  his  place  of  residence 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  Februarv  19, 
1884.  His  study  of  political  issues  and 
questions  led  him  to  support  the  Republi- 
can party  and  for  fourteen  years  he  served 
as  assessor  and  collector  of  Sidell  township. 
He  also  served  as  Republican  committee- 
man from  his  township  and  did  all  in  his 
power  to  adxance  the  cause  in  which  he  be- 
lieved so  firmly.  His  religious  faith  was 
that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
His  first  wife  died  February  12,  1876,  and 
in  1S79  he  wedded  Alalissa  Orr,  a  sister  of 
his  son's  wife  and  a  native  of  Indiana.  By 
Iiis  first  marriage  Mr.  Witherspoon  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  Monroe  and  William,  the 
first  two,  died  in  infancy.  J.  D.  married 
Elizabeth  Orr  and  died  in  September,  i88r, 
his  widow  being  now  a  resident  of  Homer, 


,  v^'fTl^.*. 


L.  M.  WITHERSPOON. 


.♦*•• 


LIBRA<^Y 

CF   T.IE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


337 


Illinois.  George  married  Ella  lies  and  aft- 
erward wedded  Mary  \Voods,  his  home  be- 
ing now  in  Gibson  connt\-.  Indiana.  L.  M. 
is  the  third  of  the  family.  Hattie  is  the 
wife  of  G.  J.  Gibson,  a  farmer  living  near 
Fairmount.  Elmer  E.  wedded  Jennie  Car- 
ter and  resides  in  Danville.  Mabel  is  the 
wife  of  W.  C.  Hawkins,  who  resides  upon 
a  farm  in  Fairmount.  Xora  R.  became  the 
wife  of  J.  B.  Michener  and  after  his  death 
married  J.  Perdue,  with  whom  she  is  now 
living  in  Princeton.  Indiana.  Lillie  A.  is 
the  wife  of  \\'.  B.  Russell  and  they  reside 
on  a  farm  near  Catlin. 

Mr.  W'itherspoon.  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  pursued  his  education  in 
the  Dougherty  and  Liberty  district  schools 
of  \'ermilion  county,  his  opportunities  in 
that  direction  being  somewhat  limited.  He 
attended  only  through  the  winter  months. 
for  in  the  summer  seasons  his  lalior  was 
needed  upon  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twen- 
ty he  left  school  altogether,  becoming  an 
agriculturist,  giving  his  entire  attention  to 
that  pursuit.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  inherited  forty  acres  of  land  of  his 
father's  estate  and  in  a  year  sold  that  and 
purchasefl  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
upon  which  he  assumed  an  indebtedness. 
All  this  he  paid  for,  however,  in  seven  years, 
and  in  his  farming  operations  he  has  ever 
been  successful. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1884.  near 
Catlin,  Mr.  W'itherspoon  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  ATiss  Milda  Finley.  who  was  born 
in  that  locality,  March  18,  1864,  a  daughter 
of  Ezra  G.  and  Jane  (Goodner)  Finley.  the 
former  bom  in  Westville,  Illinois,  and  the 
latter  in  Georgetown,  this  state.  They  were 
married  near  Georgetown  an<l  Mr.  l^nley 
then  devoted  his  attention  and  energies  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.  After  a  year  he 
removed  to  his  present  home  near  Catlin, 


where  he  owns  a  valual)le  tract  of  land.  His 
wife  passed  away  September  12,  1892.  Mr. 
Finley  has  refused  to  serve  in  political  of- 
fices, but  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  Republi- 
can ])rinciplcs  and  is  a  member  of  the  ]\Ieth- 
odist  Episcopal  church.  In  the  early  part 
of  the  Ci\il  war  he  enlisted  at  Danville,  in 
Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  Sliiloh.  after  which  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  in  Aug"ust,  1862,  by  rea- 
son of  his  disabilit)'.  He  now  belongs  to 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Having 
lost  his  first  wife,  in  ?vlarch,  1895,  he  was 
married  in  Catlin  to  Martha  Thomas,  also 
a  native  of  \'ermilion  county.  By  his  first 
union  he  had  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are 
yet  living,  as  follows:  Milda,  now  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  James  M.,  who  married  Ab- 
liie  Flewitt,  and  resides  in  Catlin;  Oliver, 
who  weddetl  Julietta  White  and  resides  in 
F)an\ille;  Ozias,  who  wedded  Pearl  Bu- 
chanan and  makes  his  home  in  Catlin ;  Fan- 
nie, the  wife  of  Augustus  Talbott,  of  Sid- 
el',  Illinois,  and  John,  who  is  living  with 
his  father.  By  his  second  marriage  Mr. 
Finley  has  two  children,  Elmore  and  Hen- 
ry, who  are  still  with  their  parents. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wither- 
spcMjn  has  been  blessed  with  four  children : 
Elsie,  who  was  born  near  Fairmount,  March 
4.  1885;  Gertrude,  born  September  2,  1887, 
near  Fairmount;  Alta.  liorn  in  Redlands, 
California,  June  11,  1891  ;  and  Clyde  F,, 
born  in  Jamaica,  Illinois,  November  28, 
1896. 

For  five  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
\\'ithersi)oon  remained  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty and  then  went  to  Riverside,  California, 
while  l.ntcr  be  located  at  Redlands,  where 
he  was  manager  for  the  Mound  City  Land 
and  Water  Company.  He  also  owned  a 
nurserv   of  his  own   and   remained   on   the 


338 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Pacific  coast  fur  Jive  years,  after  whicli  lie 
returned  to  this  county  and  purchased  a 
farm,  upon  which  he  is  now  living.  He  sold 
his  proi)erty  in  Cahfornia,  which  has  since 
proved  very  valuable.  On  his  return  here 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  This,  together  with  an  adtlitional 
tract  of  forty  acres,  constitutes  the  farm 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  His  landed  pos- 
sessions, however,  aggregate  four  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  and  he  is  one  of  the  ])rosper- 
ous  and  rejiresentative  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity. In  1900  he  erected  his  present 
handsome  home  which  is  built  in  Queen  Ann 
style  of  architecture.  Mr.  W'itherspoon  has 
raised  much  stock  for  the  market,  including 
hogs  and  horses,  and  is  unquestionablv  one 
of  the  most  progressive,  energetic  and  wide- 
awake farmers  of  Verinilion  county. 

In  politics  our  subject  is  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, and  on  the  4th  of  June,  1902,  he 
was  appointed  postmaster  of  Jamaica,  in 
which  off.ce  he  is  now  serving.  He  belongs 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Ja- 
maica, in  which  he  is  serving  as  a  trustee 
and  steward.  He  has  also  held  several 
township  offices  and  no  trust  reposed  in  Mr. 
Witherspoon  has  ever  been  betrayed  in  the 
slightest  degree.  Honor  and  integrity  are 
synonymous  with  his  name  and  his  word  is 
as  good  as  any  bond  ever  solemnized  liy 
signature  or  seal.  His  business  affairs 
have  ever  lieen  honorably  conducted  and  be- 
cause of  this  the  most  en\ious  cannot  grudge 
him  his  success. 


ALBERT    A.  BERH.\LTER. 


.•\ll)€rt  A.  Berhalter.  who  is  engaged  in 
the  undertaking ' business  in  Danville,  was 
born  in  Xoble  county.  Indiana,  on  tlie  4th 


of  July,  1867,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Frances 
( Schunder)  Berhalter,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Germany.  When  children  they 
came  together  to  America  and  were  mar- 
ried in  this  countrv  after  attaining  years  of 
maturity.  The  father  died  September  4, 
1 88 1,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  and  his 
wife.  survi\ing  him  for  several  years,  was 
called  t(j  her  final  rest  January  24.  1886.  also 
when  fifty-six  years  of  age.  The  father  en- 
gaged in  cabinet-making  and  in  the  manu- 
facture of  colTns.  This  has  been  a  fanuly  of 
undertakers.  There  were  nine  children, 
three  of  w  hom  are  now  engaged  in  the  un- 
dertaking business,  all  of  the  boys  devoting 
their  energies  to  this  jmrsuit.  Those  still 
living  are  John,  Joseph  \\'.,  Louise,  George, 
Etta.  Charles  and  Albert  A.  Those  who 
have  passed  away  are :  Frank  and  Minnie. 
With  the  exception  of  our  suliject  the  li\ing 
members  of  the  family  are  all  residents  of 
Keiidallville.  Indiana. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  natix'e  city 
Albert  .\.  Berhalter  pursued  his  education. 
The  father  died  when  the  son  was  only  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  after  which  Mr.  Berhalter 
continued  to  attend  schol  through  the  win- 
ter months  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  In 
the  summer  he  assisted  in  the  business  w  hich 
had  been  instituted  by  his  father,  becoming 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  trade  both  in 
principle  and  detail.  He  also  acted  as  man- 
ager of  the  opera  house  in  Kendallville  for  a 
time.  On  the  i  ith  of  July.  1888,  he  arrived 
in  Danville,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Here  he  entered  the  employ  of  X.  A. 
Kimball,  an  undertaker  and  the  oMner  of  the 
present  location  and  business  of  the  firm  of 
Berhalter  &  Olmsted.  This  business  has 
now  been  established  for  thirty-four  years 
and  throughout  the  period  the  enterprise  has 
been  a  leading  one  in  this  line.  On  the  30th 
of  June.  1893.  in  com]3any  with  William  C. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


339 


Olmsted,  Mr.  Rerhalter  purcliased  the  busi- 
ness of  his  employer,  Mr.  Kimball,  and  the 
new  firm  has  since  conducted  the  trade  w  ith 
excellent  success,  their  hnsincss  constantly 
growing.  This  undertaking;'  establishmein  is 
a  model  one  of  the  state  and  has  been  especi- 
ally designed,  planned  and  full\-  ei|ui])ped  in 
the  minutest  detail.  The  building  is  a  mod- 
ern structure  with  a  full  stone  front.  N'ou 
first  enter  a  vestibule,  then  pass  on  into  the 
liall  and  <in  the  right  is  a  ])leasant  and  com- 
modious waiting  room,  while  on  the  left  is  a 
private  ofifice.  In  advance  of  the  hall  is  a  pri- 
vate cliapel,  morgue  and  stock  room  on  tlie 
tirst  lloor.  The  entire  second  door  is  occupied 
as  a  salesroom.  The  arrangement  of  the  es- 
tablishment is  such  that  perfect  seclusion  and 
privacy  may  be  obtained  hv  those  who  have 
occasion  to  arrange  for  the  burial  of  their 
dead  from  this  place,  thus  preserving  the 
sacredness  and  solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

On  the  14th  of  September.  1S9J,  Mr. 
Berhalter  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Hurley,  of  La  Salle,  Illinois,  and  their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children — 
Madeline  Frances,  Mary  Hurley,  and  Lillian 
Xellie.  Socially  Mr.  Berhalter  is  connected 
with,  the  Knights  of  Pvthias,  the  Improvetl 
Order  of  Red  Men,  Modern  Woodmen  of 
.\merica.  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  L^nited 
Workmen.  His  social  (lualities  and  genuine 
personal  worth  have  rendered  him  a  fav(irite 
not  only  in  fraternal  circles  but  wherever  he 
is  known. 

\\'illiam  C  Olmsted,  the  junior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Berhalter  &  ( )lmsted,  under- 
takers of  Danville,  was  born  in  Catlin.  this 
county,  on  the  13th  of  October,  1861,  and  is 
a  son  of  Albert  G.  and  Elizabeth  (Wright) 
Olmsted.  The  father  is  still  living,  but  the 
mother  passed  away  on  the  26th  of  July. 
1901,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.     The 


paternal  grandfather  was  Stanley  Olmsted, 
a  native  of  Jamestown.  Xew  York,  who  re- 
mo\-ed  with  iiis  laimly  to  X'ennilion  county. 
Illinois,  in  1S40.  lie  was  a  lumberman  and 
he  and  his  son.  .\lbert.  conducted  a  sawmill 
near  Danville.  The  grandfather  had  also 
carried  on  liusiness  in  the  same  line  in  James- 
town, Xew  \'ork,  ]jrior  to  his  removal  to  the 
west.  He  died  at  the  comparatively  early- 
age  of  thirty-nine  years.  The  subject  of  this 
review  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely  :  W'ill- 
iam  C,  Charles  E..  Mary,  the  wife  of  J.  H. 
Palmer,  George  E.  and  Albert  C,  all  of 
whom  are  residents  of  Danville. 

\t  the  usual  age  'Slv.  Olmsted,  of  this  re- 
\iew .  entered  the  public  schools  where  he 
continued  his  studies  until  alxtut  sixteen 
years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  became  a  fac- 
tor in  the  business  world,  by  entering  the 
emplov  of  A.  C.  Daniels,  a  merchant  with 
whom  he  remained  for  sixteen  years.  This 
fact  is  certainly  indicative  of  his  capability, 
his  fidelity,  to  duty,  his  close  application  and 
also  of  the  confidence  and  trust  reposed  in 
him  bv  his  employers.  At  length  he  severed 
his  connection  with  that  hou.se  and  entered 
itito  i)artnership  with  .\lbert  A.  Berhalter  in 
the  undertaking  liusiness  in  l)an\ille.  For 
nine  vears  they  ha\e  conducted  the  establish- 
ment which  was  founded  tliirty-four  years 
ago  and  they  have  kept  it  up  to  a  high  stand- 
ard, mak'ing  it  not  only  one  of  the  leading 
enterjirises  of  the  kind  in  this  city,  but  also 
of  the  state  because  of  its  especially  good 
equipment,  because  of  the  fine  line  of  under- 
taking goods  which  they  carry  and  by  reason 
of  the  well  arranged  suite  of  rooms  which 
they  ha\e.  enabling  their  patrons  who  so  de- 
sire to  hold  funeral  ser\-ices  here  with  all  the 
privacy  and  seclusion  of  a  home.  Their 
salesrooms  are  situated  on  the  second  lloor 
and  contain  a  fine  line  of  undertaking  goods. 


340 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


As  funeral  directors  the  firm  have  gained  a 
■wide  reputation  by  reason  of  their  careful 
management. 

On  th.e  28th  of  January,  1886,  :Mr.  Olm- 
sted was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eva  E. 
Beck,  and  they  now  have  two  daughters — 
Lola  and  Helen.  The  family  is  one  well 
known  in  Dan\ille  and  the  hospitality  of 
their  home  is  enjoved  by  their  many  friends. 
!Mr.  Olmsted  is  identified  with  a  number  of 
fraternal  organizations.  He  belongs  to  the 
Benevolent  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal 
Arcanum,  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen. 


WILLIAM    CLARK   McREYNOLDS. 

\\'il]iam  Clark  McReynolds  has  won  the 
gratitude  and  honor  of  his  fellow  citizens 
by  his  loyalty  to  his  country  under  all  condi- 
tions. As  long  as  patriotism  is  an  element 
of  American  citizenship,  "as  long  as  tlie  sons 
of  the  new  world  have  love  for  their  coun- 
try, .so  long  will  the  history  of  her  soldiers 
be  a  matter  of  interest  to  the  public.  They 
are  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the 
people  of  their  generation  and  their  names 
■win  be  honored  through  many  ages  by  jxas- 
terity.  Among  those  who  fought  under  the 
starry  banner  of  the  nation,  both  in  the 
Jklexican  war  and  the  war  of  the  Rebellion 
was  numbered  William  Clark  McReynolds. 

He  was  born  near  Paris,  Edgar  county, 
Illinois,  September  16,  1825,  and  was  a  son 
of  tlie  Rev.  John  McReynolds,  a  Methodist 
minister,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Kentucky 
and  who  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  date. 
In  the  family  were  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  the  only  surviving  member,  how- 
ever, being  Richard  W.  McReynolds.  a  resi- 


dent of  Covington,  Kentucky,  who  is  in  the 
employ  of  the  government  as  a  ganger  in  a 
distillerv. 

Mr.  jMcReynolds  of  this  review  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  schools  near  his 
boyhood  home,  and  on  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  went  to  Paris  and  enlisted  in  the 
Mexican  war  as  a  \-olunteer  in  the  United 
States  army  under  the  command  of  General 
Shields  and  Captain  I\IcConkey.  He  spent 
his  twenty-first  birthday  in  this  service,  be- 
longing to  Company  H  of  the  First  Illinois 
A'olunteer  Infantry,  of  which  he  was  made 
first  lieutenant.  Later  he  resigned  on  ac- 
count of  his  father's  death  and  returned 
home  to  take  care  of  the  family,  \\nien  the 
country  became  involved  in  civil  war, 
he  once  more  entered  the  service  and  was 
instrumental  in  organizing  the  Fifty-second 
Indiana  Volunteer  Regiment,  of  which  he 
became  colonel.  There  was  an  urgent  need 
for  troops  in  Kentucky  and  as  the  regiment 
had  not  its  full  quota  it  was  consolidated 
with  another  command,  consequently  Mr. 
McReynolds  accepted  the  comnn'ssion  of  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  He  accompanied  the  regi- 
ment to  the  front  but  eventually  resigned 
his  commission  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Rushville,  Indiana,  taking  his  old  position 
as  cashier  in  the  bank. 

During  early  manhood  ]\Ir.  IMcReynolds 
was  engaged  m  merchandising  at  Paris.  Il- 
linois, and  was  also  in  business  with  Jacob 
D.  Early  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  for  some 
years.  Friends  of  his  who  were  interested 
in  establishing  a  bank  at  Rushville,  Indiana, 
persuaded  ]Mr.  AIcReynolds  to  accept  the  po- 
sition of  cashier,  with  George  Hibben  as 
president,  and  he  was  afterward  highly 
complimented  by  Hon.  Hugh  McCullock, 
then  president  of  all  the  banks  of  the  state, 
for  the  condition  of  the  one  untler  his  es- 
pecial charge. 


COL,  W.  C.  McREYNOLDS. 


W^^^-'^*^  ^  iityiiwys 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


345 


In  the  spring  of  1864  he  arrived  in  Dan- 
ville and  here  secured  a  position  as  book- 
keeper for  M.  M.  Wright,  in  whose  service 
he  remained  for  a  nunilier  of  \-ears.  1^'inally 
he  resigned  and  Ijecanie  buyer  for  L.  T. 
Dickerson,  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  be- 
ing thus  a  representative  of  the  business  in- 
terests of  this  place  until  his  health  failed. 

In  1853  Mr.  Reynolds  was  united  in 
marriage  to  JMiss  Elizabeth  M.  Pearson,  a 
native  of  LixingstiMi  county.  New  York,  and 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Tiff- 
any) Pearson,  of  Canada.  In  their  family 
were  three  children,  but  she  has  only  one 
brother  vet  living,  G.  C.  Pearson,  while  her 
elder  brother,  George  T.  Pearson,  has  now 
passed  away.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife 
were  born  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 
reached  maturity:  George,  who  is  an  en- 
gineer living  in  California;  John,  deceased; 
Mrs.  Jane  TenBook  Johns,  of  Danville,  Illi- 
nois; Mrs.  I\Ieta  Doane,  of  Winfield,  Kan- 
sas; William  Gustavus,  deceased;  Mrs. 
Mary  Reilev,  who  is  a  resident  of  Danville: 
Mrs.  Fannie  Pearson  Sloan,  whose  husband 
is  in  the  secret  service  of  United  States ; 
Thomas,  who.  during  the  Spanish-American 
war,  served  with  Battery  A  of  Danville,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Eleventh  United  States 
Cavalry  which  was  sent  to  the  Philippines ; 
and  Philip  Barton,  who  was  also  a  member 
of  Battery  A  and  was  in  active  service. 
One  child  i>\  the  famil\-  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  ^Ic Reynolds  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  on  the  1st  of  Octoljer,  1890,  and  his  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Danville  ceme- 
tery. I  le  was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
Post  and  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  both  of 
Paris,  Illinois.  He  likewise  belonged  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In 
politics  Mr.  McReynolds  was  a  Whig  in 
early  life  and  .afterward  became  a  Democrat. 
He   held  membership  in   the   Holy   Trinity 


Episcopal  church  and  was  a  man  who  in  all 
the  relations  of  life  commanded  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  associ- 
ated. During  the  years  of  his  residence  in 
Danx'ille  he  won  many  friends.  He  was  a 
citizen  who  by  his  lilameless  and  upright  life 
and  honorable  career  reflected  credit  not 
only  upon  the  city  in  which  he  made  his- 
home  but  u])on  the  state.  True  to  every 
trust,  he  commanded  the  unqualified  confi- 
dence of  those  with  whom  he  was  associ- 
ated in  business  and  the  warm  regard  of 
those  whom  he  met  in  social  life.  For  a 
number  of  years  he  served  as  alderman  of 
Danxille  and  exerted  considerable  influence 
in  public  affairs. 


JAMES    WTLLIAMS. 

An  honorable  retirement  from  later  has 
been  vouchsafed  to  James  Williams,  who, 
having  put  aside  business  cares  is  now  living 
in  a  pleasant  home  at  No.  708  Fairchild 
street,  in  Danville,  surrounded  by  many 
comforts  which  have  come  to  him  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  former  toil.  He  was  at  one  time 
a  progressive  and  enterprising  farmer  of 
\'ermilion  county,  owning  and  operating 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Jamaica  township.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
liis  birth  ha\  ing  occurred  in  Coshocton 
county  on  the  22d  of  March,  1839.  His  fa- 
ther, Lewis  B.  Williams,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county,  while  his  grandfather  was  born 
in  Afaryland,  his  birth  occurring  in  the  city 
of  Baltimore  in  1765.  The  family  were 
early  settlers  of  that  state.  In  i8ti  the 
grandfather  left  the  south  and  made  his  \\a_\" 
to  Ohio,  settling  in  Coshocton  county,  where 
he  entered  land  from  the  government.  This 
was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  timber. 


344 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


but  he  cleared  away  the  trees  and  in  course 
of  time  developed  a  good  farm.  Lewis  B. 
\\'illiams  was  ])oni  u])i)n  tliat  farm,  was 
there  reared  to  manliood  and  afterward  as- 
sisted in  carrying  on  the  work  of  tlie  home 
place.  He  married  Rebecca  McCoy,  a  na- 
tive of  the  Buckeye  state  and  a  daughter  of 
William  McCoy,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Ohio,  to  whicli  place  he  had  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania.  During  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  Lewis  B.  \\'illiams 
resided  upon  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Washington  township,  his  last  years  were 
there  passed  and  he  died  in  the  spring 
of  1859  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  His  wife 
had  passed  away  in  1844,  when  the  subject 
of  this  review  was  a  child  of  only  five  years. 
James  Williams  was  reared  upon  the  old 
family  homestead  and  his  common  school 
advantages  were  somewhat  meagre,  for  he 
was  enabled  to  attend  only  in  the  winter 
nH)nths  while  in  the  summer  he  aided  in  the 
work  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting. 
After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  was 
married  in  Coshocton  county,  in  November, 
1858,  to  Miss  Mindwell  Roberts,  a  native 
of  Ohio.  lx)rn.  reared  and  educated  in  Cos- 
hocton county.  Her  father.  Dr.  Martin 
Roberts,  removed  to  the  Buckeye  state  from 
New  York.  The  young  couple  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  an  Ohio  farm  where  they 
lived  for  about  six  years  and  in  1864  they 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty. Here  Mr.  \\'illiams  purchased  land 
which  was  then  in  Carroll  township.  He 
and  his  brother-in-law.  Isaac  Turner,  first 
bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which 
they  broke  and  fenced,  developing  a  good 
farm.  They  worked  together  for  about 
four  years  at  the  end  of  which  time  Mr.  \\''il- 
liams  bought  out  Mr.  Turner's  interest  and 
later  he  added  to  his  farm  from  time  to  time 
purchasing  and  trading  for  more  land.     He 


now  owns  three  hundred  twenty  acres  in- 
cluded within  two  farms  which  are  about  a 
half  mile  apart.  On  his  home  place  he  erect- 
ed a  good  residence,  sub.stantial  barns  and 
outbuildings,  having  two  sets  of  buildings. 
He  also  tiled  and  fenced  the  place,  planting 
fruit  and  shade  trees,  and  there  continued 
the  work  of  cultivation,  development  and 
improvement  until  his  farm  was  one  of  the 
best  in  the  locality.  In  connection  with  the 
cultivation  of  the  grain  best  adapted  to  this 
climate  he  was  also  engaged  in  raising  a 
good  grade  of  stock,  feeding  cattle  and  fit- 
ting them  for  the  market.  He  began  life  in 
\'ermilion  county  with  but  little  means,  but 
by  his  own  exertions.  l\v  unflagging  indus- 
trv  and  strong  will  he  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  tipward  until  he  is  now  numbered 
among  the  substantial  residents  of  this  lo- 
cality. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  were  born 
four  sons  and  four  daughters :  Miles,  who 
is  married  and  follows  farming  in  Shelby 
county.  Illinois :  Winfield  Scott,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  mining  in  Colorado:  Lyman  T., 
who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Champaign  county.  Illinois:  Fred,  a  resi- 
dent of  \'ermilion  county ;  Ella  May.  the 
wife  of  James  B.  Lamar,  of  eastern  Colo- 
rado: Mary  M..  Jessie  P..  and  Lizzie,  all  at 
home.  The  last  named  is  a  student  in  the 
high  school  of  Danville.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
\\'illiams  hold  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  he  belongs  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  being-  identified  with  the 
blue  lodge  of  Danville.  In  his  political 
views  he  is  an  earnest  Republican  and  has 
supported  each  presidential  nominee  of  the 
party  since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln,  in  i860.  He  has  ne\er  sought  of- 
fice for  himself,  however,  although  he  has 
served  on  the  school  board  for  a  number  of 
years  and  as  township  school  trustee.     He 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


345 


carried  on  his  farm  work  until  1900  when  he 
purcliased  his  residence  property  in  DanviUe 
and  has  since  lived  a  retired  life  in  the  city. 
He  has  made  his  home  in  \'ermilinn  cduuIv 
iov  thirty-eight  years,  during  which  time 
many  changes  have  occurred.  Within  this 
period  the  prairies  have  been  broken  and 
transformed  into  rich  fields;  roads  have  been 
laid  out  and  have  been  cut  off  from  private 
property  by  well  kept  fences ;  progress  and 
imi)rovement  have  also  been  canied  forward 
in  town  and  city ;  and  in  the  work  of  develop- 
ment Mr.  \\'illiams  has  borne  his  part.  He 
is  a  man  of  integrity  and  worth  and  he  antl 
his  estimable  wife  and  family  are  highly 
esteemed  throughout  the  community.  All 
that  Mr.  Williams  possesses  has  come  to  him 
through  his  own  enterprising  efforts,  his 
farm  property  Ijeing  the  just  reward  of  his 
earnest  labor. 


J.  M.  McCABE. 


Starting  in  l)usiness  life  as  a  farm  hand 
and  realizing  that  there  is  no  royal  roatl  to 
wealth.  J.  M.  McCabe  early  displayed  the 
salient  traits  of  his  character  which  have 
made  him  a  prosperous  and  leading  man  of 
Vermilion  county.  He  is  now  residing  in 
Fairmount  where  he  owns  and  operates  the 
tile  works  and  has  valualjle  property  inter- 
ests, while  his  real  estate  possessions  also  in- 
clude farm  lands  in  this  county. 

Mr.  McCabe  was  born  February  19, 
1844,  '"  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  a  son  of 
Alexander  and  Rhoda  (Knapp)  McCabe,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ohio,  while  the  latter  was 
born  near  Niagara  Falls,  in  New  York.  The 
McCabe  family  was  established  in  Dearborn 
countv.  Indiana,  when  the  father  of  our  sub- 


ject was  but  ten  years  of  age.  .\fter  reach- 
ing }cars  of  maturity  he  was  married  there 
to  Miss  Knapi)  and  turned  his  attention  to 
agricultural  ])ursuits.  which  he  followed 
until  sometime  in  the  'jo's,  when  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  northwestern  Mis- 
souri, there  remaining  for  about  twenty 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
continued  his  western  journey  to  Indepen- 
dence, California,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  last  ilavs.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children  who  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity, while  six  of  the  numl)er  are  yet  liv- 
ing'. Arad  K.,  is  now  deceased.  B.  F.  re- 
sides upon  a  farm  in  Dearborn  countv,  In- 
diana. P.  H.  is  a  resilient  of  Independence, 
California.  S.  L.  lives  in  Oklahoma.  J.  M. 
is  the  next  younger.  William  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  Oregon.  ]\lrs.  Olive  A.  Van 
X'acler,  a  widow,  is  now  Ii\ing  in  Gentry 
county,  Missouri.  ICmma.  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Ed  Alyers  of  Indiana. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native  coun- 
ty J.  M.  McCabe  acquired  his  preliminary 
education,  which  was  supplemented  by  study 
in  tlie  high  school  of  Danville.  Illinois.  He 
came  to  X'ermilion  county  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  and  for  six  months  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand.  Dur- 
ing the  succeeiling  winter  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  .Afterward  he  worked  by 
the  month  on  a  farm  and  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school.  Desiring  a  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey  he  was  married  on  the 
27th  of  November,  1865,  in  Fairmount,  Il- 
linois, to  Miss  Mary  E.  Dougherty,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Jane  (  Dalliy)  Dougherty, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Vermilion  countv  and  here 
engaged  in  farming.  l)ut  IxitJi  he  and  his  wife 
have  now  passeil  away.    In  their  family  were 


346 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


seven  cliildren.  The  liome  i>t  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCabe  has  been  l)lessed  witli  four  cliildren, 
but  only  two  are  now  living,  Effie  and  Elsie. 

As  time  has  passed  Mr.  ^^IcCalje  has  pros- 
pered in  his  business  affairs,  and  making  ju- 
dicious investments  he  has  become  one  of  the 
prosperous  men  of  his  adopted  county.  He 
now  owns  and  operates  the  large  tile  and 
brick  works  of  Fairmount,  an  important  in- 
dustry which  proves  of  value  to  the  com- 
munity by  affording  employment  to  a  num- 
ber of  men  and  at  the  same  time  brings  him 
a  very  desirable  return  for  his  investment. 
He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  zinc  mine  in  Mis- 
souri, owns  the  bank  building  in  this  place 
and  good  residence  property  here,  besides 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of  valuable 
land.  He  possesses  keen  business  discrim- 
ination and  executi\e  force.  He  forms  his 
plans  readily,  is  determined  in  their  exe- 
cution and  through  his  persistency  of  pur- 
pose and  honorable  dealing  he  has  gained  a 
place  which  is  alike  gratifying  and  honor- 
able as  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of 
his  county. 

Socially  he  is  connected  with  Fairmount 
Lodge,  No.  590,  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  has  served 
as  its  representative  in  the  grand  lodge.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  ^Modern  Woodmen  of 
America,  and  in  politics  he  is  independent, 
voting  for  the  men  and  measures  rather  than 
for  the  party.  He  has  himself  filled  several 
of  the  township  and  city  offices,  although  he 
has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
ofifice  seeking.  At  tlie  present  time  lie  is 
.serving  as  school  treasurer.  ^Mr.  McCabe 
belongs  to  that  class  of  representative  citi- 
zens who  at  all  times  have  due  regard  for  the 
welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the  communities 
\vith  which  they  are.  connected,  and  no  mat- 
ter how  great  their  business  interests,  can 
always  find  time  and  opportunity  to  pro- 
mote the  general  welfare.     The  entire  period 


oi  his  manhood  has  been  passed  in  \'ermilion 
county  and  the  friends  who  have  known  him 
throughout  this  period  speak  of  him  in  terms 
of  commendation,  because  his  life  has  been 
consistent  with  honorable,  manly  principles. 


LEONARD  R.  MYERS. 

Leonard  R.  flyers,  now  deceased,  was 
born  in  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  January 
25,  1836.  a  son  of  Leonard  and  Hannah 
(Ratholan)  flyers,  who  were  of  Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch  descent.  In  the  year  1854  Mr. 
Myers  came  to  the  west,  believing  that  he 
might  lia\e  better  business  opportunities 
in  a  less  thickly  settled  district  of  the  country 
where  competition  was  not  "^o  great.  Ac- 
cordingly he  came  alone  to  Illinois  and  be- 
gan farming  in  \"ermilion  county  upon 
rented  land.  In  the  meantime  he  dealt  ex- 
tensively in  stock,  making  a  specialty  of 
horses,  and  for  some  years  he  continued  to 
rent  land,  but  la.er  he  purchased  a  farm 
comprising  what  is  now  the  greater  part  of 
the  old  homestead.  There  he  lived  for  about 
eight  years,  when  he  purchased  the  Mc- 
Kniglit  farm  on  section  6,  Oakwood  town- 
ship, upon  whicli  his  widow  is  now  living. 
This  is  pleasantly  located  one  mile  north  of 
I'itliian.  As  the  years  passed  Mr.  Myers 
prospered  in  his  work  and  acquired  a  very 
comfortable  and  desirable  competence,  and 
when  he  died  he  owned  about  six  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land  all  improved. 

On  the  1st  of  January.  1869,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  ]^Iyers  and  Sarah  E. 
Lowman.  She  was  born  July  15.  1846,  in 
Oakwood  township,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated here.  She  comes  of  an  old  Virginian 
family  and  her  great-grandfather  was 
burned  at  the  stake  by  Indians  in  \'irginia. 


LIBRARY 
liNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


L.  R.    MYERS. 


MRS.  SARAH    E.    MYERS. 


Cf    i.iE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


351 


Her  mother  at  the  time  of  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  1S98,  when  she  was  seventy- 
two  years  of  age,  had  thirty-six  grandchil- 
dren and  twenty-one  great-grandchildren. 
Her  hushand  had  died  many  years  hefore, 
pass-ng  away  at  the  age  of  forty-two. 

Unto  ^Ir.  and  ^Irs.  ]Myers  were  born 
eleven  children :  ]\Irs.  Minnie  Frederick, 
of  Champaign  county,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Hattie 
Cessua,  of  Rochester,  Indiana ;  William, 
who  married  Cora  Black  and  is  living  in 
Lohr\'ille.  Iowa;  Leonard,  who  married  Zena 
W'ray  and  resides  in  Fithian;  Reuben,  wdio 
wedded  Doris  Hayes  and  makes  his  home  in 
Vermilion  county:  Mrs.  Jeanette  Mead,  of 
this  county;  Sylvia,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eleven  months;  Winfred,  who  married  Fan- 
nie liantz  and  resides  upon  the  home  farm; 
Gracie,  Lola  and  George,  all  at  home.  Mrs. 
Myers  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  eleven  children  born  unto  George 
and  Alargaret  Lowman,  and  of  the  num- 
ber five  are  now  living.  Her  father  came  to 
this  county  at  a  very  early  day,  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  early  pioneer  settlers  and  Mrs. 
]\Iyers  assisted  in  the  fields  by  dropping 
corn  by  hand,  keeping  up  with  the  plow. 
She  has  seen  wooden  mold  boards  used  with 
a  breaking  plow  which  was  drawn  by  oxen, 
guided  by  a  single  rope  line  manufactured 
from  flax.  She  can  remember  when  the 
grain  was  cut  with  a  sickle  and  later  by  a 
cradle,  while  all  the  clothing  w-as  of  home 
manufacture,  the  girls  wearing  linsey 
dresses  and  flannel  waists.  The  spinning- 
wheel  at  that  time  formed  a  part  of  the  fur- 
nishings of  every  household  and  all  cooking 
was  done  at  an  old-fashioned  fireplace.  The 
first  mowing  machine  used  in  the  neighbor- 
hood was  brought  into  the  county  by  Mrs. 
Myers'  father,  and  people  would  come  for 
miles  to  see  it.  In  the  early  days  Mrs. 
Myers  aided  in  making  candles  by  dipping 

15 


them  and  later  candle  molds  came  into  use. 
On  the  J  7th  of  April,  1897,  she  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  her  husband.  She 
has  since  remained  upon  the  old  homestead, 
where  her  son  \\'infrcd  now  resides,  having 
charge  of  the  home  place.  She  has  ten 
grandchildren  and  the  family  is  one  well 
known  in  the  commuiity. 


WILLIAM  J.  BLACKSTOCK. 

The  life  history  of  William  J.  Black- 
stock,  if  written  in  detail,  would  furnish  a 
more  thrilling  story  than  is  found  on  many 
of  the  pages  of  romance  and  fiction  for  his 
has  been  an  eventful  and  varied  career.  He 
was  born  in  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  Au- 
gust 14,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Mary  (Ritchey)  Blackstock.  In  the  pater- 
nal line  he  comes  of  Scotch  ancestry.  His 
grandfather,  Joseph  Blackstock,  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  land  of  the  hills  and  heather  and 
in  early  life  he  crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the 
new  world,  settling  in  Canada,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  years  were  passed.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
Samuel  Ritchey,  a  native  of  Bedford  county, 
Pennsj'lvania,  and  spent  his  entire  life  there, 
following  the  occupation  of  farming.  James 
Blackstock,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Dnmfrieshire,  Scotland,  and  about 
1820  left  that  country  and  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Canada,  his  home  being  near  Que- 
bec where  other  members  of  the  family  were 
also  located.  He  did  not  remain  long  in  the 
Dominion,  however,  but  removed  to  Pitts- 
buig,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  also  engaged  in  tak- 
ing contracts  along  that  line.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  Ritchey,  a  native  of 
Bedford  county  and  he  died  in  1862  at  the- 


352 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


age  of  fifty  years,  wliile  liis  wife,  surviving 
him  for  some  time,  passed  away  at  tlie  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living :  Eliza- 
beth D.,  the  wife  of  M.  F.  Freidenrich,  of 
Philadelphia ;  and  William  J.  Of  the  others 
all  died  in  infancy  with  the  exception  of 
Mamie,  who  reached  the  age  of  three  years. 
William  J.  Blackstock  attended  school  in 
his  early  boyhood  but  through  a  little  strat- 
-Egic  movement  on  his  part  he  managed  to 
become  a  member  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Penn- 
syhania  Regiment  for  service  during  the 
Civil  war  and  after  serving  for  a  time  was 
*lischarged  on  his  fifteenth  birthday,  the  14th 
tof  August,  1863.  He  was  very  young  to 
liave  a  soldier's  record  but  while  at  the  front 
he  was  always  found  faithful  to  his  duty. 
Soon  afterward  he  went  up  the  Ohio  river 
•■as  a  cook.'  In  1864  he  left  that  service, 
•however,  and  went  to  Dakota,  living  among 
the  Indians  for  several  years  in  that  wild 
Avestern  district.  In  1868-9  he  traveled  over 
the  ground  where  Custer  was  killed  and 
during  his  stay  amid  the  various  Indian 
camps  he  became  acquainted  with  the  leaders 
of  all  of  the  tribes  of  the  northwest.  For 
•eight  vears  he  "roughed  it"  in  Dakota  and 
Montana  and  the  history  of  that  period  of 
the  development  of  the  northwest  is  famil- 
iar to  him  through  actual  experience.  In 
1872  he  went  to  Minnesota,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  lumbering  but  after  a  short  time  he 
purchased  the  Pine  County  News,  at  Pine 
City,  Minnesota,  continuing  its  publication 
for  five  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  in  1877  he  disposed  of  his  plant  and 
returned  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  where 
lie  remained  for  one  year  and  then  removed 
to  Sewickley,  where  he  became  the  owner  of 
the  Valley  News.  He  changed  the  name  of 
■this  paper  to  the  Sewickley  Tribune  and  re- 
mained its  editor  and  publisher  until  1884, 


when  he  sold  out  and  again  went  to  Pitts- 
burg. There  he  secured  a  position  as  repor- 
ter in  the  interest  of  the  Gazette  and  was  also 
employed  on  the  Pittsburg  Dispatch.  In 
1887  he  remo\ed  to  Chicago,  but  after  a 
few  months  he  purchased  the  Xews  at 
Crisman,  Illinois,  changing  the  name  of  that 
publication  to  the  Courier.  On  selling  the 
plant  there  he  came  to  Danville  in  1891  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  painting,  pa- 
per hanging  and  contracting  business  here 
He  receives  a  liberal  patronage.  He  opened 
his  present  store  in  October,  1901.  and  the 
new  enterprise  has  prospered  from  the  be- 
ginning. 

In  1881  occurred  tthe  marriage  of  Mr. 
Blackstock  and  Miss  Ella  MacNutt.  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Matilda  (McFar- 
land)  McXut^.  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  near  Philadelphia  in 
which  locality  they  spent  their  entire  lives, 
the  mother  dying  when  only  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  while  the  father  reached  the 
vanced  age  of  eighty-six  year.  The  ]Mc- 
Farlands  were  highlanders  of  Scotland, 
there  being  only  a  slight  trace  of  English 
blood  found  in  Airs.  Blackstock's  family.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Blackstock  is  an  earn- 
est Republican,  unfaltering  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  principles  of  the  party  and  taking  an 
active  part  in  its  work,  doing  ever\-thing  in 
his  power  to  promote  its  growth  and  insure 

its  success. 

♦  »  > 

\\TI.LIAM  T.  SANDUSKY. 

William  T.  Sandusky  was  bom  in  Bour- 
bon county,  Kentucky,  March  i,  1829,  his 
parents  being  \\'illiam  and  Julia  (Earp) 
Sandusky,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  the  Blue  Grass  state  and  in  the  fall 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


353 


•of  1829  remo\'ed  from  Bourbon  county  to 
Shelby  county,  Illinois,  making  the  journey 
overland  in  a  cox^ered  wagon.  E\-er\thing 
was  new  and  wild  and  the  father  purchased 
a  claim.  lie  arri\'ed  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
and  died  in  the  following  I\Iarch.  His 
willow  sur\-ived  him  only  until  1840.  \\hen 
she,  too,  passed  away.  In  their  family  were 
three  children  and  the  two  sisters  are  now 
<leceased. 

William  T.  Sandusky  was  onlv  elex'en 
years  of  age  when  left  an  orphan.  While 
lie  resided  in  Shelby  county,  he  remembers 
to  have  seen  the  fires  started  with  an  old  flint 
gun.  He  can  well  rememlier  the  first  wheat 
bread  that  he  e\'er  saw,  the  flour  being 
ground  in  a  w-atermill.  He  also  remembers 
■of  \-isiting  a  family  in  which  were  ten  girls 
and  they  had  two  looms  and  all  of  the 
dresses  for  common  and  Sunday  wear  were 
made  from  cloth  woven  in  these  looms. 
They  carded  and  spun  their  ow-n  cotton. 

From  early  youth  Mr.  Sandusky  has 
been  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  for 
a  living.  In  the  year  1848  he  came  to  Ver- 
milion county  driving  a  herd  of  cattle  to  this 
portion  of  the  state.  He  had  previously 
journeyed  on  foot  to  Indiana  in  order  to  find 
work  and  had  returned  again  in  the  same 
manner  to  Shelbyville,  Kentucky,  where  he 
l:ired  out  to  a  Mr.  Smith  a  cattle  dealer,  for 
whom  he  brought  a  herd  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. His  employer  drove  a  herd  to  New 
York  and  after  his  return  in  connection  with 
our  subject  took  a  second  herd  there.  Mr. 
Sandusky  left  Mr.  Smith  in  the  east  while 
he  rode  back  to  Illinois  making  the  distance 
of  over  one  thousand  miles  in  twenty  days. 
Arriving  here  he  fed  cattle' during  the  fall 
and  winter.  He  also  worked  in  Shelby  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  dol- 
lars per  year  and  his  board,  spending  three 
years  on  a  fami.  Thinking  that  this  was  a 


slow  way  of  luaking  money  he  statred  for 
California  in  1853  frt)m  \'erniilion  county. 
He  had  then  but  three  or  four  hundred  dol- 
lars. Proceeding  to  New  ^'ork  he  went  by 
steamer  by  w^ay  of  the  isthmus  of  Panama 
and  spent  three  years  in  the  gold  regions  of 
the  Pacific  coast,  both  mining  and  superin- 
tending a  large  farm.  He  was  successful 
there  and  after  his  return  he  began  trading 
in  cattle  in  Illinois.  It  was  his  intention  to 
again  go  to  C'alifornia  but  he  decided  other- 
wise and  became  interested  in  farming  and 
stock  dealing.  At  times  he  visited  all  of  the 
western  territories  and  the  second  time  he 
started  for  California,  going  as  far  as  Indi- 
ana. There  he  entered  into  partnership  in 
a  hotel  liusiness  in  Greencastle,  Putnam 
county,  and  after  three  years  he  conducted 
that  house  alone.  For  a  similar  period  he 
was  proprietor  of  the  Junction  House  and 
then  with  the  capital  he  had  acquired 
throug'h  his  earnest  eflrorts  he  returned  to  Il- 
linois and  purchased  a  farm  in  Vemiilion 
county,  buying  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
for  which  he  paid  si.x  thousand  dollars  in 
cash.  After  three  or  four  months  he  pur- 
chased another  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  for  which  he  paid  eight  thous- 
and dollars.  For  his  third  farm  he  gave  four 
thousand  dollars.  Thus  from  time  to  time 
he  purchased  land  and  the  last  farm  wdiich 
he  bought  was  sold  at  seventy-five  dollars  per 
acre.  To-day  he  owns  about  six  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land,  all  under  cultivation. 
Much  of  this  is  underlaid  by  a  six  foot  vein 
of  coal  and  his  farming  property  is  all  in  Cat- 
lin  township  and  he  is  now  numbered  among 
the  substantial  and  prosperous  agricultur- 
ists in  this  part  of  the  state.  For  thirty-five 
years  he  engaged  in  feeding  cattle,  following 
that  business  until  about  three  years  ago. 
He  also  fed  about  eighty  hogs  annually.  He 
now  has  four  tenement  houses  on  his  farms 


3S4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  the  rental  from  liis  places  and  the  pro- 
ducts of  his  fields  return  to  him  a  splendid 
income.  He  did  his  first  plowing  with  a 
wooden  mold  board  and  cultivated  his  land 
with  a  single  shovel,  driving  his  horses  with 
a  rope  line.  He  used  to  drop  sod  corn  with 
a  breaking  plow  for  ten  cents  per  day  and 
has  driven  a  six-yoke  team  of  oxen  to  a 
breaking  plow  for  a  similar  wage.  All  that 
was  in  marked  contrast  to  his  present  posi- 
tion as  one  of  the  prosperous  agriculturists 
of  the  county.  He  cut  grain  with  a  reap 
hook  and  performed  much  arduous  labor 
and  experienced  many  hardships  and  trials. 
He  drove  cows  and  hogs  in  1846,  going 
barefooted.  He  was  then  in  his  seven- 
teenth year.  He  took  the  cattle  across  the 
jirairies  to  the  Chicago  market  and  on  the  re- 
turn trip  drove  a  yoke  of  oxen.  It  was 
necessary  to  ford  the  Kankakee  river  which 
was  then  unbridged  and  at  nights  he  would 
camp  ovit  on  the  prairies.  Taking  his  pro- 
visions with  him  he  vrould  fry  bacon  and 
make  "slap  jack"  aiid  coffee.  All  of  the 
experiences  of  pioneer  life  were  familiar  to 
him  through  actual  contact  with  its  modes 
of  living.  He  has  worked  for  twenty-five 
cents  per  da}-  and  while  still  in  Shelby  coun- 
ty he  made  rads  for  twenty-five  cents  per 
hundred,  and  with  the  money  thus  earned 
he  purchased  cloth  from  a  neighbor  woman 
and  from  this  had  a  suit  of  clothing  made. 
He  can  remember  that  during  his  mother's 
time  the  only  way  of  coloring  cloth  was  with 
black  walnut  bark.  The  only  overcoat  '\lv. 
Sandusky  e\'er  saw  while  living  in  Shelby 
county  was  made  of  an  English  piece  of 
broadcloth  and  cost  seventy-five  dollars. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1859,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  IMr.  Sandusky  and 
Miss  Emily  Clements,  who  was  born  in 
Shelbyville,  Illinois,  May  28,  1839,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Emily  (Livers)   Clements, 


v.ho  were  natives  of  Maryland  and  became 
very  early  settlers  of  Shelby  county.  In  the 
family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sandusky  were  two 
cliildren  who  are  yet  living:  Mrs.  ]\Iaggie 
Hickman,  of  Catlin  township,;  and  Katie, 
who  keeps  house  for  her  father.  She  is  cer- 
tainly proficient  in  the  work  and  makes  a 
very  pleasant  home  for  her  father  in  his  de- 
clining years.  Mrs.  Sandusky  died  January 
13,  1899,  and  her  death  was  deeply  mourned 
by  her  family  and  many  friends.  ^Ir.  San- 
dusky is  now  in  his  seventy-third  year  and 
is  one  of  the  honored  and  worthy  pioneers 
of  the  state.  His  has  been  a  varied  and 
eventfvd  life,  not  only  because  of  his  ex- 
perience as  a  frontier  settler  in  Illinois,  but 
also  because  of  his  career  as  a  California 
pioneer  and  ranchman. 


JOHN  BALTH.ASAR  WILLIUS. 

It  requires  courage  and  resolution  to- 
sever  the  connections  which  bind  one  to  his 
native  land  and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  peo- 
ple of  a  new  country  with  whose  language, 
habits  and  business  methods  he  is  unfa- 
miliar. It  is  a  venture  the  outcome  of  which 
cannot  be  foretold,  and  yet  there  are  certain 
elements  which  are  irresistible  in  business 
life  throughout  the  world  and  if  one  pos- 
sesses these  the  venture  cannot  but  partake 
of  success  in  some  measure  at  least.  ^Ir. 
\\'illius  came  to  America  from  the  father- 
land, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Mainz,  in 
the  province  of  Rhine  Hesse,  Germany, 
January  28,  1857.  His  parents  were  George 
Andreas  and  Katherina  ^^'illius,  the  former 
a  merchant  tailor. 

The  son  began  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  city  and  afterward 
entered  the  high  school,  in  which  pupils  are 
prepared  for  entering  mercantile  life,  and  in 


JOHN  B.  WILLIUS. 


LISRASY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


357 


that  institution  I\Ir.  W'illius  was  graduated 
in  the  year  1872.  There  were  many  ele- 
ments of  character  displayed  in  his  boyhood 
that  sliowed  a  strong  love  of  nature  and  its 
beauties.  During  his  school  days  he  de- 
lighted to  gather  (lowers,  insects  and  ferns 
and  to  wander  among  the  beautiful  hills  and 
fields  that  border  the  Rhine.  .Ml  these  pro- 
pensities were  indicative  of  the  strong  trait 
of  character  which  has  been  manifest 
throughout  his  entire  career  and  is  now  ex- 
emplified in  the  department  of  business  ac- 
tivity to  which  he  devotes  his  energies. 

.After  con:pleting  his  school  life  he  en- 
tered his  father's  store  and  later  he  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  to  learn  the  trade,  but  it 
Avas  distasteful  to  him  and  after  a  time  he 
abandoned  work  in  that  direction.  It  was 
liis  desire  to  be  a  fiorist  and  accordingly  his 
father  paid  five  hundred  marks  to  a  repre- 
sentatix'c  of  that  business  who  would  teach 
his  son  all  he  knew  concerning  the  best 
methods  of  cultivating  and  producing  flow- 
ers and  plants,  \\dien  he  had  mastered  the 
trade  Mr.  W'illius  traveled  over  different  sec- 
tions of  Germany  and  was  employed  in  va- 
rious cities,  but  the  opportunities  of  the  new 
■world  attracted  him  and  he  resolved  to  test 
the  truth  of  the  favorable  reports  wdiich  he 
had  heard  concerning  America.  Crossing 
the  Atlantic  to  the  United  States  he  was  em- 
ployed in  New  York  for  a  time  and  then 
w'ent  west  to  Chicago,  but  was  unable  to  ob- 
tain work  as  a  florist  in  that  city  and  he 
ther-efore  entered  the  service  of  a  farmer  and 
was  sent  to  Waukesha  d^unty,  Wisconsin, 
but  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  re- 
turned to  Chicago  and  as  he  was  still  unable 
to  obtain  employment  in  the  field  of  his  cho- 
sen calling  he  accepted  a  situation  in  a  pre- 
serve factory.  The  following  spring,  how- 
ever, he  was  more  fortunate,  for  he  secured 
■work  in  a  floral  establishment  and  finallv  he 


came  to  Danville,  where  he  was  made  fore- 
man of  the  florist  business.  When  eighteen 
months  had  thus  passed  he  returned  to  Chi- 
cago to  his  former  employer,  but  the  man 
whom  he  had  served  in  DanvilUe  did  not 
wish  to  lose  his  services  and  induced  him  to 
again  come  to  this  city.  With  a  laudable 
ambition  to  engage  in  business  on  his  own 
account  he  afterward  went  to  Fremont,  Ne- 
braska, receiving  favorable  reports  of  the 
town  and  of  the  opportunities  for  a  florist  at 
that  place.  Accordingly  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  the  west,  but  did  not  find  things 
as  represented  and  after  si.x  months  he  re- 
turned to  Danville  for  the  third  antl  last 
time,  for  he  has  never  since  left  this  city  and 
since  the  ist  of  August,  1894,  he  has  con- 
ducted a  prosperous  and  growing  business 
of  his  own.  He  established  his  greenhouse 
and  gardens  on  the  Covington  road  and  for 
more  than  five  years  has  engaged  in  the  re- 
tail trade,  in  selling  flowers  at  No.  134  Ver- 
milion street,  in  Dan\'ille. 

In  Chicago,  on  the  ist  of  November, 
1884,  Mr.  Willius  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Lena  Sclniltz  .and  unto  them  have  been 
Ijorn  three  children,  but  the  eldest,  a  daugh- 
ter, died  in  Chicago  at  "the  age  of  eighteen 
months.  George  Gotlieb,  the  second,  is  now 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  the  third.  Charles, 
is  but  three  years  of  age.'  Mr.  Willius  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Society 
since  1893  and  for  one  term  he  served  as 
noble  grand  in  his  lodge.  In  1895  he  be- 
came connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Metho- 
dist church.  He  has  endeavored  to  make  his 
life  an  exemplification  of  the  golden  rule 
and  thus  his  business  career  has  ever  been 
honorable  and  straightforward,  while 
among  his  friends  he  is  known  for  his  fidel- 
ity, benevolence  and  consideration.  His 
greatest  interest  centers  in  his  home,  and  he 


358 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


finds  his  chief  hap|)iiiess  in  spending  ihe 
lidurs  nntsitle  uf  Ijusiness  with  his  wife  and 
children. 

While  in  iiis  native  country  he  served  for 
two  years  in  tlie  Sixth  Company  of  tlie 
Eighty-seventh  Nassau  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry, at  Mainz,  and  was  discharged  as  of- 
ficer of  reserve.  He  was  never  under  arrest 
for  a  single  hour  or  paid  a  disciplinarian 
fine.  In  politics  he  is  a  prominent  Repuhli- 
can  never  failing  to  cast  his  ballot  for  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  party,  yet  he  has 
never  sought  or  desired  office  for  himself. 
He  is  now  a  rejiresentative  and  successful 
business  man  of  Danville,  but  he  did  not 
stumble  upon  his  success  by  chance;  he  has 
earned  it  by  a  lifetime  of  solid  work  intelli- 
gently directed  to  a  single  end.  Nor  has  he 
ever  taken  advantage  of  the  necessities  of 
his  fellow  men  in  his  dealings  with  those 
who  give  to  him  their  patronage. 


J.   :\I.   WILKINS,  M  D. 

Dr.  J.  yi.  W'ilkins  is  the  loved  family 
physician  of  many  a  household  of  Vermilion 
county.  Through  many  years  he  has  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
carrying  encovu'agement  and  comfort  into 
the  residences  of  the  rich  and  poor  alike. 
The  qualities  of  an  upright  manhood  and  of 
a  generous  sympathetic  nature  as  well  as  his 
professional  skill  have  endeared  him  to  those 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  Marion  county, 
•  Ohio,  September  22,  1826.  The  \\'ilkins 
family  was  founded  in  America  by  Thomas 
and  _\ustin  Wilkins,  who  came  to  the  colo- 
nies from  England  at  the  time  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  Thomas  settled  in  Marion 
countv,   Ohio,   and     after    his     familv   had 


grown  up  he  and  his  wife,  in  the  evening  of 
life,  went  to  live  with  their  son  Benjamin  in 
Branch  county,  Micliigan,  remaining  there 
until  they  were  called  to  their  tinal  rest.  The 
other  brother  settletl  in  the  state  of  Virginia. 
He  had  two  sons,  one  of  wdiom  resides  in 
Crawfcrdsville,  Indiana,  wihle  the  other  is^ 
living  in  Charleston,  Illinois,  and  is  serv- 
ing as  circuit  judge  there.  Both  ha\e  been 
prominent  in  public  office. 

Samuel  Wilkins.  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  Ijorn  in  (Jhio  and  after  arri\'ing  at 
}'ears  of  maturity  he  was  married  in  Alarion 
county  to  Miss  Mary  Mclntyre,  whose 
grand]iarents  were  killed  by  the  Indians  in 
New  Jersey  during  colonial  days.  They  were 
living  in  a  \og  house  and  on  one  occasion 
their  cattle  strayed  away  from  home  and 
they  followed  them  until  finding  them  when 
they  started  on  the  way  back  with  their 
stock.  Before  they  reached  home,  however, 
they  were  surprised  In-  a  band  of  sixteen  In- 
dian warriors  who  shot  the  husband,  Joe 
Mclntyre.  scaljied  him  and  took  his  clothes 
and  rifle.  Thev  made  his  wife  a  captive  and 
when  the  cattle  returned  home  the  sixteen 
year-old  son  realized  that  something  was 
wrong.  He  then  went  in  search  of  his  par- 
ents and  found  the  father  dead.  Telling  the 
tale  to  the  neighbors,  a  company  of  twenty 
men  was  formed  and  following  the  Indians, 
surprised  them  and  killed  all  but  one,  wha 
afterward  died  .  The  mother  was  found  dead 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  camp,  having  beeiT 
mtu-dered  by  the  red  men.  At  the  time  of 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W^ilkins  located 
ir.  Ohio,  where  the  father  carried  on  farming- 
until  his  rieaili.  which  occurred  ab(_nit  1830. 
The  mother  afterward  removed  with  her 
only  cliild,  our  subject,  to  Lagrange  county, 
Indiana.  She  gave  her  hand  in  marriage 
there  to  Thomas  Gothup,  who  died  in  1842. 
Later  she  became  a  resident  of  jNIichigan  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


359 


married  John  Sinclair.  Her  death  occurred 
at  Chillicothe,  Missouri,  in  1857.  By  her 
second  marriage  she  had  three  daughters  and 
a  son,  of  wiioni  two  are  living.  Jane  is  the 
widow  of  William  Townsley,  a  resident  of 
Caledonia.  Michigan,  and  Keturah  is  the  wife 
of  William  Race,  who  resides  at  Turkey 
Prairie,  near  Lig(3nier,  Indiana.  By  the 
mother's  third  marriage  there  was  one  son, 
Thomas  Sinclair,  who  is  now  ]i\-ing  in  Ouin- 
cy,  Michigan. 

Dr.  W'ilkins,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  hegan  his  education  in  a  log  school- 
house  which  stood  on  the  side  of  a  marsh,  in 
Branch  count}-,  Michigan.  Later  he  at- 
tended school  in  Lagrange  county,  Indiana, 
becoming  a  student  in  Lagrange  County 
Association  school.  Subseriuently  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  one  term  in  Steuben 
county  and  for  one  tenn  in  Porter  county, 
Indiana,  also  one  term  in  Lagrange  county, 
Michigan.  In  1845.  ^vhen  nineteen  years  of 
age,  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  R.  A.  Cameron  and  la- 
ter he  attended  lectures  in  the  Indiana  Med- 
ical College  at  Laporte.  Indiana,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1850.  Re- 
turning then  to  Branch  county,  Michigan, 
he  there  practiced  for  four  years  and  on  the 
2d  of  January,  1854,  he  arri\-ed  in  New- 
town, \'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
opened  an  office. 

On  the  jSth  of  September.  1852,  in 
Branch  county,  Michigan,  Dr.  Wilkins  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mahitable  Pond, 
who  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New 
York.'August  10,  1833.  She  was  descended 
from  one  of  two  brothers,  who  came  from 
England  to  .\meica  in  an  early  day,  her  an- 
cestor settling  in  Vermont,  while  the  other 
brother  located  in  \Mrgina.  Her  paternal 
grandfather  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier 
under  Washington  and  afterward  served  his 


country  in  the  war  of  18 12,  the  government 

granting  him  a  pen.sion  for  his  aid  in  the 
army.  ]Mrs.  Wilkins'  father,  Willard 
Henry  Pond,  was  born  in  Sudbury,  Rutland 
county  Vermont,  .August  8,  1800,  and  died 
in  September,  1869,  while  his  wife.  Miss 
Phelie  Abbey,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  Feb- 
ri'.ary  11,  jSt>2,  and  died  No\-ember  2J, 
i86q.  They  were  married  in  Madison,  Con- 
necticut, in  182 J,  and  the  father  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  During  the  girlhood  of 
Mrs.  \Vilkins  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Ohio  and  subsequently  to  Fairmount,  Illi- 
nois, where  his  death  occurred.  In  his  ])olit- 
ical  views  he  was  a  Republican  and  xoted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln.  He  belonged  to  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  to  the  Baptist  church, 
while  his  w  ife  held  menil)crship  in  the  Meth- 
oflist  church.  In  the  family  of  this  worthy 
couple  were  se\en  children,  three  boys  and 
four  girls,  of  whom  two  are  living — Mrs. 
Wilkins  and  Mrs.  Louis  A.  Smith,  a  resi- 
dent of  Odin,  Illinois. 

In  the  }'ear  of  1859  Dr.  Wilkins  and  his 
wife  remo\-ed  to  Conkeytown,  Vermilion 
county,  wliere  they  remained  some  time 
and  in  1863  came  to  Fairmount.  which  was 
their  place  of  residence  until  1880.  In  that 
year  they  went  to  Garnet,  Kansas,  where  the 
Doctor  ])racticed  for  two  years  and  then  re- 
mo\ed  to  Ottawa,  that  state,  where  he  re- 
sided for  twelve  years.  His  next  ])lace  of 
residence  was  in  Fontana,  Miami  C(iunty, 
Kansas,  where  he  remained  until  October, 
igoo.  when  he  went  to  Chicago,  Illinois.  In 
May,  1 90 1,  however,  he  returned  to  Fair- 
mount,  where  he  is  now  living.  Throughout 
all  these  years  he  has  continued  the  i)ractice 
of  his  ])rofession,  his  entire  life  being  de- 
\-otcd  with  conscientious  zeal  to  the  allevia- 
tion of  human  suffering.  He  has  been  a 
most  studious  physician  and  owns  a  large 
and   valualjle  library   with   the  contents   of 


3<5o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


which  he  is  thoroughly  famiUar,  in  fact,  he 
is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  learned  and 
capahle  members  of  the  medical  profession 
of  Illinois.  The  Doctor  is  also  a  courteous 
gentleman,  charitable  to  a  fault.  Never  has 
the  road  been  too  long  or  the  weather  too  in- 
clement for  the  Doctor  to  visit  those  who 
are  sufifering,  no  matter  what  their  finan- 
cial circiunstances  are  in  life,  the  poor  re- 
ceiving the  same  attention  as  that  which  is 
given  to  his  riclier  neighbor.  The  Doctor 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  \"ermilion 
Comity  Medical  .\.ssociation  and  in  1883  he 
became  a  member  of  the  State  Medical  Asso- 
ciation of  Kansas.  Three  years  later  he 
joined  the  Xational  ^ledical  Association 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Illionis  State 
Medical  Association.  In  his  practice  he  has 
ever  made  a  special  study  of  the  nervous 
system  and  of  nervous  diseases,  claiming 
that  this  system  is  the  most  intricate  and 
important  of  all  the  parts  of  the  body. 

I'nto  Dr.  W'ilkins  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  thr€e  sons  and  three  daughters :  ^Nlary 
A.,  born  August  6.  1852,  died  September  8, 
1S52.  Ida  May,  born  March  31,  1854,  died 
in  Xovember  of  the  same  year.  Jennie  E., 
torn  February  12,  1856,  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Bezensen,  a  resident  of  Chicago,  by 
whom  she  has  two  sons,  Fred  W.  and  John 
M.  Charles  A.,  born  January  3.  1858,  was 
married  in  Central  City,  Colorado,  to  ^Ma- 
tilda  Malmsburg,  and  is  now  a  civil  engin- 
eer, mine  prospector  and  assayer  of  Lead- 
ville,  that  state.  He  has  three  children.  Hat- 
tie,  Phebe  and  Abasha.  Frank  L.,  born  May 
24.  i860,  died  October  11,  1862.  Fred,  born 
October  3,  1864,  was  married  in  Ottawa, 
Kansas,  to  Hattie  Bement  and  their  children 
are  Tracey,  Bessie  and  Albert.  Their  home 
is  now  in  Englewood,  Illinois,  where  Fred 
Wilkins  is  a  well  known  professional  musi- 
cian. 


Dr.  A\'ilkins  was  made  a  Mason  in  1868, 
becoming  a  member  of  Fairniount  Lodge, 
Xo.  590,  F.  &  A.  i\I.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  Fairmount  Lodge,  X"o.  319,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  Encamp- 
ment of  Danville,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state.  For  thirteen  years 
he  represented  Fairmount  in  the  grand  lodge 
and  for  two  terms  he  has  been  chief  patri- 
arch. He  has  always  refused  to  hold  public 
office,  but  in  his  political  affiliations  is  an 
earnest  and  loyal  Republican.  Both  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  are  most  highly  esteemed 
residents  here.  Many  accord  to  the  medical 
profession  the  highest  rank  among  the  call- 
ings to  which  man  devotes  his  energies.  At 
all  events  it  is  one  of  the  most  important 
and  great  are  tlie  responsibilities  which  rest 
upon  the  physician.  Dr.  W'ilkins  has  fully 
met  every  obligation  which  has  devolved 
upon  him  in  this  connection  and  with  con- 
scientious effort  has  met  the  demands  of  the 
public  for  his  professional  services.  He  has 
continually  promoted  his  proficiency  through 
comprehensi\e  reading  and  study,  and, 
moreover,  he  has  a  deep  human  sympathy 
without  which  medical  research,  bringing 
with  it  broad  knowledge,  is  of  little  avail. 


CHARLES  W.  WARNER. 

The  press  has  not  onl}-  recorded  the  his- 
tory of  advancement,  but  has  also  ever  been 
the  leader  in  the  work  of  progress  and  im- 
pro\ement, — the  vanguard  of  civilization. 
The  philosopher  of  some  centuries  ago  pro- 
claimed the  truth  that  "the  pen  is  mightier 
than  the  sword,"'  and  the  statement  is  con- 
tinually being  verified  in  the  affairs  of  life. 
In  molding  public  opinion  the  power  of  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


363 


newspaper  cannot  be  estimated,  but  at  all 
e\-ents  its  influence  is  greater  tban  any  other 
single  agency.  Mr.  Warner  is  a  well  known 
representative  of  the  journalistic  interests 
of  Vermilion  county,  being  the  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Hoopeston  Chronicle. 
Through  the  columns  of  his  paper  he  has 
ever  advocated  progress,  reform  and  ini- 
proN'ement  and  has  exercised  marked  in- 
fluence in  behalf  of  the  general  welfare  here. 
He  is  also  the  efficient  postmaster  of  the 
town  and  as  a  public  official  has  gained  the 
commendation  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Mr.  Warner  was  born  near  Crawfords- 
ville.  Indiana,  on  the  24th  of  January,  1857, 
his  parents  being  Abner  and  Mary  (Cad- 
wallader)  Warner,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  born  near  Crawfords- 
ville.  Indiana.  They  were  married  at  Old 
Darlington  and  for  many  years  they  trav- 
eled life's  journey  together,  but  in  1888 
were  separated  by  the  death  of  the  husband. 
Mrs.  Warner  still  survives  and  is  living  in 
Rossville.  Mr.  Warner  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation. He  came  to  Illinois  in  1850  and 
here  herded  cattle  on  the  prairies,  driving 
them  across  the  country  to  the  Philadelphia 
markets.  He  thus  dealt  in  stock  in  his 
younger  years  but  in  later  life  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed  in 
Vermilion  county,  meeting  with  fair  suc- 
cess. His  death  occurred  in  Rossville.  In 
the  family  were  but  two  children,  the 
younger  brother  being  Perry  M.,  who  is 
manager  of  the  Telephone  Exchange  at 
Rossville. 

During  his  early  boyhood  days  Charles 
W.  Warner  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  to  Rossville,  where  he  ac- 
quired his  preliminary  education.  He  after- 
ward engaged  in  teaching  for  two  terms  in 
the  district  schools  of  Champaign  county. 
He  received  further  mental  discipline  in  the 


"poor  man's  college" — a  printing  office, — 
learning  the  printer's  trade  in  Rossville  after 
leaving  school  and  before  teaching.  When 
be  had  completed  his  work  as  an  educator 
he  canie  to  Hoopeston  and  was  employed  in 
the  office  of  the  Chronicle,  which  was  then 
owned  by  Dale  Wallace,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained for  three  years.  During  this  time 
he  also  served  as  journal  clerk  in  the  state 
legislature  of  the  thirty-second  general  as- 
sembly, appointed  thruugh  the  influence  of 
Messrs.  Buttei-field  and  Holden,  members  of 
the  house  from  his  district.  On  the  ist 
of  July,  18S2,  Mr.  Warner  purchased  the 
Chronicle  plant,  incurring  an  indebtedness 
of  three  thousand  dollars  in  order  to  do  this. 
He  has  since  been  editor  and  proprietor  of 
the  paper,  which  he  has  successfully  pub- 
lished. Owing  to  an  increased  circulation, 
to  a  good  advertising  patronage  and  to  his 
capable  management,  he  has  been  enabled 
to  discharge  the  indebtedness  and  he  now 
publishes  both  a  daily  and  weekly  edition  of 
the  Chronicle,  which  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  papers  which  comes  from  the  press 
of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  employs 
six  people  and  has  a  well  equipped  office. 
There  is  a  gas  engine,  a  cylinder  press  and 
all  of  the  latest  improvements  usually  found 
in  a  first  class  printing  office.  The  paper  is 
devoted  to  the  local  interests  and  to  the  dis- 
semination of  general  news  and  has  proved 
a  profitable  inx'cstment. 

In  the  year  1889  Mr.  Warner  was 
elected  postmaster.  Congressman  Cannon 
calling  an  election  for  that  purpose,  because 
there  were  seven  candidates  in  the  field. 
Mr.  Warner  was  the  choice  of  the  people 
and  served  acceptably  in  the  office  during 
President  Harrison's  administration.  He 
tired  and  was  superseded  by  a  Democrat 
during  President  Cleveland's  term  of  office 
and  was  then  again  appointed  by  President 


364 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


[McKinley,  and  was  a  third  time  appointed 
by  Fresidait  Roosevelt,  so  that  he  is  now 
the  incumbent.  His  administration  is  prac- 
tical, business-like  and  progressive  and  the 
affairs  of  the  office  are  capably  managed  by 
him.  He  has  likewise  served  as  cit\"  clerk 
and  at  the  present  time  he  is  a  member  of 
the  county  committee  of  the  Republican  par- 
ty, being  a  recognized  leader  in  the  ranks  of 
that  organization. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  1883,  in 
Hoopeston.Mr.  Warner  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lillian  Clark,  who  was  boni 
at  W'enona,  Ilhnois,  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1864,  and  they  have  one  child,  Gladys,  bom 
December  8,  1891.  Mrs.  Henrietta  B. 
Clark,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Warner,  is  also 
a  member  of  the  household,  and  they  have 
a  pleasant  home  at  the  comer  of  Peim  and 
Third  streets.  Mr.  Warner  is  a  prominent 
!Mason,  belonging  to  Star  Lodge.  No.  709. 
F.  &  A.  :M.,  Hoopeston  Chapter,  No.  181, 
R.  .\.  .M..  and  Grant  Council,  No.  89,  R.  & 
S.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Hoopeston 
Lodge.  Xo.  195.  K.  P..  and  Hoopeston 
Camp.  Xo.  J^j.  yi.  W.  A.  He  has  passed 
all  of  the  chairs  in  the  Knights  of  P\-thias 
lodge  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  its  grand 
lodge  and  deputy  grand  chancellor  of  the 
order.  Mr.  Warner's  political,  fraternal 
and  business  relations  has  brought  him  a 
wide  acquaintance  and  he  is  justly  esteemed 
as  one  of  the  progressive,  enterprising  and 
respected  citizens  of  his  adopted  county. 


PATRICK  MARTIX. 

\*ermilion  count}-  has  been  the  home  and 
the  scene  of  labor  of  many  men  who  have  not 
only  led  lives  that  should  serve  as  an  ex- 
ample to  those  who  come  after  them  but  have 


also  been  of  important  service  to  the  com- 
munity through  various  avenues  of  useful- 
ness. Among  them  may  be  numbered  Pat- 
rick ^Martin,  who  died  at  his  pleasant  home 
in  Danville  on  the  20th  of  April,  1896. 

He  was  bom  in  County  Kilkenny.  Ire- 
land, ]^Iarch  3.  1840.  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Julia  ilartin.  who  were  natives  of  the  same 
county,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until 
1 85 1.  That  year  witnessed  tlie  emigration 
of  the  family  to  America,  and  on  landing  in 
X'ew  York.  March  17.  they  proceeded  at 
once  to  Schenectady.  Xew  York,  where  they 
spent  only  a  short  time,  however.  They  next 
went  to  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  and  a  few 
years  later  livetl  for  brief  periods  in  Ottowa 
and  Chicago.  Illinois,  finally  locating  near 
Stateline.  where  the  father  improved  a  farm. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  looking  up  a  favor- 
able location  with  the  intention  of  buying  a 
place  and  was  not  satisfied  until  he  found  a 
farm  near  Fairmount.  \'emiilion  county, 
upon  which  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  They  were  the  pa- 
rents of  five  children,  who  are  still  living, 
namelv:  Bridget,  now  the  widow  of 
Thomas  Cavanagh  and  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville: INIar}-.  widow  of  John  Wall  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Terre  Haute.  Indiana;  Walter,  an 
engineer  on  the  Cleveland.  Cincinnati.  Chi- 
cago &  St.  Louis  Railroad  and  a  resident  of 
Indianapolis.  Indiana :  Ella,  now  Mrs.  Pat- 
terson, of  Cripple  Creek.  Colorado :  and  An- 
nie, wife  of  Edward  Langin.  of  Lousi- 
ville.  Kentucky. 

Our  subject's  educational  advantages 
were  limited.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  the  new  world  and 
continued  to  assist  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  fami  until  the  Civil  war 
broke  out.  Having  a  sincere  love  for  his 
adopted  countr\-  he  enlisted  in  1862  for 
three  vears'  service,  becoming  a  member  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


365 


Company  E,  Seventy-third  Illinois  VoKui- 
teer  Infantry,  which  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Generals  Sheridan  and  Grant.  He 
was  in  a  number  of  engagements,  including 
those  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Franklin  by  a  bul- 
let in  the  leg.  After  some  time  spent  in  the 
hospital  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
on  account  of  his  wound,  March  25,  1865, 
and  returned  home. 

In  1868  'Sir.  ^lartin  married  Miss  Sarah 
Tighe,  who  was  also  born  in  Ireland,  March 
17,  1834,  her  parents,  Dennis  and  Mary 
Tighe,  spending  their  entire  lives  in  that 
countr}^  By  occupation  her  father  was  a 
farmer.  Of  the  four  children  born  to  ^Ir. 
and  Mrs.  ^Martin,  Annie  died  in  1.894,  Mary 
is  living  with  her  mother  in  Danville,  and 
the  other  two  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Martin  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Fairmount,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  for  several  years,  his 
time  and  attention  being,  devoted  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising.  Later 
he  bought  a  farm  near  Homer,  this 
count)',  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  removal  to  the  city  of  Danville  in 
1890.  A  hard  working,  industrious  and  en- 
ergetic man,  he  had  acquired  a  comfortable 
competence  and  was  able  to  spend  his  last 
years  in  ease  and  retirment  from  active  la- 
bor. Bv  his  ballot  he  always  supported  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democratic  party 
but  never  cared  for  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office.  Like  his  wife  and 
daughter  he  held  membership  in  the  Catho- 
lic church,  and  his  upright,  honorable  life 
won  for  iiim  the  confidence  and  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  coh- 
tact.  Mr.  Martin  eminently  deserves  classi- 
fication among  the  purely  self-made  men  of 
the  county  who  have  distinguished  them- 
selves for  their  ability  to  master  the  oppos- 


ing forces  of  life  and  to  wrest  from  fate  a 
large  measure  of  success  and  an  honorable 
name.  He  ieft  to  his  widow  some  valuable 
property  in  Danville,  including  the  beauti- 
ful residence  at  Xo.  442  Jackson  street, 
which  she  and  her  daughter  now  occupy,  and 
also  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  near 
the  village  of  Tilton  in  this  county.  She  is 
a  most  estimable  lady  and  was  to  her  hus- 
band a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate, 
aiding  and  encouraging  him  in  every  possi- 
ble way  along  the  pathway  of  life. 


TOHX    A.  PHILLIPS. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  a  self-made 
man  who,  without  any  extraordinary  family 
or  pecuniary  advantages  at  the  commence- 
ment of  life,  has  battled  earnestly  and  ener- 
getically, and  by  indomitable  courage  and 
integrity  has  achieved  both  character  and  a 
comfortable  competence.  By  sheer  force  of 
will  and  untiring  eft'ort  he  has  worked  his 
way  uj^ward  and  is  numbered  among  the 
leading  business  men  of  Danville.  He  is 
now  the  proprietor  of  the  Phillips  Laundry, 
one  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  this  char- 
acter in  Vermilion  county. 

John  A.  Phillips  was  born  in  Fountain 
county,  Indiana,  January  23,  1848,  his  par- 
ents being  Jackson  and  Margaret  (jNIcQuig) 
Phillips.  The  Phillips  family  was  origin- 
ally from  Virginia  and  the  McQuigs  are 
from  Ohio.  Unto  the  parents  of  our  subject 
were  Ijorn  four  children :  Edward,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Danville;  Frank  T..  who 
is  living  in  Montana;  Ora,  also  of  Danville; 
and  John  A.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty-eight  years  and  the  mother  passed  away 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

When   a   youth   of   only   thirteen   years 


366 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Jolin  -\.  Phillips  started  out  to  make  his 
own  way  in  the  world.  He  is  therefore 
largely  a  self-educated  as  well  as  self-made 
man  and  through  reading,  experience  and 
observation  he  has  gradually  added  to  the 
knowledge  he  had  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  in  his  early  youth.  He  began  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood  by  working  as  a 
farm  hand  and  in  i860  he  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  assistant  to  a  photographer  who  was 
deaf  and  dumb  and  who  had  formed 
an  attachment  for  Mr.  Phillips,  teach- 
ing him  the  business  in  his  art  gal- 
lery in  Fairbury,  Illinois.  Our  sub- 
ject continued  this  connection  with  pho- 
tography for  twenty  years,  fifteen  years 
of  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  business  in 
■Danville,  having  located  here  in  1871.  In 
1885  he  and  his  brother,  Frank  T.  Phillips, 
formed  a  partnership  and  established  the 
Phillips  Laundry,  which  is  the  leading  en- 
terprise of  its  kind  in  this  city  and  our  sub- 
ject is  now  sole  proprietor.  He  took  charge 
of  the  business  in  1893  and  five  years  later 
he  purchased  his  brother's  interest  and  has 
since  been  sole  owner.  When  they  estab- 
lished tlieir  laundry  they  employed  eight  peo- 
ple, including  two  washers  and  two  ironing 
men.  Their  business  has  so  increased  in  vol- 
ume that  they  now  give  employment  to  thir- 
ty people,  including  seven  washers.  The 
plant  is  splendidly  equipped,  having  an  eigh- 
ty horse-power  boiler,  two  twenty-six  inch 
extractors,  a  collar  and  cuft'  Troy  ironer, 
number  five  and  nine  regular  ironers,  and 
their  machinery  is  all  run  by  gas,  which  is 
manufactured  by  a  patent  process  in  the 
building.  Mr.  Phillips  also  has  a  shirt  and 
■collar  dryer  which  is  a  machine  of  his  own 
device.  There  is  also  a  car[)et  cleaning  ma- 
chine. It  is  the  most  modern  and  perfect 
plant  of  the  kind  in  Vermilion  county.  Four 
■wagons  are  utilized  in  calling  and  delivering 


goods  and  the  business  has  now  grown  in 
volume  until  it  has  assumed  very  extensive 
and  profitable  proportions. 

In  1873  Mr.  Phillips  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Rosa  Noyes,  a  daughter  of  William 
Noyes,  a  native  of  Kentucky  now  living  in 
Danville.  Four  children  have  been  born  of 
this  marriage :  George  A. ;  William,  who 
died  August  10,  1901,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three  years ;  Roy  B. ;  and  Frank  A.,  who  is  an 
assistant  in  the  laundry.  The  parents  hold 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chrurch  and  /Mr.  Phillips  is  a  prom- 
inent Odd  Fellow.  For  ten  consecu- 
tive years  he  served  as  a  represent- 
ti-/e  to  the  grand  encampment.  He  is 
also  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias, the  ])Iodern  Woodmen,  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  the  Battery  A  Association. 
Flis  success  has  been  by  no  means  the  result 
of  fortunate  circumstances,  but  has  come  to 
him  through  energy,  labor  and  perseverance, 
directed  b}'  an  evenly  balanced  mind  and  by 
honorable  business  principles.  He  com- 
mands the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  and  his  honorable  career 
excites  their  admiration. 


JAMES    J.  RICE. 

This  venerable  and  highly  honored  gen- 
tleman, now  a  nongenariari,  was  born  in 
Chautauqua  county.  New  York,  June  13, 
1812,  and  since  1835  ^^^  '^^^  been  a  resident 
of  Vermilion  county.  Although  the  snows 
of  many  winters  have  whitened  his  hair  he 
seems  to  possess  the  vigor  of  a  man  of  much 
younger  age,  for  nature  is  kind  to  those  who 
abuse  not  her  laws  and  Mr.  Rice's  career  has 
been  one  of  right  living.  Throughout  his 
long  life  he  has  ever  commanded  the  regard 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


367 


and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  and  his  ex- 
ample shonld  serve  as  an  inspiration  to  the 
young  and  is  well  worthy  of  emulation.  'Sir. 
Rice  conTcs  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock. 
His  maternal  grandfather  was  of  Scotch  de- 
scent and  served  for  seven  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Colonial  army,  fighting  for  the  in- 
dependence of  the  nation.  Silas  Rice,  the  fa- 
ther, was  bom  in  eastern  New  York  and  died 
when  away  from  home.  Ilis  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  .Phel)e  Leonard  and  was  a 
native  of  Cayuga  county.  New  York.  She 
died  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1857, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children,  of  whom  only  three  are 
now  living:  J.  J.,  of  this  review;  Lucy  and 
Hannah.  The  sister  Lucy  is  the  widow  of 
Isaac  Balengee,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Confederate  army  and  is  now  deceased.  She 
makes  her  home  in  Danville.  Hannah  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Clifton,  of  Omaha,  Ne- 
braska. 

In  the  fall  of  1835  Mr.  Rice  of  this  re- 
view came  to  Vermilion  county  with  his 
mother  and  lived  for  nine  years  on  Salt 
Fork.  He  then  remo\ed  to  Pilot  township, 
taking  up  his  abode  in  the  eastern  part,  and 
there  U\ed  for  five  years,  when  he  moved  to 
his  farm  on  section  16,  where  he  resided  un- 
til about  fifteen  years  ago,  when  he  and  his 
wife  removed  to  Charity,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Since  the  death  of  his  wife 
in  1901  Mr.  Rice  has  made  his  home  with 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  Harter,  of  Charity.  He 
started  out  in  the  business  world  with  less 
than  one  hundred  dollars,  but  now  he  is  a 
man  of  aftluence,  owning  two  hundrefl  and 
forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  worth  one  hun- 
dred dollars  per  acre.  All  this  has  been  ac- 
quired through  his  own  perseverance,  dili- 
gence and  honesty. 

On  the  nth  of  September,  1845,  -^^''• 
Rice  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss;  Mary  • 


Davis,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  September  13,  1823.  They  traveled 
life's  journey  together  for  almost  fifty-six 
years  and  then  on  the  utli  of  August,  kjoi, 
Mrs.  Rice  was  called  to  her  final  rest,  when 
nearly  se\enty-eight  years  of  age.  She  was 
one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  her  broth- 
ers and  sisters  being  as  follows  :  Irene,  who 
is  the  widow  of  F.  M.  Brewer  and  resides  in 
Indiana;  Emily,  the  widow  of  George  \\'il- 
son,  her  home  being  near  Quincy,  Illinois; 
Cynthia  Ann,  who  is  the  widow  of  Milton 
Cannon,  and  lives  in  Chicago ;  Diana,  the 
widow  of  Daniel  Cannon,  residing  near  Fitli- 
ian ;  Lura  J.,  the  widow  of  James  II.  W^est, 
and  a  resident  of  Kansas;  and  Owen,  who 
married  Sarah  Brown  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Arkansas.  Seven  children  were  born  unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice,  but  only  three  are  now 
living.  Bruce  L.  died  January  5,  1902, 
from  blood  poisoning  causetl  by  an  injury 
sustained  in  a  runaway.  He  was  then  fifty- 
six  years  of  age.  He  served  in  the  Civil  war 
as  a  private,  entering  the  army  when  only 
eighteen  years  of  age  for  one  hundred  days' 
service.  He  had  seven  children :  Mary, 
Grant,  Minnie,  Oscar,  Lucy,  Elmer  and 
Grace.  Isaac,  who  is  living  in  Arkansas,  has 
two  children,  Perry  and  Jessie.  George  C. 
was  killed  at  Oakwood  while  weighing  grain 
at  the  elevator.  He  fell  into  the  hopper  and 
was  suffocated  August  29,  1902.  He  had 
been  a  merchant  in  Oakwuod  for  al)out  fif- 
teen years  and  had  previously  been  a  mer- 
chant and  the  postmaster  at  Charity.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Cham- 
paign and  was  a  very  prominent  and  influ- 
tial  citizen  here.  Recognized  as  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Republican  ])arty  he  served  as 
a  member  of  the  county  central  committee. 
Me  was  also  a  devoted  Christian  gentleimn 
and  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was 
fifty -two    years    of    age,  was    very    deeply 


368 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mourned.  Emeretta  is  the  wife  of  T.  J. 
Harter,  of  Charity,  and  they  have  five  chil- 
dren :  John,  Nellie,  Lillie,  Roy  and  George. 
Mr.  Harter  is  now  operating  the  old  home 
place  and  JMr.  Rice  lives  with  him  and  his 
wife  in  Charity.  John  D.  makes  his  home  in 
Arkansas  and  has  one  child,  Carl.  ]\Iary  C. 
became  the  wife  of  Solomon  Strong  and 
died  in  Chicago,  September  29,  1891.  Jas- 
per, the  youngest  of  the  family,  has  also 
passed  away.  All  of  the  children  were  born 
on  the  old  home  place  with  the  exception  of 
two.  There  are  also  five  great-grandchil- 
dren :  Arvin  and  Leora  are  the  children  of 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Bates,  of  Des  ]Moines,  Iowa; 
Wesley  is  the  child  of  Oscar  Rice;  Beatrice 
Irene  is  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Nellie  Scaft", 
of  Charity;  Edith  May  is  the  daughter  of 
Lillie  M.  Cline,  of  Charity.  Three  of  the 
children  of  Jilrs.  Emeretta  Harter  are  also 
married :  John  wedded  Daisy  Eubank  and 
lives  in  Fithian;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  D.  L. 
ScaiT,  of  Charity;  and  Lillie  is  the  wife  of 
Mack  T.  Cline,  of  the  same  place. 

Mr.  Rice  is  now  the  oldest  living  settler 
of  Pilot  township  and  of  the  county  now  liv- 
ing in  this  township.  He  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land  from  the  go\-ernment  and  after- 
ward purchased  forty  acres  of  the  school 
land  when  it  was  placed  upon  the  market. 
^^"ith  characteristic  energy  he  began  the  de- 
velopment of  his  farm  and  though  he  had 
crude  farming  implements  compared  to  the 
improved  machinery  at  the  present  day,  it 
was  not  long  before  his  land  \\as  placed  un- 
der the  plow  and  made  to  yield  good  returns 
for  his  efforts.  He  always  provided  com- 
fortably for  his  family  and  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  valuable  interests  here.  For  more 
than  sixty  years  he  has  been  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  of  Christ  and  through  a 
long  period  has  served  as  one  of  its  elders. 
During  the  past  forty  years  he  has  advocated 


Prohibition  principles.  In  his  early  life  his 
political  support  was  given  to  the  Whig  par- 
ty and  upon  its  dissolution  he  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  new  Republican  party.  For  the 
past  twenty  years  'Sir.  Rice  has  voted  the 
Prohibition  ticket.  For  many  years  he  filled 
the  office  of  school  director  and  has  served 
on  county  and  state  juries,  in  matters  of 
citizenship  he  has  ever  been  public  spirited 
and  progressive,  taking  an  acti\'e  interest  in 
whatever  has  tended  to  promote  the  g-eneral 
progress.  He  has  ever  been  honorable  and 
straightforward  in  all  his  dealings  and  rela- 
tions with  his  fellow  men  and  now  in  the 
evening  of  life  he  can  look  back  over  the  past 
without  regret  and  forward  to  the  future 
without  fear.  His  name  commands  respect 
because  he  has  ever  been  true  to  upright 
principles.  Certainly  he  deserves  honorable 
mention  in  the  history  of  Vermilion  county 
and.  indeed,  the  record  of  this  portion  of  the 
state  would  be  incomplete  without  an  ac- 
count of  his  life. 


SETH    FAIRCHILD. 

Among  the  brave  men  who  devoted  the 
opening  years  of  their  manhood  to  the  de- 
fense of  our  country  during  the  dark  days 
of  the  Civil  war  was  Seth  Fairchild,  who 
throughout  his  active  business  life  was  iden- 
tified with  the  interests  of  Vermilion  coun- 
tv.  He  was  a  native  of  this  county,  born 
near  Danville,  Illinois,  October  14,  1836, 
and  was  a  son  of  Orman  and  Hannah 
(Wagnon)  Fairchild.  His  father  died  here, 
and  after  his  death  his  widow,  who  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  resided  in  Vermilion 
county. 

It  was  in  1872  that  Seth  Fairchild  took 
up  his  abode  in  Danville  aid  for  two  years 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


369 


carried  the  mail  between  this  place  and  East 
Lynn.  Later  he  made  his  home  in  Potomac, 
this  county,  for  six  years,  and  while  resid- 
ing there  was  employed  to  carry  the  mail  lie- 
tween  there  and  Danville.  At  the  end  of  that 
period  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  Blount  town- 
ship and  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming,  be- 
ing a  practical  agriculturist  and  a  man  of 
good  business  abilit\'. 

When  the  south  attempted  to  secede  Mr. 
Fairchild  resolved  to  join  the  boys  in  blue 
and  it  was  not  long  after  hostilities  began 
that  he  enlisted  on  the  ist  of  June,  1861,  in 
Company  B,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry.  With  his  company  he  participated 
in  many  important  battles  and  skirmishes 
and  during  the  engagement  at  Chattanooga 
was  wounded  in  the  foot,  being  confined  in 
the  hospital  there  nine  days.  When  his  term 
of  enlistment  expired  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  Illinois,  September 
5,  1864,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  this 
county. 

In  1865  Mr.  Fairchild  marrietl  Miss 
Pleuma  H.  Lyon,  who  was  born  in  Ohio 
Junction,  July  26,  1846.  Her  parents,  Fred- 
erick and  Bolivia  (McCleary)  Lyon,  were 
also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state,  where  in 
early  life  the  father  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade  and  later  was  captain  on  a  canal  boat, 
his  home  being  at  Ohio  Junction,  where  he 
died  when  Mrs.  Fairchild  was  young.  Fler 
mother  married  again. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fairchild  but  only  three  are  now  living. 
Laura  B.  is  the  wife  of  William  Crawford,  a 
contractor  of  Danville.  John,  also  a  con- 
tractor, who  lives  with  his  mother,  married 
Katie  Trout  and  has  three  thildren,  Lowell 
O.,  Edith  L.  and  John  Leo.  Stella  is  now 
clerking  in  the  Danville  Department  store  in 
Danxille.    Those  of  the  family  now  deceased 


are  Freddie,  May,  Luther  and  a  daughter 
who  died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Mr.  Fairchild  continued  to  make  his 
home  upon  his  farm  in  Blount  township  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  13th  of 
March,  1886.  By  his  ballot  he  always  sup- 
ported men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party  and  took  considerable  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  aiding  in  promoting  all  enter- 
prises which  he  believed  would  advance  the 
moral,  social  or  material  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived.  He  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Kimber  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Danville,  to  which  his 
wife  and  children  also  belong.  For  two 
years  and  a  half  after  his  death  Mrs.  Fair- 
child  continued  to  reside  on  the  farm  and 
then  removed  to  Danville,  erecting  there  her 
present  comfortable  residence  at  No.  11 24 
Gilbert  street.  Her  son  owns  other  Danville 
property,  including  a  place  on  the  corner  of 
Madison  and  Chandler  streets  and  in  Ver- 
milion Heights. 


JOHN    G.  SHEA. 

Prominent  among  the  energetic,  far-see- 
ing and  successful  business  men  of  Danville 
is  John  G.  Shea,  president  of  the  Danville 
Brick  and  Tile  Company,  incorporated.  His 
life  history  most  happily  illustrates  what 
may  be  attained  by  faithful  and  continued 
effort  in  carrying  out  an  honest  purpose.  In- 
tegrity, activity  and  energy  have  been  the 
crowning  points  in  his  success  and  his  con- 
nection with  various  business  enterprises  and 
industries  have  been  of  decided  advantage 
to  dift'erent  sections  of  Illinois,  promoting 
their  material  welfare  in  no  uncertain  man- 
ner. 

Mr.  Shea  was  born  in  Ireland,  July  i, 
1842,  a  son  of  Dennis  and  Honora  (Sulli- 


370 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


van)  Sliea.  wIid  were  also  natives  of  the 
Emerald  isle.  In  1850  the  father  brought 
his  family  to  the  new  world  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Coburg,  Canada,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years.  He  then 
came  to  Illinois,  where  he  followed  the  same 
])ursuit  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1887.  His  wife  passed  away  in 
1889. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  John  G. 
Shea  attended  the  common  schools  of  Can- 
ada and  after  completing  his  education  went 
to  .Auburn,  New  York,  where  he  was  lo- 
cated when  the  country  became  involved  in. 
civil  war.  Feeling  that  his  adopted  country 
needed  his  services,  he  enlisted  in  1861,  in 
Company  B,  Nineteenth  New  York  Infantry, 
which  afterward  became  Battery  E,  Third 
New  York  Artillery,  and  served  as  an  over- 
seer on  the  engineer  corps.  He  participated 
in  a  number  of  skirmishes  but  was  never  in- 
jured in  any  way  and  was  finally  discharged 
at  Auburn,  New'  York,  in  June,  1863. 

]Mr.  Shea  then  came  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Cumberland  county,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  a  year,  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  crossed  the  plains  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  the  following  four  years  being  devoted 
to  mining  in  California  and  Arizona.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  term  he  returned  east 
and  located  in  Decatur,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  until  1888. 
He  first  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of 
brick  and  tile,  becoming  manager  of  the  De- 
catur Tile  Company.  He  also  had  charge 
of  the  erection  of  their  plant,  and  he  remod- 
eled and  l)ecame  interested  in  two  plants  at 
Ouincy,  Illinois,  manufacturing  paving  brick 
and  dry  pressed  brick.  In  1896  he  sold  his 
interest  in  the  Decatur  works,  but  is  still 
connected  with  those  at  Ouincy,  his  son  be- 
ing the  present  superintendent,  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  same.     Mr.  Shea  removed 


to  Dan\illc  in  1892  and  settled  at  Vermilion 
Heights,  where  he  bought  his  present  plant 
and  has  since  carried  on  business  here.  The 
business  was  incorporated  in  1892  under  the 
name  of  the  Danville  PJrick  and  Tile  Com- 
pany, with  our  subject  as  president  and 
treasurer:  his  son  John  C,  vice  president 
and  his  wife,  secretary.  They  manufacture 
all  kinds  of  paving  brick,  selling  largely  to 
the  local  trade,  and  have  supplied  a  portion 
of  the  brick  for  the  streets  of  Danville,  but 
the}-  have  also  shipped  brick  to  Chicago  and 
Mattoon,  Illinois,  and  to  South  Bend,  Indi- 
ana, having  built  up  a  large  trade  in  these 
and  other  cities.  The  company  has  a  very 
extensi\-e  plant  and  regularlv  emplovs  over 
forty  hands.  Mr.  Shea  also  owns  a  coal 
mine  near  his  works,  from  which  he  gets  his 
supply  of  coal  to  carry  on  the  business.  His 
office  is  at  his  residence  at  No.  100  Warring- 
ton avenue,  Vermilion  Heights,  in  the  same 
locality.  Besides  his  valuable  property  in 
this  state  he  also  owns  a  nice  ranch  in  south- 
ern California. 

On  April  17,  1872,  Mr.  Shea  mar- 
ried Miss  Lusannah  Clark,  who  was  born  in 
West  Virginia,  on  the  17th  of  July,  1845. 
Her  parents,  Cornelius  and  Abigail 
(Wright)  Clark,  were  both  natives  of  ]\Ias- 
sachusetts  and  she  is  able  to  trace  her  an- 
cestry back  to  the  Clarks  that  came  to  this 
country  in  the  Mayflower.  Her  father  was 
interested  in  a  number  of  different  enter- 
prises. He  not  only  followed  farming  but 
he  owned  and  operated  salt  works  in  West 
Virg'inia  and  also  run  a  grist  and  saw  mill' 
there.  Later  he  came  west  and  died  in  Coles _ 
county,  Illinois,  wdiile  the  death  of  his  wife 
occurred  in  Decatur,  this  state,  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shea  lia\-e  two  chiklren. 
John  C  the  older,  was  born  August  26. 
1873,  and  was  graduated  at  the  university  at 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


3/1 


Urbana.  Illinois,  as  an  electrical  engineer. 
He  married  Frances  Meyers  and  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Ouincy.  where  he  is  superintedent  of 
his  father's  tile  works  but  expects  soon  to 
remove  to  Danville  and  assist  in  the  works 
here.  W'illard  W'.,  born  December  17,  1880, 
recei\ed  a  college  education  and  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Cuban  war,  belonging  to  the  bat- 
tery from  Danville.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Dinwiddie  and  lives  on  one  of  his  father's 
ranches  in  southern  California. 

In  politics  Air.  Shea  is  a  Republican  but 
»is  an  advocate  of  the  free  coinage  of  silver. 
While  a  resident  of  Decatur  he  took  quite  an 
active  antl  prominent  part  in  local  politics 
ami  served  as  alderman  of  the  city  for  two 
years.  Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public and  the  Royal  Templars,  all  of  Dan- 
^■ille.  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
tarian church  and  was  president  of  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  of  De- 
catur. Druing  the  ten  years  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  he  has  become  one  of  its 
leading  and  influential  business  men.  Thor- 
oughness and  persistency  have  characterized 
his  entire  business  career  and  have  been  sup- 
plemented by  careful  attention  to  details  and 
by  honorable  straightforward  effort  that  has 
gained  him  a  most  excellent  and  enviable 
reputation. 


WILLIAM    H.  YORK. 

William  H.  York,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  a  well  known  li\eryman  at  Ridge- 
farm,  was  born  in  Phelps  county,  Missouri, 
November  24,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Dodd)  York.  The  father  went 
to  ?*Iissouri  from  eastern  Tennessee  about 
1833,  l)eing  at  that  time  nineteen  years  of 
age.     He  was  reared  as  a  fanner  lad  and  on 

18 


attaining  his  majority  he  wedded  Mary 
Dodd,  and  they  Ijecame  the  parents  of  three 
daughters  and  two  sons.  The  mother  died 
near  Rolla,  Missouri,  in  i86_'.  The  father 
remained  in  that  state  until  1867  when  with 
his  family  he  went  to  Edmonson,  Kentucky, 
and  in  1877  with  his  children  he  removed  to 
Te.xas,  where  he  is  still  living.  Two  sisters 
of  our  subject  reside  in  the  Lone  Star  state 
and  one  sister  is  now  a  resident  of  Sumner 
county,  Kansas. 

William  H.  York  of  this  re\iew  pur- 
sued a  common-school  education  and  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  left  his  Kentucky  home  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  came 
direct  to  Ridgefarm  wiiere  he  has  lived  con- 
tinuously since  the  year  1871.  For  some 
nineteen  years  he  was  engaged  in  rail- 
roading on  various  railroads,  as  station 
agent  and  operator.  In  1898  he  became 
connected  with  the  livery  business  and 
has  since  owned  and  conducted  a  barn 
in  which  he  has  a  number  of  good  horses 
and  tine  vehicles.  His  earnest  desire  to 
please  his  patrons,  combined  with  an  oblig- 
ing manner  and  honorable  dealings  has  been 
the  means  of  bringing  to  him  a  profitable 
trade. 

On  the  7tli  of  March.  1S77,  ^^^'-  ^'"^k 
was  unitefl  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice  Lewis, 
a  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Esther  Lewis,  of 
Ridgefarm.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Indiana  and  Mrs.  York  had  three  sisters,  of 
whom  two  are  still  living.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  resided  continuously  in  Ridge- 
farm from  the  time  of  their  marriage  with 
the  exception  of  a  Ijrief  period  of  three 
years,  when  they  were  living  in  V^ermilion 
county,  Indiana,  and  one  year  in  Texas. 
They  have  four  children :  Roy,  who  is  now 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  is  married  and  lives 
in  Dallas,  Texas,  with  his  wife  and  one 
child;  Glenna,  eighteen  years  of  age,  Katie. 


372 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


thirteen  years  of  age,  and  Lewis,  wlio  is  a 
little  lad  of  seven  summers,  are  at  liome  with 
their  parents. 

Mr.  York  is  independent  in  his  pohtical 
views  and  at^iliations.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  the  Odd  Fellows  So- 
ciety and  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a 
good  citizen,  active  in  support  of  measures 
for  the  general  welfare  and  is  popular  with 
his  many  friends  and  neighbors.  From  an 
early  age  he  has  been  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  and  as  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortunes  lie  has  builded  wisely  and  well. 


GEORGE    DILLON. 

In  public  oiiice  George  Dillon  won  for 
himself  a  reputation  for  loyalty  and  fidelity 
and  in  private  life  he  gained  the  highest  re- 
gard of  his  fellow  men  by  reason  of  his  pos- 
session of  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  leading  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Danville  and  he  left  the  im- 
press of  his  individuality  upon  the  devel- 
opment of  the  city  and  upon  its  policy  in 
public  oftice.  He  represented  one  of  the  old 
Quaker  families  of  the  county  and  was  born 
near  Georgetown  on  the  i6th  of  January, 
1837,  his  parents  being  Luke  and  Chai'ity 
(Wright)  Dillon.  His  father  removed 
from  North  Carolina  to  Ohio  at  a  very  early 
day  and  was  a  resident  of  that  state  until 
1830,  when  he  came  to  the  west,  settling  in 
Vermilion  county.  He  took  up  his  abode 
on  a  farm  near  Georgetown  and  there  de- 
voted his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  in  1852.  His  wife  also  died  on  the 
old  home  place  there  and  after  her  demise 
Mr.  Dillon  was  again  married,  his  second 
union   being   with    Miss    Sarah    Hayworth, 


who  is  also  now  deceased.  There  were  ten 
children  born  of  the  first  union  but  none 
survive. 

George  Dillon  pursued  his  education  in 
th.e  country  schools  of  Georgetown  town- 
ship and  after  putting  aside  his  text  books 
he  engaged  in  farming  there,  carrying  on 
the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and  cultivating 
his  crops  until  the  country  became  invc/lved 
in  civil  war.  When  it  was  seen  that  the  re- 
bellion in  the  south  would  not  be  easily 
crushed  out  and  that  more  troops  were 
needed  Mr.  Dillon  enlisted  in  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantry for  three  years.  W'ith  his  command 
he  participated  in  many  battles  of  import- 
ance and  in  the  engagement  at  Dallas, 
Georgia,  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  arm. 
He  was  then  taken  to  the  hospital  at  Chat- 
tanooga. Tennessee,  and  later  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  wdiere 
his  arm  was  amputated.  Thus  he  made  a 
great  sacrifice  for  his  country  and  he  cer- 
tainly deserves  the  gratitude  of  the  nation 
because  of  the  assistance  which  he  rendered 
in  preserving  the  Union.  From  Nashville 
he  was  transferred  to  the  hospital  in  ]\Iound 
City,  Illinois,  where,  in  1865,  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge.  Immediately  there- 
after he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Georgetown 
township,  Vermilion  county,  and  for  a  long 
period  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Prior  to  entering  the  army  ^Ir.  Dillon 
had  married  on  the  7th  of  March,  1861, 
]Miss  Desdemona  F.  Martin,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Mary  (Morgan)  Martin.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  also 
became  an  early  settler  of  Vermilion  county, 
having  taken  up  his  abode  in  Georgetown 
township  in  1820.  There  he  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  farm  work  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.     He  was  also  justice  of 


GEORGE  DILLON. 


LIBRAI^Y 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


375 


the  peace  tliere  for  se\eral  years.  I''ive  chil- 
dren of  his  family  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Presley,  a  farmer  of  Blount  township ;  Eli- 
za, the  wife  of  A.  Spicer,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Georgetown  townsliip;  Martha,  the  wife 
of  Jesse  Ragel,  of  Georgetown;  Achilles, 
who  is  secretary  of  the  water  company  of 
Riverside,  California:  and  Mrs.  Dillon. 
Unto  our  suhject  and  liis  wife  have  been 
born  eight  children,  but  two  of  the  numljer 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are :  Lucre- 
tia  Alma,  the  wife  of  C.  S.  Johnson,  a  prin- 
ter of  Danville;  William  S.,  a  bookkeeper 
of  the  city;  Hannah,  tiie  wife  of  Harvey 
Johnson,  a  traveling  .salesman  of  Danville; 
Grace,  the  wife  of  Phillip  Yeager,  a  con- 
tractor of  Danville;  Joseph  G.,  a  bookkeeper 
of  this  city;  and  Robert  M.,  at  home. 

While  living  on  his  farm  Mr.  Dillon  held 
many  township  ofiices,  proving  a  most  cap- 
able and  trustworthy  official.  In  October, 
i86S.  he  removed  to  Danville  and  was 
elected  circuit  clerk  of  Vermilion  county, 
which  office  he  continued  to  fill  for  twelve 
years.  No  higher  testimonial  of  his  fidelity 
and  promptness  could  be  given  than  the  fact 
that  he  was  chosen  by  popular  suffrage  to 
the  ofhce  so  many  terms.  He  was  after- 
ward a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  the  county  and  has  held  other  official  po- 
sitions. On  his  retirement  from  the  office 
of  circuit  clerk  he  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace  and  filled  that  oftice  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents 
imtil  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  26th 
of  September,  1891.  To  some  extent  he 
also  dealt  in  real  estate  here  and  built  a  nice 
residence  at  No.  214  Robinson  street,  which 
is  yet  occupied  by  his  widow. 

In  his  politics  he  was  a  very  earnest  and 
pronounced  Republican  and  took  an  active 
interest  in  the  success  of  his  party.  He  be- 
longed to  Kenesaw  Post,  No.  "jj,  G.  A.  R., 


of  Dan\-ill(',  and  \v;is  its  liduored  commander 
at  the  time  of  his  demise.  He  was  also  a 
mcu"'ber  of  the  independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  this  city,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  held  membersliii)  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,  of  Danville.  He  took  a  very  deep 
ami  helpful  interest  in  the  church  work, 
served  as  elder  for  many  years  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  deacons.  I'rom  the  time  the  church  was 
built  in  Danville  he  continuously  served  in 
one  offi.ce  or  another  and  his  lalx>rs  in  its 
behalf  were  effecti\'e  and  far  reaching. 
Over  the  record  of  his  public  career  and  his 
private  life  there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong 
or  suspicion  of  evil.  He  left  his  wife  in 
\-ery  comfortably  circumstances  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  property  on  Robinson  street 
she  is  also  the  owner  of  several  other  dwell- 
ings in  Danville  and  of  a  store  ]>uilding 
here.  This  property  was  accpiired  by  Mr. 
Dillon  through  his  marked  energy,  enter- 
prise and  careful  management.  His  life 
was  exemplary  in  many  respects  and  he  had 
the  esteem  of  his  friends  and  the  confidence 
of  those  with  whom  he  had  business  rela- 
tions. 

♦-•-♦ 

W.  I.  BAIRD. 

W.  I.  Baird  is  well  known  in  Jamaica, 
having  gained  a  favorable  place  in  public  re- 
gard while  acting  as  telegraph  operator  and 
station  agent  here.  At  the  present  time  he  is 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  owning  an  ele- 
vator. Mr.  Baird  is  a  native  of  Champaign 
county,  Illinois,  born  January  28,  1870,  his 
paren.ts  being  J.  C.  and  Eliza  (Jones)  Baird, 
the  former  a  native  of  Brown  county,  Ohio, 
and  the  latter  of  Clermont  county,  Ohio. 
They  were  married  in  Clermont  county,  lo- 
cating upon  a  farm  there  and  in  1869  they 


3/6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


sought  a  home  in  llhnois,  making  tlieir  way 
westward  to  Champaign  county,  where  the 
father  again  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1892  lie  removed  to  Shelby  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  both  he  and  his  wife  are  still  liv- 
ing. In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he 
manifested  his  loyalty  to  the  Union  cause  by 
enlisting  as  a  member  of  Company  B.  Fifty- 
ninth  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry  in  July,  1861. 
With  the  boys  in  blue  of  his  command  he 
went  to  the  front  and  served  faithfully  until 
September,  i8(*4,  when  his  term  of  service 
having  expired  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. He  had  participated  m  the  battles 
of  Shiloh.  Alissionary  Ridge,  Chickamauga, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Pittsburg  Landing  and 
in  all  of  the  engagements  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, preceding  Sherman's  celebrated 
march  to  the  sea.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
he  was  wounded  in  the  abdomen.  He  now 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
thus  maintaining  pleasant  relations  with  his 
comrades  of  the  blue.  He  has  held  a  great 
many  township  offices,  proving  capable  and 
efficient  in  publiQ  service  and  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  In  his  family  were 
ten  childern :  Charles,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty  years;  Dora,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five  years :  W.  I.,  who  is  the  oldest 
living  son;  Martha,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Howard,  w"ho  is  married  and  resides  in  Xi- 
antic,  Illinois;  Bertha,  who  is  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  public  schools  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  parents;  .Vrthur.  John,  Ethel 
and  Myrtle,  all  of  whom  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof. 

W.  I.  Baird  pursued  his  early  education 
in  the  North  Raymond  school  near  Sidney, 
Illinois,  and  afterw'ard  attended  in  the 
Whitehall  district  near  Broadland,  Illinois. 
He  subsequently  was  a  student  in  the  X'or- 
mal    school    at    \'alparaiso,,    Indiana,    after 


which  he  returned  to  Champaign  county. 
There  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  attentled  a  school  in  Janes- 
ville,  \\'isconsin,  taking  up  the  study  of  te- 
legraphy, in  which  course  he  w-as  graduated 
in  iSg.;.  He  next  entered  the  services  of  the 
Chicago  Hi  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Com- 
pany, serving  as  relief  agent  for  that  road 
for  six  months  on  the  Chicago  division.  On 
the  2d  of  January.  1894,  he  came  to  Jamaica 
as  station  agent  and  telegraph  operator,  con- 
tinuously filling  the  position  with  marked 
capability  until  February,  1901,  when  he  re- 
signed and  purchased  the  grain  elevator 
which  he  now  owns.  Already  he  has  be- 
come established  in  a  good  trade,  which  is 
returning  to  him  a  profitable  income. 

On  Christmas  day  of  1894,  at  Goldfield, 
Iowa,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  W.  I. 
Baird  and  Aliss  Ethel  Jones,  who  was  born 
in  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  1S73,  her  parents  being  J.  R.  anrl 
Rebecca  (Wilson)  Jones,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana,  while  the  latter  was  born  in 
Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  where  their  mar- 
riage was  celebrated.  There  they  located 
and  Mr.  Jones  engaged  in  farming  until 
1894,  when  with  his  wife  he  removed  to 
Iowa,  where  they  are  now  living.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  his  political  adherence  and  is 
at  present  serving  as  notary  public  and  justice 
of  the  peace.  In  his  religious  faith  he  and 
his  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Jamaica,  and  he  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  and 
president  of  the  Epworth  League.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  Longview 
Lodge  Xo.  254,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  Jamaica 
Camp,  Xo.  9222.  M.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  clerk.    . 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  have  a  pleasant  resi- 
dence in  Jamaica  and  the  hospitality  of  the 
best  homes  is  extended  to  them.    His  courte- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ous  obliging  manner  and  helpful  disposition 
made  Air.  Baird  a  popular  station  agent  and 
he  is  equally  well  and  favorably  known  as  a 
grain  merchant. 


JAMES  O'XEAL. 

James  O'Neal  has  the  tlistinction  and 
honor  of  being  the  first  white  child  born  in 
\'erniilion  county.  Here  he  has  resided  for 
more  than  eighty  years,  his  birth  ha\'ing  oc- 
curred in  Georgetown  township,  on  the  20th 
of  April.  1822.  People  of  the  twentieth  cen- 
tury can  scarcely  realize  the  struggles  and 
danger  which  attended  the  early  settlers,  the 
heroism  and  self-sacrifice  of  lives  passed  upon 
the  borders  of  civilization,  the  hardships  en- 
dured, the  difficulties  overcome, — these  tales 
of  the  early  days  read  almost  like  a  romance 
to  those  who  have  known  only  modern  pros- 
perity and  conveniences.  To  the  pioneer  of 
the  early  day,  far  removed  from  the  privi- 
leges and  conveniences  of  city  or  town,  the 
struggle  for  exisfence  was  a  stern  and  hard 
one  and  these  men  and  women  must  have 
possessed  indomitable  energy  and  sterling- 
worth  of  character,  as  well  as  marked 
physical  courage  when  they  willingly 
selected  such  a  life  and  successfully  fought 
its  battles  under  such  circumstances  as 
prevailed  in  the  west.  The  parents  of  our 
subject  were  Thomas  and  Sarah  (  Howard  ) 
O'Xeal,  the  former  a  native  of  Nelson  coun- 
ty. Kentucky,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  It 
was  in  the  year  1821  that  the  father  came 
to  this  county,  settling  near  Brooks  Point, 
where  he  took  up  a  claim  that  embraces  what 
is  now  the  Caraway  farm.  There  he  resided 
for  three  years  and  then  entered  eighty  acre.< 
of  land  near  the  Big  \'erniilion  creek.  After 


moving  on  the  \'erniilion  river  he  estab- 
lished a  tannery,  made  and  dressed  his  own 
leather,  and  made  shoes  for  his  family.  He 
made  Indian  moccasins  for  the  use  of  him- 
self and  family  and  to  sell  to  the  Indian.s. 
These  Indians  were  principally  of  the  Potta- 
wattamie and  Kickap(_)o  tribes.  Most  of  the 
winter  was  spent  in  making  rails  and  clear- 
ing up  ground,  thus  adding  about  ten  acres 
e\ery  season  to  the  tillable  land.  After  the 
Black  Hawk  war  broke  out  he  saddled  his 
horse  and  with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder  went 
into  the  service,  taking  the  place  of  his  oldest 
son  who  had  gone  several  months  before, 
and  there  remained  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  developed  a  good  farm  there  and 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his 
ileatli  occurring  in  September,  1861.  His 
wife  died  two  years  later  and  their  family 
consisted  of  nine  children  :  Samuel,  John, 
Isaac  and  Cynthia  Ann,  all  deceased;  James; 
Perry,  who  has  also  passed  away ;  Nancy, 
the  wife  of  Lewis  Balla,  residing  on  the  old 
family  homestead  on  Big  \'ermilion; 
Thomas ;  and  Sarah. 

James  O'Neal  was  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life  and  shared  with  the 
family  in  the  hardships  and  trials  incident 
to  pioneer  settlement.  He  assisted  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  until  fwenty-two 
years  of  age  and  during  that  period  acquired 
his  education  in  the  subscription  or  common 
schools.  He  then  began  work  in  the  old 
Morgan  and  Sheets  grist  mill  in  Danx'ille 
township  on  the  Big  Vermilion,  now  known 
as  the  Kyger  mill,  being  there  employed  for 
six  years. 

During  that  time  Mr.  O'Neal  was  mar- 
ried to  \'esta  Pratt,  also  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  October  2,  1829,  and  died  on 
the   loth  of  November,  1902.     Her  ])arcnts 


378 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


were  Jonallian  and  Xancy  (^Stevens)  Pratt, 
the  former  a  native  of  Canada  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky.  In  a  very  early  day  her  father 
removed  to  this  county.  Soon  afterward  he 
entered  the  mihtary  service  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  and  died  of  cholera  while  thus 
engageil.  His  wife  passed  away  in  this 
county.  They  resided  upon  a  farm  which  is 
known  as  the  old  Cole  farm  in  Danville 
township.  The  home  of  'Sir.  and  ]SIrs.  O'Xeal 
was  blessed  with  ten  children.  Cynthia  Am 
is  the  wife  of  Simon  W.  Doop.  a  butcher  of 
Casey,  Iowa;  Xancy  J.  is  the  deceased  wife 
of  A.  J.  Scott.  Oliver  Perry,  born  October 
i6,  1853.  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  \'er- 
milion  and  Edgar  counties  for  ten  years  and 
since  tliat  time  has  devoted  his  attention  to 
farming,  making  his  home  with  his  father. 
Jonathan  T.  wedded  Mary  F.  Smith  and  is 
a  contractor  of  Westville.  Sarah  Hannah 
died  in  infancy.  Mary  L.  is  the  wife  of  H. 
J.  Kirby,  of  Danville.  Sylvia  A.  is  the 
widow  of  Thomas  Sandusky  and  lives  with 
her  father.  Clarissa  E.  also  resides  with  her 
father.  Effie  L.  is  the  wife  of  Alva  Carri- 
gan,  who  is  employed  in  the  railroad  shops 
of  Danville.  James  H.  is  a  carpenter  by 
trade  working  with  his  brother. 

After  his  marriage  J\Ir.  O'Xeal  resided 
upon  the  old  homestead  farm  for  four  years 
and  then  removed  to  his  present  farm.  He 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  made  excel- 
lent improvements  thereon  and  continued  the 
work  of  cultivation  for  a  number  of  years, 
but  is  now  living  retired  and  his  sons  manage 
the  property.  When  the  family  first  came 
to  Vermilion  county  Closes  Scott  owned  all 
of  the  land  where  the  town  of  Westville  now 
stands  and  a  plum  orchard  occupied  the 
site  of  the  homes  and  business  houses  which 
now  adorn  that  locality.  ]\Ir.  O'X'eal  built 
his  home  before  that  town  of  \\"estville  was 


laid  out.  He  has  never  held  anv  political 
offices,  save  .some  minor  ones,  as  he  has  al- 
ways preferred  to  give  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  affairs.  His  first  presi- 
tlential  \ote  was  cast  for  Henry  Clay  and 
upon  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  joined  its  ranks  and  has  since  con- 
tinued to  follow  its  banners.  Mr.  0"Xeal  is 
identified  through  membership  relations  with 
the  Christian  Church,  as  was  also  his  wife, 
and  for  some  time  he  served  as  one  of  its  el- 
ders. His  life  has  been  one  of  untiring  indus- 
trv  crowned  with  success  and  there  are  few 
men  better  known  in  this  county  and  none 
more  deserve  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
those  with  whom  they  have  come  in  contact 
than  does  James  O'Neal.  He  has  now  passed 
the  eightieth  milestrme  on  life's  journey,  but 
he  still  manifests  a  deep  interest  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  its  welfare  and  throughout 
his  career  he  has  ever  taken  an  active  part 
in  everything  pertaining  to  the  general  good. 
X'o  history  of  the  county  would  be  complete 
without  mention  of  his  life  for  his  residence 
here  anti-dates  that  of  any  other  native  son 
and  he  is  one  of  the  revered  patriarchs  of  the 
community. 


CHARLES  E.   CHESLEY. 

Charles  E.  Chesley  was  born  in  Dan- 
ville April  16,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Roliert 
y.  Chesley  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  The  son  attended  the  pu.blic 
schools  of  his  native  city  and  continued  his 
studies  in  the  high  school  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  seventeen  years,  when  his  father 
died  and  he  put  aside  his  text-books  in  order 
to  pnivide  for  his  own  support.  He  secured 
eiuployment  in  the  carriage  factor}-  owned 
Ijy  Daniel  Force,  working  as  a  painter  there 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


379 


for  two  years.  He  then  entered  tlie  service 
of  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company  as  call 
boy  and  after  a  time  was  promoted  to  fire- 
man. His  fidelity  to  dnty  and  his  efficiency 
later  won  him  promotion  to  engineer  and 
stibsecjuently  he  became  roundhouse  foreman 
at  Tilton,  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 
He  then  again  went  up(_>n  the  road  l)ut  after 
a  year  he  once  more  became  foreman,  acting 
in  that  capacity  for  two  years.  He  was 
next  assistant  to  C.  F.  Lape,  general  master 
mechanic.  Once  more  he  went  upoi:  the  road 
as  an  engieer  and  then  after  twelve  years' 
service  with  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company 
he  resigned  his  position  in  1886  and  estab- 
lished his  present  business,  in  connection 
with  his  brother,  John  L.  Chesley.  Under  the 
business  style  of  Chesley  Brothers'  Boiler 
Works,  thev  are  conducting  a  plaiU  in  which 
is  manufactured  tanks,  boilers,  stacks,  and 
other  sheet  iron  products  which  are  shipped 
extensively  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Their  business  is  continuallv  increasing  and 
has  already  reached  proportions  that  make 
it  a  leading  industrial  concern  of  this  city. 
Mr.  Chesley  likewise  owns  real  estate  in  addi- 
tion to  the  plant  and  liuildings  of  the  firm. 
In  May,  1878,  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Charles  E.  Chesley  and  ^liss  Ida 
M.  Dicken.  They  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  namely:  Beulah  V.,  Edna  M.,  .An- 
nie, Alice  and  Robert  E.  Chesley.  I\Ir.  and 
]\Irs.  Chesley  hold  membership  in  the  Epis- 
copal church  and  fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks  and  the  Court  of 
Honor.  In  his  political  views  he  is  an  ear- 
nest and  stalwart  Republican,  and  for  one 
term  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  coun- 
cil, during  which  time  he  was  chairman  of 
the  sewerage  committee,  and  under  his  di- 


rection the  large  Jarets  branch  sewer  was 
built.  This  is  one  of  the  best  improvements 
the  city  has  ever  had.  In  matters  of  public 
concern  Mr.  Chesley  has  ever  Ijcen  found 
progressive  and  helpful,  giving  his  co-opera- 
tion to  many  movements  for  the  general 
gootl.  j\s  a  business  man  he  is  known  for 
his  enterprise,  industrv,  and  perse\'erance — 
qualities  which  form  important  elcmcn  s  in 
a  successful  career. 


EARL  MILLER.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Earl  Miller,  who  is  [jracticing  in  In- 
dianola,  was  born  in  Marion  countv,  Indi- 
ana, Septemlier  18.  1872.  His  father,  Asher 
N.  INIiller,  also  a  native  of  Marion  county, 
was  a  son  of  \'incent  M.  and  Elizabeth 
(Kise)  Miller.  ^\fter  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity  Asher  N.  Miller  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  stock-raising  in  the 
countv  of  his  nativitv  and  became  well-to- 
do  because  of  his  business  ability  and  close 
application  to  his  chosen  work.  He  still 
resides  u])on  his  farm  near  Clermont,  In- 
diana, at  the  age  of  fiftv-eight  vears,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  influential  and  prom- 
inent residents  of  his  community.  He  is 
a  man  of  strong  character,  who  has  lived 
a  temperate,  moral  life,  and  his  genuine 
worth  has  gained  for  him  the  warm  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact.  He  marriecl  Ettie  L.  Hornaday, 
also  a  native  of  Marion  county.  Indiana, 
ami  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Elizabeth 
(Wiley)  Hornaday,  who  were  natives  of 
Rush  county.  tli;it  st;Ue.  Their  children 
were  Harvey  Hornaday,  a  journalist  resid- 
ing in  Oklahoma;  Henderson,  who  is  a 
practicing  physician  of  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana;  Santford,   a   resident  of  Indianapolis, 


^8o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Indiana,  a  contractor  of  public  works ;  Lil- 
lie,  wife  of  Abraham  Pollard,  of  Indianapo- 
lis; Miles  G.,  of  Indianapolis,  an  expert  ac- 
countant ;  and  Ettie  L.,  the  wife  of  'Slv.  Mil- 
ler. By  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mil- 
ler seven  children  were  born,  of  whom  the 
Doctor  is  the  eldest.  The  others  are:  Hat- 
tie,  who  died  in  childhood:  Chester  C,  a 
dentist  of  Indianapolis;  Verlinda.  a  teacher 
of  Clermont,  Indiana ;  Harry  G..  a  student 
in  the  Central  College  of  Dentistry  at  In- 
dianapolis :  Carl  R.,  who  is  following  farm- 
ing near  Clermont ;  and  Janette,  who  is  a 
student  of  the  schools  of  Clermont. 

Dr.  iNIiller  pursued  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  subsequently 
became  a  student  in  Butler  University, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  When 
his  literary  course  was  completed  he  de- 
cided to  enter  upon  the  stu.dy  of  medicine, 
■wishing  to  make  its  practice  his  life  work, 
and  on  the  completion  of  the  prescribed 
course  he  was  graduated  in' the  Central  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Indian- 
apolis, Indiana,  with  the  class  of  1897.  Lo- 
cating in  Indianola,  Illinois,  he  has  since 
been  in  active  practice  here  and  althotigh 
the  period  of  his  residence  in  Vermilion 
countv  covers  only  five  years,  he  has  gained 
a  reputation  which  many  an  older  physician 
might  well  envy. 

The  Doctor  was  married  on  the  14th  of 
June.  1897,  to  ]\Iiss  ]\Iargaret  D.  Varner, 
who  was  born  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  17th  of  June,  1877.  Mrs.  ^Miller  is 
the  third  child  of  Allan  and  Jemima  (Dick- 
son) ^^arner.  Allan  Varner  was  born  April 
18,  1829,  and  his  wife,  who  was  the  young- 
est daughter  of  David  and  ^Margaret  Dick- 
son, early  pioneers  of  ^"ermilion  county, 
was  born  January  20.  1844.  Unto  Allan 
Varner  and  his  wife,  who  are  now  residing 


in  Chrisman,  Illinois,  were  born  six  chil- 
dren: J.  D.,  l)orn  January  13,  1869.  a 
business  man  of  Indianapolis;  Mary,  born 
January  4,  1874,  wife  of  T.  W.  Clayton, 
of  Chicago;  Margaret,  born  June  17.  1877, 
wife  of  the  Doctor;  Robert,  born  April  10, 
1879,  who  graduated  from  the  Indiana 
Medical  College  in  1903;  William,  born 
"\Iarch  15,  1881,  a  resident  of  Chrisman, 
Illinois :  and  David,  of  Chrisman,  born  July 
14,  1883.  To  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  one 
child  has  been  born,  Jemima,  born  June  14, 
1902.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
affiliations.  Temperate  in  his  habits  and 
of  a  refined  nature,  he  also  possesses  a  sym- 
pathetic disposition  which  proves  an  im- 
portant element  in  his  successful  profes- 
sional career.  He  has  the  strictest  regard 
for  the  ethics  of  his  profession,  an  exalted 
view  of  his  life  work  and  while  engaged  in 
the  alleviation  of  human  suffering,  he  also 
commands  the  highest  respect  of  those  with 
whom  he  is  associated. 


ADAM    H.  ?iIOZIER. 

-\.dam  H.  IMozier,  who  is  now  extensive- 
ly engaged  in  the  dealing  of  hogs  and  was 
formerly  known  as  a  cattle  dealer  as  well 
as  general  farmer,  makes  his  home  in  Pilot 
township  near  Collison.  He  was  born  in 
Greene  county.  Ohio,  in  1834.  a  son  of  Sol- 
omon and  Christina  (Cox)  Mozier,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Pilot  township  upon  the  farm 
where  they  settled  on  coming  to  \'ermilion 
county.  The  father  passed  away  in  1871 
and  the  mother  sur\ived  until  1887.  when 
she.  too.  was  called  to  her  final  rest,  leaving 
five    children,    all    of    whom    vet    survi\-e. 


^M 

N 

■ 

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'''      ^1 

1 

J^ 

f 

^^^^^^^^ 

^^iM 

^H^H 

A.  H.  MOZIER. 


LIBRARY 

OF  Ti-tE 

UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


385 


Adam  H.  and  Jolm  are  twins  and  the  latter 
is  now  a  resident  of  Jefferson  county,  Illi- 
nois. \Villiani  makes  his  home  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Kansas.  Levi  is  enga,n-ed 
in  the  coal  husiness  in  Danville.  Harriet  is 
the  wife  of  D.  C.  Deamude,  who  is  one  of 
the  commissioners  of  the  National  I 'ark, 
li^'ins^  near  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 

Adam  H.  Mozier  \\as  but  two  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  removed  to  Warren 
Cdunty,  Indiana,  there  remaining  from  1836 
until  1840,  when  they  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  our  subject  being  then  in  his  fif- 
teenth year.  He  acquired  hi  education  in 
the  i)ublic  schools  and  in  Danville  Seminary, 
which  he  attended  through  two  terms.  Aft- 
er his  father's  death  he  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  with  his  mother  and  cared  for 
the  property.  After  his  mother's  death  in 
18S7,  he  wedded  Miss  Martha  Cooper,  of 
Miami  county,  Indiana,  their  parents  hav- 
ing been  neighbors  in  the  Hoosier  state. 
The  Cooper  family  was  established  in  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  in  1865.  Both  Mr. 
and  -NTrs.  Cooper  are  now  deceased  and  the 
family  is  quite  widely  scattered.  Six  of  the 
children  still  survive:  Mrs.  Eliza  Juvinall, 
of  Oregon ;  Mrs.  Millie  Clarkson,  of  Kan- 
sas; Mary,  who  is  living  in  Pilot  township; 
Henn,',  in  Muncie,  Indiana;  John  D.,  who 
resides  near  Higginsville,  Illinois ;  and 
Amos. 

Throughout  his  entire  life  Mr.  Mozier 
has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  he 
now  owns  two  hundred  and  sc\'enty  acres 
of  land,  most  of  which  is  culti\abk'. 
Through  a  long  period  he  planted  iiis  fields 
to  the  crops  best  adapted  to  the  soil  and 
climate  but  during  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
rented  his  farm  land,  retaining  only  his  ])as- 
ture  lands  for  his  stock.  He  feeds  from  six- 
ty to  seventy  head  of  hogs  annually  and 
formerly  was  extensively  engaged  in  feed- 


ing cattle,  in  which  branch  of  his  business 
he  has  made  most  of  his  mone)'.  He  raises 
his  stock  and  sells  to  buyers,  seldom  mak- 
ing shipments  himself  to  the  city  markets. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Mozier  is  a 
stalwart  RepuLdican  and  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential \'0te  for  John  C.  l-'remont.  h'or  two 
years  he  served  as  tax  collector  and  has 
lieen  school  trustee  for  thirty  years.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  to  that  position  and  has 
been  chosen  at  each  consecutive  election 
since,  k^or  several  terms  he  was  road  super- 
\-isor  and  has  ever  been  a  faithful  officer, 
discharging  his  duties  with  diligence  and 
promptness.  In  1884  he  erected  his  pres- 
ent home  on  section  12,  Pilot  township,  and 
in  1805  built  his  fine  barn  there.  For  more 
than  half  a  century  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  county,  carrying  on  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  is  widely  known  as  a 
straightforward  business  man,  whose  word 
is  as  good  as  his  bond. 


LUTHER  A.  CLINGAX. 

Luther  A.  Clingan  belongs  to  that  class 
of  representative  American  citizens,  wIkj 
while  promoting  their  individual  success  alscj 
advance  the  general  prosperity.  He  is  to-day 
numbered  among  the  leading,  intluential  and 
prosperous  residents  of  Georgetown  town- 
ship. His  business  interests  have  been  ex- 
tensive and  of  important  character,  and  he  is 
now  identified  with  agricultural  and  financial 
interests.  He  has  also  been  called  upon  to 
serve  in  positions  of  public  trust  and  at  the 
present  writing,  in  igo2,  is  filling  the  position 
of  county  commissioner  of  highways. 

Mr.  Clingan  is  a  native  son  of  this  coun- 
ty, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Danville 
township.  His  parents  were  James  S.  and  El- 


38b 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


vira  (Oleahv)  Clingan,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Vermilion  connty, 
Illinois.  William  Clingan,  the  paternal 
grandfather  of  ( mr  sul)ject.  removed  from  the 
Buckeye  state  to  this  count\-  in  1844,  becom- 
ing" one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Danville 
township,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  death.  James  Clingan  also 
became  a  farmer  of  this  county  and  from  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  his  parents  to  the 
west  made  his  home  in  Catlin  township  until 
1867.  He  then  became  a  resident  of  West- 
ville,  where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death 
in  August.  1899.  His  widow  still  survives 
and  is  yet  living  in  Westville. 

Luther  A.  Clingan  was  the  youngest  of 
their  four  children.  In  the  district  schools 
he  pursued  his  education,  mastering  the 
branches  of  learning  taught  in  such  institu- 
tions. He  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  until  his  marriage,  when  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  wedded 
Miss  Martha  Graves,  a  daughter  of  L.  H. 
Graves,  who  was  also  a  pioneer  of  Vermilior. 
county  and  became  one  of  the  first  residents 
of  Georgetown  township,  where  some  of  his 
family  are  yet  living.  Mrs.  Clingan  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  January  29.  1897.  Of 
the  seven  children  born  of  that  union  three 
are  yet  living :  Blanche.  Hershal  and  Roy. 
Those  deceased  are :  Herman,  Frankie. 
Fred  and  Ray.  In  1899.  Mr.  Clingan  was 
again  married,  wedding  Miss  Leeta  Graves, 
a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 

In  1886  Mr.  Clingan  settled  upon  a  small 
farm  which  was  a  part  of  the  old  Graves' 
estate  and  located  near  his  presnt  home. 
Soon  afterward,  however,  he  sold  most  of 
that  land  to  the  Westville  Coal  Company, 
which  opened  mines  upon  that  tract.  He 
then  purchased  his  present  farm  on  section 
18,  Georgetown  township,  also  a  part  of  the 


old  Graxes"  estate.  Here  he  made  many  ex- 
cellent improvements  in  keeping  with  the 
progressive  spirit  of  the  twentieth  century. 
His  is  the  finest  farm  residence  in  George- 
town and  is  pleasantly  located  near  the  state 
road  between  Westville  and  Georgetown. 
Mr.  Clingan,  himself,  has  done  little  farming 
as  he  rents  his  land.  He  is  speculating  to 
a  consideraljle  extent  in  land  and  his  invest- 
ments have  been  so  judiciuosly  made  that 
they  have  returned  to  him  splendid  capital. 
As  coal  was  found  upon  his  farm  he  sold 
his  land  at  a  good  profit  and  he  has  also 
made  other  purchases  and  sales  wherefrom 
he  has  realized  a  good  profit.  He  now  owns 
three  hundred  acres  in  Edgar  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Porter  county.  Indiana,  and  three  hundred 
acres  in  \'ermilion  county.  Illinois,  all  of 
which  is  rented.  Mr.  Clingan  is  the  founder 
of  the  town  of  Lmionville,  Illinois,  and  his 
sale  of  town  lots  there  amounted  to  more 
than  seven  thousand  dollars.  For  the  past 
three  years  he  has  been  a  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  of  Georgetown,  and 
throughout  this  county  he  is  regarded  as 
a  wide-awake  enterprising  business  man,  be- 
longing to  that  class  of  representative  citi- 
zens who  have  been  the  founders  and  up- 
builders  of  Illinois  and  the  great  west.  He 
is  well  known  in  the  city  of  Danville  and 
throughout  this  portion  of  the  state  and  in 
business  circles  he  sustains  an  unassailable 
reputation. 

In  1899  Mr.  Clingan  was  elected  to  the 
oiTlce  of  commissioner  of  highways  in  whicl 
capacity  he  is  still  serving.  He  has  always 
been  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  views 
and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  politics, 
keeping  well  informed  on  the  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day,  which  enables  him  to  sup- 
port  his   position   l)y   intelligent   argument. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


3S7 


I'or  three  _\ears  lie  served  as  a  school  di- 
rector in  his  district.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Westville  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  church  there. 
It  is  beliexed  by  some  that  fortunate  circum- 
stances are  an  important  element  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  men  who  advance  beyond  the 
common  plane  of  life  in  the  accjuirement  of 
wealth,  I)ut  in  analyzing  the  history  of  a  suc- 
cessful man  it  will  alwa\'s  Ijc  found  that  there 
are  certain  elements  in  his  career,  and  that 
among  tiiese  is  the  ability  to  recognize  and 
improve  opportunities,  combined  with  skill- 
fully direct  industry, — such  is  the  case  in 
the  histor\-  of  Mr.  Clingan,  who  to-day  is 
numbered  among  the  most  pr(.)sperous  resi- 
dents of  X'ermilion  county.  His  success  has 
been  worthil_\-  won  through  honorable  effort, 
keen  discernment  and  enterprise,  and  the  re- 
spect and  confitlence  of  his  many  friends  is 
justly  merited. 


EDWARD  C.  KESPLER. 

Edward  C.  Kespler,  now  deceased,  was 
a  well  known  farmer  of  Vermilion  county 
and  became  a  resident  of  this  portion  of  the 
state  in  the  year  1851.  A  native  of  Ger- 
many, he  was  bom  October  8,  1837,  and 
his  parents,  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  Kespler, 
were  also  born  in  the  same  country,  there 
remaining  until  185 1  when  they  determined 
to  seek  a  home  in  America  and  crossed  the 
briny  deep  to  the  new  world  reaching  the 
eastern  shores  of  this  country  where  thev  ilid 
not  tarry  long,  but  made  their  way  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois.  The  father  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  State  Line.  There  he 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his 
death,  meeting  with  signal  success  in  his 
work. 


Edward  C  Kespler  was  about  fourteen 
years  of  age  when  he  left  the  fatherland 
and  came  to  the  new  world.  He  atlendctl 
the  common  schi_)ols  near  State  Line  and  as- 
sisted his  father  upon  the  home  farm  until 
after  the  country  became  invoh'ed  in  Civil 
war  over  the  attempt  of  the  southern  states 
to  secede.  He  enlisted  on  the  i6th  of  No- 
\-ember,  1864,  and  was  assigned  to  Com- 
l)any  C,  of  the  Fourth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry.  This  command  was  in  a  number 
of  engagements  of  importance,  including  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  where  Mr.  Kespler  was 
taken  prisoner.  He  was  then  sent  to  Ander- 
S(.)n\'ille  prision  where  he  underwent  all  the 
hardships  and  rigors  of  southern  prison  life 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  then  received 
an  honorable  discharge  on  the  24th  of  June, 

1865.  Returning  to  his   father's   farm  he 
was  there  employed  until  his  marriage. 

That  important  e\ent  in  the  life  of  Mr. 
Kes]iler  occurred  on  the  23d  of  December, 

1866,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Anna 
P.  Neigenfind,  a  native  of  Prussia,  Germany, 
born  on  the  23(1  of  September,  1847,  and  a 
daughter  of  Gotleib  Christ  and  Johanna  Fliz- 
abeth  Neigenfind.  They  too  were  nati\-es  of 
Germany  and  in  1861  the  father  came  to 
America,  settling  first  in  Canada  where  he 
worked  as  a  laborer  for  a  year.  He  then 
went  to  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a  brickyard  for  a  year.  During 
that  time  he  had  saved  some  money  which  he 
sent  to  Germany  for  his  family  in  order  to 
])ay  their  passage  to  the  new  world.  Here 
he  was  joined  by  his  wife  and  children  in 
1863.  For  a  year  thereafter  they  lived  in 
Ripon  and  then  removed  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  settling  on  Main  street  in  Dan- 
ville. In  this  city  the  father  was  emjiloved 
as  a  laborer  and  afterward  he  engaged  in 
gardening  on  his  own  account  until  old  age 


338 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


forced  his  retirement  from  business  life. 
Both  he  and  liis  wife  now  reside  with  Mrs. 
Kespler  and  Mr.  Neigenfind  is  now  eighty- 
four  years  of  age  while  his  wife  has  reacheil 
the  advanced  age  of  sevnty-eight  years.  The 
home  of  ]Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kespler  was  blessed 
with  four  children :  :\Iary  E..  now  the  wife 
of  Louis  Steck.  a  farmer  residing  in  Ogden. 
Illinois:  Frank  E.,  who  married  Lydia  M. 
Pratt,  their  home  being  in  Georgetown,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  is  engaged  in  business  as  the 
leading  druggist  of  that  place:  Anna  Cath- 
erine, the  wife  of  H.  L.  Smith,  a  butcher  of 
Danville:  and  William  F.,  who  married  May 
Wilke  and  is  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  cloth- 
ing store  in  Danville.  All  of  the  children 
were  provided  with  good  educational  privi- 
leges. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Kespler  resided 
upon  a  farm  near  Perrysville  for  one  year 
and  then  returned  to  State  Line  where  he 
carried  on  farming  for  another  year.  He 
then  again  took  up  his  abode  at  Perrysville, 
purchasing  a  farm  which  he  continued  to 
cultivate  until  his  death.  He  made  his  place 
verv  productive  because  of  the  care  and  labor 
which  he  bestowed  upon  it.  The  excellent 
improvements  still  seen  there  are  the  results 
of  his  handiwork  and  everything  about  the 
place  indicates  his  careful  supervision  and 
progressive  spirit.  He  was  a  hard 
working  man,  industrious  and  hon- 
est and  became  well-to-do.  He  was 
never  an  office  seeker  nor  did  he  desii^e  polit- 
ical preferment  }-et  he  was  known  as  a  sub- 
stantial and  inflexible  adherent  of  Republi- 
can principles.  He  passed  awa}'  November 
27,  1878,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  regretted 
not  only  by  his  immediate  family  but  by 
many  friends,  for  he  had  gained  an  enviable 
place  in  public  regard. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Kes- 


pler has  removed  to  Danville  and  is  living 
with  her  father  and  mother  at  No.  23  Hays 
street,  her  parents  having  there  resided  since 
1865.  She  still  owns  thirty-six  acres  of  val- 
uable farming  land  near  Perrysville  and  has 
some  business  lots  on  East  ]\Iain  street  in  this 
city.  At  one  time  she  also  had  other  property 
in  Danville,  but  has  sold  most  of  this.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  German  L'nited  Brethren 
Church  and  is  a  lady  of  many  estimable 
qualities. 


JOSEPH    FAIRHALL,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Joseph  Fairhall.  a  physician  and 
surgeon  of  Danville,  was  born  at  Tadwell 
Hall,  on  the  isle  of  Sheppy,  in  the  county 
of  Kent,  England,  on  the  9th  of  February, 
18^3,  and  is  descended  from  the  old  baron- 
ial family  of  that  name.  The  ancestry  can 
be  traced  back  through  many  centuries  and 
the  name  of  Joseph  was  borne  by  the  eldest 
son  in  each  successive  generation.  From  an 
earlv  period  in  the  history  of  England  the 
Fairhails  were  connected  with  progress  and 
ad\'ancement  in  the  counties  of  Sussex  and 
Kent.  Tradition  says  that  the  ancestors  of 
the  Doctor  were  paid  soldiers  of  ^\"illiam 
the  Conqueror.  Joseph  Fairhall,  the  father 
of  the  Doctor,  was  also  born  on  the  isle  of 
Slicppv  and  there  wedded  Esther  Shaw, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same  locality. 
They  located  at  Tadwell  Hall,  the  father  be- 
ing a  country  gentleman.  In  1868  they  re- 
mo\-ed  to  Sittingbourne,  which  was  a  town 
in  that  locality,  and  there  his  death  occurred 
in  1885,  when  he  was  seventy-two  years  of 
aee.  The  mother  survived  until  March  i;. 
1902,  and  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  fam- 
ilv  vault  at  Oueensboro,  in  Kent  county. 
England. 

Dr.    Fairhall   acquired  his   early   educa- 


DR.  JOSEPH   FAIRHALL. 


LIBRARY 

OF   TflE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


391 


tion   in   what   was  known   as   the   National 
School  of  Minster  on  the  isle  of  Sheppy  and 
afterward  entered    the    grammar  school  at 
Sheerness.      Later   he  became  a  student   in 
the    L'ni\ersity    at    London,    Englantl,    in 
which   institution   he  was    graduated    with 
the   class   of    1881.      He   next   entered   the 
Charing  Cross  Medical  University  in  Lon- 
don, where  he  remained  for  three  years.     In 
1877  he  joined  the  Irish  Rifles,  in  which  veg- 
iment  he  served  with  credit  as  a  volunteer 
for  eight  years,  being  mustered  out  in  1885. 
He  continued   to   remain   in  London,   how- 
ever, until  1887,  and  in  that  year  he  came  to 
-America.      Making   his   way   westward,    he 
became  connected  with  the  South   Chicago 
Dock    Company   and    also    with    the   Grape 
Creek  Coal  Company,  holding  the  office  of 
vice   president    of   both.      During   the  first 
three  years  after  his  arrival  in  America  he 
made  his  home  in  Chicago,  liaxing  become 
interested    in    the   coal   company   while    en- 
route,  and  he  acted  as  its  vice  president  un- 
til the  company  went  into  the  hands  of  a  re- 
ceiver in  1892.     In  1890  he  took  up  his  res- 
idence on  the   property  of   the  company   at 
Grnpe   Creek   and   was   instrumental   in   in- 
augurating   the    village.      \\"hile    there    he 
studied  practical  mining  engineering  and  at 
the  same  time  took  the  active  management 
of  the  company's  affairs.     Both  he  and  his 
wife  gave  their   attention   to   the   improve- 
ment of  the  social  condition  of  the  w'orking 
classes   in   the  community  by   inaugurating 
church    and    Sunday-school    work,  concerts 
and  other  means  of  entertainment  of  a  ben- 
eficial  character,   and   in    1S92   he  was   the 
means    of     establisiiing     the     Grape    Creek 
Lodge   of   the    Independent    Order   of    Odd 
Fellows  and  became   its  first  presiding  of- 
ficer.    He  was  always  very  enthusiastic  for 
the  welfare  of  the  order  and  passed  through 
its   various  degrees  until   he  had  arisen   to 


high  office  in  the  Uniformed  Rank  of  Patri- 
archs Militant.  In  connection  with  this  di- 
vision of  the  fraternity  he  founded  the  de- 
gree of  Ladies  Militant  in  1901.  In  all  of 
this  work  he  was  ably  assisted  by  his  wife 
who  founded  the  White  Oaks  Rebekah  de- 
gree lodge  at  Grape  Creek  and  later  was  the 
first  president  of  the  Ladies  Militant. 

In  the  meantime  the  coal  company  be- 
came involved  in  litigation  and  after  pass- 
ing into  the  hands  of  a  receiver  Mr.  Fairhall 
assumed  control  of  the  Grape  Creek  Clay 
Works  and  by  close  study  of  the  various 
clays  found  in  the  vicinity  coupled  with  his 
knowledge  of  chemistry,  he  was  enabled  to 
master  the  art  of  brick  manufacture.  Pie 
became  a  member  of  the  National  Brick 
Manufacturers'  Association,  at  whose  con- 
ventions he  was  always  present,  taking  an 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the  organization. 
Owing  to  the  long  litigation  in  which  the 
coal  company  was  involved  and  which  pre- 
cluded him  from  obtaining  a  lease  of  the 
clay  works  for  longer  than  one  year  at  a 
time,  he  found  at  the  end  of  four  years  that 
he  could  no  longer  continue  the  work  with 
profit  and  consequently  determined  to  retire 
from  business. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1896,  he  went 
before  the  state  board  of  health  and  ap- 
jilied  for  a  license  to  practice  the  profession 
of  medicine,  and  after  satisfactorily  pass- 
ing the  required  examination  the  license  was 
granted.  In  the  spring  of  1898  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  the  city  of  Danville,  build- 
ing a  house  and  office  near  the  Gilbert  street 
bridge,  commanding  an  extensive  and  pic- 
turesque \-iew  of  the  Vermillion  river.  In 
the  same  3-ear — 1898 — he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  staff  of  physicians  of  the 
Vermilion  county  hospital,  and  professor  of 
anatomy  and  physiology  in  the  Danville 
training  school  for  nurses.     Progressive  in 


392 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


his  profession,  he  keeps  abreast  with  the  best 
thinking  men  who  are  connected  with  this 
Hne  of  business  activity  through  his  mem- 
bershi]!  in  the  \'ermiiion  County  ]\Iedical 
Association,  the  Tri-County  Medical  Asso- 
cia1:ion,  the  Danville  Physicians  Protective 
Association  and  the  National  Medical  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  the  i/th  of  November,  1877,  Dr. 
Fairhall  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Eli.iabeth  Sand}-s,  the  third  daughter  of 
William  King,  Esquire,  of  Ehvick  \'illa,  at 
Ash  ford,  Kent  county,  England.  When  he 
emigrated  to  America  he  was  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  two  eldest  sons,  arriving  in 
this  country  on  the  29th  day  of  March, 
1S87.  In  1893  a  third  son  was  born  unto 
them  while  they  were  living  in  Chicago  and 
in  1894  they  became  the  parents  of  a  daugh- 
ter, Lucy  Winnifred,  born  at  Grape  Creek. 
Both  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  gained  a 
large  circle  of  friends  in  Danville  and  the 
hospitality  of  many  of  the  best  homes  of  the 
city  is  extended  to  them.  Thoroughly 
equipped  by  his  collegiate  work  for  the  pro- 
fession whicli  now  engages  his  attention, 
and  continually  promoting  his  efficiency  by 
reading  and  study,  he  is  to-day  one  of  the 
best  informed  members  of  the  medical  fra- 
ternity in  this  city,  having  gained  a  high 
standing  in  a  calling  where  influence  and 
wealth  availeth  little  or  naught  but  where 
merit  is  the  foundation  of  advancement. 


WILLIAM  M.  SMITH. 

\\'illiam  M.  Smith  is  now  practically  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  at  his  home  in  Danville 
and  well  does  he  deserve  rest  from  labor, 
but  to  a  man  of  his  nature  it  is  almost  im- 


possible to  utterly  put  aside  business  cares. 
Indolence  and  idleness  have  ever  been  ut- 
terly foreign  to  him  and  therefore  he  yet 
gives  his  supervision  to  the  management  of 
his  invested  interests,  and  his  sound  busines 
judgment  and  enterprise  are  manifested  in 
the  capable  control  of  his  property.  He  re- 
sides at  No.  142  South  Logan  a\enue.  in  a 
nice  home  which  is  a  monument  to  his  inde- 
fatigable lalior  and  capability. 

i\Ir.  Smith  was  born  near  the  village  of 
Potomac,  Vermilion  county,  on  the  i6th  of 
October,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Jane  (Stewart)  Smith.  The  father  was  a 
nati\e  of  Oxfordshire.  England,  born  No- 
\-ember  20.  1806,  and  the  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Birmingham,  England.  The  pa- 
ternal grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Fletcher)  Smith,  also 
natives  of  England  where  the  grandfather 
followed  farming  and  likewise  engaged  in 
conducting  a  dairy  and  cheese  factory.  He 
followed  those  lines  of  business  until  his  later 
years  when  he  came  to  America  and  after  a 
year's  residence  in  this  country  he  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond.  Henry  Smith  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  to  the  new  world  in  1838 
and  settled  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  es- 
tablished a  meat  market.  He  also  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  stock  there  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  removed  to  ^'ermilion 
county,  Illinois,  settling  near  the  village  of 
Potomac,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1847.  In  that  year  he  came  to 
Danville  where  he  opened  a  meat  market  and' 
was  the  third  oldest  merchant  in  that  line  in 
the  city.  He  did  his  own  butchering  and 
engaged  in  selling  fresh  as  well  as  salt  meats, 
until  1867  when  he  disposed  of  his  store  and 
purchased  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Tilton 
in  this  county.  There  he  carried  on  the 
work  of  cultivating  his  fields  until  1880  when 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


393 


he  returned  to  Danville  and  was  again  en- 
gaged in  the  meat  business  through  the  two 
succeeding  years.  Afterward  he  li\ed  re- 
tired in  this  city  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred in  1897.  His  wife  passed  away  here 
on  the  14th  (if  November.  They  were 
highly  respected  people  esteemed  because 
they  were  true  to  upright  principles  ami  were 
honorable  in  all  their  relations  with  their 
fellow  men.  Unto  this  worthy  couple  were 
born  eleven  children,  but  only  four  are  now 
living,  namely:  William  M. ;  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Robert  Stevens,  of  Danville;  Fannie  J. 
antl  Lucy,  who  reside  at  No.  1 16  South  Jack- 
son street  in  the  old  home  which  their  father 
built  here.  Those  who  ha\e  passed  awa_\' 
are  John,  Edwin.  Sarah,  Frank,  Henry, 
Charlie  and  Joseph. 

William  M.  Smith  acquired  a  common 
school  education  in  Potomac  and  in  Dan- 
ville and  in  early  life  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  meat  market,  being  thus  engaged  until 
after  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war.  He 
watched  with  interest  the  progress  of  events 
in  the  south,  saw  that  the  war  was  to  be  no 
mere  holiday  affair  and  that  it  would  require 
the  united  strength  of  the  great  majority  of 
the  loyal  sons  of  the  nation  in  order  to  pre- 
serve the  Union.  Accordingly,  on  the  12th 
of  August,  1862,  he  offered  his  services  to 
the  government  enlisting  as  a  member  of 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Harmon.  His  company  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Ralston  and  afterward 
by  Captain  Brown.  With  his  regiment  Mr. 
Smith  participated  in  many  important  en- 
gagements, including  the  battles  of  Kene- 
savv,  Chattanooga,  Atlanta  and  Perryville. 
Although  often  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
exposed  to  the  hot  fire  from  the  enemy's 
guns,  Mr.  Smith  was  never  injured  in  any 


way.  He  was  discharged  at  Washington, 
D.  C  on  the  ist  of  June,  1865,  returning 
to  his  home  witli  the  consciousness  of  having 
faithfully  performed  his  duty,  his  military 
record  being  a  most  creditable  one. 

After  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Smith  again 
assisted  his  father  in  the  meat  market  in 
Danville  and  after  his  father's  removal  to 
the  farm  he  took  charge  of  the  market,  con- 
ducting it  successfully  until  1880.  He  then 
sold  a  part  interest  in  the  establishment,  and 
he  also  owns  a  slaughter  house  which  is  near 
his  home.  Mr.  Smith  is  also  engaged  to 
some  extent  in  the  nurserv  business.  ha\'ing 
his  place  set  out  in  nursery  stock  and  shade 
trees  which  he  sells  to  the  local  trade.  In 
addition  to  all  this  he  is  the  owner  of  several 
houses  and  lots  on  South  Logan  avenue  and 
he  owns  some  residence  property  in  Vermil- 
ion Heights  and  in  Dan\-ille. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1867,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  and  Miss  Mary 
A.  Morgan,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Morgan  who  was  engaged  in  the 
livery  lousiness  in  the  Hoosier  state  and  came 
to  Danville  at  an  early  day.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  teaming  until  his  death  which  oc- 
curred in  1864.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
have  been  born  six  children  :  Bertie,  at  home; 
Kittie,  the  wife  of  Charles  Milemore,  of^ 
Danville;  Belle,  the  wife  of  Ed  Laflin,  re- 
siding near  her  parents ;  Roena  and  Wilma, 
both  at  home;  and  Harry,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  family  home  is  an  attractive 
residence  at  No.  142  South  Logan  avenue, 
near  the  Vermilion  river.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  hold  membership  in  the  Kimber 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Danville  and 
he  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  Post  in  this 
city.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repul)lican.  Those 
who  read  between  the  lines  can  gain  consid- 
erable knowledge  of  the  life  work  of  Mr. 


394 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Smith.  A  self-made  man.  he  started  out 
upon  his  business  career  determined  to  make 
the  most  of  his  opportunities  and  advantages 
and  he  is  to-day  one  of  the  oldest  representa- 
tives of  the  meat  trade  in  this  city.  More- 
over, he  sustains  an  unassailable  reputation 
because  of  reasonable  prices,  of  honorable 
dealing  and  an  earnest  desire  to  please  his 
patrons  through  his  trade  relations  as  well 
as  in  social  life  and  he  has  won  many  warm 
friends  who  esteem  him  highly. 


XOAH    E.  HUBBARD. 

One  of  the  extensive  landowners  of  Ver- 
milion county  is  Noah  E.  Hubbard,  whose 
property  possessions  aggregate  six  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  farm  land.  He  has 
resided  in  this  county  since  1840  and  is  now 
living  retired  from  active  business,  enjoy- 
ing a  rest  which  he  has  truly  earned  and 
richly  deserves.  One-half  the  w-idth  of  the 
continent  separates  him  from  his  birth  place 
— Sheffield,  Massachusetts,  where  he  tirst 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the 
20th  of  Xovember,  1S14.  He  is  a  son  of 
Noah  E.  and  Cynthia  (Clark)  Hubbard, 
Ixjth  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  lo- 
cality. His  father  there  conducted  a  dis- 
tillery and  sawmill  and  also  engaged  in 
farming  in  Massachusetts  until  1819,  when 
he  removed  westward  with  his  family,  set- 
tling in  Michigan,  which  was  his  home  for 
two  vears.  He  then  purchased  an  ox  team 
and  started  for  Indiana,  while  his  family 
made  their  way  to  that  state  in  an  old  log 
canoe  on  the  river.  All  were  on  the  trip  for 
about  six  weeks  and  a  settlement  was  then 
made  in  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  where 
Noah.   E.   Hubbard,   Sr.,  purchased  a  farm 


and  also  bought  a  hempmill.  He  engaged 
in  the  operation  of  the  latter  in  connection 
with  the  cultivation  of  his  fields  until  1835, 
when  he  ic)ined  the  IMormons.  Leaving  his 
family  in  Indiana,  he  went  to  Missouri, 
where  he  lived  for  three  years.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  in  Nauvoo,  where  he  lived  with 
the  Mormons  until  they  left  that  part  of  the 
country.  Mr.  Hubbard  at  that  time  took 
up  his  abode  in  Vermilion  county.  Indiana, 
on  the  old  borne  farm,  where  he  had  previ- 
ously liverl.  continuing  there  for  two  years, 
when,  with  his  wife,  he  started  for  Salt 
Lake  City,  L'tah,  to  join  the  IMormons  there. 
They  only  proceeded  to  Council  Bluffs, 
Iowa,  when  the  father  was  taken  ill  and 
died.  The  mother  then  returned  and  lived 
w'ith  her  children  until  her  own  death.  They 
were  the  parents  of  ten  children  :  Parmelia, 
who  now  resides  in  Topeka,  Kansas ;  Lucy 
Ruth,  ilececeased ;  Charles,  a  farmer  living 
in  Utah;  Cynthia,  who  has  passed  away; 
Noah  E. ;  Prudence,  deceased ;  Lucy,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Clark,  who  is  the  owner  of 
a  large  cattle  ranch  in  California  and  makes 
his  home  in  that  state;  William,  a  farmer  of 
Benton  county,  Indiana ;  and  David,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  Noah  E. 
Hubbard  went  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
where  he  worked  in  a  tanyard  for  four  years, 
receiving  his  board  and  clothing  in  com- 
pensation for  his  services.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  living 
upon  the  old  home  farm  there  until  1840, 
when  he  crossed  the  line  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  settling  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship at  what  is  now  known  as  Hubbards 
Ford  on  Big  Vermilion  creek.  There  he 
accepted  a  position  as  superintendent  of  a 
sawmill  for  fifty  cents  per  day  and  followed 
that  pursuit  for  six  years.     He  next  settled 


LISRArtY 

Cf  t,;e 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


MRS.  N.  E.  HUBBARD. 


NOAH  E.  HUBBARD. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


399 


on  what  is  known  as  the  Sprouls  farm  on 
section  36,  Georgetown  township,  purclias- 
ing  the  land  and  living  there  until  1867.  In 
that  year  he  removed  to  his  present  farm 
and  in  connection  with  its  cultivation  also 
engaged  in  operating  a  sawanill  until  1892, 
when  because  of  failing  health  he  retired  to 
private  life.  His  has  been  a  useful,  active 
and  successful  career,  in  which  he  has  won 
prosperity  and  also  gained  an  untarnished 
name 

In  1845  Air.  Hubbard  was  uniteil  in 
marriage  to  Aliss  Catherine  Ogden,  a 
daughter  of  James  Ogden.  an  early  settler 
of  this  county.  Her  death  occurred  in  18S0 
and  manv  friends  mourned  her  Icjss.  Six 
children  had  l)een  born  of  this  marriage: 
Cardin,  who  married  A.  Hayworth  and  lives 
in  the  village  of  Georgetown;  Cynthia,  the 
wife  of  Ira  Courtney,  a  farmer  of  George- 
town township;  Lucy,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Azrell  A.,  who  married  ^Marietta  Hayworth 
and  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Ogden;  Ja- 
cob, who  wedded  Sarah  Commons  and  fol- 
lows agricultural  pursuits  in  Georgetown 
township;  and  Cornelia  Alice,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Gantz,  Ijv  whom  she  has  one  child, 
Lilly.  They  reside  upon  her  father's  farm, 
Mr.  Gantz  carrying  on  the  work  of  the 
fields. 

When  yir.  Hubbard  first  purchased  land 
in  Georgetown  township  the  tract  was  all 
covered  with  timber,  but  soon  the  wood- 
man's ax  gave  evidence  that  the  trees  were 
falling  beneath  his  strudy  strokes.  He 
cleared  off  the  land,  plowed  and  planted  it 
and  also  made  other  improvements.  As  the 
years  ha\e  passed  great  transformation  was 
wrought  in  the  appearance  of  his  property, 
\\hich  became  a  very  valuable  and  highly 
limductive  farm.  His  boundaries,  too,  were 
extended  as    Mr.    Hubbard  made  additional 

17 


j)urchases  until  he  nuw  owns  o\'er  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  different  parts  of 
Georgetown  townshii)  and  he  has  likewise 
given  some  land  to  his  children.  He  has  a 
beautiful  home  on  his  farm  which  is  now-  oc- 
cupied by  his  daughter  and  her  family,  it 
being  one  of  the  most  attractive  residences 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  In  early  life  Mr. 
Hubbard  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Whig  party.  In  the  ante-bellum  days  he 
attended  the  debates  held  by  Douglas  and 
Lincoln,  shaking  hands  with  each  statesman. 
Since  the  election  of  Lincoln  he  has  always 
voted  the  Republican  ticket,  strongly  en- 
dorsing the  principles  of  the  party.  He  has 
almost  reached  the  eighty-ninth  milestone 
on  life's  journey  and  no  man  is  better  known 
in  this  part  of  V'ermilion  county  or  is  more 
highly  esteemed.  Splendid  success  has  at- 
tended his  efforts  in  business.  He  has 
worked  earnestly  and  indefatigably  and  his 
labors  have  brought  to  him  a  rich  reward 
so  that  he  is  now  one  of  the  wealthy  agri- 
culturists of  this  portion  of  the  state.  In  re- 
cent years  he  has  enjoyed  an  honorable  re- 
tirement from  labor  and  the  competence 
which  he  formerly  acrpu'red  supplies  him 
with  conveniences  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life.  Vast  changes  have  occurred  in  Ver- 
milion county  during  the  time  in  which  he 
has  resided  within  its  borders, its  forests  hav- 
ing been  cleared  away,  its  prairies  cultivateil 
and  the  entire  district  transformed  into  a 
rich  agricultural  tract.  Towns  and  villages 
too  have  shareil  in  the  general  progress  and 
advancement  has  been  made  along  material, 
social,  intellectual  and  moral  lines.  In  the 
evening  of  life  'Sir.  Hubbard  can  look  back 
over  the  past  with  just  pride  for  what  he  has 
accom]jlished  and  he  has  always  lived  so  that 
he  has  enjoyed  the  esteeem  and  high  regard 
of  his  fellow  men. 


400 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


-MRS.  RHODA  M.  PIESTER. 

Airs.  Rhoda  M.  Hester  is  one  of  the 
native  residents  of  X'ermilion  county  who 
through  more  tlian  three  score  years  and  ten 
has  been  a  witness  of  the  growtli  and  up 
building  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  She 
is  now  residing  in  Ridgefarm  and  enjoys  the 
high  esteem  of  all  who  know  her.  Sh.e  was 
born  December  7,  18^7.  near  Vermilion 
Grove,  a  daughter  of  Ira  and  Esther.  (Hor- 
ney)  Mills,  and  her  father  was  a  native  of 
Jefferson  county,  Tennessee,  born  December 
4.  1806,  and  came  of  a  family  of  rich  farm- 
ing people.  He  was  one  of  eleven  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  When  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  from  Tennessee  to  Illi- 
nois, a  settlement  being  made  on  what  be- 
came known  as  the  Great  Mills  Farm,  two 
miles  west  of  A'ermilion  Grove.  From  that 
time  to  the  present  representatives  of  the 
family  ha\e  lived  upon  the  land  which  be- 
came the  property  of  the  grandparents.  After 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  Ira  Mills  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Esther  Horney, 
who  was  born  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  December  12, 
1805.  Her  parents  were  also  farming  peo- 
ple, and  she  was  one  of  five  children. 
About  1825  the  family  was  established 
in  \'ermilion  county  and  here  on  the 
1 2th  of  December.  1826.  she  gave  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Ira  Mills.  They  lived  happiU' 
together  until  the  23d  of  November,  1836. 
when  Mrs.  Mills  was  called  to  her  final  rest, 
leaving  a  family  of  six  children.  The  father 
afterward  married  Mar}^  Dillon,  who  also 
belonged  to  an  old  family  of  Tennessee  and 
came  to  Illinois  during  her  early  girlhood. 
By  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of 
thirteen  children.  In  the  year  1868  Air 
Mills  removed  with  his  familv  to  Carthage. 


Missouri,  and  there  he  spent  his  remaining 
days.  His  second  wife  died  there  in  1872. 
while  his  death  occurred  on  the  8th  of  April. 
1S80.  The  brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Hes- 
ter are:  Mrs.  Louisa  Lewis,  who  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children  and  is  now  deceased  , 
John  R.,  who  has  also  passed  away;  Paris, 
who  is  a  merchant  of  Syracuse,  Kansas,  and 
has  one  child;  William,  who  died  leaving 
four  children;  and  Mrs.  Lydia  Smith,  whose 
husband  is  a  millwright,  of  Los  Angeles, 
California. 

Mrs.  Hester  was  reared  under  the  pa- 
ternal roof  and  trained  to  the  duties  of  the 
household,  continuing  her  education  in  th. 
district  schools  until  she  put  aside  her  text 
books.  On  the  loth  of  November,  1853,  she 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  John  Hester, 
who  was  born  near  Richmond,  Indiana. 
March  11.  1827.  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children.  By  his  parents  he  was 
brought  to  ^'ermilion  county  in  1829  and 
was  here  reared  as  a  farmer  boy,  early  becom- 
ing familiar  with  the  duties  and  labors  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  His  entire 
life  was  spent  in  Elwood  township  and  his 
attention  was  always  given  to  farm  work, 
which  he  conducted  with  profit. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester  was 
blessed  with  the  following  children :  Al- 
fred, who  is  living  at  Ridgefarm:  Ida  M., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Airs. 
Mary  E.  Rook,  of  Elwood  township,  wl. 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing; Cyrus,  of  Ridgefarm.  who  has  two 
children;  Ada,  who  died  in  childhood;  and 
Paris  J.,  a  farmer  of  Ridgefarm,  who  has 
five  children.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hester 
were  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  He  was  an  earnest  Christian  man 
whose  upright  life  commended  him  to  the 
confidence  and  good  will  of  all  with  whom 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


401 


he  was  associated.  He  passed  away  Jul\ 
17,  1899,  leaving  to  liis  family  the  priceless 
heritage  of  an  untarnished  name  and  to  the 
ycjung  an  example  well  worthy  of  emulation. 
Mrs.  Hester  was  always  an  ahle  assistant  (if 
her  hushand.  When  she  was  but  se\enteen 
years  of  age  she  began  teaching,  following 
tliat  profession  for  seven  years  in  order  to 
assist  in  the  sujjport  of  her  father's  large 
famil}'.  She  had  been  a  student  in  the 
Georgetown  High  School  and  is  a  lady  dt 
culture  and  intelligence.  She  also  spun  ami 
wo\e  in  an  early  day  in  order  to  assist  her 
family,  and  after  her  marriage  she  faithfully 
performed  the  duties  of  her  household,  while 
her  husband  was  working  in  the  helds,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hester  continued  to  reside  upon  the 
home  farm  until  1891,  when  they  came  tc^ 
Ridgetarm  where  she  is  now  Ijving,  ha\'ing 
here  a  comfortable  home.  Her  menmry 
forms  a  connecting  link  between  the  pioneer 
past  and  the  progressive  present  of  Vermil- 
ion county,  and  she  can  relate  many  interest- 
ing incidents  of  the  days  when  this  section  of 
the  state  was  upon  the  frontier,  and  can  tell 
many  pleasing  tales  of  the  mode  of  life  in 
that  early  period.-  Kindlx-  and  generous,  the 
sterling  traits  of  her  character  and  her  good 
c[ualities  of  heart  and  mind  have  made  her 
a  loved  friend,  and  one  widely  and  favorably 
knnwn  iu  her  native  C(juntv. 


BENJAMIN  EVERHART. 

Un  the  roll  of  the  dead,  among  the  men 
who  were  prominent,  honorable  and  success- 
ful in  business,  appears  the  naiue  of  Benja- 
min Everhart,  and  while  he  has  passed  away 
he  is  yet  remembered  l)y  many  who  knew  him 
iu  Danville  antl  throughout  Vermilion  coun- 


ty. He  came  to  this  cit_\'  when  the  W'aljash 
Railroad  entered  it,  from  J3ecatur,  Illinois, 
driving  a  yoke  of  oxen.  His  entrance  here 
was  s\'ml)oIical  of  his  business  connection 
with  the  city  for  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  residence  here  he  was  engaged  in  team- 
ing and  his  patronage  grew  as  the  years 
passed  by  until  his  business  had  assumed  ex- 
tensi\-e  and  jirofitable  jiroiiortions. 

Mr.  Everhart  was  a  native  of  Switzer- 
land, born  on  the  17th  of  September,  1833, 
.and  both  his  parents  died  in  Switzerland  dur- 
ing his  early  boyhood,  lie  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  his  native  land  until  he  was  sex-en- 
teen  years  of  age  when  he  sailed  from  that 
C(.)untry  for  .\n-ierica,  believing  that  he  niight 
have  better  opportunities  to  secure  business 
advancenient  in  this  country  where  the  ener- 
gy of  young  men  is  not  hampered  by  caste  or 
class.  1-anding  in  New-  York  he  worked  as  a 
laliorer  in  the  Enipire  state  for  a  few  years, 
after  which  he  can-ie  to  the  west,  settling  in 
Decatur,  lUinois.  There  he  ])urchased  an  ox- 
team  and  was  engaged  in  the  dra^'ing  busi- 
ness until  his  removal  to  Vermilion  county. 
After  coming  to  Danville  Mr.  Everhart  was 
here  married  in  i860  to  Miss  Dorothy  Kline, 
who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  born  h"el)ru- 
ary  27,  1842,  her  parents  being  Jacob  and 
Dorothy  (Miller)  Kline,  both  of  whom  werL 
natives  of  the  fatherland.  Coming  to  .\mer- 
ica  they  established  a  home  in  Michigan 
where  Mr,  Kline  engaged  in  farming  until 
he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Everhart  was  blessed  with 
eleven  children  :  John,  who  is  now  engaged 
in  the  baking  business  in  Indian  Territory ; 
Charles,  who  married  Maude  Chaftield,  and 
is  engineer  for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad,  his  home  being  in  Danville; 
Katherine  and  Bennie,  both  deceased ;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Anderson,  of  Danville, 


402 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


who  left  two  children,  Bennie  and  Bessie 
(twins),  who  have  been  adopted  by  Mrs. 
Everhart  and  now  live  with  her;  Annie,  the 
wife  of  John  Louck,  of  Fairmount,  Vermil 
ion  county;  Rebecca,  the  wife  of  Grant  El- 
berson,  a  machinist  of  Danville;  Emma  and 
Bennie,  who  have  also  passed  away;  Eliza- 
beth, who  resides  at  home  and  is  employed 
as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  this  city ;  and  \'irginia. 
also  with  her  mother.  The  children  were  all 
given  good  educational  privileges  ajid  thus 
prepared  for  life's  practical  and  responsible 
duties. 

After  coming  to  this  city  J\lr.  Everhart 
engaged  in  teaming  with  his  ox-team  and 
assisted  in  hauling  the  rock  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  bridges  over  the  Ver- 
milion river  at  Danville.  He  also  aided  in  the 
construction  of  those  bridges.  For  several 
years  he  carried  on  general  teaming  and 
then  took  charge  of  the  Danville  dray  line. 
During  the  last  seventeen  years  of  his  life 
he  was  engaged  in  the  draying  business  and 
his  services  were  in  constant  demand.  There 
was  much  difiference  between  his  good  teams 
of  horses  and  his  outfit  of  oxen  and  old 
fashioned  wagon  which  he  had  at  the  time 
of  his  arrival.  His  patronage,  too.  had  in- 
creased with  the  passing  years  and  as  the 
result  of  his  labors  he  had  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence.  He  was  always  an  in- 
dustrious, hard  working,  energetic  man,  and 
these  qualities  brought  to  him  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact.  He  passed  away  July  28.  1895. 
but  his  memory  is  still  cherished  by  many 
who  knew  him  and  respected  him  because  his 
life  was  in  consistent  harmony  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  upright  manhood.  In  politics  he 
was  independent,  supporting  the  candidates 
whom  he  believed  best  qualified  for  office. 
He  belonged  to  the  Independent  Order  of 


Odd  Fellows,  of  Danville,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  in  the  fraternity.  Mrs.  Everhart  is 
a  member  of  the  German  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  of  this  city  and  she  now  resides 
at  her  home  at  Xo.  31  South  Walnut  street 
with  her  daughters.  She  has  long  lived  here 
and  has  a  wide  acquaintance.  She  has  seeii 
Danville  grow  from  the  conditions  of  a  vil- 
lage until  it  has  become  one  of  the  leading 
metropolitan  centres  of  this  great  state.  L'ke 
her  husband  she  well  deserves  mention  ni 
this  volimie  devoted  to  the  worthy  and  rejjre- 
sentative  citizens  of  A'ermilion  countv. 


HARRISON    FAIRCHILD. 

The  histor\-  of  a  state  as  well  as  that  of 
a  nation  is  chiefly  the  chronicle  of  the  lives 
and  deeds  of  those  who  have  conferred  hon- 
or and  dignity  upon  society.  The  world 
judges  the  character  of  a  community  by  that 
of  its  representati\e  citizens  and  yields  its 
tributes  of  admiration  and  respect  for  the 
genius,  learning  or  virtues  of  those  whose 
works  and  actions  constitute  the  record  of  a 
state's  prosperity  and  pride;  and  it  is  their 
character,  as  exemplified  in  probity  and  be- 
nevolence, kindly  virtues  and  integrity  in  the 
affairs  of  life,  that  is  e\-er  affording  wortiiy 
examples  for  emulation  and  valuable  les- 
sons of  incentive. 

To  a  student  of  biography  there  is  noth- 
ing more  interesting  than  to  examine  the 
life  histor}-  of  a  self-made  man  and  to  de- 
tect the  elements  of  character  which  have 
enabled  him  to  pass  on  the  highway  of  life 
manv  of  the  companions  of  his  youth  who 
at  the  outset  of  their  careers  were  more  ad- 
vantageously ecjuipped  or  endowed.  The 
subject  of  this  review  has  through  his  own 


CF   THE 
UWIVERGITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HARRISON  FAIRCHILD. 


MRS.  HARRISON  FAIRCHILD. 


LlBFtARY 
UNIVERSITY  ^OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


407 


exertions  attained  an  honnrahle  position  and 
marked  prestige  among  the  representative 
men  of  the  \vest,  and  with  signal  consistency 
it  may  be  said  that  he  is  the  architect  of  his 
own  fortunes  and  one  whose  success  anii)ly 
justilies  the  application  of  the  somewhat 
hackneyed  but  most  expressive  title,  "a  self- 
made  man." 

Mr.  I'airchild,  wln)  is  now  li\ing  a  re- 
tired life,  in  a  beautiful  residence  at  Xo. 
1444  Xorth  X'erniiHon  street,  in  Danville, 
comes  of  a  very  old  and  prominent  family 
of  \'ermilion  county.  He  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  Crist- 
mas  Day  of  1840.  His  parents  were  Daniel 
and  Lucv  (  Hemmingway)  Fairchild.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in 
1810,  and  he  and  four  brothers  left  the  Em- 
pire state  in  1828,  coming  direct  to  X'ermil- 
ion  CDunlw  Illinois,  iov  the  opi)i)rtunities  of 
the  l)road  west  attracted  them.  Daniel  Fair- 
child  settled  in  Blount  township,  among  its 
hrst  residents.  He  began  making  impru\e- 
ment  upun  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  and  tim- 
ber land  and  built  the  first  brick  house  in 
that  part  of  the  county,  after  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  to  farming  for  many 
years.  He  was  also  a  minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  in  connection 
A\ith  his  agricultiu'al  pursuits  he  devoted 
considerable  time  to  the  work  of  spreading 
the  (jospel.  and  influencing  his  fellow  men 
to  walk  in  the  straight  and  narrow  path.  In 
his  later  years  he  preached  nmre  funeral  ser- 
mons and  married  more  couples  than  any 
other  minister  of  his  day  in  the  county.  His 
inthience,  too,  was  of  no  restricted  order  and 
his  memorv  yet  remains  as  a  blessed  bene- 
diction to  those  who  knew  him.  He  was 
widely  recognized  as  a  prominent  and  influ- 
ential resident  of  Vermilion  county  and  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  old  home  farm 
in  Blount  townshi]).  May  jj.  1870,  was  the 


source  of  deep  regret  to  his  man\"  friends. 
His  wife,  who  proved  to  him  a  faithful  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  and 
who  assisted  him  largely  in  his  work  of  re- 
deeming men,  also  passed  awa}-  on  the  old 
home  farm  January  10,  1891.  In  the  fam- 
ily of  this  worthy  couple  were  fourteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  are  yet  living.  Ordil- 
la,  born  March  26,  1832,  is  the  widow  of 
Daxid  Lindsey  and  resides  in  Cherryvale, 
Kansas.  Eliza  Ann,  born  November  27, 
1833,  's  the  wife  of  George  Smith,  a  resi- 
dent of  Blount  township,  this  county.  Har- 
rison is  the  next  younger.  Nathaniel  Rob- 
bins,  born  August  15,  1843,  is  a  resident 
farmer  of  Blount  township.  I'".  ]\Iilton,  born 
April  20,  1848,  resides  near  and  owns  the 
old  homestead  in  Blount  township.  Eliz- 
abeth, born  January  9,  1851,  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Ingram,  an  agriculturist  of  Blount 
township.  Sophia  Ella,  born  .\pril  20, 
1S57,  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Duncan,  of 
Ahin,  Illinois.  Of  those  who  have  passed 
away  one  died  in  infancy.  The  others  were : 
Henry,  who  died  before  the  Civil  war ;  Wes- 
le_\-  and  Daniel  C,  who  were  killed  while 
serving  in  the  Union  army  during  the  war; 
Eli,  who  died  in  1893;  Elkanah,  who  served 
his  country  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
tifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  in  1864  and 
died  May  16,  1900. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  faniilj' 
Harrison  I'airchild  began  his  education  in 
the  old  subscription  schools  of  the  county, 
later  attended  the  common  public  schools 
and  subsequently  came  to  Dan\-ille,  where 
for  six  months  he  was  a  student  in  the  Red 
Alethodist  Episcopal  Seminary,  where  he 
completed  his  education,  lie  was  a  student 
in  that  institution  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Ci\il  war  and  in  June,  1861,  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  enlisting  in 
Com|)anv  B,  'J'wenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantrv, 


408 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


under  Cajjlain  Walls  and  Colonel  Coller. 
He  particiiiated  in  the  following  engage- 
ments: Pea  I-Jidge.  Corinth,  Perrysville, 
Chaplin  Hills,  Noonday  Creek,  Pinetoi) 
Mountain,  Chattahoochee,  Stone  River, 
Manchester  and  Chickamauga.  At  the  last 
named  Mr.  Fairchild  was  slightly  wounded 
by  a  ball  in  the  leg.  He  was  afterward  in 
the  charge  of  Missionary  Ridge,  where  he 
was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  a  piece  of  shell. 
Subsequently  the  company  marched  with 
Sherman  to  Atlanta  and  he  was  also  in  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  and  in 
many  skinuishes.  During  the  .\tlanta  cam- 
paign he  was  relieved  from  further  duty,  his 
term  of  service  hax'ing  e.\i)ired.  and  return- 
ing to  Illinois,  he  received  his  discharge  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  September  5,   1864. 

Returning  to  Blount  township,  this 
county,  Mr.  Fairchild  engaged  in  farming- 
near  the  old  homestead.  He  was  married 
on  the  8th  of  March,  1865,  to  Sarah  E. 
Lanham,  also  a  native  of  this  county  and  a 
daughter  of  Robert  A.  Lanham,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Blount  township,  where  he 
followed  farming  for  many  years,  passing 
away  there  in  1865.  The  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fairchild  was  blessed  witli  thir- 
teen children :  Rev.  Wilbur  Daniel,  a  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
now  a  resident  of  Murdock,  Illinois;  Lilly 
Jane,  the  wife  of  John  Crawford,  a  resident 
of  Danville;  Efihe,  the  wiie  of  Edward  Ben- 
nett, who  is  living  in  Urbana,  Illinois ;  Os- 
car H.,  a  chemist  of  Denver,  Colorado; 
John  L.,  who  now  resides  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  Blount  township;  Myrtle,  the  wife 
of  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Judy,  a  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  minister  at  Delavan, 
W'isconsin ;  Roscoe  S.,  who  was  lx>rn 
May  12,  1878,  and  is  now  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Chicago  University,  having 
previously  served  as  corporal  in  Battery  A 


in  the  Spanish-American  war,  being  for  two 
months  in  P(jrto  Rico;  l'~thol,  the  wife  of 
Jesse  Kenney,  of  Higginsville,  Illinois;  Bes- 
sie, Ruby,  Harrison  and  .Albert,  all  at  home; 
and  Sarena,  who  died  in  infancy. 

.\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Fairchild  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  the  old  homestead  in 
Blount  township.  He  made  all  of  the  im- 
provements upon  that  property,  including 
the  erection  of  substantial  buildings.  He 
uses  the  latest  improved  machinery  in  carry- 
ing on  the  work  of  the  farm  and  has  made 
his  place  a  verv  attractive  and  \aluable  one. 
Idiere  he  continued  his  business  until  1895 
when,  wishing  to  give  his  children  better 
educational  facilities,  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Danville,  purchased  here  a  lot  and  erected 
his  present  home  at  No.  1444  North  Vermil- 
ion street.  It  is  one  of  the  pretty  residences 
in  that  part  of  the  city.  He  still  owns  his 
farm  in  Blount  township,  which  is  rented 
to  his  son  John  L. 

Mr.  Fairchild  is  now  serving  as  one  of 
the  school  directors  in  his  tiistrict.  No.  112, 
in  this  county,  and  has  held  minor  offices  in 
Blount  township,  discharging  his  duties 
with  promptness  and  lidelity.  He  belongs 
to  the  IVIodern  Woodmen  of  Danville,  and 
in  his  political  affiliations  he  has  always  been 
a  stalwart  Republican.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Danville  and 
he  is  now  serving  as  one  of  its  stewards. 
He  was  elected  by  the  cjuarterly  conference, 
Bismarck  circuit,  Danville  district,  as  a  lay 
delegate  to  the  Illinois  ([uadrennial  confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  E|)iscoi)al  church  held 
in  Jackson\ille,  September,  1879;  Danville 
in  1883;  Decatur  in  1887;  and  Jacksonville 
in  1891.  His  wife  belongs  to  several  of  the 
church  societies  and  both  are  active  in  sup- 
port of  the  church,  contributing  in  many 
wavs  to  its  growth  antl  npljuilding.     In  all 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


409 


the  relations  of  life  Mr.  Fairchild  has 
proved  himself  to  be  an  earnest,  honest,  up- 
right man  and  a  citizen  of  whom  the  coni- 
munit\-  may  justly  be  proud. 


ELIJAH  J.  BOORDE. 

In  pioneer  times,  about  a  halt  century 
ago,  the  Boorde  family  was  established  in 
\'erniilion  county  and  the  old  homestead 
farm  was  the  birthplace  of  the  subject  of  this 
review,  his  natal  day  being  May  17,  1859. 
He  is  a- son  of  George  and  Sarah  A.  (Bow- 
ling) Boorde  and  the  ancestry  can  be  traced 
back  through  sevral  generations  to  England 
the  first  of  the  name  coming  from  Yar- 
iniiutli,  that  country,  to  America,  Ijringing 
with  him  his  wife,  their  two  children  ami 
their  maid  servants.  They  took  passage  on 
a  vessel  called  Mary  .\nn,  and  on  the  i6th 
of  October.  1637,  they  became  residents  of 
Newberry,  Massachusetts.  The  progeny  of 
these  first  American  ancestors  is  now  very 
numerous  in  the  new  world.  Elijah  Boorde, 
Sr..  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
brick  mason  and  farmer.  He  married  Xancy 
Crane,  who  was  born  March  4,  1801,  and 
was  a  representative  in  the  sixth  generation 
of  the  Tappan  family,  of  English  descent. 
Among  their  children  was  George  Boorde, 
the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  liorn 
June  2y,  1826,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1847,  ^''^  ^^''is  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Bowling, 
whose  birth  occurred  October  21,  1829,  in 
Fountain  county,  Indiana.  Mr.  Boorde  was 
reared  about  seven  miles  east  of  Covington, 
in  T'^ountain  county,  ha\ing  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  that  locality  when 
the  country  was  all    wild   and   uninii)ro\-cd. 


and  in  the  midst  of  pioneer  conditions  he 
spent  the  days  of  his  lioyhood  and  youth, 
acquiring  his  education  in  the  jirimitive 
schools  of  those  da_\'s.  lie  .'ifterward  en- 
gaged in  farming  through  the  summer 
months,  while  in  the  winter  seasons  he  fol- 
lowed teaching,  and  his  wife  also  engaged 
in  teaching  before  her  marriage.  .Mrs. 
Boorde  was  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  earliest  families  of  Co\'ington, 
Indiana,  and  there  she  resided  until  1854, 
when  the  family  came  to  X'crmiliou  county. 
Illinois.  Here  the  father  began  farming  up- 
on a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  whicli  was  entirely  destitute  of  im- 
])rovements,  not  even  a  fiu^row  having  been 
turned  upon  the  place.  The  journey  west- 
ward had  been  made  in  a  "])rairie  schooner" 
in  the  primitive  style  of  the  times,  for  there 
were  no  railroads  and  the  work  of  progress 
and  improvement  had  scarcely  been  begun 
in  tliis  portion  of  the  state.  With  character- 
istic energy,  however,  Mr.  Boorde  began  to 
clear  and  improve  his  land,  using  a  plow 
which  was  drawn  by  an  ox-team.  The 
family  lived  in  true  pioneer  style  and  while 
the  father  was  engaged  in  tlie  work  of  the 
fields  the  mother  spun  and  wove  the  material 
used  for  clothing  for  the  family.  .\s  the 
years  progressed  the  labors  of  Mr.  Boorde 
resulted  in  transforming  his  land  into  a 
\ery  richly  cultivated  farm,  the  well  tilled 
fields  returning  to  him  golden  harvests  while 
the  excellent  buildings  placed  upon  the  land 
also  stood  as  momunents  to  his  thrift  and 
enterprise.  He  devoted  his  energies  to  the 
raising  of  grain  and  stock  until  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  wlien  his  patriotic 
spirit  being  aroused  he  oft'ered  his  ser\ices 
to  the  government,  enlisting  in  Company  C, 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illi- 
nois   Infantr)-,   being   with   the   regiment   as 


4IO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


it  marched  to  Xashville.  The  long,  arduou.- 
march,  however,  underniined  his  heahh,  an:' 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Cor])s  and 
afterward  stationed  at  a  camp  in  southern 
Indiana.  Suljsequently  he  was  sent  to  Cami; 
Dennison,  in  Ohio,  and  for  some  time  was 
ill.  \\'ord  reached  his  wife  that  he  was  worse 
and  she  immediately  started  for  Columbus, 
Ohio,  and  on  reaching  there  hastened  to 
Camp  Chase  thinking  to  find  her  husband, 
but  before  her  arrival  he  had  passed  away 
and  was  buried,  his  death  having  occurred 
November  5,  1863, — one  of  the  brave  sol- 
diers who  laid  down  his  life  as  a  sacrifice 
upon  the  altar  of  his  country.  He  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Christian  Church,  a  man 
of  upright  life  and  irreproachable  character, 
and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery 
in  Columbus,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Boorde  still  sur- 
vives her  husband  and  is  now  living  in  In- 
dianola  in  her  seventy-third  year.  In  the 
family  were  six  children :  Rosina,  now  de- 
ceased: Alpheus,  wdio  married  Stella  Jones, 
and  is  living  in  Oakwood  township;  Enoch 
P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Mar- 
tha, the  wife  of  Joseph  Fisher,  of  Fith 
ian ;  Elijah  J. :  and  Ida  May,  w  ho  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

Elijah  J.  Boorde,  the  fifth  in  order  of 
birth,  named  in  honor  of  his  grandfather. 
was  reared  upon  the  old  home  farm  which 
is  still  his  place  of  residence,  and  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood  he  acquired 
his  education.  He  has  always  lived  here 
with  the  exception  of  a  period  of  two  years 
spent  in  Danville  and  one  year  in  South  Da- 
kota. He  to-day  owns  the  old  homestead 
and  has  added  to  it  a  tract  of  eighty  acres, 
making  in  all  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
save  that  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the 
railroad  a  small  portion  was  cut  off,  leaving 


two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres,  which  con- 
stitutes (jiic  of  the  richest  and  best  improved 
farms  of  the  Prairie  state,  pleasantly  and 
conveniently  located  on  section  12,  Oakwood 
township,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  north- 
west of  the  town  of  Fithian.  His  farm  is 
splendidly  improved  with  all  modern  equip- 
ments and  accessories  for  facilitating  work 
Mr.  Boorde  employs  a  number  of  men  to 
perform  the  active  w^ork  of  field  and  mead- 
ow, and  to  the  business  of  farming  he  gives 
his  careful  supervision,  and  his  capable  man- 
agement and  executixe  ability  form  import- 
ant elements  in  its  successful  control.  The 
land  is  well  tiled,  the  fields  highly  cultivated 
and  fine  stock  is  raised.  The  home  is  a  very 
attractive,  commodious  residence,  forming 
one  of  the  pleasing  features  of  the  landscape 
and  all  the  other  buildings  of  the  place  are 
substantial  and  well  adapted  for  the  use 
to  whicli  they  are  put.  Mr.  Boorde  also  owns 
an  interest  in  the  Fithian  Telephone  Com- 
pan_\',  the  line  extending  from  Fithian 
througliDUt  the  surrounding  country  and 
also  into  Champaign  county. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1888,  :Mr. 
Boorde  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  An- 
nie B.  ThcMupson.  whose  birth  occurred 
I\Iarch  31,  1861,  in  Oakwood  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  while  in  the  district  schools 
she  acquired  her  preliminary  education  which 
was  supplemented  by  one  year's  attendance 
at  the  high  school  of  Danville.  She  has  been 
a  popular  teacher  of  her  native  county  hav- 
ing successfully  taught  for  about  twelve 
terms  in  Oakwood  township.  She  was  the 
third  in  a  family  of  twelve  children  born 
unto  John  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Wright) 
Thompson.  Her  paternal  grandparents 
were  Joseph  and  Nancy  (Stoughton) 
Thompson,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jer- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


411 


sey  and  the  latter  of  Penns}"l\-aiiia.  John 
R.  Thompson  was  1)oni  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsyhania,  April  12,  1830,  and 
was  the  eighth  in  a  taniily  of  eighteen  chil- 
dren, twelve  of  whom  reached  years  of  ma- 
turity. On  the  27th  of  November.  iS^G.  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Wright,  and  in  order  to  provide  for  his  fam- 
ilv  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  be- 
coming one  of  the  leading  stock  raisers  of 
Vermilion  count}'.'  He  made  a  specialty  of 
sheep,  keeping  on  hand  graded  Shropshire 
and  ]\Ierinoes.  Pie  herded  a  drove  of  over 
one  thousand  sheep  upon  the  prairie  in  an 
early  day.  He  was  also  a  lover  of  good 
horses  and  owned  fnur  fine  horses  of  Ken- 
tucky running  stock.  In  business  affairs  he 
was"  prominent  and  influential,  and  was  a 
citizen  of  worth  in  \^ermilion  count}',  hon- 
ored anil  respected  by  all  who  knew  him 
Mrs.  Boorde  is  a  sister  of  Judge  Thompson, 
of  this  county.  By  her  niarriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  children,  Mabel 
antl  John  Rosslyn.  both  of  whom  are  stu- 
dents in  the  schools  of  Fithian. 

Mr.  Boorde  has  served  as  school  director 
and  the  cause  of  education  finds  him  an 
advocate  of  progress  and  improvement  along 
that  line.  He  has  also  served  as  township 
trustee  and  has  been  Repulilican  county  com- 
mitteeman for  two  ternis,  being  a  stanch 
advocate  of  the  Republican  party.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  of  Fithian  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp 
of  that  place.  His  entire  life  has  been  ])assed 
in  this  county  and  the  circle  of  his  friends 
is  an  extensive  one.  While  there  has  been 
nothing  exciting  or  sensational  in  his  career 
it  is  that  of  a  man  who  has  always  been  loyal 
to  duty,  faithful  in  citizenship  and  true  to  the 
relations  of  the  home  and  of  friendship. 


W\  A.  ITJXT. 

From  the  age  of  tweh'e  years  W.  A. 
VUnt  has  depended  upon  his  own  resources 
for  a  lix'clihood  and  the  success  which  he  has 
achieved  has  come  to  him  as  a  result  of  hi.^ 
own  labor  and  diligence.  He  was  born  ii 
Lincoln  cininty,  Kentucky,  on  the  lotli  of 
May,  1862,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
that  state.  His  educational  privileges  were 
very  meager,  for  his  parents  were  poor  and 
his  ser\'ices  were  needed  upon  the  home 
farm.  After  his  fathers'  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  the  subject  of  this  review  was 
only  eleven  years  of  age,  W.  A.  Flint  assisted 
in  supporting  the  family  of  eight  children. 
When  twelve  years  of  age  he  entered  the 
store  as  a  clerk  and  there  remained  for  five 
years,  lixing  during  that  time  at  East  Bern- 
stead,  Kentucky.  During  the  first  year  o 
his  business  connection  at  that  place  he  sent 
ten  thousand  dollars  by  express,  as  the  re- 
sult of  the  year's  trade.  He  remained  there 
for  three  years  and  then  sold  out.  He  had 
had  the  entire  management  of  the  business 
and  had  displayed  much  ability  in  its  con- 
trol. On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
returned  to  his  native  county  and  entered  the 
store  in  which  he  had  formerly  acted  as 
clerk.  In  the  meantime  he  had  broadened 
his  knowledge  l)y  attending  night  school  and 
through  reading  and  observation  he  had  be- 
come a  well  informed  man,  realizing  that 
mental  training  and  education  were  necessi- 
ties of  a  successful  business  career. 

For  two  years  he  remained  in  his  native 
county  and  after  his  marriage  he  went  to 
Texas  in  1886,  making  his  way  to  Abilene. 
He  took  with  him  two  hundred  dollars  in 
cash  and  there  rented  a  house  for  twelve 
dollars  per  nionth.  He  entered  the  emplov 
of  a  furniture  dealer  who  paid  him  one  dol- 


4.12 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lar  per  day  for  the  first  year's  wages.  He 
proved  so  valiial)lc  to  the  owner  tliat  he 
won  promotion  rapidK-  and  insicle  of  tlirec 
years  he  owned  the  building  and  the  stock, 
acquiring  this  by  reason  of  the  stringency 
of  the  money  market  caused  by  the  drouglit 
of  1887-8.  Its  proprieicirs  liecanie  (hscour- 
aged  and  on  account  of  poor  lousiness  pros- 
pects he  left  Texas  and  went  to  Central 
America  where  he  is  now  living.  When  a 
year  had  passed  Mr.  Mint  admitted  a  part- 
ner to  the  business.  Sales  had  not  been 
very  good  because  of  the  drought  and  ex- 
isting conditions  of  things  in  the  south,  but 
he  persevered  in  his  work  and  in  1888-9  ^""^ 
purchased  the  stock  of  all  competitors  in 
the  furniture  business,  becoming  the  owner 
of  two  stores,  one  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  and  another  in  the  southern  part.  He 
did  all  of  the  furniture  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness in  this  town  of  five  thousand  inhabi- 
tants for  ten  years,  having  no  competition. 
His  trade  covered  a  radius  of  one  hundred 
miles  in  all  directions.  He  remained  in  busi- 
ness there  for  fifteen  years  meeting  with 
splendid  success  in  his  undertakings.  He 
also  became  the  owner  of  two  valuable 
ranches,  one  of  twenty-seven  hundred  acres, 
and  the  other  of  four  thousand  acres.  These 
were  splendidly  stocked,  his  horses  number- 
ing four  hundred,  his  cattle  five  hundred. 
At  length,  however.  Mr.  Flint  disposed  of 
his  various  business  interests  in  Texas  and 
came  to  Hoopeston  in  1898.  At  Lincoln, 
Illinois,  he  purchased  a  stock  of  shoes  value. i 
at  ten  thousand  dollars  and  shipped  these  to 
Hoopeston,  also  adding  a  grocery  stock.  In 
the  meantime  he  had  purchased  a  stock  of 
dry  goods  in  Kansas  City,  which  he  also 
shipped  to  Hoopeston,  and  opening  these 
various  lines  of  goods  he  conducted  business 
for  about  two  vears  as  an  extensive  anrl  suc- 


cessful merchant.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
however,  he  suft:'ered  very  serious  losses 
amounting  to  about  t\venty-fi\-e  thousand 
(;k)llars.  This  was  a  result  of  a  difticultv 
which  he  had  with  a  man  by  the  name  of  H. 
Kirby,  who  had  falsely  manipulated  land 
deals  for  Mi.  Flint,  making  these  business 
relations  result  to  his  own  benefit  instead  of 
to  the  owner  of  the  property.  Mr.  Kirby 
had  completely  won  Mr.  Flint's  confidence 
and  later  he  abused  this  in  the  most  shame- 
ful manner.  Trouble  arising  between  them 
in  self-defense  Mr.  Flint  shot  the  man  bu 
did  not  fatally  injure  him.  In  his  course  our 
subject  received  the  support  of  the  best  resi- 
dents of  Hoopeston  and  was  acquitted. 
Starting  out  in  business  life  anew  at  this 
place  he  became  a  broker  and  real-estate 
agent  and  has  since  continued  his  efforts 
along  these  lines.  While  maintaining  his 
residence  in  Hoopeston  he  has  to  a  large  ex- 
tent superintended  landed  investments  scat- 
tered over  the  state  which  are  the  property 
of  the  Bank  of  Salem,  acting  as  agent  for 
Mr.  Marshall,  of  that  place.  He  sold  r>ne 
farm  in  southern  Illinois  for  Mr.  Marshall, 
for  twenty-two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
cash.  This  tract  comprised  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  and  Mr.  Flint  succeeded  in  get- 
ting a  higher  price  for  the  land  than  any 
that  had  ever  been  paid  in  that  part  of  the 
state.  He  possesses  sound  judgment,  keen 
discrimination  and  marked  executive  force — 
qualities  which  are  very  valuable  in  business 
life.  Building  a  hotel  in  Pana,  Illinois,  he 
conducted  it  for  a  luunber  of  years  and  then 
sold  out.  He  has  also  bought  and  sold  farms 
in  this  state  and  he  now  owns  six  hundred 
andi  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  about  fifty- 
five  miles  south  of  Chicago.  He  also  owned 
the  citv  electric  light  plant   for  a  year  and 


TIIK    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


413 


managed  it  during  that  time,  after  which  he 
sold  it  in  i(;oi.  He  is  also  the  nwner  of  a 
half  interest  in  the  Cuinningham  Hotel.  He 
has  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  farm 
land  near  Salem,  Illinois,  and  eighty  acres 
near  Kank.akee.  together  with  S(_>me  town 
proijerty. 

.Mr.  Mint  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Lockie  B.  Daniels,  a  native  of  Lincoln  coun- 
ty. Kentucky,  where  they  were  married.  Her 
people  are  now  living  in  .Abilene,  Texas, 
while  Mr.  Mint's  people  still  reside  in  Ken- 
tucky. Three  days  after  the  wed<ling  wa- 
performed  .the  young  couple  started  for  the 
Lone  Star  state,  where  they  remained  for 
a  number  of  years.  The  marriage  has  been 
bles.sed  with  four  children:  Harold,  War- 
ren, J.  P.  and  l-'erris  .\ndrey.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  Mr.  Mint  is  a  Ihyan  Democrat. 
He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pvthias  fra- 
ternity, of  .\bilene.  Texas,  and  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  church.  Such  in  brief 
is  his  life  history  and  those  who  read  be- 
tween the  lines  may  know  .something  of  the 
struggle  which  he  has  had  in  the  business 
world,  but  though  he  has  met  difficulties  and 
obstacles  he  has  persevered  in  the  face  of 
such  opposition  and  to-day  he  occupies  an 
enviable  position,  prominent  both  because  of 
his  success  and  of  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him. 


EPHR.Vl.M   B.\RXH.\RT. 

Ephriam  Barnhart,  now  deceased,  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  entire  life  and 
was  long  a  resident  of  \^ermilion  county  re- 
spected as  a  worthy  representative  of  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  settled  in  Edgar 
county,  Illinois,  at  an  early  day  and  thence 
came  to  this  section  of  the  state.     ]\Ir.  Barn- 


hart  was  a  nali\c  of  l'einis_\l\-ania,  born 
July  10,  1834,  .and  his  parents,  Jacob  and 
Mary  Barnhart,  were  also  natives  of  the 
Keystone  state.  There  thev  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  their  lives,  the  tather  following 
the  occupation  ot  farming  in  I'ennsyl\-ania 
until  his  death.  The  mother,  however,  af- 
terward came  to  Illinois  and  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son  George  in  Edgar  county. 

Mr.  Barnhart  of  this  review  was  indebted 
to  the  common  schools  of  Pennsylvania  for 
the  educational  jirivileges  which  he  enjoyed 
in  his  youth.  Me  resided  in  the  state  of  his 
nativity  during  the  period  of  his  minority, 
assisting  his  father  upon  the  home  farm  un- 
til after  he  became  of  age.  He  then  made  hi.s 
way  westward  settling  in  P^dgar  count}',  Illi- 
nois, where  he  purchased  a  farm  seven  miles 
east  of  Paris.  Here  he  began  cultivating 
the  soil  on  his  own  accotint  and  was  engager 
in  the  further  de\-elopment  and  improve- 
ment of  his  place.  When  the  country, 
aroused  o\-er  the  issue  of  sla\ery  and  of  the 
secession  of  the  .south,  became  in\-ol\-e(l  in 
Civil  war,  he  resolved  to  strike  a  blow  in 
defense  of  the  L^nion.  It  was  on  the  28th  of 
May,  1862,  that  Mr.  Barnhart  enlisted,  be- 
coming a  member  of  Company  E.  One  I  lun- 
dred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  at 
Paris,  this  state.  He  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Campbell  and  Colonel 
Birge  and  with  his  regiment  he  partici])atcd 
in  a  number  of  important  engagements  in- 
cluding the  battles  of  Eort  Donelson  and 
Shiloh.  He  was  never  injinxd.  however,  in 
an  encounter  with  the  enemy,  btit  because 
of  failing  health  he  recei\-ed  an  honorable 
discharge.  He  then  returned  to  the  farm  in 
Edgar  county  and  was  there  living  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage. 

In  1863  Mr.  Barnhart  was  joined  in 
wedltjck  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Barrow,  a  native 


4'4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Augusta  county,  \'irginia,  born  Xovem- 
ber  16,  1835.  her  parents  being  Bayless  and 
Nancy  (Myers)  Barrow.  Theye  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia  and  removed  to  \^igo  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  during  the  early  girlhood  of 
^Irs.  Barnhart  and  there  they  lived  until 
their  death.  The  father  devoted  his  atten- 
tions to  agricultural  pursuits.  The  home  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  was  blessed  with 
four  children :  Halbert.  who  resides  with 
his  mother,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  near 
the  city ;  Carrie,  the  wife  of  \\'alter  Haniuuu, 
a  plumber  of  Danville,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children,  Howard  and  Walter;  Elea- 
nora,  the  wife  of  Robert  Sage,  a  boiler  ma- 
ker in  Chicago;  and  ]\Iayme,  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Carson,  a  plumber  of  Danville, 
who  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Carson  & 
Company.  They  reside  with  ]\Irs.  Barnhart 
and  have  two  children,  Thomas  Henry  and 
Freddie  Barnhart. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  his  farm  in  Edgar  county, 
Illinois,  and  there  remained  for  eight  years, 
after  which  they  removed  to  Denison.  Texas, 
where  our  subject  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  for  two  years.  He  then  returned 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Clark  county,  where  he 
carried  on  farm  work  for  four  years,  or  until 
1884  when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Dan- 
ville. During  the  summer  months  he  con- 
tinued his  farm  work  and  during  the  winter 
seasons  he  followed  teaming  in  this  city  until 
his  health  failed  him  and  he  was  obliged  to 
put  aside  lousiness  cares,  living  retired  from 
that  time  until  called  to  his  final  rest.  He 
passed  away  December  24,  1898,  deeply  re- 
gretted bv  his  manv  friends.  He  had  verv 
firm  faith  in  the  principles  of  the  Republi- 
can party  and  always  supported  its  men  and 
measures.  Socially  he  was  connected  with 
the  Grand  Army  Post  of  this  city.    Brooking 


no  obstacle  that  could  be  overcome  by  de- 
termined and  earnest  effort,  he  achie\ed  suc- 
cess in  this  way  and  at  the  same  time  he  won 
a  good  name  and  left  to  his  family  and 
friends  an  example  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. Mrs.  Barnhart  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  of 
Danville.  She  occupies  a  nice  residence  at 
No.  907  Robinson  street,  where  she  is  living 
with  her  son  and  with  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  W.  H. 
Carson. 


WILLIAM    COSSAIRT. 

Lpon  a  good  farm  on  section  4,  Middle- 
fork  township,  lives  William  Cossairt  and 
his  place  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is 
equipped  with  modern  accessories,  which  in- 
dicate him  to  be  a  progressive  agriculturist. 
His  land  adjoins  the  town  of  Potomac  on 
the  west  and  thus  the  comforts  of  town  life 
are  easily  secured.  A  native  son  of  Illinois, 
he  was  born  near  the  city  of  Danville,  July 
5,  1836.  His  father  was  David  Cossairt, 
his  grandfather  Albert  Cossairt  and  both 
were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  latter  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  early 
pioneer  times,  settling  in  Vermilion  county 
north  of  the  present  city  of  Danville. 
There  he  secured  a  tract  of  wild  land,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  good  farm,  becoming 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  well  known  agri- 
culturists of  his  community,  Cpon  that 
place  he  reared  his  family  and  there  lived  to 
the  ripe  old  age  of  more  than  ninety  years. 

David  Cossairt  was  reared  upon  the  old 
homestead  and  early  became  familiar  with 
the  arduous  task  of  developing  new  land. 
He  also  shared  with  the  family  in  the  vari- 
ous hardships  and  trials  incident  to  frontier 
life.     He  was  married  in  Vermilion  county 


CF  r,:E 

JNIVERSiry  OF  ILLINOIS 


MRS.  WILLIAM   COSSAIRT. 


WILLIAM   COSSAIRT. 


UNlVtRoUY    U^    ILLINOIS 


•  /»•,-•',.,  -    , 


,Vj  >.  .  .  vV. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


419 


to  Jane  Caldwell,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
came  with  her  parents  from  Ohio  to  Illi- 
nois. In  order  to  provide  for  his  wife  and 
for  the  children  who  were  afterward  added 
to  the  family,  David  Cossairt  followed 
farming,  living  near  the  old  homestead  for 
several  years.  In  1S42  he  purchased  the 
place  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son 
\\'illiam  and  here  he  began  farm  work, 
making  the  lirst  improvements  on  the  place. 
His  home  was  a  hewed  log  house,  in  which 
he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  about  1845,  when  he  was  yet  a 
yiiung  man.  His  wife  survix'ed  him  for  sev- 
eral vears.  Of  the  family  of  two  sons  and 
two  daughters  \\'illiam  Cossairt  is  the  eld- 
est. His  brother  John  was  a  soldier  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion,  serving  in  Company  I 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  he  died  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  during  the  war.  ]\Iary,  one  of 
the  sisters,  grew  to  womanhood,  was  mar- 
ried and  at  her  death  left  a  son,  William  H. 
Young,  who  now  resides  in  Idaho.  The 
other  sister,  Margaret,  is  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Dwiggin,  of  \\'aynetown,  Indiana. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
William  Cossairt  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  Vermilion  county.  He 
grew  to  manhood  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives  and  bought  out  the  interest  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  old  home  place,  thus  suc- 
ceeding to  the  ownership.  He  has  cleared 
and  broken  the  land,  has  fenced  the  fields 
and  made  the  farm  what  it  is  to-daj- — a  rich- 
ly developed  tract  splendidly  adapted  for  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  He  also  erected  a  neat 
and  suljstantial  residence  and  planted  an  or- 
chard, the  trees  of  which  now  bear  good 
fruit.  Some  of  the  trees  of  his  own  planting 
are  at  the  present  time  more  tlian  two  feet 
in  d.i;uneter,  these  being  set  out  fifty-eight 


years  ago.  He  has  also  tiled  his  land  and 
added  many  equipments  of  \alue  to  facili- 
tate farm  work.  He  is  now  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  feeding  and  fattening  hogs  and  cat- 
tle for  the  market  and  is  justly  numbered 
among  the  successful  stockmen  of  the 
county. 

In  Aliddlefork  tow^nship  in  1861  was  cel- 
ebrated the  marriage  of  Mr.  Cossairt  and 
Louisa  A,  Smith,  a  daughter  of  Septimus 
Smith,  a  native  of  England,  but  his  daugh- 
ter was  born  and  reared  in  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. By  this  union  there  have  been  born  nine 
children:  William  S.,  who  is  a  practicing 
physician  of  Potomac;  Adeline  S.,  at  home; 
Da\'id  S.,  who  is  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Middlefork  township;  Samuel  A., 
also  a  farmer  of  the  same  township ;  Laura 
Grace  and  Mary  May,  both  at  home;  anl 
John.  They  lost  two  children,  Emma,  the 
first  born,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
months ;  and  Josephine,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.  Cossairt  became  of  age  in  1857  '^'''*^' 
it  was  therefore  that  in  i860  he  cast  his 
first  presidential  vote.  His  ballot  was  de- 
posited for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  he  has 
since  been  an  earnest  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  its  men  and  its  measures. 
He  has  served  as  school  trustee  since  twen- 
ty-seven years  of  age,  covering  a  period  of 
more  than  four  decades.  He  has  also  been 
tow^iship  trustee  for  a  number  of  years  and 
for  four  consecutive  years  has  been  asses- 
sor. He  has  likewise  served  as  a  delegate  to 
numerous  conventions  of  his  party  and  in 
all  public  offices  of  trust  he  has  l)een  prompt 
and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 
He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  tiie 
Potomac  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
have  been  true  to  its  teachings  as  exemplified 
in  their  noble  relations  with  their  fellow 
men.     For  over  sixtv  years  Mr.  Cossairt  has 


420 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


resided  upon  the  farm  whicli  is  yet  his  home. 
Perhaps  this  record  is  equalled  by  that  of 
no  other  resident  of  Vermilion  county.  His 
entire  life  has  been  passed  within  the  borders 
of  this  county  and  he  has  watched  its  won- 
derful transformation.  Great  indeed  have 
been  the  changes  which  have  been  wrought 
as  the  swampy  land  has  been  made  to  pro- 
duce abundant  harvests.  As  towns  and  cities 
have  been  built  the  work  of  progress  and  im- 
provement has  been  carried  forward  along 
all  lines.  There  is  not  a  man  in  the  commu- 
nity more  highly  respected  than  William 
Cossairt  and  no  history  of  this  portion  of 
the  state  would  be  complete  without  the  rec- 
ord of  his  life. 


JESSE  LEEKA,  M.  D. 

The  qualities  which  make  a.  successful 
physician  have  long  been  manifested  in  the 
career  of  Dr.  Leeka,  who  is  now  practicing 
in  Oakwood.  \'ermilion  county,  and  his  pro- 
fessional business  has  long  been  of  an  im- 
portant as  well  as  of  an  extensive  charac- 
ter. The  Doctor  was  born  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty. Ohio.  May  19,  1S30,  and  his  father, 
Philip  Leeka,  was  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, \'irginia,  in  1799,  while  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  of  German  birth  and  was 
one  of  the  Hessian  soldiers  that  were  hired 
by  England  without  their  consent  to  serve 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Contrary  winds. 
however,  delayed  the  ships  in  which  they 
embarked  and  the  war  was  over  before  they 
arrived  in  the  new  world.  Mr.  Leeka,  how- 
ever, decided  to  remain  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia. The  mother- of  our  subject  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Hodson,  who  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  in  1797.     It  was  in 


Clinton  county.  Ohio,  that  she  gave  her  hand 
in   marriage   to   Philip  Leeka.   who  was   a 
farmer  by  occupation.     He  remo\ed  to  that 
county  about  1815,  settling  upon  a  tract  of 
land  there.     He  spent  his  remaining  days  in 
that  locality  and  died  in  June,   1884.     The 
mother  of  our  subject  had  passed  away  in 
January.  1843.  and  Philip  Leeka  later  wed- 
ded Miss  Erazier.  who  is  also  now  deceased. 
His   political    adherence   was   given   to   the 
Whig  party  in  early  life  and  he  afterward 
became  a  Republican.     In  the  family  were 
ten  children,  namely.  Jonathan,  who  resides 
at    New    Vienna,    Clinton    comity.    Ohio 
Sarah,  who  died  in  September,  1900:  Han- 
nah, who  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  A.  Han- 
sel and  lived  for  a  time  in  Cedar  county, 
Iowa  but  afterward  removed  to  Linn  coun- 
ty, that  state,  and  died  in  Marion,  Iowa,  in 
the  spring  of  1900:  Christian,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  seven  years :  the  Doctor,  who  is 
the  fifth  in  order  of  birth ;  Henry,  who  was 
twice  married  and  who  served  as  a  Lnion 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  made  his  home 
in  Clinton  county.  Ohio,  where  he  died  in 
May,    1901  ;   Mary,   who  wedded  John   In- 
gold,    who    died   in    1879    in    New    \"ienna, 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  his  widow  now 
resides ;  IMathew.  who  married  Lucinda  But- 
ler, of  Hancock  county,  and  has  one  child 
a  daughter,  and  resides  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm  in  Clinton  county;  John  \\'esley 
who  enlisted  in  1861  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A,    Forty-eighth  Ohio  Infantr\',   and 
served  for  three  years  with  the  Union  army 
and  while  on  duty  was  wounded  in  the  foo; 
at  Pittsburg  Landing:  and  Martha  E.,  who 
is  the  youngest  of  the  family,  now  living  in 
New  Vienna.  Clinton  county,  Ohio. 

Dr.  Leeka  pursued  his  education  in  the 
Hoskins  district  school  and  in  New  Vienna. 
Ohio.      He  afterward  engaged  in  teaching 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


421 


for  four  months  and  later  he  came  to  Ilh- 
nois.  setthng-  in  Tuscola.  Douglas  county, 
where  he  taught  school  in  the  winter  of 
1883-4.  From  1876  until  1878  he  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Indiana  Physio  Medical  Cullege 
at  Indianapolis,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
with  the  class  of  1878.  He  afterward  prac- 
ticed in  Jerome  and  Kokomo,  Indiana,  and 
later  went  to  Missouri  and  to  Kansas,  but 
after  a  few  months  spent  in  the  west  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Tuscola.  From  that  place  he  re- 
moved to  Fairmount.  where  he  practiced 
medicine  until  1886.  when  he  came  to  Oak- 
wood  and  entered  upon  a  professional  career 
which  has  been  profitable  and  has  demon- 
strated his  skill  in  a  marked  degree. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1855,  in  Rush- 
ville.  Rush  count)'.  Indiana,  the  Doctor  wed- 
detl  Rebecca  A.  Macy,  who  was  born  in 
Henry  county,  Intliana,  June  i.  1833.  Her 
father,  h^rancis  B.  Macy,  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  was  descended  from 
one  of  three  brothers  of  the  name,  who  came 
from  England  to  the  new  world  when  the 
Quakers  were  being  banished  from  that 
country.  They  took  up  their  abode  in  Nan- 
tucket and  there,  intermingling  with  the  In- 
dians, married  some  of  the  maidens  of  the 
red  race.  I-'rancis  B.  married  Hulda  B. 
Hunt,  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  a  rep- 
resentative of  an  old  family  of  that  state, 
prominent  in  jiublic  affairs  and  active  as 
members  of  the  Quaker  Society.  They  were 
married  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  where 
tile  father  followed  his  trade  of  a  tinsmith. 
Subse(|uently  he  removed  to  Rush  county, 
Indiana,  and  afterward  to  Kokomo,  where 
both  he  and  his  wife  lie  buried.  He  voted 
with  the  \Miig  party  and  was  identified  with 
the  Society  of  Friends.  Mrs.  Leeka  was 
one  of  a   familv  of   four  children,   but   the 


only  one  now  sur\i\-ing-  is  John  L.  Macy,  a 
resident  of  Kokomo.  Mrs.  Leeka  died  April 
14.  1873,  and  on  the  3d  of  May,  1885.  in 
FairmouiU,  Illinois,  the  Doctor  wedded  Miss 
Elizabeth  J.  'i'immons.  who  was  born  in  Car- 
roll county,  Indiana,  in  1838.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  were  five  children.  Francis 
Edgar,  who  married  Sarah  Sisson,  is  man- 
ager of  the  Durango  Smelting  Works  of 
Durango,  Colorado.  Charles  !•'..  who  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  Porter  county,  Indiana, 
wedded  Ida  Ailsworth  and  thev  had  fiv. 
children,  of  whom  two  are  living.  Theodore 
and  Ethel.  William  L.,  wh  became  a  phy- 
sician but  is  now  a  ])hotogTapher  of  Fair- 
nioimt  has  ijcen  twice  married  and  by  his 
union  with  Mary  Gil)son  had  three  children, 
while  by  the  second  marriage  one  child  has 
been  born.  Cora  Ann,  the  fourth  of  the 
famil}-,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years.  Dan- 
iel K.,  who  is  a  practicing  dentist,  is  also  a 
photographer. 

Dr.  Leeka  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  fin- 
two  terms  served  as  coroner  in  Henry  coun- 
ty, Intliana.  For  fourteen  years  he  has  been 
notar\-  public  and  for  four  years  was  post- 
master, while  at  the  present  time  he  is  serv- 
ing as  clerk  of  Oakwood  township.  He  be- 
longs to  Newton  Lodge,  No.  714,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  having  been  a  Mason  for  forty-nine 
years,  beccjming  a  member  of  the  craft  in 
New  Vienna,  Ohio.  He  lias  served  as  ex- 
aminer for  all  the  insurance  fraternal  or- 
ganizations wliich  have  representati\es  in 
Oakwood  and  for  many  insurance  societies. 
He  is  a  memljer  of  the  American  Ph_\-sio 
Medical  Association  and  of  the  Illinois  Phy- 
sio Medical  Association  and  through  these 
relations  he  keeps  in  touch  with  the  ad\'anced 
thought  of  the  profession,  with  the  investiga- 
tions which  are  continuallv  Ijcing  made  and 
with  the  experiments  which  result  in  broad- 


422 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ening  knowledge  and  promoting  tlie  effi- 
ciency of  the  physician.  Tlie  Doctor  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
is  entitled  to  membership  in  the  latter  be- 
cause of  his  services  as  a  Union  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  enlisted  at  Carthage  in  Rush 
county,  Indiana,  December  12,  1863,  as  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Ninth  Indiana  Cav- 
alry, with  which  he  ser\-ed  until  the  29th  of 
September,  1S65.  He  was  then  mustered  out 
at  A'icksburg,  Mississippi.  His  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  noted  engagements 
and  while  at  the  front  he  contracted  rheuma- 
tism because  of  the  dampness  occasioned  bv 
the  swamps  by  which  the  troops  were  many 
times  surrounded.  Dr.  Leeka  is  to-day  as 
true  and  loyal  in  matters  of  citizenship  as 
he  was  when  he  wore  the  nation's  blue  uni- 
form and  in  civic  office  and  in  professional 
life  he  is  most  faithful  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
him.  He  stands  to-day  among  the  promi- 
nent respected  and  honored  men  of  his  com- 
munity, and  no  history  of  Oakwood  or  this 
section  of  Vermilion  county  would  be  com- 
plete witliout  the  record  of  his  career. 


WILLI.AM    J.  DAVIS. 

\\'illiam  [.  Davis,  a  real-estate  operator 
of  Dan\-ille,  \vas  born  in  Vermilion  county, 
August  I,-  1838,  and  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  that  local- 
ity. His  father,  James  A.  Davis,  was  a  na- 
tive of  England  and  in  the  year  1828  sailed 
for  America,  landing  at  Savannah.  Georgia, 
where  for  a  time  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  a  store.  He  afterward  started  up  the 
Mississippi  river  in  the  boat,  Brandywine, 
but  the  vessel  caught  hre  and  he  jumped 
into  the  river,  swimming  ashore  with  the  aid 


of  a  boartl.     He  lost  all  he  had,  however, 
and  after  being  furnished  transportation  to 
Natchez,  he  walked  from  there  to  Danville. 
He  had  been  given  a  suit  of  old  clothes  and 
a  little  money,  but  he  liad  only  twelve  cents 
upon   his   arrival   here    and    he   had   never 
worked  out  of  doors  before  in  his  life,  being 
entirely  unused  to  the  hard  labor  of  a  farm 
or  other  such  occupation.     He  was  accom- 
panied by  a  man  of  the  name  Russell,  who 
was  also    without    funds.     An  old  Quaker 
gave    them    shelter     over    night     and    then 
'made    a    gift    of    one    dollar    and    twenty- 
five  cents  to  each,  sending  them  on  their  way 
rejoicing.     The  first  thing  which  Mr.  Davis 
did  in  Vermilion  county  was  to  conduct  a 
school.     The  settlers  built  a  little  log  school- 
house  in  the  spring  of  1832  and  he  became  a 
teacher  of  the  first   school   ever  taught    in 
Danville,  thus  laying  the  foundation  for  the 
educational  development  of  this  portion  of 
the  state.     I'he  building  was  located  at  what 
is  now  the  foot  of  Hazel  street  and  there  Mr. 
Davis  taught  for  three  months,  after  which 
he    A'olunteered    for    service    in    the    Black 
Hawk  war  and  not  only  did  he  do  his  mili- 
tary duty  l)ut  he  also  acted  as  nur.se  to  some 
old  soldiers  who  had  cholera.    He  was  never 
sick   or   wounded,   however,    and   after  the 
war  he  returned  to  Dan\ille,  where  in  the 
following  spring  he  was  married  and  then 
engaged  in  farming.     It  was  on  the  22d  of 
March,    1S33,   i"   this  city  that   he  wedded 
Lavina  Canady,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
for  a  year  he  lived  upon  a  rented  farm,  after 
which   he  took    up    go\-ernment   land   near 
Stateline,  continuing  there  until  1847,  '^vhen 
he   rem(_i\-ed   to  a  large   farm   in   the  north- 
western part  of  the  county,  carrying  on  ag- 
ricultural pursuits    until    the  T5th  of  May. 
1851,   when   he   retired   from   farm  life  and 
removed   to   Dan\ille,   where  he   lived   until 
1888.      He   then    went   to  California   in   the 


WILLIAM   J.  DAVIS 


UNlVERSllY   OF   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


427 


Iiope  of  Ijcnehiing-  liis  wife's  health  and  they 
H\-e(l  in  .\naheini.  Orange  count}',  until 
called  to  their  final  rest.  Mr.  Davis  passing 
a\va\-  May  i.  1902.  and  his  wife  on  the  17th 
of  August.  1895.  He  was  a  Repuhlican  in 
]5olitics  and  by  appointment  served  for  sev- 
eral terms  as  deput_\-  shei"iff.  Ijut  he  always 
refused  to  become  a  candidate  for  any  elec- 
tive office.  He  was,  however,  deeply  inter- 
ested in  pulilic  affairs,  contributing  of  his 
time  and  efforts  to  the  promotion  of  all 
measures  calculated  to  prove  of  general  ben- 
efit. For  man}'  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Eellows  Society  and  was  an  active 
and  helpful  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
iiis  life  being  in  harmony  with  its  teachings, 
in  fact,  to  known  James  A.  Davis  was  to  es- 
teem and  honor  him  for  his  upright  career 
made  him  win  the  regard  of  all  and  he 
should  also  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance 
by  the  people  of  Vermilion  county  for  what 
he  did  in  its  behalf,  for  he  assisted  in  laying 
broad  and  deep  the  foundation  of  pioneer 
development,  upon  which  rests  the  present 
prosperity  and  progress  of  this  section  of  the 
state. 

^^'illiam  J.  Davis  is  one  of  a  family  of 
five  children,  all  yet  living,  and  was  the  first 
born.  The  others  are:  Frances  P.,  the  wife 
of  \V.  R.  Harker,  a  resident  of  California; 
Mary,  the  widow  of  Leonidas  M.  Brown, 
whcj  died  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  where 
she  is  now  li\ing:  Julia,  who  is  the  widow 
of  John  Lane  and  resides  in  Garden  Grove, 
Orange  county.  California:  and  Alice,  who 
makes  her  liouie  with  her  sister  Julia. 

In  his  early  youth  \\'illiam  J.  Davis  pur- 
sued his  education  under  his  father's  in- 
struction in  a  country  school  in  Xewell 
township  and  afterward  attended  the  puljlic 
schools  of  Danxille  until  nineteen  years  of 
age.  when  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  Le 

Seuer  store,  where  he  remained  for  a  year. 
18 


He  was  afterward  in  the  employ  of  ^^'.  R. 
Gessie  for  six  months  and  then  accepted  the: 
position  of  deputy  county  clerk  under  J.  C- 
Short,  serving  for  four  years.  At  the  end 
of  that  time,  in  August.  1862,  Mr.  Davis 
became  a  defender  of  the  L'nion.  joining  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  C.  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-lifth  Illinois  Infantry,  enlisting 
at  Danville  under  Captain  William  W.  Fel- 
lows and  Colonel  O.  F.  Harmon.  He  was 
then  ordered  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  to  join 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  served  for 
four  months  when  he  was  taken  ill,  because 
of  exposure  and  was  discharged  for  physical 
disability.  He  returned  to  Danville  but  for 
a  year  thereafter  was  confined  to  his  1iome 
and  when  he  had  suflkiently  recovered  his 
health  he  entered  the  office  of  the  circuit 
clerk,  who  had  been  county  recorder  when 
Mr.  Davis  served  as  deputy.  For  four  years 
he  occupied  that  position  and  then  was  en- 
gaged in  the  abstract  business  for  five  years, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  real 
estate  dealing.  Perhaps  no  lietter  idea  of 
Mr.  Davis'  high  reputation  as  a  business 
man  can  be  given  than  to  Cjuote  a  letter 
which  was  signed  and  endorsed  l)y  many 
of  t  he  leading  citizens  of  this  section  of  the 
state  an.d  other  portions  of  Illinois.  It  read  ; 
"This  letter  wi"ll  introduce  to  you  Mr.  Will- 
iam J.  Davis,  a  man  whom  I  have  known 
for  many  years  as  a  careful,  honest,  imle- 
fatigable  worker.  He  has  been  in  the  real 
estate  and  abstract  business  for  a  great 
many  years  and  he  is  well  qualified  to  attend 
to  anything  in  that  line  of  business  as  any 
man  in  the  county.  I  heartily  commend  him 
to  your  careful  consideration. 
"Very  truly  yours, 

Thomas  J.   Dale,   county  clerk. 

\V.   C.   Thompson,  county  treasurer. 

"I   heartily  and   cheerfully   concur." 
J.   (j.   Cannon,   member  of  congress. 


428 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


F.    Bookwalter,    judge   of    the    circuit    ..'ourt    of   the 

fifth   judical   district. 
M.  J.  Eargcr,  circuit  clerk. 
C.  V.  Guy.  manager  of  \'ennilion  County  Abstract 

Company. 
W.  J.  Calhoun,  inter  state  commerce  commissioner. 
C.   M.   Swallow,  president  of   Glenburn  Coal   Com 

pany. 

"I  concur  in  the  above:" 
William     P.    Cannon,     president     Second     National 

Bank. 
'•So  do  I:" 
John   C.   Black,   Manadnock  Building,   Chicago. 
J.   B.   Mann,  Lawyer,  Marquette  Building,  Chicago. 
Jacob     W.    Wilkins,    one     of     the     judges     of     the 

Supreme  Court  of  Illinois. 
James   Sloan,    Sheriflf. 
M.  W.  Thompson,  county  judge. 
L.  D.  Gass,  cashier  First  Natinai  Bank. 
M.  J.  Wolford,  cashier  Palmer  National  Bank. 
John    G.    Thompson,    assistant    attorney    general    of 

Washington.  D.  C. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1863.  in  Dan- 
ville, ^Ir.  Davis  married  Charlotte  E. 
Baker,  who  was  born  in  Fort  Kent,  Essex 
county.  New  York.  October  22,  1843.  Her 
father,  J.  R.  Baker,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land and  in  New  York  w-as  married  to  Mar- 
garette  Frazier,  a  native  of  Fort  Kent,  Xew 
York.  In  the  year  1850  they  came  to  the 
west  and  after  ten  years  located  in  Danville, 
where  Mr.  Baker  was  engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1881.  His  wife  survived  him 
until  1888.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 
Mrs.  Davis  had  three  brothers.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  three 
children:  Charles  E.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years;  Edwilda  F.,  the  w'ife 
of  Walker  F.  Rabb,  a  resident  of  Engle- 
wood,  Illinois,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child,  Ina,  and  Harry  W.,  who  married 
Clara  Shultz,  wdio  died  in  1894.  since  w-hich 
time  he  has  wedded  Lena  Burroughs. 
They  reside  in  Danville  and  have  two  chil- 
dren. Charles  E.  and  James  .\. 


In  his  political  views  Mr.  Da\is  is  a 
Republican  but  has  always  refused  to  be- 
come a  candidate  for  office.  He  was 
formerly  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  So- 
ciety and  he  belongs  to  the  Christian  church. 
He  owns  property  in  Dan\ille  and  has  an 
office  in  the  Daniels  Building,  where  he  con- 
ducts a  good  real  estate  business. 


C.  H.  GILLESPIE. 


C.  H.  Gillespie  is  thoroughh^  familiar 
with  the  builder's  art  and  through  a  number 
of  years  has  been  closely  associated  with  the 
building  interests  of  Danville  where  many 
fine  structures  have  arisen  as  monuments  to 
his  skill  and  enterprise.  He  w^as  born  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  November  21,  1849,  'i'^ 
father  being  \\'illiam  G.  Gillespie,  who  was 
born  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  Michigan  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Eliza  Swan  and  in  order  to  provide 
for  his  family  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits. They  becaine  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  yet  living,  namely 
C.  H.,  Lovell,  Frank,  Baxter  and  Grace.  The 
last  named  is  now  making  her  home  wdth  her 
mother  m  Birmingham,  Michigan.  The 
father  is  deceased,  having  departed  this  life 
in  1887. 

At  the  usual  age  C.  H.  Gillespie  entered 
the  public  schools  and  thus  he  acquired  his 
education.  In  the  periods  of  vacation  he 
worked  upon  his  father's  farm,  becoming 
familiar  with  the  labors  of  field  and  meadow. 
He  was  thus  emplyed  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age  when  he  abandoned  the  plow  for  the 
saw^  and  plane.  Lie  mastered  carpentry  work 
in  Michigan  and  in  1875  ^^^  came  to  Dar 
ville,  where  two  days  later  he  secured  a  posi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


429 


tion  in  tlic  coach  department  of  tlic  Chicago 
&  Eastern  Uhnois  Railroad  Company.  Tliere 
he  was  emplo^-ed  for  lour  years  and  tei". 
months,  giving  excellent  satisfaction.  On 
lea\ing  that  service  he  worked  for  two  years 
as  a  journeyman  carpenter  and  then  began 
general  contracting  and  building  which  he 
has  since  followed  with  signal  success.  He 
has  erected  many  of  Danville's  substantial 
and  attractive  residences  and  business 
liouses.  He  built  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  block,  the  Germantown 
school  building,  the  Hendricks  flats  antl  the 
Ginibell  store  building,  together  with  uTany 
others.  In  fact  he  has  enjoyed  a  liberal 
share  of  the  patronage  in  his  line  in  Dan- 
ville. l'i)V  two  years  he  vras  associated  with 
a  partner,  but  through.out  the  remainder  of 
the  period  since  beginning  business  on  his 
own  account  he  has  been  alone.  During  th.e 
past  few  years  his  work  has  been  confined 
chieily  to  this  city  and  he  has  executed  many 
important  contracts  which  indicate  his  abil 
ilv  in  the  line  of  his  chosen  occupation.  He 
is  most  trustworthy  and  reputable  in  busi- 
ness afl'airs  and  this,  combined  with  his  me- 
chanical skill,  enables  him  to  enjoy  in  a  large 
measure  the  support  and  confidence  of  the 
public. 

Mr.  Gillespie  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Globe.  His  political  support  is  given 
the  Republican  party  and  he  was  solicited 
to  become  a  candidate  for  alderman  from 
his  ward  but  refused  to  do  so,  having  no 
political  ambitions,  being  content  to  devote 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
affairs  which  are  now  extensive  and  impor- 
tant, so  that  he  employs  from  ten  to  twenty 
men  during  the  building  season.  He 
erected  his  own  home  at  the  comer  of  Hazel 
and  Davis  streets  and  has  other  city  prop- 


ert}-  \alued  at  about  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lar's. 

In  1876,  in  Danville,  occurred  the  m;u"- 
riage  of  Mr.  Gillespie  and  Miss  Delilah 
Clutter,  who  was  born  in  Vermilion  county 
February  2,  1856.  Her  father  died  during 
her  childhood  and  her  mother  now  resides 
in  Homer.  She  has  one  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth ^[orrison,  who  lives  near  Homer.  Four 
sons  ha\"e  been  born  unto  our  subject  and  his 
wife.  Lovell  married  Ici  Dora  Cass,  and  is 
acting  as  foreman  for  his  father.  He  was 
with  Battery  A  from  Danville,  under  Captain 
Yeager.  of  this  place,  with  the  command  of 
General  Miles,  in  Porto  Rico ;  \\'illiam,  the 
second  son.  is  also  in  bis  father's  employ; 
Dane  li\es  at  home:  and  Harry,  the  young- 
est son.  is  in  the  Indian  Territory  and  will 
])rnbably  become  a  rancher.  In  analyzing 
the  life  work  of  Mr.  Gillespie  it  will  be  found 
that  his  history  is  one  which  will  l;)ear  the 
closest  scrutiny,  for  his  entire  career  has  been 
c<:ilore(I  by  straightforward  dealing  with  his 
fellow  men.  Courteous,  genial,  well  in- 
formed, alert  and  enterprising,  he  stands 
to-da}-  among  the  leading  representative  men 

of  his  city. 

♦-»-♦ 

TILGHMAN  A.   BRATTON. 

Through  almost  forty-si.x  years  Tilgh- 
man  A.  Bratton  has  been  a  resident  of  Ver- 
million county  and  to-day  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  enterprising  farmers  of  Ross 
township  where  he  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty-four  acres  of  good  land.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  neighboring  state  of  Indiana,  his 
birth  having  occurred  near  Waynetown,  in 
Montgomery  county,  September  4,  1849. 
Plis  father,  Charles  S.  Bratton,  was  born  in 


430 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Montgomery  county,  in  1828,  while  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject.  Archer  Bratton, 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  great-great- 
grandfatlier  was  Ijorn  in  Ireland  and  on 
leaving  that  ct)nntry  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  the  new  world  Ijecoming  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  the  Blue  Grass  state.  Archer 
Bratton  grew  to  manhood  in  that  state  and 
was  there  married,  after  which  he  removed 
to  Indiana,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Alontgomery  county.  There  he  cleared 
away  the  trees  from  a  tract  of  land,  turned 
the  furrows  in  his  fields,  planted  the  crops 
and  in  course  of  time  reaped  good  harvests. 
Upon  the  farm  which  he  de\'el()i)ed  he  reared 
his  famil}',  including  Charles  S.  Bratton. 
The  latter  after  arriving  at  years  of  matur- 
ity wedded  Sarah  Armontrout,  liorn  near 
Waynetown,  Indiana.  They  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  Shawnee  prairie  and 
wdiile  living  there  Mrs.  Bratton  died,  leaving 
two  children,  Tilghman  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Jane 
Hamilton,  who  is  now  a  widow  living  in 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  the  father  married  again  and 
alxjut  1856  came  to  this  state,  purchasing 
land  in  what  is  now  known  as  Butler  town- 
ship, Vermilion  county.  He  entered  a  tract 
of  three  liundred  and  twenty  acres  which  lie 
broke  and  improved.  Later  he  sold  one  hun- 
dred antl  sixty  acres  and  on  the  remaining 
cjuarter  section  placed  substantial  improve- 
ments and  developed  a  fine  farm,  rearing 
his  family  there.  In  1888  he  removed  to 
Rossville.  purchased  property  in  the  town 
and  spent  his  last  years  there  in  honorable 
retirement  from  labor,  passing  away  in  Au- 
gust, 1892.  His  second  wife  still  survives 
him  and  makes  her  home  with  the  subject  of 
this  review. 

On    the   old   home   farm    Tilghman    A. 
Bratton  was  reared.     His  school  privileges 


were  limited  and  lie  is  ahiKjst  entirely  self- 
educated,  but  he  has  greatly  broadened  his 
knowledge  since  arriving  at  years  of  matur- 
ity. He  remained  with  his  father  and  car- 
ried on  the  home  place  until  1888.  His 
father  then  removed  to  the  town  and  our 
subject  Cf)ntinued  to  operate  the  home  farm 
until  1893.  The  following  year  he  came  to 
Rossville  and  in  1901  he  purchased  the  farm 
in  Ross  township  which  he  now  owns  and  to 
the  cultivation  of  which  he  devotes  his  ener- 
gies. 

In  1870,  in  Butler-township,  Mr.  Bratton 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Maria  Biddle,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Biddle.  who 
removed  to  Porter  and  afterward  to  Jasper. 
Indiana,  and  about  1861  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Bratton  spent 
the  greater  part  of  her  girlhood.  By  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  two 
children,  but  Lennie  died  in  1890  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  A-ears.  The  son,  Charles  S.,  is 
still  with  his  parents.  Both  Mr.  and  ]\Irs. 
Bratton  are  devout  members  of  Rossville 
Christian  church  in  which  he  is  serving  as 
an  elder  and  trustee,  antl  in  the  work  of  the 
church  they  take  an  active  and  deep  inter- 
est. Politically  he  is  independent,  casting  his 
ballot  in  support  of  the  candidates  whom  he 
regards  best  qualified  for  office  and  of  the 
measures  which  he  thinks  will  most  largely 
serve  the  general  good.  He  is  a  friend  of 
the  cause  of  education,  believes  in  having 
good  schools  and  emploving  competent 
teachers,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he 
has  done  eft'ecti\e  service  in  this  regard  by 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
He  has  lieen  on  the  town  school  board 
for  seven  years  and  used  his  influence  to  se- 
cure the  present  substantial  school  build- 
ings of  which  Rossville  has  e\-ery  reason  to 


Of    IHE 
UUIVEFiGllY  Of  ILLINOIS 


MR.  AND   MRS.   JAMES    H.    DICE. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


433 


be  proud.  During  his  long  residence  in 
Vermilion  county  he  has  become  widely  and 
fa\-oral)ly  known.  The  tra\-eler  of  tn-day 
looking  upon  the  cities  with  their  pulsing 
industrial  and  commercial  activity  and  upon 
the  fine  farms  of  Vermillion  county  can 
scarcely  realize  that  with.in  the  memory  of 
Mr.  Bratton  this  district  of  the  state  was 
largely  a  wild  and  unimproved  region 
crossed  with  sloughs,  while  nuich  of  the 
land  therefore  was  swampy.  He  has  seen 
deer  and  wolves  in  the  county  and  has  rid- 
den for  miles  over  the  wild  prairie  unim- 
pedetl  liy  a  fence,  but  there  came  to  this 
region  a  class  of  people  with  resolute  spirit 
and  progressive  ideas  and  through  their 
efforts  Vermilion  county  has  been  splendidlv 
developed,  Mr.  Bratton  bearing  his  share 
in  all  the  work  of  impro\'enient. 


JAMES  H.  DICE. 

James  H.  Dice,  the  well  known  pro- 
prietor of  the  South  Side  Jersey  farm  and 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  Hoopes- 
ton.  is  a  native  of  the  neighboring  state 
of  Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Fiiunlain  count\'  on  the  lOth  of  January. 
i86j.  His  parents,  George  and  Catherine 
(Workman)  Dice,  were  also  born  in  that 
county,  the  former  in  i(S33  and  the  latter 
in  1843.  Throughout  his  active  business 
life  the  father  has  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  and  still  owns  and  operates  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  his  native 
county.  In  his  family  were  twehe  chil- 
dren, nine  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely: 
James  H,,  of  this  review:  Frank,  a  resident 
of  Grant  township,  \'crmiliiin  c<iuntv,  Illi- 
nois; Carrie,  wife  of  Dr.  Saylor.  of  Coving- 
ton. Indiana:  Alvessa,  wife  of  Frank  Good- 


win. ;dso  of  Grant  township:  .Vmanda,  wife 
of  Walter  Harris,  of  I-'onntain  county.  In- 
diana: Winifred,  wife  of  Mr.  Crooks,  a 
school  teacher  of  Vermilion  count)-,  Illi- 
nois; Josie,  a  singer  of  much  ability  who 
is  now  with  a  traveling  evangelist:  and 
Katie  and  Clifford,  both  at  home, 

James  H.  Dice,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  grew  to  manhood  in  Van  Buren 
township.  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  is 
indebted  to  the  public  schools  of  the  local- 
ity for  his  educational  privileges.  As  soon 
as  old  enough  to  be  of  any  assistance  he 
commenced  to  aid  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm  and  continued  to  give  his  father  the 
benefit  of  his  laljors  until  his  marriage. 

It  was  on  the  i8th  of  December.  1887, 
that  Mr.  Dice  wedded  Miss  Kittie  B.  Ray, 
who  was  also  born  in  Fountain  county,  In- 
diana. November  20,  1867,  a  daughter  of 
W.  L.  and  'Slary  Jane  (Carpenter)  Ray. 
Her  father  is  still  living  and  makes  his 
home  in  Lafayette.  Indiana,  but  her  mother 
is  now  deceased.  She  has  three  sisters, 
namely:  \'ictoria.  wife  of  Henry  Bushing, 
of  Denver,  Colorado:  Julia,  wife  of  \\'.  D. 
CofKng,  of  Stone  Bluff.  Indiana :  and  Cretie, 
wife  of  Harry  Dice,  of  Hoopeston.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  h;i\'c  three  children: 
Glen  Lloyd,  Chauncey  and  Marie. 

In  188S  ]\Ir.  Dice  came  to  Vermilion 
county  and  has  since  made  bis  home  in 
Grant  township,  living  upon  rented  land  for 
twelve  years.  In  the  meantime  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  near  Royal 
Center,  Indiana,  which  he  sold  three  yeans 
later  and  then  Iiought  a  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred anfl  twenty  acres  southwest  of  Hoopes- 
ton, which  he  held  for  two  years.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1900,  be  ])in'cbased  his  ]iresent 
farm,  then  consisting  of  fifty-two  acres  ad- 
joining  the   corporation   on    the   south,   on 


454 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


which  was  a  good  residence  costing  forty- 
five  liuiulred  dollars.  He  has  since  platted 
fifteen  acres  of  this  tract,  dividing  it  into 
forty-five  lots  facing  Second  avenue  and 
Orange  street,  which  he  subsequently  traded 
for  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  near  Rochester,  Indiana,  so  that 
he  now  has  about  thirty-seven  acres  of 
the  original  purchase,  which  he  has  fitted 
up  for  dairy  purposes,  and  now  gi\'es  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  that  business. 
He  has  a  fine  herd  of  twenty-seven  Jersey 
cows  and  finds  a  ready  market  for  his  milk 
and  cream  in  Hoopeston.  In  May,  igoo, 
Mr.  Dice  purchased  a  half  interest  in  a  brick 
and  tile  factory  south  of  the  town,  covering 
ten  acres,  and  operated  it  in  connection  with. 
E.  A.  Smith  for  about  a  year,  when  his 
partner  sold  out  to  Peter  Anderson.  The 
works  were  burned,  however,  on  the  26th 
of  May,  1 901,  and  the  following  July  ^Ir. 
Dice  traded  his  interest  in  the  land  on  the 
propertv  near  R(.)chester.  Indiana,  previous- 
ly referred  to.  Since  that  time  he  has  given 
his  attention  exclusively  to  his  dairy  busi- 
ness, renting  his  farm  in  the  Hoosier  state. 
He  is  a  very  wide-awake  and  energetic  lousi- 
ness man  and  in  all  his  undertakings  has  met 
with  a  well  merited  success.  Religiously 
Mrs.  Dice  is  connected  with  the  Christian 
church  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  wdule 
politically  he  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can partv. 


JOSEPH    B.   MAXN. 

Joseph  B.  ]\Iann  was  the  first  city  a.ttor- 
ney  of  Danville  and  almost  continuously 
since  that  time  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Vermilion  county  bar,  his  practice  cox'ering 


all  departments  of  jurisprudence,  showing 
a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  science 
of  law.  Mr.  ^lann  is  a  native  of  Xew  Jer- 
sey, his  birtii  ha\'ing  occurred  in  Somer- 
ville,  Somerset  county,  on  the  9th  of  No- 
vember, 1S43.  The  Mann  family  is  of  Hol- 
land lineage  and  was  founded  in  Pennsyl- 
vania prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  The 
paternal  great-grandfather  of  our  suljject 
was  a  colonel  in  the  Pennsylvania  militia 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Germantown 
during  the  struggle  for  independence.  After 
the  cessation  of  hostilities  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  among 
its  earliest  residents.  John  'SI.  Mann,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  in  early  youth  accompanied  his 
family  on  their  removal  to  Middlesex  coun- 
ty, Xew  Jersey,  and  later  to  Somerset  coun- 
ty, where  he  w'as  reared  to  manhood.  Pre- 
paring for  the  liar  he  became  one  of  the  dis- 
tinguished lawyers  of  that  state  and  left  the 
impress  of  his  strong  mentality  and  marked 
ability  upon  its  judicial  history.  He  was 
also  a  recognized  factor  in  political  circles, 
but  ne\"er  sought  the  rewards  of  office  in 
recognition  of  party  fealty.  He  served, 
however,  as  clerk  of  courts  and  also  as  sur- 
rogate for  two  terms,  and  later  in  life  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  X'ew  Jersey  legis- 
lature. He  was  several  times  offered  the 
nomination  for  congress  in  his  county, 
where  such  a  nomination  was  equivalent  to 
election,  Init  be  always  declined  the  honor. 
He  was  never  ambitious  for  political  prefer- 
ment, content  to  do  his  duties  as  a  private 
citizen  and  in  that  way  to  exercise  his  influ- 
ence in  behalf  of  [jublic  progress  and  im- 
provement and  as  a  molder  of  public  opin- 
ion. He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Eliza 
Bonnell,  of  Hunterdon  county,  X^ew  Jersey, 
who  was  of  French  lineage  on  the  paternal 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


435 


side  and  of  Irish  ancestry  in  the  maternal 
line.  Her  great-grandfather  served  as  a 
private  in  the  Revolutionarx-  war.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  yet  li\-ing:  !Mrs. 
A.  Bishop  Baldwin,  the  widow  of  General 
A.  Bishop  Baldwin,  of  New  Jersey ;  Alexan- 
der v.,  who  is  president  of 'the  Lumber- 
man's National  Bank,  of  Muskegon,  Michi- 
gan;  Charles  B.,  a  merchant  of  Muskegon; 
Samuel  B.,  who  is  the  treasurer  of  the  firm 
of  Aiken  &  Laiubert,  of  Maidens  Lane,  New 
York ;  and  Joseph  B.  Of  those  who  have 
passed  away  one  died  in  infancy.  \\'i'liam, 
the  second,  was  an  adjutant  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry in  the  Civil  war  and  served  for  three 
years.  For  a  long  period  he  was  a  pr<imi- 
nent  merchant  of  Danville,  but  has  now  de- 
parted this  life.  Charles  B.  was  a  major  of 
the  Seventy-fourth  Indiana  Infantry  with 
whicli  he  scrxcd  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and  both  he  and  William  ]\Iann  went  with 
Sherman  on  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea. 
Samuel  B.  was  sergeant-major  of  the  Third 
New  Jersey  Infantry  and  John  W.  was  ad- 
jutant of  the  Twenty-seventh  New  Jersey 
Infantry  and  died  from  disease  contracted 
while  in  the  service. 

\\'hen  a  boy  of  six  summers  Joseph  B. 
ilann  became  a  student  in  the  common 
schools  of  Somerville,  New  Jersey,  and 
later  pursued  a  preparatory  course  at  Flat- 
bush,  Long  Island,  and  at  Poughkeepsie, 
New  York.  He  then  entered  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  in  the 
fall  of  1863,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
sophomore  class.  He  pursued  the  full  course 
and  was  graduated  in  June,  1865,  with  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  while  in  1S68 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  his  alma  mater.     When  in  col- 


lege he  was  an  active  and  inllucntial  mem- 
ber of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  fraternity, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  till  the  position  of 
junior  orator  in  his  -junior  year. 

After  his  graduation' Mr.  Mann  made  his 
way  westward  to  Chicago  and  became  a 
student  in  the  law  school  at  the  corner  of 
Clark  and  \\'ashington  streets,  lie  was  led 
to  locate  in  that  citv  because  his  brothers 
had  previously  taken  up  their  abo(le  in  the 
\\'est.  A  year  later,  however,  Mr.  Mann 
came  to  Danville  to  study  law  in  the  otfice 
and  under  the  direction  of  Judge  O.  L. 
Davis.  He  entered  the  office  in  July,  1866, 
and  in  February,  of  the  following  year  he 
was  admitted  to  the  l)ar,  passing  an  examina- 
tion before  the  circuit  judge  and  the  pros- 
ecuting attorney.  In  May,  1867,  he  was 
elected  attorney  of  Dan\'ille,  which  city  had 
just  been  incorporated  and  thus  he  was  the 
first  one  to  hold  the  office.  The  following 
year  he  refused  a  second  nomination,  hav- 
ing in  the  meantime  entered  into  partnership 
with  Judge  Davis,  his  former  preceptor. 
This  relation  was  continued  until  the  judge 
was  re-elected  to  the  bench  in  1873.  after 
which  Mr.  Mann  practiced  alone  for  a  few 
years,  when  he  entered  into  jiartnership 
with  ^\'.  J.  Calhoun  and  later  1).  W.  Frazier 
was  admitted  to  the  firm  under  the  style  of 
Mann,  Calhoun  &  Frazier.  This  jiartner- 
ship  was  maintainefl  until  Mr.  Calhoun  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Vermilion 
county,  which  necessitated  a  dissolution  of 
the  business  relationship,  because  the  prac- 
tice of  the  firm  inchuled  crinu'nal  cases.  The 
firm  of  Mann  &  Frazier  thus  existed  until 
the  retirement  of  Judge  Davis  from  the 
bench  in  1885,  when  the  firm  of  Davis  & 
Mann  was  again  fonucd,  a  most  harmonious 
relationship  existing  between  the  two  men 
until  the  Judge  retired  from  the  active  prac- 


436 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tice  of  law.  At  llial  time  Mr.  Calhoun 
again  became  a  partner  of  Mr.  Mann's  and 
so  remained  until  1S91,  when  our  subject 
went  to  Chicago,  there  entering  into  part- 
nership with  Curtis  H.  Remy,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Remy  &  ]\Iann.  Thus  he  practiced 
until  July,  1901,  and  since  his  return  to 
Dan\-ille  he  has  been  alone  in  business. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1874.  Mr.  Mann 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  A. 
Davis,  a  daughter  of  Judge  O.  L.  Davis, 
and  they  now  ha\-e  three  children :  Fred 
B.,  Oliver  D.  and  Xellie.  The  eldest  is  in 
the  employ  of  the  Western  Steel  Car  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago,  while  Oliver  is  studying 
law  in  the  office  of  his  father  and  Nellie  is 
at  home. 

A  prominent  ]\Iason,  Mr.  ]\Iann  is  a 
member  i^f  the  blue  lodge,  chapter,  council 
and  commandery  of  Danville  and  he  also  be- 
longs to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  In  his  political  views  he  has  followed 
in  his  father's  footsteps  and  all  of  his  broth- 
ers have  likewise  been  stanch  advocates  of 
the  Democracy.  He  has  served  as  city 
attorney,  as  alderman,  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  and  of  the  thirty- 
second  general  assemlily  of  Illinois,  was  a 
delegate  to  the  national  convention  in  Chica- 
go in  1884,  when  Grpver  Cleveland  was 
nominated,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  every 
state  convention  that  has  been  held  during 
his  residence  in  A'erniilion  county.  To  the 
student  who  can  read  between  the  lines  this 
is  an  evidence  of  his  prominence  in  political 
circles.  Plis  opinions  carry  weight  in  the 
councils  of  the  party.  While  undoubtedly 
he  is  not  without  that  honorable  ambition 
which  is  so  powerfid  and  useful  as  an  in- 
centiA'e  to  actixitv  in  public  affairs,  he  re- 
gards the  pursuits  of  pri\-atc  life  as  beini. 


in  themselves  abundantly  worthy  of  his  best 
efforts.  W^ell  versed  in  the  learning  of  his 
profession,  and  with  a  deep  knowledge  of 
human  nature  and  of  the  springs  of  human 
conducts,  with  great  shrewdness  and  sagacity 
and  extraordinary  tact,  he  is  in  the  courts 
an  advocate  of  great  power  and  influence. 
Both  judges  and  juries  always  hear  him  with 
attention  and  deep  interest. 


DARIUS  DUXCAX. 

In  the  days  when  \'ermili()n  county  was 
situated  upon  the  frontier  Darius  Duncan 
became  one  of  its  residents.  Illinois  has 
afforded  very  splendid  opportunities  to  the 
farmers  and  stock-raisers,  its  broad  lands 
being  rich  and  fertile  and  its  meadows  furn- 
ishing excellent  pasturage.  Recognizing 
business  possibilities  in  this  direction  Mr. 
Duncan  became  an  active  factor  in  agricul- 
tural circles,  his  business  constantly  grow- 
ing Ijoth  in  volume  and  importance  until  it 
had  assumed  great  magnitude.  Thus  he  be- 
came quite  wealthy  and  was  also  recognized 
as  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  resi- 
dents of  his  county. 

Mr.  Duncan  was  born  De\'eml>er  2, 
1813.  in  Kentucky.  His  father,  James 
Duncan,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
with  his  family  removed  to  Kentucky  at  an 
early  day,  there  engaging  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  his  death.  The  subject 
of  this  review  accjuired  a  limited  education 
in  his  native  state.  He  assisted  his  father 
in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  in  Kentucky 
until  1833,  when  he  resolved  to  locate  in 
\'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  recognizing  that 
the  business  opportunities  here  would  lead 
to    success.      Accordingly   he    took    up    his 


LIBRA']y 

Cf    ,-,;e 

UMVERCiTY   Of  IMINO.'S 


DARIUS  DUNCAN. 


MRS.  DARIUS  DUNCAN. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


441 


abode  near  Slatcline.  wliere  he  lie^an  mak- 
ing improvements,  engaging  in  I'anning  at 
lirst  on  a  small  scale.  In  course  ot  time  his 
lands  begun  to  return  to  him  excellent  har- 
vests and  thereljy  his  linancial  resources 
were  materially  increased.  He  then  turned 
his  attention  to  the  stock  business,  rais- 
ing fine  stock.  His  operations  in  that 
enterprise  also  were  enlarged  from  year 
to  vear  until  he  became  one  of  the  nici^^l 
extensive  buyers  in  this  porticjn  of  Illinois. 
He  purchased  cattle,  horses,  hogs  and  sheep 
and  shipped  to  the  markets  of  Xew  York 
and  Chicagii.  He  handled  hundreds  and 
thousands  of  grades  of  stock  and  gained  a 
wide  reputation  as  one  of  the  leading  stock 
dealers  upon  the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois, 
At  the  same  time  he  was  also  investing  his 
capital  in  land  and  dealing  in  real  estate. 
His  judgment  concerning  farm  property 
was  e(|uall\'  reliable  with  his  opinions  con- 
cerning stock  and  he  bought  and  sold  many 
farms  and  at  one  time  was  the  owner  of  a 
valuable  farm  of  one  thousand  acres  near 
Stateline.  He  was,  too,  in  a  limited  de- 
gree engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  lin- 
ing most  of  the  work  done  vipon  the  farm 
while  his  attention  was  devoted  to  the  pur- 
chase and  sale  of  stock  and  to  his  real  estate 
interests.  He  continued  his  business  until 
it  had  assumed  mammoth  proportions  and 
then  he  decided  to  retire  to  i)rivate  life, 
finding  that  his  commercial  affairs  made  too 
heavy  demands  upon  his  time  and  strength. 
In  1865  he  sold  one  farm  for  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars  and  removed  to  Dan\ille. 
Later  he  sold  another  farm  fur  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars.  In  the  city  he  purchased  a 
lot  adjoining  the  Temple  on  the  north  and 
erected  a  home.  He  after\Aard  sold  ten  feet 
of  his  lot  to  the  Temple.  To  a  man  of  his 
enterjirising    nature,     indolence    and     idle- 


ness were  utterly  foreign.  It  was  impossi- 
ble for  him  to  entirely  put  aside  business 
cares  all  at  once  and  for  a  few  years  he 
engaged  in  shipping  stock  to  a  limited  ex- 
tent, (jradually,  however,  he  ceased  his  ef- 
forts in  this  directinn  and  then  li\'ed  retired 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  remarka- 
ble Inisiness  sagacity  and  enterprise  and  car- 
ried forward  to  a  successful  completion 
\\hate\er  he  undertook. 

In  18..13  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Duncan  and  iliss  ]\Iary  Caldwell,  a  native 
of  Circleville,  Ohio,  born  March  22,  1829, 
and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Hoo- 
ver) Caldwell,  both  of  whom  were  natix-es 
of  Virginia,  whence  they  removed  to  Ohio 
and  later  they  came  to  \'ermilion  county, 
Illinois,  casting  in  their  lot  among  the  early 
settlers  here.  Her  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  in  his  early  days  and  subse- 
quentlv  he  engaged  in  speculating  in  land 
and  in  buying  stock,  his  time  and  atten- 
tion being  thus  occupied  until  his  death. 
L'nto  Afr.  and  ]Mrs.  Duncan  were  born 
twii  children:  Irwin,  who  was  a  clerk  in 
;i  retail  house  in  Danville,  died  June  20, 
iSi)2.  at  the  age  of  thirtv-two  vcars.  Char- 
lie marriefl  Miss  Emma  Day.  and  resides 
on  Lafayette  street  in  Danville,  He  is  now 
a  salesman  in  the  Ike  Sterns  Clothing  House 
of  this  city,  where  he  has  been  employed  for 
a  nmiiljer  of  years. 

Mr.  Duncan  was  never  an  office  seeker, 
although  he  held  several  minor  offices  in 
his  townshi])  aufl  for  one  winter  he  servec! 
on  the  I'nited  .States  jury  at  Springfield, 
Illinois.  Although  his  father  and  seven 
brothers  v.-ere  Democrats,  he  was  always  a 
stanch  Republican  and  never  wavered  in  his 
allegiance  to  the  party.  He  was  a  personal 
friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  it  is  said 
that   in   a])pearance  they  were  much   alike. 


442 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  had  the  lienor  of  entertaining  Mr.  Lin- 
cohi  several  times  in  his  own  home  and  the 
friendly  relations  between  them  was  main- 
tained nntil  the  President's  death.  Mr. 
Duncan  held  membership  in  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Danville 
and  his  widow  still  belongs  to  that  clnu'ch. 
From  an  early  day  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources,  a  splendid  success  in  life  was  the 
result  of  his  labor.  His  career  proved  that 
the  onlv  true  success  in  life  is  that  which 
is  accomplished  by  personal  effort  and  con- 
secutive industry.  It  proves  that  the  road 
to  success  is  open  to  all  young  men  who 
have  the  courage  to  tread  its  pathway,  and 
the  life  record  of  such  a  man  should  serve 
as  inspiration  to  the  young  of  this  and 
future  generations,  and  teach  by  incontro- 
vertible facts  that  success  is  ambition's  an- 
swer. Mr.  Duncan  passed  away  February 
8,  1893,  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him  and  thus  one  more  of  the  pioneers 
of  Vermilion  county  joined  the  silent  ma- 
jority. 

Mrs.  Duncan  is  now  residing  at  No.  129 
Franklin  street.  She  is  the  owner  of  se\-eral 
fine  residences  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
city.  She  expects  soon  to  erect  a  beautiful 
home  for  herself  here.  She  has  a  very  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances  and  all  who  know 
her  are  her  friends,  giving  to  her  their  warm 
regard  in  recognition  of  her  many  excellent 
qualities  of  heart  and  mind. 


REV.  SYLVESTER  HODGES. 


For  twenty-three  years  Rev.  Hodges  de- 
voted his  life  to  the  ministrj-  of  the  gospel 
and  through  long  years  he  has  been  an  active 
factor  in  business  in  Vermilion  county.  Lie 
has  now  passed  the  seventy-fourth  milestone 


on  life's  journey,  having  been  born  in  Rip- 
ley county,  Indiana,  April  12,  1828,  his 
parents  being  William  and  Deborah  (Creith ) 
Hodges.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  also 
operated  a  sawmill.  He  died  in  the  vear 
1833,  our  subject  being  left  fatherless  at  the 
early  age  of  five.  In  the  family  were  seven 
children.  The  mother  long  survived  her 
husbantl  and  passed  away  in  1879,  at  the 
home  of  her  son,  Sylvester,  in  Catlin.  Three 
children  were  left  to  mourn  her  loss,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The  others 
are:  William  A.,  of  Mattoon,  Illinois;  and 
Benjamin  F.,  of  Danville.  The  deceased 
are:  Mrs.  ^lalinda  Peterman,  Gabrieh 
Thanson  and  ]Mrs.  [Margaret  Tait. 

For  a  half  day  Rev.  Sylvester  Llodges 
was  a  student  in  a  log  schoolhouse.  Later 
he  took  up  his  studies  in  a  frame  school- 
house  but  he  never  attended  school  for  more 
than  four  months  in  his  life  altogether.  He 
was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  left  home  and  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  has  followed  for 
more  than  fifty-six  years.  He  opened  a 
shop  in  Ripley  countv.  Indiana,  jjetore  he 
attained  his  majority  and  assisted  in  the 
support  of  his  father's  family.  Emigrating 
to  Vermilion  county.  Illinois,  he  made  the 
journey  in  a  covered  wagon  through  thiC 
black  swamps  of  Indiana.  He  had  been 
married  in  the  Hoosier  state  and  he  and 
his  brother,  with  their  respective  families. 
came  to  Illinois,  camping  out  by  the  way  at 
night.  For  a  few  months  our  subject  re- 
sided in  Georgetown,  then  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  for  a  time  and  afterward 
established  a  blacksmith  shop  east  of  Dan- 
ville, conducting  the  business  for  two  and 
one-half  years.  On  the  17th  of  July,  1861, 
he  remo^•ed  to  Catlin  and  opened  his  shop 
in  this  place,  conducting  business  there  for 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


443 


a  nunilier  of  years,  his  gootl  workmanship 
securing  liim  a  liberal  patronage.  In  1879 
he  began  preaching  and  was  ordained  as  a 
minister  the  following  year.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  not  actively  connected  with  the 
ministry  save  that  he  occasionally  fills  a 
pulpit  in  the  absence  of  the  regular  pastor 
or  preaches  a  funeral  sermon.  For  twenty- 
three  years,  however,  he  continued  to  labor 
in  the  ministry  and  throughout  this  time 
he  also  carried  on  work  at  liis  trade.  Soon 
after  he  came  to  the  county  he  was  offered 
eighty  acres  of  land  near  Tilton  for  three 
hundred  dollars  and  in  an  early  day  he 
could  have  bought  land  at  the  Junction  for 
si.x  dollars.  There  was  nuich  wild  prairie 
in  \'ermilion  county  over  -which  the  deer 
roamed  and  many  years  passed  before  this 
was  claimeil  and  cultivated. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1847,  Mr. 
Hodges  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
A.  Tait.  who  \\as  born  June  18,  1829,  a 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sally  (Tilton) 
Tait,  natives  of  the  Keystone  state.  Unto 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
five  children.  Deborah  is  the  wife  of  J.  H. 
Harkly,  of  Oklahoma,  and  has  two  daugh- 
ters, Pearl  and  Maude  Harkly.  Galvin 
marrietl  Fannie  Champion,  a  daughter  of 
F.  M.  Champion,  of  Catlin,  and  has  one 
child,  Blanche.  The  deceased  of  the  family 
are:  Barnabus  T.,  ]\Ialan  H.,  and  Mrs 
Lizzie   Chamberlin. 

Mr.  Hodges  has  ser\-ed  as  a  member  of 
the  town  council  for  several  terms  and  was 
eleclei]  justice  of  the  peace  but  never  quali-- 
fied.  He  was  also  a  scliool  director  for 
some  years  and  throughout  the  county  he 
is  well  known.  lie  retains  his  church  mem- 
bership with  the  Christian  church  of  Til- 
ton. He  owns  the  property  where  his  shop 
stands  and  also  his  comfortable  residence 


in  the  south  part  of  Catlin.  His  residence 
here  covers  a  very  long  period  antedating 
the  building  of  the  Wabash  Railroad.  He 
saw  Danville  when  there  were  but  three 
dry  goods  stores  in  the  town  and  the  jail 
was  an  old  log  structure.  For  the  past 
twenty  years  he  has  voted  the  Prohibition 
ticket  and  the  cause  of  temperance  finds 
in  hiiu  a  stalwart  advocate,  his  aid  and  in- 
lluence  having  ever  been  given  to  any  move- 
ment (jr  measure  which  tends  to  promote 
general  welfare  or  to  uplift  his  fellow  men. 


R.   I-I.   MATER. 

R.  H.  ]\ later,  who  is  one  of  the  best 
known  contractors  of  Vermilion  county,  his 
extensive  interests  connecting  him  in  a  large 
measure  with  the  substantial  impro\ement 
of  Danville  and  surrounding  towns,  wa; 
born  in  Parke  countv,  Indiana,  Februarv  20, 
1839.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Sowers)  Mater.  The  Mater  family  came 
originally  from  Germany  and  was  estab- 
lished in  ^Maryland  whence  representatives 
of  the  name  remincd  to  Ohio.  In  the  latter 
state  both  the  parents  of  our  subject  were 
born  and  married.  In  the  maternal  line 
Mrs.  ^Fater  is  also  of  German  lineage,  her 
maternal  grandjiarents  ha\ing  been  born  in 
the  fatherland  whence  they  emigrated  to 
Ohio  at  an  early  day.  Daniel  Mater  was 
a  minister  of  the  TJnited  Brethren  church. 
About  1836  he  removed  to  Indiana,  settling 
five  miles  from  Rockville  and  in  that  local- 
ity he  lived  until  his  death  which  occurred 
on  the  15th  of  August,  1893,  when  he  was 
eighty-three  years  of  age.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  Republican.  His  life  was 
largely  devoted  to  the  work  of  uplifting  hi: 


444 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


fellow  men  and  in  the  ministry  he  was  a 
man  of  considerable  influence.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1849  ^'id  about  eighteen 
months  later  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Finney,  a  native  of  Annapolis, 
Parke  county,  Indiana.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  a  I\Ir.  Finney,  of  Maryland.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  \\ere  five  children,  of  whom 
there  are  vet  living:  Josephine,  the  widow 
of  S.  F.  Roberts,  a  resident  of  Hopkins. 
Missouri;  R.  H.,  of  this  review:  and  J.  D., 
who  resides  in  ?^Iorristown,  Tennessee.  By 
the  second  marriage  of  Rev.  Plater  there 
were  born  four  children,  all  of  whon^ 
reached  maturity  and  are  yet  living,  namely: 
John  R..  a  resident  of  Danville.  Illinois: 
Reiley.  who  is  living  in  Ottawa,  Illinois ; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Lee  Phillips,  of  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana ;  and  Hiram,  who  is  living 
near  Terre  Haute. 

In  the  district  schools  R.  H.  Mater  pur- 
sued his  education  and  earlv  became  familiar 
with  farm  work  in  all  of  its  departments, 
living  upon  his  father's  farm  until  twenty 
years  of  age.  He  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  Parke  county,  Indiana,  and  has 
since  been  connected  with  building  opera- 
tions. While  living  in  that  county  on  the  8th 
of  August,  1861,  Mr.  Mater  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  ]\Iatticks,  who  was 
born  in  Parke  county  April  17,  1843,  ''"•^ 
was  a  daughter  of  Jesse  ]\Iatticks,  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  Her  mother  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Nancy  Collins  and  she  too  was 
born  in  Kentucky  but  became  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Matticks  in  Indiana.  The  -father  of 
Mrs.  ?ilater  was  a  farmer  and  in  1863  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  settling  near  Fairmount. 
where  he  lived  until  1870,  when  he  came  to 
Danville  and  in  this  city  he  and  his  wife 
still  make  their  home.  In  his  political  views 
he  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  church.  L'nto  him 
and  his  wife  were  born  five  children,  name- 
ly:  Mrs.  Mater;  Mary,  now  wife  of  J. 
D.  Mater,  of  Morristown.  Tennessee;  An- 
na, the  wife  of  R.  Cass,  of  Danville;  Phar- 
aba,  the  wife  of  S.  P.  Swisher,  of  Danville: 
and  \\'.  P.,  who  resides  at  Ridgefarm,  Illi- 
nois. The  marriage  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  Mater 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children,  only 
two  of  whom  are  now  living.  Howard,  the 
elder,  married  Cora  Woods,  and  is  a  mer- 
chant tailor  residing  in  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana. He  has  three  children,  Alildred,  Ben- 
jamin, and  Robert.  Lucy  is  the  wife  of 
A.  F.  Dague,  of  Danville,  bookkeeper  for 
the  N.  E.  Holden  Lumber  Company,  and 
they  have  two  children.  Byron  and  Mad- 
alinc. 

In  1868  Mr.  Mater  removed  to  Terre 
Haute.  Indiana,  where  he  resided  until  the 
succeeding  fall.  In  December  of  that  year 
he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  has  since  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  and  contracting.  In 
the  following  July  he  built  his  present  busi- 
ness block  and  admitted  J.  N.  Lewis  to  a 
partnership.  Mr.  Mater  has  erected  some 
of  the  best  residences  in  this  city.  He  also 
built  the  Alartin  block,  the  Illinois  Printing 
Company  building  and  has  erected  in  every 
town  in  the  county  churches,  schools,  ele- 
vators and  residences.  In  fact,  he  is  one 
of  the  best  known  contractors  of  Vermilion 
county  and  his  business  has  assumed  ex- 
tensive proportions.  He  built  the  Jackson 
street  school  building  of  Danville  and  many 
other  public  structures  here.  His  faithful- 
ness to  the  terms  of  a  contract,  his  reliabil-' 
ity  and  his  excellent  workmanship  have 
been  factors  in  his  splendid  success,  winning 
him  a  substantial  and  growing  patronage. 
In  addition  to  his  business  he  owns  some 
valuable    residence    property    in    Danville, 


LIBRARY 
Of   Tl-iE 


UivlV! 


ILLIVniS 


C.  E.  LORING. 


MRS.  C.  E,  LORING. 


LI    "-"Y 

C:  t 

u:<iV£f:uifY  oi  Illinois 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


449 


having  m:ule  judicious  investments  in  real 
estate. 

In  his  pohtical  \ic\vs  Mr.  Mater  is  a 
Repuhlican  Prohibitionist,  but  the  lionors 
and  emokiments  of  ot^ce  ha\c  had  no  at- 
traction for  liim  and  he  has  steaihly  re;- 
fused  to  become  a  candidate  for  political 
preferment.  He  is  a  memlier  of  the  Royal 
Templars  of  Temperance  and  has  been  an 
Odd  l'ell(_i\v.  He-  is  also  a  memlier  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  in  which 
he  has  held  office.  His  prosperity  is  largely 
due  to  his  thorough  mastery  of  the  business 
in  which  as  a  young  tradesman  he  em- 
barked. His  persistency  of  purpose  has  also 
been  an  element  in  his  success  and  through- 
out the  years  of  his  connection  with  build- 
ing operations  in  Danville  he  has  main- 
tained a  reputation  for  honesty  and  relia- 
bility that  has  made  his  word  as  good  as 
his  bond. 


ASBURY  LORING. 

The  history  of  the  early  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  a  county  or  state  is  always  in- 
teresting to  those  who.  witnessing  to-day 
the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  the  same, 
are  glad  to  give  tribute  to  those  whose 
labors  have  resulted  in  its  accomplishment. 
To  the  i)ioneer  settlers  of  Vermilion  county. 
Illinois,  is  due  all  resjiect  and  honor,  and 
n(.)ne  are  more  worthy  of  this  than  the  Por- 
ing family. 

Daniel  Poring,  the  grandfather  of  As- 
liury.  sjient  liis  early  lii'e  in  Massachusetts 
and  Ptica.  Xew  York.  He  wedded  ]\Iiss 
Mary  Ann  Stone  and  to  them  were  born 
fotir  sons,  but  three  died  from  yellow  fever 
in  childhood,  at  Plica,  New  York,  where 
they  bad  jircviously  moved,  leaving  C.   E. 


the  only  survivor.  His  first  wife  dying  in 
1815,  Daniel  Poring  subsequently  married 
Mary  Steward,  and  in  1823  they  removed 
to  Coal  Creek,  Indiana,  whence  they  came 
to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1834,  the 
journey  being  made  in  a  covered  wagon  con- 
structed from  sawed  logs  fitted  on  a.\les. 
This  was  one  of  the  most  .solid  wagons  ever 
brought  to  the  county  and  the  only  one  of 
its  kind.  The  grandfather  died  in  .\ugust, 
1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  By 
his  second  union  five  children  were  born, 
but  all  are  now  deceased  but  the  youngest 
daughter,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Pelix,  who  resides  in 
Kansas. 

C.  E.  Poring,  our  subject's  father,  was 
born  in  Elaine,  December  4,  1808,  and  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  various  re- 
movels  until  finally  becoming  a  resident  of 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  He  received 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  from  his 
mother's  estate  on  attaining  his  majority, 
but  in  order  to  get  this  he  was  obliged  to 
go  east.  He  hired  out  as  a  hanrl  on  a  fiat- 
boat  and  in  that  way  made  the  trip  down 
the  Wabash.  Ohio  and  ^Mississippi  ri\ers 
and  thence  by  the  (nilf  and  Atlantic  to 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  He  returned  by 
way  of  the  Ohio  river.  With  one  hundred 
dollars  of  his  money  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  from  George  b'rench  and  wife, 
in  1833,  't  being  a  part  of  the  farm  on 
which  oiu"  sul)ject  now  li\'cs  and  which  at 
that  time  was  all  wild  and  unimproved. 
There  was  not  even  a  rail  upon  the  place. 
The  country  was  then  over-run  with  prai- 
rie wohes  and  sloughs  were  on  every  hand. 
Nothing  daunted,  Mr,  Poring  in  1834 
began  to  break  his  land  with  a  yoke  of  oxen 
which  he  had  iiurcba.sed  with  the  remain- 
ing fifty  dollars,  and  to  otherwise  im])rove 
his  place.    Pie  lived  the  first  year  with  a  fam- 


450 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ily  named  Patterson.  He  worked  early  and 
late  to  accomplish  what  he  had  set  out  to  do 
— acquire  a  good  home.  By  capable  man- 
agement and  hard  labor  he  became  an  exten- 
sive land  owner,  having  in  his  possession 
five  hundred  and  ninet\"-five  acres  of  the 
richest  farm  land.  Nearly  all  of  this  was 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  early  life  was  that  of  a 
pioneer.  He  hauled  grain  to  Chicago,  La- 
fayette. Attica  and  Covington,  which  were 
the  nearest  trading  points.  He  was  work- 
ing on  the  canal  during  the  year  of  the 
'■falling  stars."  \Mien  he  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  our  subject,  Chicago 
was  a  mere  \'illage  and  Danville  had  two 
small  stores.  On  returning  from  Chicago 
on  one  of  his  trips  he  endeaA'ored  to  swim 
his  oxen  across  Sugar  Creek,  having  a  horse 
in  the  lead,  but  the  horse  could  not  pull 
them.  Ho\ve\'er,  a  friend  appeared  on  the 
scene  and  with  an  ax  broke  the  lock  and 
they  managed  to  get  safely  across,  other- 
wise the  oxen  would  have  drowned.  When 
C.  E.  Loring  settled  in  Vermilion  county 
wohes  roamed  over  the  prairie  and  hunt- 
ing was  fine,  deer,  ducks,  wild  turkeys  and 
prairie  chickens  being  very  plentiful.  He 
saw  the  towns  and  villages  of  the  county 
spring  into  existence  and  as  the  years  have 
passed  they  have  grown  and  prospered,  add- 
ing their  quota  to  the  general  growth,  pros- 
perity and  advancement  of  state  and  nation. 
In  this  work  of  advancement  he  took  an  ac- 
tive part  as  an  individual  and  a  citizen  of 
his  community. 

C.  E.  Loring  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Minerva  J.  Morton,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  January,  1826.  She  died  September  23, 
1885,  as  the  result  of  an  accident.  Their 
marriage  took  place  in  Vermilion  county, 
Illinois,   September  4,    1851,   and   they  be- 


came the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  and  one  at  the  age 
of  two  and  one-half  years.  The  four  liv- 
ing children  are:  Mattie  E.,  the  wife  of 
Z.  Starr,  of  Newell  township,  \^ermilion 
county;  Asbury,  the  subject  of  this  review; 
Olive  A.  Mills,  now  deceased ;  and  Frances, 
who  now  makes  her  home  with  her  brother, 
Asbury,  acting  as  his  housekeeper. 

C.  E.  Loring  suffered  the  misfortune  of 
losing  his  sight  in  the  '705.  He  was  at  the 
time  acting  as  school  treasurer,  which  posi- 
tion he  had  filled  for  about  sixteen  )'ears. 
He  was  about  to  resign  and  turn  over  the 
books  to  his  successor  when  this  occurred. 
He  prepared  the  books,  had  everything  ar- 
ranged and  was  about  to  resign  when  he 
noticed  that  his  eye-sight  had  left  him.  He 
remained  in  this  way  for  over  thirty  years, 
patiently  bearing  his  affliction,  which  did 
not,  however,  prevent  him  from  taking  an 
active  interest  in  the  management  of  his  af- 
fairs. He  formed  his  own  plans  and  his 
son  Asbury,  of  this  review,  helped  to  carry 
them  out  and  to  manage  his  large  estate. 
He  was  a  great  \oxev  of  books  and  his  loss 
of  sight  was  therefore  the  more  keenly  felt. 
He  bore  the  loss  with  fortitude,  and  his 
patience  and  kindness  of  manner  endeared 
him  to  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent man  of  aft'airs  in  his  community  and 
his  opinions  carried  weight  with  his  fellow 
men.  He  was  actively  interested  in  educa- 
tional work  and  during  his  public  service 
did  much  toward  the  material,  moral  and 
intellectual  culture  of  the  young.  He  helped 
to  build  the  schools  and  churches  of  his 
community  and  was  always  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  general  welfare.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  views  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  William  Henry 
Harrison  in  1840.     For  sixty-five  years  he 


THE    BiUGRAPiiiCAL    RECORD 


451 


li\-etl  uii  the  old  homestead  and  liis  tlcath 
tliere  occurred  January  12,  1899,  when  he 
was  over  ninety  years  of  age.  His  mem- 
ory is  held  sacred  by  many  friends  and  rel- 
atives who  regretted  deeply  his  demise. 

Asbury  Loring  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  home  farm, 
attending  the  district  school  during  the 
winter  term  and  working  upon  the  farm 
with  his  father  during  the  seasons  of  plow- 
ing, planting  and  harvesting.  He  thus 
gained  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  occu- 
pation which  has  been  his  life  work.  He 
received  a  good  education,  attending  school 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  continu- 
ing it  for  one  year  thereafter.  He  remained 
continuously  upon  the  farm  where  he  was 
born,  assisting  his  father  and  receiving  a 
share  in  the  profits  of  their  labor.  All  his 
life  he  has  been  an  energeitc,  thrifty  and 
economical  man,  who  has  done  much  toward 
improving  his  farm  and  making  it  one  of 
the  richest  and  most  productive  in  the 
county.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  and  a  half  acres,  twenty-six  acres 
of  which  is  timber  land.  He  has  led  a  sober, 
industrious  and  quiet  life,  such  as  is  led  by 
our  best  .\merican  citizens,  and  in  the  rich 
fields  of  grain  which  are  annually  garnered 
on  his  farm  he  sees  the  result  of  his  honest 
toil. 

The  saddest  c\cnt  in  the  lives  of  him- 
self and  sister  was  when  they  lost  their  dear 
mother  through  an  accident.  She  was  in  a 
two-seated  l)uggy  with  two  of  her  daugh- 
ters, the  buggy  being-  dri\-en  by  her  son 
\sbury,  on  their  way  to  the  Danville  Fair, 
when  they  encountered  two  horses  that  were 
racing.  Mr.  Loring  tried  to  give  them  the 
road,  but  one  of  the  horses  ran  into  their 
vehicle,  completely  demolishing  it,  throwing 
out  ]\rrs.  T.oring  and  the  rest  of  the  party. 


The  accident  occurred  on  the  iSth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1885,  and  she  died  five  days  later, 
September  23d,  frouKthc  result  of  her  in- 
juries. Thus  the  family  were  left  to  moun 
the  loss  of  the  faithful  wife  and  mother. 
The  brother  and  sister,  Asbury  and  Frances 
Loring,  now  make  their  home  together,  on 
the  old  farm  where  they  were  born.  Fran- 
ces was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
was  eligible  for  graduation  when  she  left 
school.  She  kept  her  father's  books  during 
his  lifetime  and  helped  to  make  him  com- 
fortable in  his  declining  years,  which  were 
made  very  happy,  although  bereft  of  his 
dear  wife  and  his  eyesight.  His  son  As- 
liury  has  followed  the  principles  and  pre- 
cepts which  he  learned  from  his  father  and 
he  stands  to-day  among  the  honored  and 
induential  residents  of  Newell  township,  re- 
si)ected  by  all  who  know  him. 


THOMAS  GOXES. 


It  is  the  enterprise  and  character  of  the 
citizen  that  enrich  and  ennoble  the  com- 
monwealth. From  individual  enterpri.se  has 
sprung  all  the  substantial  improvements  of 
this  great  west.  The  greatest  merchants 
have  developed  from  the  humblest  origin; 
from  clerkships  have  emerged  men  who 
ha\e  built  up  great  enterprises.  America 
is  a  self-made  country  and  those  who  have 
achieved  prominence  as  men  of  marked 
ability  and  suljstantial  worth,  as  having  cre- 
ated this  prosperity  and  development,  are 
self-made  men.  Among  this  number  Dan- 
^'ille  is  proud  to  name  George  Gones,  who 
occupies  a  prominent  position.  He  is  now 
extensively  engaged  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness here  and  is  meeting  with  creditable 
success. 


45^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Gones  is  a  nati\-e  of  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  born  September  23,  I1S47,  and  in  1854 
he  was  brought  to  V'ermiHon  county,  Illi- 
nois, by  his  parents,  who  settled  upon  iand 
in  Catlin,  where  the  son  was  reared.  He  has 
two  brothers  and  three  sisters ;  Mary  Jane, 
the  widow  of  Jacob  Sandusky  and  her 
brother's  partner  in  business :  Surene,  the- 
wife  of  Henry  Bentley,  who  is  living  near 
Catlin;  John  \\".,  who  resides  near  Fair- 
mount;  Charles  H.,  of  Danville,  who  is  liv- 
ing with  his  brother  Thomas:  and  Hannah, 
the  wife  of  ^Nlilton  Hodge,  of  Iowa.  Tlv 
parents  are  both  deceased.  The  father  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  entire  life 
and  died  in  the  year  1882,  while  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1880. 

Thomas  Gones  was  reared  on  the  old 
family  homestead  in  Catlin,  which  was  then 
known  as  Butler's  Point.  There  was  bu' 
one  house  at  a  crossroads  and  no  railroad 
had  been  built  into  the  neighborhood.  He 
pursued  his  education  in  the  district  school 
at  Catlin  and  in  the  periods  of  vacation 
worked  on  the  home  farm  with  his  father, 
continuing  agricultural  pursuits  until  after 
his  marriage.  Mr.  Gones  wedded  Mary  E. 
Morris,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio. 
Her  parents  are  now  deceased  and  she  died 
in  1884,  her  remains  being  interred  in  the 
Catlin  cemetery.  She  left  five  children,  of 
whom  three  are  yet  living:  William  mar- 
ried .\nna  \\'illiams  and  resides  in  Dan- 
ville; Charles  B.  married  Anna  Stickrod 
and  is  also  li-ving  in  this  city ;  Mrs.  Olin 
Whiteford  makes  her  home  with  her  father 
in  Danville ;  Arthur  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  and  six  months;  and  Cora,  who 
l^ecame  the  wife  of  James  Jones,  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gones  carried 
on  a"ricult\iral  pursuits  for  some  time.   He 


rented  land  near  Catlin  until  \S<r)2.  wheri 
he  removed  to  this  city  and  in  connection 
with  his  brother,  G.  H.  Gone.'-,  entered  the 
furniture  business,  the  firm  existing  as  orig- 
inally formed  until  1900,  when  C.  II.  Gones 
retired  and  was  succeeded  by  his  sister's 
son,  C.  L.  Sandusky,  who  is  now  the  part- 
ner of  our  subject.  They  deal  exclusively 
in  furniture  and  have  a  large  and  well  se- 
lected stock  of  goods,  including  both  mod- 
ern and  high  priced  goods.  Their  business 
is  constantly  growing  and  the  house  sus- 
tains an  unassailable  reputation  for  reliabil- 
ity. The  home  of  our  .subject  is  at  No.  712 
North  Walnut  street  and  he  also  owns  prop- 
erty on  Harmon  avenue  and  Oak  street. 
His  political  support  is  given  to  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party.  So- 
cially he  is  identified  with  the  ]\[odern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  he  neiongs  t( 
Kimber  IMethodist  Episcopal  church. 
Through  his  (iwn  exertions  he  has  attained 
an  honorable  position  and  marked  prestige 
among  the  successful  business  men  of  the 
city  and  it  may  be  said  with  consistency  that 
he  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fornunes  and 
one  whose  success  amply  justifies  the  ap- 
plication of  the  somewhat  hackneyed  but 
most  expressive  title,  "a  self-made  man." 


E.    H.   PALMER. 


Few  men  are  more  prominent  or  more 
widely  known  in  the  enterprising  city  of 
Danville  than  V..  H.  Palmer.  He  has  been 
and  is  an  impnrtant  factor  in  business  cir- 
cles and  his  popularity  is  well  deserved,  as 
in  him  are  embraced  the  characteristics  of 
an  unbending  integrity,  unabating  energy 
and  industrv  that  never  Bags.     He  is  public 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


455 


spirited  and  thoroughly  interested  in  what- 
ever tends  to  promote  the  mora!,  intellect- 
ual and  material  welfare  of  the  city.  He 
was  for  many  years  the  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  and  for  a  long  period  has 
been  identihed  with  mercantile  interests,  be- 
ing at  the  present  time  a  wholesale  grocer 
of  Danville.  His  success  in  all  his  under- 
takings has  been  so  marked  tliat  his  methods 
are  of  interest  to  the  commercial  world,  and 
an  analyzation  of  his  life  work  shows  that 
he  has  based  his  business  principles  and 
actions  upon  strict  adherence  to  the  rules 
which  govern  industry,  economy  and  un- 
swerving integrity. 

Few  native  sons  of  Danville  can  claim 
a  longer  residence  in  the  city  that  E.  H. 
Palmer.  His  birth  occurred  in  the  family 
home  at  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  IMain 
streets,  August  lo,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  Asa  R.  Palmer,  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  was  born  at  Coventry,  in  1786. 
The  grandfather.  Abel  Palmer,  was  born  in 
New  England  and  was  of  English  ancestry. 
The  family  has  become  very  numerous  in 
this  country  and  in  1880  the  subject  of  this 
review  attended  a  re-union  held  at  Stoning- 
ton.  Coimecticut,  at  which  about  twehe 
hundred  representatives  of  the  family  were 
present.  Dr.  Asa  R.  Palmer  became  a  res- 
ident of  Vermont  and  his  boyhood  days 
and  later  lived  in  the  Black  River  country 
of  Xew  Vork.  Subsequently  he  became  a 
resident  of  Moscow,  where  his  parents  both 
died.  While  in  the  Empire  state  Dr.  Pal- 
mer studied  medicine  and  practiced  there 
to  some  extent.  He  was  three  times  mar- 
ried, being  first  married  ere  his  removal 
from  Xew  York.  His  trip  to  Illinois  was 
made  on  horseback  in  search  of  a  location 
and  he  took  up  his  abode  here  about  1825. 
This  journey  was  made  by  boat  to  Pitts- 
burg, thence  down  the  Ohio  river  and  up 

18 


the  Wabash  river.  Danville,  or  rather  the 
site  of  the  present  city,  was  the  place  of  his 
destination.  F'or  miles  throughout  the  coun- 
try Dr.  Palmer  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  being  one  of  the  old  time  pioneer 
physicians,  whose  professional  duties  took 
him  over  a  broad  territory.  Eventually, 
however,  he  gave  up  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine and  lived  retired.  In  connection  with 
his  son.  E.  F.  Palmer,  he  established  the 
first  drug  store  in  Dan\-ille  and  was  a  lead- 
ing and  influential  resident  of  the  city  from 
the  time  that  he  came  to  Vermilion  county 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  about  1861. 
It  was  in  this  city  that  he  married  Adelia 
Hawkins,  who  was  his  third  wife  antl  the 
mother  of  our  subject.  She  was  born  near 
Rochester,  New  York,  and  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ebenezer  Hawkins,  also  a  native  of 
the  Empire  state  and  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  \'ermilion  county.  His  inter- 
ment was  the  first  burial  in  the  old  grave- 
yard of  this  city.  Mrs.  Palmer,  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  died  in  185 1,  and  E.  F. 
Palmer,  the  druggist,  a  half-brother  of  our 
subject,  passed  away  here.  Dr.  Palmer  was 
one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  and  aided  materially  in  the 
upbuilding  and  progress  of  the  town. 

E.  H.  Palmer,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Dan- 
ville, acquiring  his  elementary  education 
here,  while  later  he  pursuetl  a  four  years' 
course  in  Wabash  College.  He  entered  up- 
on his  business  career  in  the  employ  of  J. 
M.  Cubertson  when  a  lad  of  thirteen  years, 
and  thus  acted  as  a  clerk  for  four  years, 
after  which  he  pursued  his  college  course. 
When  he  had  completed  his  studies  he  again 
engaged  in  clerking  for  a  year  or  more  and 
next  entered  into  a  business  partnership, 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Flumphrey, 
Palmer  &  Company,  general  merchants  and 


456 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


druggists.     This  was  about  1855  and  since 
tiiat  time  Air.  Palmer  has  been  one  of  the 
active,   influential   and    successful    business 
men  of  this  city.     He  was  at  one  time  ap- 
pointed    to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term  as 
county   superintendent  of  schools,   succeed- 
ing his  uncle,  who  had  died  in  office.     On 
tlie  expiration  of  his  term  Mr.  Palmer  aided 
in  organizing  the  First  National  Bank  and 
became   one   of   its   stockholders.      At   that 
time  he  was  also  elected  its  cashier  and  oc- 
cupied the  position  continuously  for  twen- 
ty-six years,  his  efforts  being  a  potent  fac- 
tor in  establishing"  the  institution  on  a  safe 
financial  basis.     He  was  a  popular  otificial, 
always  courteous  and  obliging,  and  he  had 
a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  banking 
business,   which  made  him   valuable  in  the 
control   of   the   institution.      On  his   retire- 
ment from  the  bank  he  was  presented  with 
a  fine  gold  watch,  which  bears  his  name  and 
the  date,  January  15,  1885,  engraved  on  the 
inside  case,  and  of  this  token  of  esteem  he 
is  justly  proud.     On  severing  his  active  con- 
nection with  the  banking  business  he  em- 
barked in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade,  with 
which   he  is   still  connected.      He  has  also 
contributed  to  the  improvement  of  the  city 
by   the   building   of   three   good    residences 
here.     He  now  has  a  large,  substantial  and 
pleasant  home  just  outside  the  corporation 
limits  of  Danville,  while  his  other  property 
he  has  sold. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  married  in  Urbana,  Illi- 
nois, in  1854  to  Frances  B.  Nelson,  who 
was  born  near  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  her 
father,  William  Nelson,  also  being  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  state.  He  died  during  her 
girlhood  and  she  came  to  the  west  with  her 
brother,  locating  in  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  have  been 
born  four  children  :  Flora;  Frank  N..  who  is 
a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  now 


located  in  Dayton,  Indiana;  Lula  C. ;  and 
Delia,  the  wife  of  Loren  E.  Shetts,  who 
occupies  a  responsible  position  in  the  Pal- 
mer Wholesale  Grocery  Company. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  Whig 
in  his  political  affiliations  and  a  stanch  Abo- 
litionist.    He  did  everything  in  his  power 
to  oppose  the  growth  of  slavery,  and  when 
E.    H.    Palmer    attained    his    majority    he 
voted    with    the    Republican    party,    which 
was    formed    to    prevent    the    further    ex- 
tension of  slavery,  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot    being     cast     for     John     C.     Fremont 
in      1856.      He     has      since      Deen      iden- 
tified with  the  party,  never  wavering  in  his 
allegiance.     He  served  a  few  terms  on  the 
school   board   and   has   ever   been    a    warm 
friend  of  the  cause  of  education,  believing 
in  having  competent  teachers  in  charge  of 
good     schools,     realizing    that     intellectual 
training  is  the  bulwark  of  the  nation.     Mr. 
Palmer  also  served  as  alderman  for  a  few 
terms  but  has  otherwise  never  filled  public 
office,  having  no  ambition  in  this  direction. 
He  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church.     For  seventy-two  years  he 
has    resided   in   Danville   and   has   watched 
almost   its   entire   growth   as   it   has   devel- 
oped from  a  cross-roads  village  to  one  of 
the  great   cities  of  this   state.     He  at   one 
time  knew  every  man,  woman  and  child  in 
\'ermilion   county   and   to   this   day  not   to 
know  E.  H.   Palmer  is  to  argtie  one's  self 
unknown    in    Danville.     Although    he    has 
passed  the  allotted  psalmist's  span  of  three 
score  years  and  ten  he  is  yet  an  active  factor 
in  the  business  world.     Old  age  does  not 
necessarily  suggest  helplessness  or  want  of 
occupation.        There   is   an   old  age   which 
grows  stronger  and  better  with  the  passing 
years  and  gives  freely  out  of  its  rich  stores 
of  learning  and  experience,  thus  proving  a 
benediction  to  all — such  has  been  the  career 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


4S7 


of  E.  H.  Palmer,  whose  sterling  manhood, 
unfailing  honor  and  Christian  principles 
have  made  his  life  an  example  one  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


H.  H.   PAIXTER. 

H.  H.  Painter  is  one  of  the  oldest  har- 
ness manufacturers  of  Vermilion  county, 
having  been  connected  with  the  business 
through  a  continuous  period  of  twenty-two 
years.  Since  1882  he  has  engaged  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  in  Fairmount,  and 
a  liberal  patronage  has  been  accorded  him. 
He  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  June  19, 
1844.  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Mills)  Painter.  The  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  the  mother  in 
Virginia,  but  they  were  married  in  the 
Buckeye  state,  and  there  lived  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Painter  carried  on  farming  in 
Ohio  until  1853,  when  he  removed  to  Mon- 
ticello,  Illinois,  his  wife  having  died  in 
Ohio  in  1850.  He  then  lived  upon  a  farm  at 
Monticello  until  1855,  when  he,  too,  was 
called  to  his  final  rest.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Whig.  The  family  of  this  worthy 
couple  numbered  ten  children,  of  whom  H. 
H.  Painter  is  the  youngest.  Two  sister.-^^ 
and  three  brothers  are  now  living,  namely : 
HarrisDU,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness in  Attica,  Indiana;  Emily,  the  wife  of 
Andrew  C.  Varner,  a  farmer  of  Monticello, 
Illinois ;  Eliza,  the  widow  of  William  Dick- 
son, and  a  resident  of  Charleston,  Illinois ; 
George  W.,  wiio  is  living  retired  in  At- 
tica, Indiana;  and  J.  M.,  who  resides  in  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri. 

H.  H.  Painter  began  his  education  in 
the    Bush    Row    school    in    Greene   county. 


Ol'iio,  the  little  temple  of  learning"  being  a 
log  building,  and  his  brother-iii-law,  A.  C. 
\'arner.  was  the  teacher.  His  educational 
privileges,  however,  were  somewhat  limited 
and  he  never  attended  school  after  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  In  early  life  he 
began  work  on  his  father's  farm  and  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  the  labor  of  field  and 
meadow  until  1862,  when  thinking  that  he 
would  find  some  other  pursuit  more  con- 
genial he  began  learning  the  harness  ma- 
ker's trade  under  the  direction  of  Theodore 
Swagert,  who  now  resides  in  Newman,  Illi- 
nois. After  serving  a  three  years'  appren- 
ticeship Mr.  Painter  worked  as  a  journey- 
man harnessmaker  for  three  yearg.  He  was 
employed  in  various  states  and  in  1880  he 
caiue  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  enter- 
ing the  employ  of  F.  Kehoe,  of  Danville, 
with  whom  he  remained  for  two  years 
Later  he  was  in  the  service  of  B.  F.  Daugh- 
ertv  and  then  returned  to  Mr.  Kehoe.  who 
in  the  meantime  had  removed  to  Fair- 
mount.  In  1882  he  purchased  his  employ- 
er's business,  which  he  has  since  conducted 
with  good  success.  His  expert  workman 
ship,  his  thorough  understanding  of  the 
trade,  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  pat- 
rons and  his  reasonable  prices  have  been 
qualities  which  have  insured  him  a  success- 
ful career. 

In  May,  1882.  in  Fairmount.  Illinois, 
the  Rev.  Crawford  performed  the  wedding 
ceremonv  which  united  the  destinies  of  H. 
H.  Painter  and  Lizzie  L.  Love,  who  was 
born  in  Danville,  Illinois,  in  1839,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Lizzie  (Gish)  Love, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Bedford  county, 
Virginia.  They  were  married  in  the  Old 
Dominion  and  removed  to  Illinois  at  an 
early  day,  settling  in  Danville.  There  the 
father  engaged  in  brick-making  for  a  time 


458 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


but  afterward  removed  to  a  farm  near  Cat- 
lin,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  His  wife 
has  also  passed  away.  In  their  family  were 
four  daughters  and  a  son :  Sarah,  now  the 
deceased  wife  of  Joiin  Ciiurcii,  who  resides 
near  Catlin ;  Hannah,  who  is  now  the  widow 
of  Frank  Keeney  and  makes  her  home  in 
Winfield,  Kansas;  Wallace,  a  resident  of 
Catlin;  Amanda,  the  wife  of  Aaron  Tid- 
row,  who  is  residing  in  Georgetown,  llli- 
onis ;  and  ]\Irs.  Painter. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Painter 
is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  he  belongs  to 
Fairmount  Lotlge,  No.  591,  F.  &  A.  M.. 
and  to  Normandy  Lodge,  No.  510,  K.  P. 
He  also  holds  membership  relations  with 
Catlin  Post,  No.  791,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  en- 
titled to  this  because  of  his  military  service 
which  began  in  1864,  although  he  was  un- 
der military  age.  He  enlisted  in  Company 
B,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Indiana 
Infantry,  under  command  of  Captain  Lu- 
cas and  Colonel  William  Nelson,  serving 
for  six  months,  after  which  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  at  Indianapolis  in  Sep- 
tember, 1864.  'Mr.  Painter  is  now  serving 
as  collector  for  the  Twin  City  Building  & 
Loan  Association,  of  Champaign,  Illinois, 
and  he  has  a  most  successful  business  in 
Fairmount  as  a  harness-maker.  He  is  a 
courteous  ami  pleasant  gentleman — one 
whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  meet,  and  as  a  rep- 
resentative citizen  of  Fairmount  he  well  de- 
serves mention  in  this  volume. 


JOHN  FRAZIER,   Sr. 

This  ^vell  known  and  prominent  citizen 
of  Georgetown  is  one  of  the  typical  busi- 
ness men  of  the  west — prompt,  energetic 
and  reliable,  to  which  elements  in  his  char- 


acter he  owes  his  success  in  life.  He  was 
born  in  Georgetown  on  the  13th  of  May, 
1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Abner  and  Mary 
(Millickan)  Frazier,  the  former  a  native  of 
Newmarket,  Tennessee,  and  the  latter  of 
Indiana,  her  parents  having  removed  to  that 
state  from  near  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
at  an  early  day.  It  was  about  seventy  years 
ago  that  Abner  Frazier  came  to  Vermilion 
county  and  located  in  Georgetown,  where 
he  embarked  in  general  merchandising  and 
continued  to  carry  on  that  business  for  many 
years.  He  was  thus  engaged  at  the  time 
of  his  death  when  well  advanced  in  years. 
In  his  family  were  eight  children,  all  of 
whom  are  now  living  and  are  married. 
Those  residing  in  this  county  are  Perry. 
Mrs.  James  Snapp ;  Mrs.  Sophia  Newlin  and 
John,  while  Mrs.  John  Rodgers  and  Mrs. 
Dr.  Mendenhall  live  in  Lacygne,  Kansas; 
and  Mrs.  W.  E.  Moore  makes  her  home  in 
Oklahoma  City.  Oklahoma,  her  husband  be- 
ing a  leading  real  estate  dealer  of  that  place. 
On  attaining  his  majority  Mr.  Frazier 
of  this  review  began  his  business  life  as  a 
clerk  in  his  father's  store  in  Georgetown, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  for  about  two 
years  and  then  entered  into  partnership  with 
his  father  and  brother  William,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Frazier  &  Sons,  which  con- 
nection continued  for  about  fourteen  years. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  our  subject  sold  his 
interest  in  the  store  to  his  brother  and  pur- 
chased an  improved  farm  three  and  one-half 
miles  northwest  of  Georgetown,  which  he 
rents  on  the  shares,  taking  his  pay  in  grain. 
This  he  believes  is  for  the  best  interest  of 
his  tenant,  for  in  case  that  the  crops  are  a 
failure  the  owner  then  bears  his  rightful 
share  of  the  burden,  instead  of  renting  for 
cash  and  securing  notes  and  mortgages  as 
his  pay.     The  farm  is  kept  in  first  class  con- 


LIBRARY 


ABNER   FRAZIER. 


JOHN  FRAZIER,  SR. 


C 
UN1VERS:VV   C.^    ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


463 


ditioii,  is  well  tiled  and  supplied  with  good 
buildings.  Since  sellino-  his  interest  in  the 
mercantile  business  Air.  b'razier  has  en- 
gaged in  buying,  feeding  and  shipping  cat- 
tle, hogs  and  sheep,  and  handles  a  large 
amount  of  stock  each  year.  To  this  business 
he  has  now  devoted  his  attention  for  twenty 
years  and  is  to-day  at  the  head  of  his  line 
of  trade  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county. 
Besides  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  24,  Georgetown  townshi]!, 
Mr.  Frazier  owns  two  lots  fronting  on  Mill 
street  and  two  on  Walnut  street.  George- 
town, on  one  of  which  he  has  erected  a 
nice  four-room  cottage.  His  own  home  is 
a  neat  and  commodious  residence  on  Main 
street,  where  he  has  one  and  a  half  acres 
of  land  laid  off  into  beautiful  grounds.  It 
has  all  modern  conveniences  which  the  place 
affords,  including  telephone  connection, 
while  the  Danville  electric  car  line  passes 
the  door. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1881,  Mr. 
Frazier  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Laura  Richmond,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Susan  (Bolton)  Richmond.  Her  father, 
who  was  a  native  of  Hamilton,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  died  in  Parke  county.  Indi- 
ana, when  Mrs.  Frazier  was  only  fifteen 
months  old,  and  her  mother,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  has  also  passed  away.  She 
had  two  brothers,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Frazier  received  a  good 
academic  education  and  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage taught  school  in  Georgetown  for  three 
}'ears  with  marked  success.  She  is  now  an 
active  member  of  the  school  board  of  that 
city  and  has  served  on  several  important 
committees,  among  them  the  building  and 
supply  committee.  Religiously  she  is  con- 
nected with  the  Alethodist  church,  is  active 
in  all  its  lines  of  work,  and  is  now  secretary 
of  the  Ladies'  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 


She  presides  with  gracious  dignity  over  her 
home,  where  hospitality  reigns  supreme. 

In  politics  Mr.  Frazier  is  a  Republican 
but  has  ne\er  cared  for  political  honors, 
having  several  times  Ijeen  proffered  offices 
which  he  would  not  accept,  though  he  once 
served  as  town  trustee.  At  another  time 
he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  but  re- 
fused to  qualify,  preferring  to  give  his  un- 
divided attention  to  his  extensive  business 
interests.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business 
anti  executive  ability,  whose  sound  judg- 
ment, unflagging  enterprise  and  capable 
management  ha\e  brought  to  him  a  well 
meritetl  success.  In  manner  he  is  pleasant 
and  cordial,  which,  combined  with  his  ster- 
ling worth,  makes  him  one  of  the  ])opular 
citizens  of  the  community. 


WILLIAM  A.  LOTTMAN,  M.  D. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Dr. 
William  A.  Lotttnan  we  present  to  our 
readers  the  life  record  of  one  whose  promi- 
nence in  his  profession  has  come  as  a  direct 
result  of  merit,  comprehensive  knowledge 
and  skill.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Missouri,  March  27,  1871,  a  son  of  Frank 
and  Minnie  (Berman)  Lottman.  The 
father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  the  mother 
in  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  and  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Franklin  county  of  the  latter  state, 
where  they  still  make  their  home.  Mr.  Lott- 
man devoting  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
is  a  Republican  in  his  political  \iews.  Three 
children  were  born  unto  this  worthy  couple, 
the  Doctor  being  the  eldest.  The  others  are : 
Carrie,  the  wife  of  August  Myer.  a  resi- 
dent of  Shotwell.  Franklin  county.  Mis- 
souri :  and  I'red.  who  is  with  his  parents. 

The  Doctor  began  his  education  in 
Beaufort,    Franklin   county,    Missouri,    and 


464 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


afterward  attended  high  school  in  Wash- 
ington, that  state.  Subsequently  he  became 
a  student  in  the  University  of  Kentucky,  at 
Lexington,  and  was  there  graduated.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  he  had  engaged  in 
teaching  for  two  years  in  his  native  state. 
After  his  graduation  in  the  Kentuck)'  Laii- 
versity  he  entered  the  Chillicothe,  Alissouri. 
Normal  School,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1892.  He  then  taught  school 
and  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
schools  of  Exeter,  Berry  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  remained  for  a  year.  He  was  then 
elected  assistant  superintendent  of  the  pub- 
lic schools  at  Seguin,  Texas,  where  he 
spent  two  years.  During  all  of  this  time, 
however,  he  was  reading  medicine  prepara- 
tory to  entering  upon  his  professional  ca- 
reer as  a  member  of  the  medical  fraternity. 
He  further  continued  his  preparation  by  be- 
coming a  student  in  the  Medical  L'niversity 
of  Texas,  at  Galveston.  He  then  located 
in  Mason.  Texas,  where  he  practiced  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  St. 
Louis,  and  matriculated  in  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  that  place,  be- 
ing graduated  on  the  7th  of  April,  1902. 
After  passing  a  severe  examination  before 
the  Illinois  and  Missouri  Medical  Board, 
he  located  in  Oakwood,  where  he  is  now 
living.  Well  equipped  for  his  professional 
duties,  he  has  manifested  marked  ability 
in  handling  many  important  cases  and  the 
public  has  great  confidence  in  his  superior 
skill. 

On  the  i8th  of  July.  iSg4,  in  Danville, 
Dr.  Lottman  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie 
Glick.  who  was  born  near  Georgetown,  in 
Vermilion  county,  August  9,  1871,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  and  Catherine  (Goodner) 
Glick,  the  former  a  native  of  Indiana,  while 
the  latter  was  born  in  VermiHon  county,  Illi- 


nois, near  where  the  Fairview  church  now 
stands.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  at 
Glennan,  this  county,  and  to  provide  for  hi^ 
family  the  father  has  always  carried  on  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  his  present  home  being 
near  Sullivan,  Indiana.  Unto  him  and  his 
wife  were  born  four  children :  Jennie,  now 
Mrs.  Lottman ;  George,  who  married  Ora 
Coe,  and  resides  at  Sullivan,  Indiana:  Floy 
and  Francis,  both  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Glick  is  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Democ- 
racy and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Dr.  Lottman  is  connected  with  the 
Woodmen  of  the  World,  the  ^Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Sons  of  Her- 
man. He  is  a  Republican,  strong  in  sup- 
port of  the  party,  but  has  no  time  nor 
desire  to  seek  public  office.  He  holds  mem- 
bership relations  with  the  National,  the 
State  and  the  County  Medical  Associations, 
and  is  medical  examiner  for  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  the  ^lutual  Life 
Insurance  Company,  of  New  York,  the 
Equitable  Life  of  New  York,  the  Modern 
Woodmen,  Woodmen  of  the  World,  and 
other  organizations.  He  also  holds  a  spe- 
cial diploma  in  railroad  surgery.  He  is  widely 
regarded  as  a  growing  man  in  his  profes- 
sion. Already  he  has  attained  success  and 
gained  a  reputation  which  many  an  older 
man  might  well  envy.  His  equipment  was 
unusually  good  and  in  the  exercise  of  his 
professional  duties  he  manifests  strict  re- 
gard for  the  ethics  of  the  profession. 


A.  J.  LEITZBACH,  M.  D. 

Since  1887  Dr.  A.  J.  Leitzbach  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery   in    Fairmount,    and    his    professional 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


465 


skill  has  won  recognition  in  a  liberal  and 
constantly  growing  patronage.  He  was 
born  in  Robertsville,  Connecticut,  August 
3,  1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Eslinger)  Leitzbach.  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Germany.  They  were  mar- 
ried, however,  in  W'insted,  Connecticut,  and 
in  the  east  the  father  followed  his  trade  of 
cabinetmaking  for  many  years,  in  the 
spring  of  1887  he  removed  to  Humboldt, 
Kansas,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  furniture  in  connection  with  his 
son.  His  wife  died  there  in  1891.  He  con- 
tinued a  resident  of  Humboldt  until  1901, 
when  he  removed  to  Ottawa,  Kansas,  where 
he  is  now  living  retired.  His  political  alle- 
giance is  given  the  Democracy.  Three  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  yet  living,  were  liorn 
unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leitzbach :  Anna  L.  is 
the  widow  of  Rev.  Clinton  L.  Wood  and 
a  resident  of  Ottawa,  Kansas,  and  has  two 
sons.  The  Doctor  is  the  second  in  order 
of  birth.  Edward  H.  is  a  resident  of  Hum- 
boldt, Kansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
furniture  business. 

Dr.  Leitzbach  began  his  education  in 
his  native  town,  later  becoming  a  student  in 
the  public  schools  of  Riverton,  Connecti- 
cut. Afterward  he  attended  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  New  Britain,  Connecticut, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1882.  After  teaching  a  term  of  twenty 
weeks  in  the  country  he  was  then  appointed 
principal  of  the  school  at  Riverton,  which 
position  he  held  until  he  entered  medical 
college.  He  began  his  reading  in  the  office 
and  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Biflwell,  of 
Winsted,  Connecticut,  and  later  entered 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  where. 
on  the  completion  of  a  three  years'  course, 
lie  was  graduated  in  1887.  After  visiting 
several   states  he  came  to   Fairmount,   Illi- 


nois, in  the  fall  of  1887  and  has  practiced 
here  continuously  since,  his  efforts  being 
attended  with  a  high  degree  of  success.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Vermilion  County  Aledi- 
cal  ^Association  and  is  now  serving  on  the 
medical  staff'  of  the  \'ermiIion  County  IIos^ 
pital.  He  is  likewise  examiner  for  a  largi 
number  of  insurance  companies.  His  pri- 
vate practice  is  also  extensixe  and  the  public 
have  firm  faith  in  the  ability  of  Dr.  Leitz- 
l)ach  because  his  skill  has  so  often  been  mrui- 
ifest  in  the  skillful  conduct  of  importau 
cases. 

On  the  28th  of  Decemlier.  1893,  "^'^i" 
l-'airmount,  the  Doctor  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Clara  K.  Dougherty,  who  was 
bom  in  this  place,  August  25,  1869,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  James  M.  and  Sarepta  (Tay- 
lor) Dougherty,  the  former  a  native  of  Rip- 
ley, Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Romney,  In- 
diana. Her  parents  were  married  near  Cat- 
h'n,  and  the  father  engaged  in  farming  in 
this  county  until  1876,  when  he  removed 
to  Danville  and  erected  the  Arlington  Ho- 
tel. He  then  returned  to  his  farm  and  there 
died  January  15,  1889,  his  remains  beinj: 
interred  in  the  Dougherty  cemetery.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church  and  his  strong  temperance 
principles  were  embodied  in  the  political 
support  which  he  gave  to  the  Prohibition 
party.  Mrs.  Leitzbach  is  one  of  a  famil\ 
of  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, namely :  Emma,  the  wife  of  H.  J. 
Sterns,  who  resides  upon  a  farm  at  Man- 
son,  Iowa,  and  has  one  son;  Eva  P.,  the 
wife  of  W'illiam  T.  Pankey,  a  lawyer  and 
abstract  and  loan  agent  of  Danville;  Maud, 
who  resides  at  home  with  her  mother;  and 
Mrs.  Leitzbach.  The  marriage  of  the  Doc- 
tor and  his  wife  has  been  Iilessed  with  one 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  l)orn  June  16,  1896. 


466 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


111  his  political  views  the  Doctor  is  ai. 
earnest  Democrat,  and  for  one  term  he 
served  as  supervisor  of  V'^ance  township. 
Sociail)-  he  is  connected  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp  of  Fairmount,  which  he 
organized.  He  owns  real  estate  interests 
in  this  place,  including  one  of  the  finest 
homes  in  tlie  city.  A  pleasant,  genial  and 
courteous  gentleman,  he  is  widely  known 
here  and  both  he  and  his  wife  have  a  large 
circle  of  warm  friends.  Thev  are  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  in 
wliich  the  Doctor  has  held  office  for  several 
years. 


CHARLES  MORAN. 

Charles  Moran,  now  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  business  men  and  leading  cit- 
izens of  Danville  for  many  years,  having 
located  here  in  1852.  He  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  born  in  County  Antrim  in  1826, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Moran.  who  spent 
his  entire  life  upon  the  Emerald  Isle,  our 
subject  being  the  only  one  of  the  family 
to  come  to  the  new  world.  He  landed  in 
New  York  city  in  1848,  and  after  spending 
a  short  time  in  the  eastern  metropolis  went 
to  Mount  Vernon,  Xew  York,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  laying  the  first  stone 
for  many  of  the  stone  buildings  of  that 
place. 

On  leaving  Mount  \'ernon  in  1852  Mr. 
Moran  came  to  Danville,  Illinois,  though 
the  site  of  the  city  at  that  time  was  cov- 
ered with  timber  and  gave  little  promise  of 
its  present  flourishing  condition.  He  se- 
lected a  home  near  the  old  Fair  Grounds 
and  became  closely  identified  with  the  up- 
building and  development  of  the  place  as 
a  stone  mason  and  contractor.  In  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  McCormick.  he  erected  the 
first  stone  buildings   in   the  city   and   built 


the  old  stone  jail  which  was  then  located 
on  the  public  square.  As  a  contractor  he 
was  connected  with  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
Company  at  Danville,  doing  all  their  stone 
work,  such  as  curbing,  etc..  and  he  also  su- 
perinteiuled  the  stone  work  on  all  the 
bridges  of  Danville  and  many  of  the  old 
and  fine  residences  that  are  still  standing. 

On  November  18,  1855,  Mr.  Moran  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine 
O'Connor,  who  was  born  in  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  on  the  19th  of  February,  1835.  Her 
father,  Charles  O'Connor,  was  a  bookkeeper 
by  occupation  and  followed  that  pursuit  in 
Ireland  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  but  his  last  days  were  spent  with  liis 
children  in  this  country.  On  first  coming 
to  America  he  spent  a  short  time  in  New 
York  city,  then  came  to  Danville.  Illinois, 
and  from  here  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  died  at  the  home  of  one  of  his 
children.  L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moran  were 
born  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living,  namely :  Eliza  and  Mollie,  both  at 
home:  Ruth,  who  is  a  telegraph  operator  in 
Danville;  Catherine,  wlio  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Chicago;  and  Helen,  a  teacher  of 
Chicago.     Other  children  died   in  infancy. 

Mr.  Moran  continued  to  work  at  his 
trade  in  Danville  throughout  life  but  was 
also  interested  in  other  business  enterprises, 
opening  a  retail  grocery  store  in  1873  and 
conducting  it  for  several  years.  He  was 
also  interested  in  the  coal  business,  owning 
and  operating  a  mine  at  Grape  Creek,  this 
county,  and  in  all  his  undertakings  he  met 
with  deserved  success,  being  a  man  of  un- 
tiring industry  and  sound  business  judg- 
ment. The  nice  residence  which  his  widow 
still  occupies  at  No.  309  Jackson  street,  was 
erected  by  him,  and  having  prospered  in 
business  aft'airs  he  was  able  to  leave  his  fam- 
ilv  in  comfortable  circumstances. 


CHARLES  MORAN. 


LIBRARY 

Of  vaE 

UNIVERSITY  C?  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


469 


Mr.  Moran  was  unwavering  in  his  sup- 
port of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  a 
friend  nf  Abraham  Lincohi,  and  was  never 
an  otiice  seeker.  He  was  a  devout  memt)er 
of  the  Cathohc  church,  to  which  liis  family 
also  belong,  and  the  first  meeting  for  the 
purpose  of  making  arrangements  to  erect  a 
house  of  worship  at  this  place  was  held  at 
his  home  and  there  they  raised  the  first 
monev  for  that  purpose.  Upright  and  hon- 
orable in  all  his  relations  of  life  he  com- 
manded the  respect  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  and  in  his 
death  the  community  realized  that  it  had 
lost  one  of  its  best  citizens.  He  passed  away 
on  the  I2th  of  August,  1901.  His  family 
is  quite  prominent  socially,  their  circle  of 
friends  being  extensive. 


CHARLES   T.    PUTMAN. 

The  commercial  and  industrial  activity 
of  Hoopeston  finds  a  worthy  representative 
in  C.  T.  Putnam,  a  man  of  enterprise  and 
energy  whose  success  in  business  is  credit- 
able and  demonstrates  the  possibilities  which 
are  before  all  young  men  who  have  the 
wall  to  dare  and  to  do,  and  who  base  their 
business  afifairs  upon  strict  adherence  to 
business  ethics.  Mr.  Putman  was  born 
near  Attica,  Indiana,  April  22,  1858.  His 
parents,  Zachariah  and  Mary  Ann  (Wit- 
mer)  Putman,  have  both  passed  away.  They 
were  natives  of  Ohio  and  the  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  In  their  family  were 
ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
David  C. :  Hettie  V.,  the  wife  of  L.  J.  Har- 
ker,  of  Winfield,  Kansas ;  Mrs.  Jonas  Rush, 
of  Milford,  Illinois;  George  B.,  of  Hoope- 
ston; Charles  T.,  of  this  review;  Mrs.  Car- 


rie B.  Hernden,  of  Winfield,  Kansas ;  and 
Edward  C,  who  is  also  living  in  Winfield. 
When  a  lillle  lad  of  U\e  years  Charles 
T.  Putman  went  with  his  parents  to  a  farm 
in  Bean  creek  settlement  eight  miles  south- 
west of  Rossville,  V'ermilion  county,  and 
there  he  was  reared  until  fifteen  years  of 
age,  when  the  family  removed  into  the 
town,  after  which  he  enjoyed  the  advant- 
ages of  schooling  there.  .\t  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  he  entered  a  railroad  office 
to  learn  telegraphy,  and  later  he  went  to 
Remington,  Indiana,  entering  the  office  of 
the  Pan-Handle  Railroad  at  ttiat  placv.  He 
secured  a  position  on  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  Railroad,  at  Beecher,  Illinois,  at 
night  work,  acting  as  operator.  He  remained 
as  agent  for  that  road  for  sixteen  years  and 
during  the  last  nine  years  of  the  time  was 
its  representative  at  Hoopeston.  During 
that  period  he  acquired  an  interest  in  a  lum- 
ber business  here,  becoming  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  T.  P>.  Tennery  &  Company.  His 
partnership  in  this  continued  until  1892. 
when  he  severed  his  connection  with  rail- 
road interests  and  also  sold  his  interest  in 
the  firm  of  Tennery  &  Company.  .Xt  that 
time  he  purchased  the  W.  R.  Wilson  lum- 
ber yard,  which  he  ctjnducted  sucessfully 
for  nine  years,  during  which  time  he  was 
also  associated  with  the  Enterprise  Canning 
Company.  He  further  extended  the  scope 
of  his  labors  by  purchasing  a  marble  busi- 
ness and  in  iqoo  he  sold  his  lumber  business 
and  planing-mill  interests  and  since  that 
time  has  devoted  his  attention  to  the  con- 
duct of  the  granite  and  marble  works  of 
Hoo])eston,  with  the  result  that  his  eft'orts 
have  been  attended  with  very  gratifying 
success.  He  employs  expert  workmen  in 
handling  the  marbles  and  his  trade  has  con- 
tinuallv  increased,  owing  to  his  careful  su- 


470 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pervision,  his  straightforward  business  deal- 
ings and  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  cus- 
tomers. 

Mr.  Putnian  was  niarrietl  in  Boswell, 
Indiana,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1878,  t( 
Miss  Ella  Amniernian,  but  she  died  on  the 
15th  of  November,  1879.  while  they  were 
residing  in  Chicago,  ^Ir.  Putman  being  at 
that  time  ilispatcher  and  clerk  in  the  yards 
of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad, 
of  that  city.  There  was  one  child  by  this 
marriage,  Gertrude  Belle,  who  was  born 
October  2"].  1879,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Russell  Follett,  of  Hoopeston,  by  whom  she 
has  one  child.  On  the  20th  of  January, 
1 88 1,  in  this  city,  Mr.  Putman  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Molly 
E.  Myers,  a  native  of  State  Line,  Indiana, 
born  on  the  7th  of  January.  1862.  Her 
fafhlefV^Adam  Myers,  died  in  Hoopeston  in 
1902.  He 'Was  a  bridge  superintendent  on 
the  Wabash  Railroad  for  several  years,  and 
later  on  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  road,  and 
maintained  his  residence  in  this  town.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Schaef- 
fer,  and  is  now  living  with  our  subject.  In 
their  family  were  four  children,  three  of 
whom  survive,  as  follows:  M.  P.,  who  is 
bridge  superintendent  of  the  Kansas  City. 
St.  Joseph  &  Council  Bluffs  Railroad,  at 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri;  H.  C,  who  is  a  farm- 
er; and  Mrs.  Putman.  The  marriage  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  blessed 
by  an  interesting  little  daughter,  Lila  Mae, 
born  August  20,  1886. 

The  parents  hold  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  Mr. 
Putman  is  serving  as  trustee.  He  votes 
with  the  Republican  party  and  at  one  time 
was  alderman  and  city  treasurer.  He  is 
the  present  chairman  of  the  cemeterv-  com- 
mittee and  he  has  taken  little  part  in  politi- 


cal work,  i)referring  to  devote  his  time  and 
energies  to  the  marble  and  granite  business. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Star 
Lodge,  No.  709,  F.  &  A.  M..  and  wnth  the 
]\Iodern  Woodmen  of  Ainerica,  No.  207. 

His  home  is  on  South  Market  street  and 
he  owns  other  real  estate  in  Hoopeston  val- 
ued at  twenty  thousand  dollars.  In  busi- 
ness he  has  achiex-ed  success  through  hon- 
orable effort,  untiring  industry  and  capable 
management.  He  has  been  watchful  of  his 
interests,  careful  in  controlling  his  affairs, 
and  in  his  actions  has  been  guided  by  sound 
judgment  which  has  come  as  the  result  of 
mature  reflection.  He  has,  moreover,  a  name 
which  is  above  reproach,  because  of  his  al- 
legiance to  honorable  business  principles, 
his  integrity  standing  as  an  unquestioned 
fact  in  his  career. 


FRANK   SANFORD. 

The  pre-eminence  of  Danville  is  due  not 
only  to  the  men  of  light  and  learning  who 
controlled  her  affairs  in  the  early  days,  but 
e\-en  more  to  those  men  whom  she  is  con- 
stantly attracting  from  other  cities.  In  1897 
Frank  Sanford  removed  to  this  place,  en- 
larging the  scope  of  his  business  activities, 
and  to-day  is  numbered  among  the  fore- 
most merchants  of  the  city,  controlling  an 
extensive  furniture  trade  which  because  of 
its  extent  is  bringing  to  his  an  excellent 
profit.  It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  the 
greatest  merchants  of  our  country  ha\e  de- 
veloped from  the  humblest  origins  and  from 
clerkships  have  emerged  men  who  have 
built  up  great  enterprises.  Mr.  Sanford  had 
no  especial  advantages  in  his  youth,  in  fact, 
he  depended  upon  his  own  resources  from 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


471 


the  time  when  lie  cumpleted  liis  eikication 
and  left  the  public  schools. 

He  was  born  in  Ionia,  IMichig'aii,  No- 
vember, 30.  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  J-  B.  and 
Maria  (Yeomans).  Sanford,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Connecticut.  Becominij 
residents  of  Galena,  Illinois,  ha\-ing  resided 
in  Michig'an  for  a  time.  Mr.  Sanford  there 
estalV.ishcd  a  dry  goods  business,  which  he 
conducted  for  five  years.  He  next  opened 
a  dry  goods  store  in  Chicago,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years  and  then  returned 
with  his  family  to  Ionia,  Michigan.  Latei' 
he  resided  in  St.  Louis,  Michigan,  and  there 
died  in  1893.  His  widow  still  sur\-i\'es  him 
and  is  yet  living  in  St.  Louis.  Mr.  San- 
ford was  a  Republican  in  his  political  views 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
honored  and  respected  by  his  fellow  men 
for  his  excellent  traits  of  character.  In  his 
family  were  nine  children:  Edward,  whc 
married  and  died  in  Ionia,  Michigan ;  ^lar- 
ian,  who  is  living  in  Denver,  Colorado ; 
Herljert,  a  locomotive  engineer  located  in 
Grand  Rapids.  Michigan;  Willard,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder  residing  in  Springfield, 
Illinois :  George,  who  has  mining  interests 
at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee;  Frank,  of  this 
review:  Adelaide,  the  wife  of  Fred  W. 
Hughes,  of  Mecosta,  Michigan;  Frances 
E..  the  wife  of  John  Burns,  of  vSt.  Louis. 
Michigan;  and  S.  B.,  who  is  a  locomotive 
engineer  living  in  Decatur.  Illinois. 

In  his  native  city  Frank  Sanford  pursued 
his  education,  putting  aside  his  text  books 
at  about  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  He 
also  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Ionia, 
Michigan,  for  two  years.  In  connection 
with  his  brother  he  established  an  agency  for 
a  wringer  and  washer  in  Indiana  and  Illi- 
nois, traveling  in  the  interest  of  that  busi- 
ness for  two  years.     He  then  formed  a  part- 


nership with  C.  E.  Akers,  at  Decatur.  Illi- 
nois, in  the  installment  business  and  with 
this  beginning  he  built  up  a  large  trade  as 
a  dealer  in  furniture.  In  1897  '^"^  ^'j'*'  '^'^ 
business  to  his  partner  and  came  to  Dan- 
ville,  where  he  opened  a  store  at  No.  40 
Jackson  street.  His  business  steadily  in- 
creased until  he  had  three  rooms  completely 
filled  with  a  large  and  well  selected  stock 
of  furniture.  In  1901  the  I-ldwards  busi- 
ness block  was  erected  especially  for  his 
use  and  he  now  occupies  that  new  and  mod- 
ern structure.  In  1898  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mar- 
ian Hobbs,  a  widow  residing  in  Denver, 
Colorado,  became  his  partner.  In  the  con- 
tluct  of  his  affairs  Mr.  Sanford  has  been 
energetic,  enterprising  and  determined.  His 
large  stock  of  furniture' now  occupies  three 
floors  and  a  basement,  and  he  also  has  a 
large  ware-room  in  another  part  of  the  city. 
He  has  throughly  studied  the  trade  so  that 
he  undestands  the  wishes  of  the  pul)lic  and 
his  labors  have  brought  to  him  a  substantial 
financial  return.  He  is  also  a  partner  in 
the  Frank  Sanford  &  Company  furniture 
store  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  another 
store  conducted  under  the  same  name  at 
W'estville.  Illinois.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
he  is  a  leading  representative  of  the  furni- 
ture trade  of  the  state  and  his  establishment 
in  Danville  is  headquarters  for  all  novel- 
ties as  well  as  articles  of  a  utilitarian  char- 
acter. He  carries  goods  of  all  grades,  in- 
cluding some  of  the  finest  manufactured, 
and  he  receives  his  patronage  from  a  good 
class  of  citizens. 

In  November,  1S87,  in  Ionia,  Michigan, 
Mr.  Sanford  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ida  Terry,  who  was  born  in  Ionia,  August 
20.  1864,  a  daughter  of  John  Terry,  who 
is  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  is  a  fruit 
eardener.      Both   he  and  his  wife  are  still 


472 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


living.  In  their  family  are  four  children : 
Samuel,  who  resides  in  x\lden,  Michigan; 
Myra.  the  wife  of  Samuel  Arntz,  of  Ionia, 
Michigan;  Ida,  the  wife  of  our  subject; 
and  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  Charles  Jack, 
who  is  living  in  Ionia.  The  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sanford  has  been  blessed  with 
four  children:  Myrtle  M.,  Otto  F.,  Ade- 
laide and  Frances. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Sanford 
is  a  Republican.  Fraternally  he  is  connect- 
ed with  Olive  Branch  Lodge,  No.  184,  F. 
&  A.  AI.,  ha\-ing  been  made  a  Mason  in 
Danville  in  June,  1901.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Danville  Lodge  of  Elks,  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  ruler  of 
the  Royal  Circle  Lodge  of  Danville,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs.  She  is  like- 
wise a  member  of  the  Women's  Club  of 
this  city  and  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanford 
hold  membership  in  the  ]\Iethodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Although  they  have  resided 
here  but  for  a  brief  period  they  are  well 
known  and  the  hospitality  of  the  best  homes 
of  the  citv  is  extended  to  them. 


HENRY   SMITH. 


For  many  years  this  gentleman  was  a 
worthy  citizen  of  Danville  and  he  was  also 
classed  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county,  having  come  here  in  1834  when  the 
greater  part  of  this  region  was  still  wild 
and  undeveloped.  He  was  born  in  Oxford- 
shire, England,  on  the  20th  of  November, 
1806,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Fletcher)  Smith,  who  were  also  natives 
of  that  country.  After  the  emigration  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  to  the  new  workl 
his  father  joined  them  in  this  country  but 
died  a  vear  later. 


In  his  native  land  Henry  Smith  was 
reared  and  educated  no  event  of  special  im- 
portance occurring  during  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  Before  leaving  England  he  was 
married  in  1834  to  Miss  Jane  Jordan  Stew- 
art, who  also  claimed  that  country  as  her 
birthplace.  Of  the  eleven  children  born  of 
this  union  three  died  in  infancy,  the  others 
being  as  follows:  John,  now  deceased; 
William,  who  is  living  retired  in  Danville; 
Edwin,  deceased;  Sarah,  deceased  wife  of 
Charles  Coten  and  a  resident  of  Danville; 
Frank,  deceased:  Alary,  wife  of  Robert 
Stevens,  of  Danville;  and  Fannie  J.  and 
Lucy,  who  are  living  at  the  old  homestead 
in  the  same  city. 

Not  long  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Smith  sailed  for  America,  and  on  land- 
ing in  New  York  city  made  their  way  direct 
to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  buying  stock  for  two  or  three  years.  In 
1838  he  came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
and  first  located  on  a  farm  near  the  village 
of  Potomac,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1845.  He  then  removed  to  Dan- 
ville and  opened  the  first  meat  market  at 
this  place,  being  engaged  in  business  here 
until  1867,  when  he  sold  his  shop  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Danville  township  near 
the  village  of  Tilton.  There  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1880,  when  he 
rented  that  place  and  returned  to  Danville, 
where  he  li\-ed  a  retired  life  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1898,  when  ninety-one 
years  of  age.  His  wife  passed  away  on  the 
14th  of  November,  1900.  With  the  First 
Methodsit  Episcopal  church  of  Danville 
they  had  long  held  membership  and  were 
consistent  and  useful  members.  Their  tlaugh- 
ters,  Misses  Fannie  J.  and  Lucy  Smith, 
are  also  members  of  the  same  church  and 
are  prdmineut  in  societv  here.     Thev  have 


HENRY   SMITH 


LI  " 

C  1 

U'^IVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


47  5 


a  pleasant  home  at  No.  Ii6  North  Jackson 
street,  which  was  erected  by  their  lather 
in  1845  and  also  own  other  residence  prop- 
erty in  the  city. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
Repnblican  and  he  ever  took  a  commendable 
interest  in  public  affairs.  He  enjoyed  the 
well  earned  distinction  of  being  what  the 
public  terms  a  "self-made  man,"  and  an 
analyzation  of  his  character  revealed  the 
fact  that  enterprise,  well  directed  effort  and 
honorable  dealing-  were  the  essential  feat- 
ures in  his  prosperity. 


JOHN   M.   BALDWIN. 

The  agricultural  interests  of  Vermilion 
county  form  a  very  important  part  in  the 
prosperity  which  it  enjoys.  A  representa- 
tive of  this  honorable  and  useful  occupation 
is  John  M.  Baldwin,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 20,  1857,  near  Ridgefarm,  in  V'ermihon 
county,  Illint)is.  His  grandparents  on  the 
patemal  side  were  James  and  Rachel  ( Par- 
ry) Baldwin.  He  is  a  son  of  Franklin  and 
Editha  (Xaylor)  Baldwin.  The  father  was 
born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  April  26, 
1832,  and  came  to  Vermilion  county.  Illi- 
nois, when  he  was  but  six  years  of  age, 
brought  here  by  his  parents.  They  settled 
in  the  village  then  known  as  Suno\-er,  near 
the  present  village  of  Georgetown.  At  that 
time  the  primeval  forests  covered  a  great 
deal  of  the  land,  and  there  the  grandfather 
followed  farming  and  he  and  his  wife  spent 
their  remaining  days.  Their  son  Franklin 
was  left  an  orphan  when  but  eight  years 
of  age.  He  remained  on  the  home  place 
until  1863,  when  he  came  to  a  farm  near 
Indianola,  with  other  members  of  the  fam- 


ily. Here  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  until  1886,  when  he  removed  to 
Sidell,  Illinois,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business.  His  brothers  and  sis- 
ters were  farmers  and  farmers'  wives,  and 
their  names  are  as  follows:  Caroline  Cord, 
Amanda  I'laugher,  Betsy  Bates,  Darius  B., 
John  M.,  Polly  Graham,  James,  l^lijah, 
Thomas,  Franklin,  Jane  Golden  and  Will- 
iam. Jane  lives  in  Dallas  county,  Iowa ; 
Thduias  at  Ridgefarm,  Illinol^,  and  the 
others  are  deceased.  All  grew  up,  married 
and  reared  families,  except  William,  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Vermilion  county,  Indiana, 
June  II,  1840.  Her  parents  were  John  and 
Betsey  (Stewart)  Naylor.  Her  brother 
and  sister  are  Benjamin  Naylor.  who  was 
a  Union  soldier  and  died  in  Sidell  in  1901, 
of  army  troubles,  and  Mary  Rutherford, 
now  living  with  her  family  at  Longview, 
Illinois.  Franklin  and  Editha  (Naylor) 
Baldwin  became  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing named  children:  John  M.  is  the  eldest; 
Perry  is  a  farmer  of  Indianola,  who  mar- 
ried Ella  Lawrence,  in  1882.  They  have  a 
fine  family,  consisting  of  three  boys  and 
four  girls,  all  healthy  and  bright.  Charles 
M.  is  a  farmer  of  Franklin  county,  Illinois. 
He  married  Emma  Kries  and  had  four 
boys  and  four  girls.  Of  these  two  boys  and 
one  girl  are  deceased.  They  had  three  pairs 
of  twins,  a  boy  and  girl  in  each  pair. 
Thomas  W.  lives  in  Sidell  and  assists  his 
father  in  the  hardware  business.  He  first 
married  Nora  E.  Allison,  by  whom  he  had 
a  boy  and  a  girl,  but  the  girl  is  now  de- 
ceased. His  first  wife  died  and  he  married 
Hattie  Harroll,  and  they  have  one  child. 
William  A.  is  a  twin  brother  of  \\'ilbur  A. 
He  is  a  farmer  and  for  his  first  wife  chose 
Sadie  Harroll,  bv  whom  he  had  one  bov 


470 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  a  girl.  His  second  marriage  was  with 
Gertie  Harroll,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and 
they  have  one  boy.  Wilbur  A.,  the  twin 
brother  of  William  A.,  married  Mary 
Burke.  Benjamin  F.  is  a  blacksmith  living 
at  Sidell,  Illinois.  He  married  Florence 
Canada,  who  is  now  deceased.  By  this 
marriage  there  is  a  little  girl,  seven  years 
old.  Nora  E.  died  in  infancy.  Robert  W. 
is  a  farmer  of  Franklin  county,  Illinois.  He 
married  Cana  Linn,  and  they  have  two  girls. 

John  M.  Baldwin  of  this  review  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  Indianola,  and  he  is 
now  the  possessor  of  a  beautiful  and  valu- 
able farm  of  one  hundred  acres  lying  just 
west  of  the  village  of  Indianola.  This  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation,  being 
equipped  with  all  the  accessories  which  go 
to  make  up  a  well  conducted  farm  of  the 
twentieth  century.  On  this  farm  he  has  a 
fine  residence,  an  ideal  home  for  the  family. 
He  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
starting  out  with  no  capital,  and  through 
his  untiring  efforts,  ably  assisted  by  his  de- 
voted wife,  he  has'  won  success. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  united  in  marriage 
December  25,  1879,  at  Indianola,  to  Miss 
Lucy  F.  Thornton,  who  was  born  August 
30,  1859,  at  Catlin,  Illinois,  her  parents 
being  David  and  Xancy  (Spicer)  Thorn- 
ton, who  were  natives  and  pioneer  settlers 
of  Vermilion  county.  Her  father  died  in 
the  Union  army  in  1864  and  her  mother 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Cole, 
and  is  living  in  Indianola.  Mrs.  Baldwin 
had  one  sister,  Martha  Thornton,  and  ten 
half-brothers  and  sisters.  The  family  were 
agriculturists,  and  her  father  was  a  valiant 
soldier,  giving  up  his  life  upon  the  altar  of 
his  countr>-.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin 
were  born  the   following  named  children: 


The  eldest,  born  Ocober  30,  1880,  died  in 
infancy.  William  L,  born  June  27,  1882, 
was  one  of  the  met  popular  and  bright 
young  men  in  Verrriion  county.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  Indinola  schools  before  he 
was  eighteen,  with  Itjh  honors,  being  presi- 
dent of  his  class.  He  was  converted  and 
joined  the  MethodiE  church  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  }ears,  imitdiately  became  an  act- 
ive worker  in  the  Suday-school  and  churcl. 
and  was  soon  madeissistant  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-schoo  He  became  a  teacher 
in  the  schools  of  thecounty  and  was  recog- 
nized as  a  young  mn  of  ability.  He  had 
good  oratorical  quaties,  was  a  very  brill- 
iant speaker,  and  aidied  law,  completing 
the  college  course  v.th  a  grade  of  ninety- 
seven  per  cent.  He  ntered  Austin  College, 
but  at  the  end  of  oe  term  returned  home, 
and  on  March  9,  192,  he  died.  His  death 
caused  the  family  ad  many  friends  heart- 
felt grief,  and  his  ite  seemed  doubly  sad 
because  of  his  brighontellect  and  the  prom- 
ising future  before  Im,  but  He  who  doeth 
all  things  well,  sawfit  to  take  him  in  the 
flower  of  his  youth.  His  loss  was  the  cause 
of  sorrow  to  the  enre  community.  Samuel 
F.,  the  second  son  c  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bald- 
win, born  June  3,  184,  was  graduated  from 
the  Indianola  school  in  1902,  and  is  now 
teaching.  Clyde  A.  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  was  born  Ocober  30,  1886.  Eva 
and  Evert,  twins,  wre  born  November  3, 
1889,  and  died  in  ufancy.  Russell,  born 
January  14,  1893,  i  now  in  school. 

Mr.  Baldwin  is  anember  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  of  the  Jodern  Woodmen  of 
America  and  of  theCourt  of  Honor.  He 
has  been  a  member  >i  tlie  board  of  school 
directors  of  Indiania  for  the  past  nine 
years  and  is  now  yesident  of  the  board. 
He    was    census    eumerator    for    Carroll 


TIE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


477 


township  in  1900  and  has  ben  a  trustee  of 
Woodlawn  cemetery  for  the  p-St  nine  years. 
This  is  the  finest  cemetery  in  Vermilion 
county  outside  of  Danville.  In  religious 
faith  Mr.  Baldwin  is  a  Melodist,  and  in 
politics  is  an  earnest  Repulican.  In  all 
movements  and  measures  if  the  general 
improvement  and  upbuildini  he  takes  an 
active  and  helpful  interest,  ad  he  is  justly 
regarded  as  a  valued  and  representative 
farmer  of  Carroll  township. 


W.  R.  NASU,  M  D. 

Dr.  W.  R.  Nash,  who  is  ngaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  sugery  in  Fair- 
mount,  is  a  native  of  Indiana  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Hendricks  ounty,  on  the 
I2th  of  May,  1841.  His  arents,  R.  T. 
and  Frances  (Smith)  Nash  .were  both  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  and  weri-here  married. 
The  father  engaged  in  farmiq'  in  that  state 
until  his  remo^-al  to  Hendrks  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  entered  landirom  the  gov- 
ernment and  carried  on  faming  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  derh.  He  passed 
away  on  the  old  homestead  here  in  1846, 
and  his  wife  in  1852.  Botl  were  devoted 
and  zealous  members  of  the  Saptist  church. 
In  his  political  views  the  fathr  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat. In  the  family  were  our  sons  and 
three  daughters,  of  whom  tw  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  yet  living:  Jeorge  \V..  a 
physician  of  Indianapolis ;  'arthenia,  the 
widow  of  John  T.  Bums,  \mo  was  an  at- 
torney of  Bi^ownsburg,  Indian ;  W.  R. ;  and 
Martha  H.,  the  wife  of  Chaes  Ridgeway, 
a  millwright  of  Newcastle,  .idiana.  Those 
deceased  are:  Isaac  N.,  who -as  killed  dur- 
ing the  assault  at  Weldon  kilroad,  while 
a  member  of  the  Seventh  Indma  Volunteer 


Infantry,  during  the  Ci\il  war,  and  was 
buried  at  City  Point,  Virginia ;  Richard  T., 
who  was  a  member  of  Company  K,  Seven- 
tieth Indiana  Infantry,  the  regiment  com- 
manded by  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  died  of 
smallpox  while  in  the  service,  his  remains 
being  interred  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee ; 
and  Mahala  J.,  the  deceased  wife  of  Will- 
iam F.  Dinwiddle,  of  Brownsburg,  Indiana. 
In  the  district  schools  of  Brownsburg 
Dr.  W.  R.  Nash  pursued  his  literary  edu- 
cation. Later  he  removed  to  Indianola,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  entered  upon  his  business 
career  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  John  Grace, 
also  looking  after  the  stock  upon  his  em- 
plo3^er"s  farm.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Grace 
for  twenty-eight  months  and  then  donned 
the  nation's  blue  uniform  as  a  member  of 
Company  D,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  first  company  that  went  to  the  front 
from  Vermilion  county.  The  date  of  his  en- 
listment was  June  i.  1861,  antl  the  place  In- 
dianola, Illinois.  He  was  mustered,  in  at 
St.  Louis,  where  W.  W.  Osborn  was  elected 
captain  of  the  company  and  Colonel  Will- 
iam Coler  of  Decatur  was  chosen  to  com- 
mand the  regiment.  With  his  command 
Dr.  Nash  was  ordered  to  Jefiferson  City 
and  thence  to  Sedalia,  Missouri,  and  on  to 
Pea  Ridge,  participating  in  the  battle  there. 
He  was  also  in  the  engagement  at  Pittsburg 
Landing,  and  at  Corinth  and  luka.  after 
which  he  made  the  famous  march  to  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  on  to  Perry ville.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  and  under  the  command  of  General 
Rosecrans  took  a  part  in  that  hotly  con- 
tested engagement  at  Chickamauga.  After 
meeting  the  enemy's  fire  at  Missionary 
Ridge  the  troops  of  General  Thomas  went 
south  and  fought  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Burnt      Hickory,      Big      Shanty,    Kenesaw 


478 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mountain,  Chatahoochee  River  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek.  Dr.  Nash  was  also  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Atlanta,  and  on  the  4th  of  August, 
1864,  was  relieved  and  sent  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged 
by  reason  of  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield 
September  5,  1864,  having  been  with  the 
army  for  three  years  and  four  months.  He 
took  part  in  a  number  of  battles  and  skir- 
mishes in  addition  to  those  already  named 
and- was  five  times  promoted  for  valorous 
service,  from  fifth  to  first  sergeant.  At  the 
battle  of  Stone  Ri\-er  he  was  wounded  in 
the  left  thigh  by  a  pistol  ball,  and  still  car- 
ries the  bullet.  At  Chickamauga,  he  was 
wounded  in  the  right  shoulder  by  a  piece 
of  shell,  and  after  the  battle  he  took  com- 
mand of  his  company  with  his  arm  in  a 
sling.  He  displayed  wonderful  resolution 
and  courage,  refusing  to  go  to  the  hospital 
when  wounded,  continuing  instead  in  active 
service  with  his  company. 

When  his  military  experience  was  over 
Dr.  Xash  returned  to  Brownsburg,  Indiana, 
and  was  there  engaged  in  the  drug  business. 
In  the  same  city  on  the  14th  of  May,  1865, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Ruth  J.  Caywood. 
who  was  born  in  Hendricks  county,  In- 
diana, October  ^o,  1844,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  V.  and  Rebecca  (Wells)  Caywood. 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Kentucky.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  he 
served  as  a  loyal  soldier  of  the  Union  army 
for  three  years  in  the  Seventy-ninth  Indiana 
Infantry.  Removing  to  Wilson  county, 
Kansas,  both  he  and  his  wife  died  there,  the 
former  in  1892  and  the  latter  in  1890.  Mr. 
Caywood  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  and  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views.  Mrs.  Xash  was  one  of  three  chil- 
dren and  her  brother  William  is  now  resid- 


ing in  Wilson  county,  Kansas.  The  other 
member  of  the  family  has  passed  away. 
Two  daughters  were  born  unto  the  Doctor 
and  his  wife,  of  whom  one  is  living,  ^label 
E.,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Goodwin,  of  Fair- 
mount. 

After  his  marriage  Dr.  Xash  located  in 
Brownsburg,  Indiana,  and  took  up  the  study 
of  medicine  under  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Eastman 
He  was  graduated  in  the  College  of  Pbv- 
sicians  and  Surgeons  of  Indiana,  in  1876, 
and  then  located  at  Ridgefarm.  Vermilion 
county,  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  practicing 
there  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  Fair- 
mount,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Medical,  the  State 
Medical  and  the  Vermilion  County  Medi- 
cal Societies,  and  is  continually  broadening 
his  knowledge  and  thereby  promoting  his 
efficiency  through  reading,  investigation, 
and  study.  The  Doctor  belongs  to  Fair- 
mount  Lodge,  Xo.  590,  F.  &  A.  M'.,  having 
been  made  a  IMason  here  in  1888.  In  1866 
he  was  made  an  Odd  Fellow  in  Browns- 
burg, Indiana,  and  he  likewise  belongs  to 
Catlin  Post,  G.  A.  R.  He  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party  and 
is  well  read  on  political  subjects,  but  other- 
wise is  not  active  in  politics,  preferring  that 
his  undivided  attention  shall  be  given  to 
his  professional  duties  which  are  onerous 
and  important,  and  which  are  discharged 
with  conscientious  fidelity. 


JOHN  G.  LEVERICH. 

For  many  years  John  Goldsmith  Leverich 
filled  the  office  of  master  in  chancerv  in 
Danville  and  at  the  age  of  seventy  years  he 
passed  away,  leaving  behind  him  the  record 


JOHN  G.  LEVERICH. 


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UNIVERSITY  Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


481 


of  a  life  of  great  usefulness  and  of  honor. 
He  was  born  in'  Newtown,  Queens  county, 
New  York,  on  the  10th  of  October,  1819. 
His  father,  John  Leverich.  was  born  Jan- 
uary 30,  1789,  and  in  the  year  1814  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Alletta  Berrien,  whose 
birth  occurred  July  18,  17S8.  They  located 
on  Long  Island,  where  the  father  followed 
the  blacksmithing  trade  for  a  time,  but 
eventually  he  removed  to  the  west  and  lived 
for  a  time  with  his  son,  John  G.  Later, 
however,  he  retired  from  active  life  and 
eventually  returned  to  Newtown,  where  he 
died  April  25,  1858.  He  had  ser\ed  his 
country  in  the  war  of  1812,  holding  the 
rank  of  sergeant.  His  wife  passed  away  at 
Newtown.  December  i,  1863,  having  sur- 
vi\-ed  him  only  for  about  live  years.  Both 
were  devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  Mr.  Leverich  was  a  Whig  in 
his  political  affiliations.  In  their  family  were 
four  children,  but  the  only  sur\i\ing  rep- 
resentative of  this  family  is  Mrs.  M.  E. 
Witte.  who  resides  at  Northport,  on  Long 
Island. 

John  Goldsmith  Leverich  pursued  his 
education  in  his  early  boyhood  in  a  school 
on  Long  Island  and  later  became  a  student 
in  a  private  academy  in  New  ^'ork  city.  He 
acce]jted  a  clerkship  in  the  wholesale  drug 
store  i)f  McKesscn  &  Roberts  on  entering 
upon  his  business  career,  and  remained  witli 
that  house  until  1841,  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  company  with  ().  L.  Davis.  Danxille 
then  became  bis  ])lace  of  residence  and  he 
accepted  a  ])osition  as  a  salesman  in  the 
store  of  r,.  T.  Palmer,  while  later  he  en- 
gaged in  Inisiness  on  his  own  accc~iunt  m 
partnership  with  his  brother.  R.  T.  I.e\c- 
rich.  'i'hcy  conducted  a  general  mercan- 
tile store  for  li\e  vears  and  in  1800  Mr. 
Leverich  of  this  review  was  appointed  mas- 
ter in  chancery,  which  position  he  held  for 


nineteen  years,  a  longer  period  than  almost 
any  incumbent  of  a  similar  office  in  the 
state.     In  1881  he  retired  from  the  position 


with   the  confidence  and  good 


the 


public,  and  spent  his  remaining  years  in  the 
enj\)yment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  la- 
bors. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1847,  '"  Dan- 
ville, Mr.  Leverich  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Tilton,  who  was  born  in 
Shipton,  Canada.  December  25,  1822,  a 
daughter  of  Abial  booster  and  Cynthia 
(Thompson)  Tilton,  the  former  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  the  latter  of  Massa- 
chusetts. They  were  married  in  the  Green 
Mountain  state  and  on  their  remo\-al  to  tlie 
west  located  first  in  Ohio,  where  they  re- 
mained for  a  short  time,  the  father  follow- 
ing the  millwright's  tratlc.  He  then  came 
to  Vermilion  count}'.  Illinois,  and  erected 
a  mill  on  Vermilion  creek,  being  thus  identi- 
fied with  industrial  interests  for  some  time. 
Subsecpiently  he  removed  to  Middle  Fork, 
where  he  owned  a  larg'e  farm.  o])erating  it 
successfulK'  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
about  t866.  I\lr.  Tilton  was  a  Whig  in 
his  [jolitical  affiliations  and  was  a  man  of 
strong  character  and  sterling  piu'pose.  In 
his  tanii]\-  were  nine  children,  but  only  one 
of  the  nunil)er  now  survives — Charles,  who 
is  a  traveling  salesman  and  resides  in  St. 
Louis.  Missouri. 

After  his  luarriage  i\Ir.  Leverich  took 
u])  liis  abode  in  Danville  and  continued  to 
occu])V  the  ]josition  of  master  in  chancery 
until  his  retirement  from  acti\e  life.  L'nlo 
him  and  his  wife  were  born  fi\'e  chililrcn  : 
!'".dward,  who  died  .\ugust  24,  1856,  at  the 
age  of  seven  \cars:  Mary  Honette,  who  died 
September  14.  1853,  when  .-i  year  and  a 
half  old:  .\lletta  11.  who  became  the  wife 
of  11.  .\.  Hrdl.  a  resident  of  Dan\-ille.  and 
died  June   29,    1900.   leaving  Iwfi   children. 


482 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Janette  A.  and  Edward  L. ;  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  O.  D.  Pollock,  who  is  livng  in  Danville ; 
and  Catherine  E.,  who  is  a  twin  sister  of 
Sarah  and  also  lives  in  Danville,  the  family 
home  at  No.  14  Gilbert  street  being  now 
owned  by  her. 

In  politics  j\Ir.  Leverich  was  known  as 
an  earnest  Republican,  believing  firmly  in 
the  principles  of  the  party,  yet  never  a  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  office  seeking.  In 
manner  he  was  quiet  and  unostentatious, 
yet  he  possessed  strong  character  and  de- 
termined purpose  and  he  commanded  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  all  by  whom  he 
%vas  known.  In  the  discharge  of  his  official 
duties  he  was  strictly  fair  and  impartial, 
equity  being  one  of  the  salient  traits  of  his 
public  service.  While  he  never  connected 
himself  with  any  church  organization  he 
believed  in  the  fatherhood  of  God,  the 
brotherhood  of  mankind  and  closely  fol- 
lowed the  golden  rule.  He  was  charitable 
and  benevolent,  kindly  in  spirit  and  in 
thought,  was  absolutely  honest  and  never 
afraid  to  express  his  honest  convictions.  He 
passed  away  March  18,  1889,  and  his  wife, 
^^•ho  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  departed  this  life  October  30,  1902. 
They  were  laid  to  rest  side  by  side  in  Spnng 
Hill  cemetery  of  Danville,  but  the  influence 
of  these  worthy  people  is  still  made  mani- 
fest in  the  lives  of  those  with  whom  they 
came  in  contact.  While  unassuming  and 
quiet  in  demeanor  Mr.  Leverich  was  by  no 
means  a  negative  factor  in  Danville.  There 
was  nothing  of  the  pessimist  about  him. 
nor  w^as  his  the  character  of  a  visionary 
optimist;  he  looked  at  life  from  a  practical 
standpoint.  He  possessed  strong  humani- 
tarian principles  and  closely  adhered  to  the 
rules  of  conduct  W'hich  govern  an  honor- 
able, upright  manhood.     He  indeed  stood  as 


a  representative  of  a  high  type  of  American 
citizenship  and  well  does  he  deserve  that  his 
name  should  be  inscribed  high  on  the  roll 
of  representative  men  of  the  city  in  which 
he  so  long  made  his  home. 


EDWARD   DONNELLY. 

Through  twenty-two  years  Edward  Don- 
nelh'  was  numbered  among  the  ■  prominent 
farmers  of  Danville  township.  He  there- 
fore deserves  mention  in  this  volume 
among  the  men  whose  efforts  have  con- 
tributed to  the  general  welfare  and  who 
in  matters  of  citizenship  have  always  been 
loyal  and  true.  He  W'as  born  in  county 
Cavan,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1822,  his  par- 
ents being  John  and  Frances  Donnelly, 
who  were  also  natives  of  that  county,  where 
the  father  resided  until  his  death.  In  1851 
our  subject  bade  adieu  to  his  native  country 
and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America 
settling  first  in  the  Empire  state,  and  after- 
ward removed  to  Indiana.  Some  of  the 
brothers  of  our  subject  came  to  Danville  in 
1864.  among  them  John  Donnelly,  who  now 
resides  in  this  city,  being  engaged  in  the 
grocer}-  business  on  the  corner  of  Jackson 
and  South  streets. 

Edward  Donnelly  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  the  Emerald  isle 
and  pursued  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  there  and  then  came  to  America 
to  America.  After  living  for  a  few  years 
in  the  state  of  New  York,  he  made  his  way 
westward  to  Indiana,  locating  first  at  Will- 
iamsport.  where  he  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. During  that  time  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mary  Denneny,  a  native  of  New 
York.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and  Cather- 
ine Denneny,  were  natives  of  Ireland  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


483 


after  coming  to  the  United  States  they  set- 
tled in  New  York  and  afterward  made  their 
.way  westward  to  Wihiamsport,  Indiana, 
where  the  father  carried  on  agricuhural 
pursuits  througliont  tlie  remainder  of  his 
career,  his  life's  labors  being  ended  in 
death.  Both  he  and  his  wife  passed  away 
at  Williamsport.  The  marriage  of  i\'Ir. 
and  Mrs.  Donnelly  was  blessed  with  twelve 
children:  Cornelius,  now  deceased;  Fran- 
ces, the  wife  of  John  Gross,  a  resident  of 
Benton  county,  Indiana ;  Katherine  and 
W'illiam,  who  have  also  passed  away,  Ed- 
ward, who  resides  in  Alton,  Illinois; 
Thomas,  wlio  married  Annie  Brennan 
and  conducts  a  fine  saloon  on  South  street 
in  Danville;  Elizabeth,  who  is  living  at 
home  with  her  mother;  James,  who  is  em- 
ployed as  a  salesman  in  his  uncle's  grocerv' 
store  on  South  street  and  who  also  resides 
with  his  mother;  Nellie,  the  wife  of  John 
Belton,  of  Danville;  Annie,  deceased;  Har- 
ry, at  home;  and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donnelly  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  farm  near  Williams- 
port,  Indiana,  where  they  remained  until 
February,  1866,  when  they  came  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  settling  on  a  farm 
two  and  one-half  miles  from  Danville  and 
near  the  town  of  Perrysville.  Through  the 
succeeding  twenty-two  years  Edward  Don- 
nelly conducted  this  place  his  time  and  at- 
tention being  given  to  its  further  develop- 
ment and  improvement.  His  labors  were 
attended  with  a  high  degree  of  success  and 
as  a  result  of  his  cultivation  of  the  fields  be 
annually  harvested  rich  crops  which  found 
a  ready  sale  on  the  market  and  brought  to 
him  a  very  gratifying  income.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations  and  al- 
though he  was  never  an  office  seeker  be  held 
the  position  of  assistant  road  commissioner 


pf  Danville  township  for  several  years. 
He  belonged  to  the  Catholic  church  of 
which  his  wife  and  children  are  also  com- 
municants and  he  died  in  that  faith  on  the 
1 2th  of  June,  1S88.  Loyal  in  citizenship, 
faithful  in  friendship  and  devoted  to  the 
welfare  of  his  wife  and  family  he  was  a 
man  who  possessed  many  sterling  traits  of 
character  worthy  of  emulation.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Donnelly  re- 
moved with  her  children  to  Danville,  where 
they  have  since  lived.  They  now  reside  in 
a  very  pleasant  home  at  No.  507  Green 
street  and  in  addition  to  this  property  Mrs. 
Donnelly  also  owns  a  farm  of  ninety-six 
acres  and  another  of  forty  acres,  both  in 
Danville  township.  These  are  rented  and 
return  to  her  a  good  income.  Mr.  Don- 
nelly was  a  successful  business  man  and  thus 
pro\'ided  a  comfortable  living  for  his  family 
after  he  passed  away. 


RICHARD  ARTHUR  BLOCK. 

Among  the  young  men  of  "Vermilion 
county  whose  worth  in  the  business  world 
is  recognized  is  Richard  Arthur  Block, 
cashier  of  the  recently  established  bank  of 
Tndianola.  He  was  born  July  14,  1874,  in 
Sidney,  Illinois,  a  son  of  Theodore  L. 
and  Mary  P.  Block,  both  of  whom  are  of 
German  ancestry.  William  Block,  the 
grandfather  came  to  America  from  the 
fatherland  in  the  year  1856  and  immediate- 
Iv  after  liis  arri\-al  in  Illinois  purchased  the 
farm  which  is  still  owned  l)y  his  son,  Theo- 
dore L.,  and  is  known  as  the  William  Block 
farm.  In  the  family  were  two  sons.  Theo- 
dore L.  and  August  P.,  both  still  residents 
of  Sidnev.     Tlie  mother  of  our  subject  had 


484 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


two  brothers,  Charles  T.  and  Albert  A.,  the 
former  residing  at  Broadlands,  Illinois,  and 
the  latter  at  Sidney.  Theodore  L.  Block 
has  always  carried  on  the  occupation  of 
farming  and  is  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists and  capitalists  of  Champaign  county. 
He  owns  about  one  thousand  acres  of  fer- 
tile land,  most  of  which  is  adjacent  to  Sid- 
ney, Illinois,  while  a  portion  adjoins  La- 
fayette, Indiana,  and  his  extensive  agri- 
cultural interests  have  proven  a  safe  guar- 
antee for  the  Indianola  Bank,  which  has 
been  established  by  the  father  and  his  son, 
Richard  A.  There  is  also  another  son, 
Edgar  \\\  Block,  and  three  sisters :  ]Mrs. 
L.  Hartzigg,  a  resident  of  Lafayette,  Indi- 
ana; and  Mrs.  G.  S.  Gerhold  and  Lanora 
A.,  of  Sidney. 

Having  acquired  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town 
Richard  A.  Block  afterward  entered  the 
L'niversity  of  Illinois  at  Champaign  in 
1 89 1.  Subsequently  he  prepared  for 
business  life  by  entering  the  Draughen's 
Business  College  at  Nashville.  Tennes- 
see, where  he  was  graduated  in  1898. 
Until  his  removal  to  Indianola  in  the  spring 
of  1902  he  always  resided  in  Sidnfey  except 
during  the  period  when  he  was  attending 
college.  In  the  fall  of  1901  he  accepted  a 
position  in  Winston's  Bank  in  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  spring  of  the  following- 
year.  He  then  joined  his  father  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Indianola  Bank  of  which 
the  father  is  president  and  the  son  cashier. 
The  latter  then  removed  to  Indianola,  where 
he  is  now  living.  The  liank  has  an  in- 
dividual responsibility  of  o\er  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars  and  has  already 
gained  a  good  start.  It  was  eagerly  wel- 
comed by  the  people  of  the  village  for  prior 
to  this  time  their  business  had  been  carried 


on  through  the  banking  institutions  of  Dan- 
ville. The  new  bank  is  fitted  up  with  a 
National  Cannon  Screw  door  safe,  steel 
vault  chambers,  absolutely  burglar  proof 
and  is  insured  against  burglary  or  loss  by 
one  of  the  great  casualty  companies. 

In  1899  ■^l'*-  Block  became  a  member  of 
Sidney  Grange,  Xo.  502,  in  which  he  held 
various  offices  and  at  the  time  of  his  re- 
moval from  his  native  town  he  was  filling 
the  position  of  master  of  the  Grange  of 
Sidney.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  church  with 
which  he  has  since  been  connected.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  good  business  ability  and  his 
previous  experience  in  banking  well 
equipped  him  for  the  work  to  which  he  is 
now  devoting  his  energies.  In  manner  he  is 
genial,  courteous  and  obliging  and  these 
qualities  have  made  him  a  popular  bank 
official. 


ANDREW  HEBEL. 

The  German  element  in  our  national 
citizenship  is  an  important  one.  From  the 
fatherland  have  come  many  men  who  have 
l>een  active  and  prominent  factors  in  de- 
veloping different  sections  of  the  country. 
They  have  taken  an  important  part  in  pro- 
moting business  activity  and  have  been 
found  loyal  and  progressive  in  citizenship. 
Such  a  one  is  Andrew  Hebel,  who  for  more 
than  twenty  years  was  a  manfacturer  and 
representatixe  business  man  of  \"ermilion 
county,  living  in  Rossville,  Illinois.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  July  6, 
1879.  and  his  birth  occurred  on  the  River 
Rhine,  in  Germany,  December  21,  1818.  He 
came  to  the  new  world  in  1833  and  was 
reared    to    manhcMxl    in    Cincinnati.    Ohio, 


LIBRARY 

•uwiVERCivy  Of  Hums 


ANDREW  HEBEL. 


MRS.  ANDREW  HEBEL. 


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UKIVERCITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


4S9 


where  he  learned  the  brick-maker's  trade. 
He  made  his  home  in  that  city  until  1834, 
when  he  remo\cd  to  Ripley  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  followed  brick-making  for  a 
number  of  years  prior  to  the  Ci\il  war. 

When  the  country  became  involved  in 
hostilities  over  the  sla\-ery  question  and  the 
south  attempted  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union,  he  offered  his  services  in  behalf  of 
the  government,  enlisting  in  June,  1862.  as 
a  member  of  Company  G.  Eighty-third  Jn- 
diana  \'o!unteer  Infantry.  The  regiment 
then  went  south,  was  attached  to  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee  and  the  first  fight  in  which 
]\Ir.  Hebel  participated  was  at  Chickasaw 
Bayou.  Later  he  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ments of  Arkansas  Post  and  in  the  siege  of 
\"icksburg,  being  present  at  its  surrender. 
He  was  also  in  tlie  battles  of  Re.saca,  Kene- 
saw  ^fountain  and  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta.  His 
regiment  was  attached  to  the  Second  Bri- 
gade, Second  Division  of  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps,  and  marched  with  Sherman  to 
the  sea.  participating  in  all  of  the  fights 
en  route  and  in  the  last  battle  of  the  war  at 
Bentonville.  With  his  command  Mr.  He- 
bel then  marched  through  Richmond  and 
on  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  vast  host  of  victorious  men  who 
marched  in  grand  review  liefore  the  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  carrying  the  ban- 
ners of  victory.  He  lost  but  little  time 
through  illness  while  in  the  service  and  was 
never  iir  a  hospital,  although  he  received  a 
gut-shot  wound  in  the  riglit  cheek  and  still 
carries  the  scar — an  honorable  token  of  his 
faithful  defense  of  the  old  flag  and  the  na- 
tion. He  was  discharged  in  Washington, 
in  June.  i8C)5,  but  was  paid  off  at  Indian- 
apolis, and  with  a  most  creilit;d)le  military 
record  returned  to  his  home. 

Mr.  Hebel  located  in  Lawrenceburg,  In- 


diana, where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of 
brick-making,  continuing  there  for  some 
years.  Later  he  remo\ed  to  Sunman,  Rip- 
ley county,  Indiana,  where  he  worked  for 
two  years,  establishing  a  brick  and  tile  yard 
of  his  own  at  that  place.  In  1879  he  came 
to  Rossville  and  took  charge  of  the  Arm- 
strong Tile  Works,  acting  in  that  capacity 
for  five  or  six  years.  He  afterward  became 
owner  of  a  brick  and  tile  plant  at  Potomac, 
which  he  purchased  for  his  sons,  who  car- 
ried on  the  business  for  se\-eral  years.  Our 
subject  afterward  sold  that  property  and 
bmigbt  a  plant  in  Rossville,  where  the  sons 
have  since  carried  on  a  large  brick  and  tile 
business.  They  also  own  and  operate  an- 
other factory  at  Henning.  Mr.  Hebel  was 
an  active  factor  in  the  control  of  the  jjlant 
at  this  place  until  about  1890,  since  which 
time  lie  has  lived  in  honorable  retirement 
from  labor,  having  in  former  years  accjuired 
a  comfortable  competence. 

In  Aberdeen,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  of  Sep- 
temljcr.  1851,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Hebel  and  Miss  Margaret  Kuntz, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  July  i,  1834,  and 
came  to  America  when  eight  years  old.  She 
passed  away  on  the  24th  of  June,  1901. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
fi\-e  sons  and  two  daughters:  George  H., 
who  is  now  engaged  in  business  in  San 
r'rancisco,  California;  Thomas  A.,  who  is 
conducting  the  brick  and  tile  manufactory 
in  Henning;  Theodore  E.,  postmaster  of 
Rossville;  Benjamin  J.,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile  in  Ross- 
ville; Charles  F..  a  jeweler  of  Ross\ille; 
.Mar\-  I.,  the  wife  of  George  Kammeyer,  a 
drayman  of  Rossville;  Margaret  B.,  the 
wife  of  Lewis  Overling,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  harness  business  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio. 

When  Mr.  Hebel  became  an  .\mcrican 
citizen   he   endorsed   the   principles   of   the 


490 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


\\'hig  party  and  cast  liis  tirst  pres- 
idential vote  for  William  llenry  Har- 
rison in  1840.  when  the  rallying 
cry  of  tlie  Whigs  was  "Tippecanoe 
and  Tyler,  too,"  but  as  the  years  passed  a 
new  issue  arose  and  this  led  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Republican  i)arty  to  prevent  the 
further  extension  of  slavery.  John  C.  Fre- 
mont entered  the  field  as  its  first  presidential 
candidate  in  1856,  and  Mr.  Ilebel  gave  to 
him  his  su])p()rt  and  has  never  failed  to 
vote  the  Republican  ticket  at  each  presi- 
dential election  since  that  time.  He  has 
served  as  police  magistrate  for  one  term, 
but  otherwise  has  always  refused  to  accept 
public  office,  preferring  to  give  his  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a  Master 
Mason,  and  belongs  to  Rossville  Post,  No. 
277,  G.  A.  R.,  in  w  hich  he  has  twice  served 
as  commander.  He  has  never  had  occasion 
to  regret  the  fact  that  in  early  life  he  be- 
came an  American  citizen.  He  has  enjoyed 
the  jjusiness  privileges  and  opportunities  af- 
forded by  this  country  and  tlirough  the  ex- 
ercise of  industry,  enterprise  and  honorable 
dealing  he  has  steadily  progressed  in  the 
business  world  until  a  comfortable  compet- 
ence, acquired  through  his  own  efforts,  en- 
ables him  to  live  a  retired  life.  He  has 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  but  can  look  over  the  past  without 
regret,  for  his  career  has  been  honorable 
and  straightforward  and  in  his  life  he  has 
accorn])lished  much  that  is  worthy  of  com- 
mendation. 

♦-•-• 

JOHN  CARSON. 

Public-spirited  and  progressive,  John 
Carson  is  a  worthy  citizen  of  his  adopted 
county  and  is  deserving  of  creditable  men- 


tion in  this  \olunie.  He  was  born  in  County 
Antrim.  Ireland,  but  his  paternal  grand- 
parents were  both  natives  of  Scotland.  His 
father,  James  Carson,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Rachel  McCoy,  and  it  is  thus  that 
our  subject  is  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage. 
His  father  was  in  quite  huml)le  financial  cir- 
cumstances and  both  he  and  his  wife  died 
in  the  Emerald  isle.  The  natal  day  of  our 
subject  was  August  26,  1834.  He  actiuired 
a  limited  education  in  his  native  country  and 
remained  upon  the  farm  of  his  uncle  and 
grandfather  until  he  came  to  America  in  the 
year  1854.  He  was  then  a  young  man  of 
twenty  years,  who,  wishing  to  see  something 
of  the  world  and  belie\-ing  that  he  might 
better  his  financial  conditions  in  the  United 
States,  crossed  the  briny  deep.  Continuing 
his  westward  way  he  at  length  reached  De- 
catur county,  Indiana,  and  settled  near 
Greensburg,  where  he  was  emi)loyed  as  a 
farm  hand  for  four  years. 

He  was  then  married  in  1S58  to  ]Martha 
C.  Glass,  a  native  of  County  Antrim.  Ire- 
land, born  February  3,  1832.  Her  parents 
were  John  and  Jane  (McDowell)  Glass,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Carson 
came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1S57.  to  join 
her  brother.  Henry,  who  had  made  the  voy- 
age across  the  Atlantic  in  company  with  our 
subject.  Mr.  Carson  had  accunnilated  a 
small  sum  of  money  prior  to  liis  marriage 
and  at  that  time  be  rented  land,  engaging  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  In  the  fall 
of  i860  he  removed  to  Tipton  county,  where 
he  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  the  spring  of  1865.  when  he  ar- 
rived in  Jasper  county,  Illinois.  There  he 
remained  for  aliout  five  years  and  then  re- 
turned to  Tipton  county,  Indiana.  Later 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he 
continued  to  cultivate  from  1871  until  1900, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


491 


when  he  put  aside  business  cares,  lie  came 
to  Hoopeston,  selling  all  of  his  Tipton  coun- 
ty property,  and  purcliased  property  in  this 
town,  becoming  the  owner  oi  an  attractive 
home  valued  at  twenty-tive  hundred  dollars. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carson  have  been 
born  the  following  children :  ^largaret 
Jane,  the  wife  of  Edwin  Moss;  Emma  G., 
the  wife  of  Silas  Hughes;  William  A.,  who 
married  Agnes  McCracken;  Melvin  \V., 
who  wedded  Emma  Mendenhall ;  Atlanta, 
the  wife  of  E.  A.  Ogle,  and  six  who  ha\e 
passed  away,  four  having  died  in  infancy. 
Thomas  Henry,  who  was  a  twin  brother  of 
Margaret,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years, 
while  attending  school  in  Indianapolis. 
John  Edwin,  who  was  a  gratluate  of  a  law 
college  and  was  just  beginning  to  practice 
in  Tipton,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years.  He  was  quite  well  known  as  a  prom- 
inent Republican  of  his  party  in  that 
locality. 

^Ir.  Carson  gave  to  his  children  good 
educational  privileges,  the  different  mem- 
bers of  the  family  having  attended  college 
at  Indianapolis.  \'alparaiso  or  in  Hoopes- 
ton. When  they  have  arrived  at  years  of 
maturity  he  has  assisted  them  in  starting- 
Out  on  their  business  careers.  His  home  has 
ever  been  to  him  the  dearest  place  on  earth 
and  he  has  put  forth  every  effort  in  his 
power  to  promote  the  welfare  and  advance- 
ment as  well  as  the  happiness  of  his  family. 
For  forty-six  years  he  has  been  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  has 
been  ven,-  active  in  its  work  and  served  as 
chairman  of  the  building  committee  W'hen 
the  parsonage  was  erected  in  Hoopeston.  He 
has  been  liberal  in  his  support  of  the  chtirch 
and  the  Sunday-school.  .\  Republican  in 
politics  he  was  tendered  the  office  of  sheriff 
of  Tipton  count}-.  Indiana,  but  he  refused 


to  become  a  candidate,  caring  nothing  for 
political  honors,  but  after  coming  to  Hoopes- 
ton he  was  elected  aldern-ian  from  the  fourth 
wani  and  re-elected  in  the  spring  of  1902, 
so  that  he  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of  th 
common  council  of  this  city.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  on  streets  and  alleys 
and  is  doing  his  utmost  to  promote  the  wel- 
fare and  improvement  of  the  place.  He 
and  his  wife  are  esteemed  and  honored  resi- 
dents here.  Comfortably  situated  in  life. 
they  have  the  warm  regard  of  all  w  iio  know 
them.  The  welfare  of  Hoopeston  is  dear  to 
the  heart  of  Mr.  Carson,  whose  n-iany  ex- 
cellent qualities  have  gained  for  him  the 
friendship  of  all  with  win  mi  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact. 


PROF.  LINN  H.  GRIFFITH. 

Professor  Linn  H.  Griffith  is  the  super- 
intendent of  schools  in  Danville.  He  was 
born  in  Ohio.  September  23.  1858.  and  is  a 
son  of  Benjamin  B.  and  Margaret  Griffith, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Piedmont, 
Harrison  county.  Ohio,  where  their  entire 
lives  were  passed.  The  father  was  born  in 
that  county  in  the  year  1836  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  have  now  passed  away. 

Professor  Griffith  was  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children  and  in  tlie  public  schools  he 
acquired  his  preliminary  education  which 
was  supplemented  by  a  special  course  of 
study  in  Franklin  College  of  Ohio  in  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1883.  During  his  college  days  he  also 
engaged  in  teaching  to  some  extent  and  his 
entire  life  since  arriving  at  man's  estate  has 
been  devoted  to  educational  work.  Soon 
after  his  graduation  he  came  to  the  west, 
locatii-ig    first    in    McLean    county,    Illinois. 


492 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


For  five  years  he  was  superintendent  of  tlie 
schools  of  Potomac,  \'ermilion  county,  and 
in  1889  he  was  elected  county  su])erinten- 
dent  of  schools  of  this  county,  holding  the 
position  continuously  for  ten  years.  In  iSgo 
he  was  chosen  assistant  state  superintendent 
and  filled  the  ofifice  for  two  terms,  and  in 
1899  he  was  elected  superintendent  of  the 
Danville  city  schools,  the  position  he  now 
holds. 

In  1884  Professor  Griffith  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Lulu  Heffling.  of  Leroy.  Illi- 
nois, who  died  in  October.  1886.  leaving 
a  daughter,  \'iola.  On  Christmas  day  of 
1887  Professor  Griffith  was  again  married. 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Nannie 
Heaton.  of  Hoopeston,  Illinois.  They  now 
have  four  children.  Helen.  Florence.  Robert, 
and  Howard.  The  father  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge,  the  Modern  ^^'oodmen 
Camp,  and  of  the  Sons  of  \'eteran*s  Camp, 
all  of  Danville.  He  is  also  a  trustee  of  the 
city  hospital  and  is  a  citizen  deeply  inter- 
ested in  public  progress  and  improvement. 
He  has  long  occupied  a  position  as  one  of 
the  distinguished  educators  of  this  state,  his 
ability  winning  him  recognition  and  promo- 
tion. His  scholarly  attainments  and  broad 
general  kufnvledge  are  also  supplemented  by 
the  humanitarian  spirit  which  promotes  not 
only  the  study  of  sociology  and  of  the  ques- 
tions affecting  mankind,  but  also  lends  an 
active  co-operation  in  many  measures  for 
the  general  good. 


JOHN  W.  DIEHL. 


John  W.  Diehl.  of  Hoopeston,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  January  8,  1843,  within 
seven    miles    of    Gettysburg.     Plis  parents 


were  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Brame)  Diehl, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Kevstone 
state  and  were  of  German  descent.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died 
about  1865,  while  the  mother's  death  oc- 
curred six  or  seven  years  later.  Mr.  Diehl 
has  one  sister,  Ellen,  now  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Saddler,  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  place  of  his  nativity  John  W. 
Diehl  was  reared  and  pursued  his  education 
in  the  subscription  schools.  He  was  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the 
liattle  of  Gettysburg,  one  of  the  most  hotly 
contested  engagements  of  the  entire  Civil 
war.  He  well  remembers  that  terrible  fight 
when  the  shells  screamed  over  the  little 
town  nestling  among  the  mountains.  There 
came  an  order  from  the  government  that 
the  settlers  should  remove  all  of  their  stock 
and  effects  across  the  Susquehanna  or  the 
government  would  not  be  amenable  for 
any  losses.  In  consec^uence  of  this  order 
the  family  property  of  the  Diehls  was  taken 
across  the  river  before  the  battle.  After 
the  engagement  our  subject  and  his  brother 
returned  with  the  stock  to  the  home  farm, 
the  father  having  died  in  the  meantime. 

In  the  year  1869  John  W.  Diehl  made 
his  way  westward,  and  after  spending  a 
part  of  the  summer  in  Iowa  he  returned  to 
Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
a  year.  He  then  came  to  Hoopeston  in 
1872.  at  which  time  the  town  was  just  be- 
ing established.  Here  he  became  connected 
with  Miller  Brothers  in  the  grocery  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  Miller  Brothers 
Compan}'.  After  two  years  he  sold  out  and 
gave  his  attention  to  teaming  until  he  em- 
barked in  the  livery  business,  which  he  con- 
ductetl  successfully  for  six  years.  He 
then  traded  his  livery  stock  for  a  part  of 
his  present  place.     He  now  has  about  sev- 


l^^^^^^^^m'*                                         ^^^^1 

■ 

1 

^^^^^^^E 

n 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

to! 

JOHN    W.  DIEHL. 


L.         r 
UWIVE.RSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


495 


enty-eight  acres  of  land,  of  which  tliirty 
acres  is  within  the  city  hniits  of  Hoiqieston, 
inchuhng  fifteen  lots  whicli  have  been 
platted  and  form  a  part  of  Diehl's  subdi- 
vision. In  1881  he  look  up  his  abode  at 
his  present  home  and  since  that  time  has  been 
engaged  in  farming,  in  the  raising  of  fruit, 
and  has  a  large  vineyard.  He  practically 
leaves  the  care  of  his  property  to  his  son, 
while  he  is  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 

In  1875,  in  Hoopeston,  Mr.  Diehl  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Robinson, 
of  Ohio,  whose  parents  were  then  living  in 
Hoopeston  but  are  now  deceased.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs. 
Diehl  has  two  sisters  and  three  brothers ; 
Robert ;  William;  Edward:  Sally,  the  wid- 
ow of  S.  Thurman;  and  Jane,  the  wife  of 
Ed.  Cory,  a  resident  of  Hoopeston.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diehl  was  blessed 
with  two  chiklren,  but  George  died  at  the 
age  of  seven  years.  The  living  son,  Charlie, 
is  now  carrying  on  the  farm  work  for  his 
father  and  is  an  enterprising,  wide-awake 
young  business  man. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Diehl  has 
always  been  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  for 
two  vears  he  served  as  street  commissioner. 
He  made  no  mistake  when  he  determined 
to  establish  his  home  in  the  west,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  business  opportunities  in  this 
portion  of  the  country.  These  opportuni- 
ties he  has  improved,  and  through  his  capa- 
ble management  and  untiring  energy  he  has 
gained  a  place  among  the  men  of  affluence 
of  the  communitv. 


CHARLES  F.  CROW. 

Charles  F.  Crow,  proprietor  of  a  grain 
elevator  ia  Fairniouin,  is  one  of  the  native 
sons  of   Illinois,   his  birth   having  occurred 


in  !\Iacon  county  on  the   10th  of  August, 
1876.     He  comes  of  New  England  ancestry, 
his  grandparents  having  been  born  in  that 
part   of   the  country.      His   father,    E.    W. 
Crow,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  in  Macon 
county,  Illinois,  at  Blue  ]\lound.  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Nancy  Deatley.  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Indiana.     The  father  has 
long  been  engaged  in  the  grain  trade  and 
has   resided   continuously   at   Blue   Mound 
since  the  time  of  his  marriage.     There  \k- 
owns  considerable  real  estate.     He  is  a  man 
whose  successful  career  has  been  the  legiti- 
mate result  of  his  own  efforts  and  to-day 
he  is  accounted  one  of  the  prosperous  resi- 
dents of  his  l(_Kality.     His  fellow  townsmen, 
recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  have  fre- 
quentlv  called  him  to  public  offices  of  trust 
antl  he  has  served  in  all  of  the  townshii 
offices,  elected  upon  the  ticket  of  the  Repul)- 
lican  party,  of  which  he  is  a  stanch  adher- 
ent.    Fraternallv  he  is  connected  with   the 
Modern  '  Woodmen    of    America,    and    I'or 
twenty-five  years   he   has   been     a    devoted 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  of  which 
he  is  now  serving  as  elder.     In  the  familv 
are  seven  children  :     Myrtle,  wln>  resides  at 
home;   Charles   F.,   of  this  review;   O.   L., 
who  makes  his  home  in  St.  Louis,  ^Missouri; 
Earl,   Roy,  Grace,  and  Eva,  \\ho  are  still 
with  their  parents. 

Charles  F.  Crow  acquired  liis  early  edu- 
cation in  Blue  Mound  and  afterward  became 
a  student  in  Eureka  College,  of  Eureka,  this 
state,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1894.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  for  diree  years  in  Blue  Mound 
and  then  went  to  Butte,  Montana,  where 
he  had  charge  of  a  commission  house.  In 
1900  he  located  in  Fairmount,  Illinois,  suc- 
ceeding J.  'SL  Current  as  proprietor  of  the 
elevator  of  the  elcwator  which  he  now  owns.' 


496 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  is  a  young  man  of  perseverence,  energy 
and  laudable  ambition,  and  the  business  has 
doubled  under  his  capable  management.  He 
also  has  a  grain  station  at  Bennett,  on  the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  and 
his  business  is  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
bringing  to  him  an  excellent  return  from  his 
investment. 

In  Fairmount,  April  i6.  1901,  !Mr.  Crow- 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Belle  How- 
ard, who  was  born  in  \'ermilion--  county, 
January  18.  1874,  and  is  a  daughter  of  J. 
J.  and  Alice  (Gunder)  Howard,  the  former 
a  native  of  Iowa  and  the  latter  of  Indiana 
They  were  married,  however,  in  Illinois, 
and  the  father  is  now  engaged  in  farming, 
his  home  being  in  Vance  township,  where 
he  owns  extensive  landed  interests.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views  and  in  the 
spring  of  1902  was  elected  superxisor  in  a 
Republican  township,  a  fact  which  indicates 
his  popularity  and  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  also  a 
valued  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  and  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  his 
high  moral  character  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  he  is  now  serving  as  a  deacon  of  the 
Baptist  church.  iTnto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  How- 
ard were  bom  two  daughters.  Belle,  the  wife 
of  our  subject;  and  Stella,  who  resides  with 
her  parents. 

Air.  and  Mrs.  Crow  have  a  beautiful 
home  in  Fairmount,  elegantly  furnished  and 
celebrated  for  its  good  cheer.  ]\Ir.  Crow  ' 
strongly  endorses  Republican  principles  and 
is  now  serving  as  one  of  the  city  aldermen. 
He  belongs  to  Fairmount  Lodge,  No.  590. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  the  secretary 
and  is  also  a  member  of  Lodge,  No.  1868, 
M.  W.  A.,  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  He 
has  won  for  himself  a  host  of  friends  in 
Fairmount  and  belongs  to  the  class  of  wide- 


awake, representative  young  business  men 
who  are  a  valued  addition  to  any  commun- 
ity. Already  he  has  attained  the  success  that 


manv  an  older  man  misfht  well  en\ 


His 


ambitious,  resolute  nature  and  conformit\ 
to  commercial  ethics  argue  well  for  the 
future. 


GEORGE  BUSH  YEOMAXS. 

\\'ith  the  development  of  the  world  his- 
tory is  no  longer  a  record  of  wars  and  con- 
quests but  the  account  of  the  upbuilding  of 
community,  city,  state  or  nation,  and  their 
business  activities  and  they  who  are  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs  are  the  ones  who  con- 
trol extensive  and  important  business  inter- 
ests and  who.  through  a  close  following  of 
correct  commercial  ethics,  maintain  the  rep- 
utation of  their  locality  as  a  commercial  cen- 
ter and  uphold  its  legal  and  moral  status. 
It  is  therefore  fitting  that  George  Bush  Yeo- 
mans  should  be  prominently  mentioned  in 
this  volume,  whose  purpose  it  is  to  record  the 
life  records  of  the  representative  men  who 
have  been  and  are  residents  of  Danville.  Mr. 
Yeoman  was  a  leader  in  mercantile  circles 
and  by  straightforward  dealing,  as  well  as 
enterprise  and  ability,  commanded  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact. 

A  native  of  Massachusetts  Mr.  Yeomans 
was  born  August  24,  1835.  and  in  his  early 
boyhood  days  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Warsaw.  New  York.  His  father.  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel T.  Yeomans.  was  a  Congregational 
minister  and  wedded  ]\Iiss  Frances  Bush,  a 
sister  of  the  noted  Dr.  George  Bush.  The 
subject  of  this  review  was  the  eldest  of  their 
five  children.  He  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  Empire  state  and  fitted  himself 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


497 


for  college  but  did  not  pursue  a  collegiate 
course.  Instead  he  entered  upon  his  business 
career,  becoming  a  salesman  in  a  hardware 
store  in  Wellsville,  New  York,  where  he  was 
employed  at  the  time  the  Civil  war  was  in- 
augurated. With  patriotic  spirit  he  re- 
sponded to  his  countr}''s  call  for  aid,  enlist- 
ing in  the  First  Xew  Vcjrk  Dragoons,  as  the 
regiment  was  then  known.  Ynv  three  and 
one-halt  years  he  remained  at  the  front. 
Joining  the  army  as  a  private,  his  meritori- 
ous conduct  on  the  field  of  battle  won  him 
pmmotion  and  he  was  mustered  out  with 
the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  participating  in 
a  number  of  important  engagements,  includ- 
ing the  battles  of  Winchester,  Washington 
Courthouse  and  the  Wiklerness  and  was  at 
Appomatto.x  when  General  Lee  surrendered 
his  sword  to  General  Grant  and  thus  prac- 
tically terminated  the  war.  He  acted  as  an 
aide  on  the  staff  of  a  cavalry  general  and  was 
always  most  loyal  and  fearless  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  He  was  mustered  out 
in  Washington,  D.  C  and  there  participated 
in  the  Grand  Review,  which  was  the  most 
celebrated  military  pageant  that  has  ever 
been  seen  in  the  new  world,  company  after 
company  of  the  victorious  army  marching 
by  the  place  from  which  the  president 
cheered  the  return  of  the  brave  boys  in  l)hie. 
His  brother,  Henry,  was  also  in  the  service 
and,  being  captured,  was  confined  in  Ander- 
sonville  prison  for  many  months,  where  his 
sufferings  were  so  great  that  he  died  three 
weeks  after  his  release. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  hostilities  I\Ir. 
Yeomans  of  this  review  made  his  way  west- 
ward to  Chicago  and  was  there  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  until  1866,  when  h< 
came  to  Danville  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  A.  L.  Webster,  as  proprietor  of 
a  hardware  store.     This  thev  conducted  for 


some  years,  after  which  Mr.  Yeomans  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death,  enjoying  a  large  trade,  because 
of  his  capal)le  management,  his  keen  sagac- 
ity in  business  affairs,  his  close  application 
and  his  unremitting  diligence. 

On  the  nth  of  May,  1870,  was  celebrat- 
ed the  marriage  of  Mr.  Yeomans  and  Miss 
Alice  Merrill,  a  native  of  Danville,  and  a 
daughter  of  Gu\-  Merrill,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  city.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  and  at  an  early  day  located 
in  Danville,  the  year  1S35  witnessing  his 
arrival  in  what  was  then  a  mere  hamlet, 
frequently  visited  by  the  Indians.  He  firs, 
engaged  in  merchandising  here  and  later 
became  county  surveyor,  laying  out  many 
of  the  farms  of  this  county.  Subsequently 
he  was  elected  probate  judge  and  held  the 
office  for  many  years.  He  wedded  Anna 
Kingsbury,  a  sister  of  the  Rev.  Enoch 
Kingsbury,  a  celebrated  divine  of  the  early- 
days  who  established  the  Preshvtcrian 
church  at  Danville.  Unto  Judge  Merrill 
and  his  wife  were  born  two  children,  but 
one  died  in  infancy,  Mrs.  Yeomans  being 
the  younger.  The  Judge  was  a  Republican 
in  politics  and  a  very  strong  and  influential 
man  in  his  party  at  the  time  when  Lincoln, 
Davis  and  Sweet  were  noted  ;ictors  on  the 
political  stage,  and  of  all  these  men  he  was 
a  warm  personal  friend.  He  died  in  1867 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1855.  I'nto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yeomans  were  born  five  chil- 
dren :  Frances,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the  high 
school  of  Sandusky,  Ohio;  Edith  M. :  Ruth; 
George  M.,  who  is  connected  with  the  Wes- 
tern Brick  Company;  and  Henry,  who  is 
now  a  student  in  the  high  school. 

Mr.  Yeomans  was  ;i  leading  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  to  which  his  widow- 
also  belongs  and  for  man-\-  vears  he  served 


49S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


as  one  of  the  elders.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Repubhcan  and  was  a  very  strong 
temperance  man.  He  once  served  on  the 
board  of  supervisors,  but  with  this  excep- 
tion he  would  never  hold  office.  He  passed 
away  January  i6,  1897,  after  an  illness  of 
a  few  hours  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Spring- 
hill  cemetery.  His  friends  cherished  him  as 
a  man  worthy  of  their  utmost  confidence  and 
regard.  In  his  family  he  was  most  devoted 
to  the  welfare  of  wife  and  children  and  he 
stood  as  a  high  type  of  American  citizen- 
ship and  chivalry. 


FRANCIS   :\I.   ALLHAXDS. 

Xo  public  officer  of  A'ermilion  county 
was  ever  more  faitliful  to  duty  or  more  de- 
ser\-ing  of  the  unqualified  confidence  of  his 
fellow  men  than  was  Francis  M.  Allhands, 
and  that  he  was  ever  loyal  to  the  trust  re- 
posed in  him  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  long  continued  in  office  by  the  power 
of  popular  suffrage.  He  came  to  \'ermilion 
county  in  1S43  and  his  life  work  was  in- 
terwoven with  business  and  official  activity 
here  until  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest. 

Mr.  Allhands  was  a  native  of  Vennilion 
county,  Indiana,  born  January  17,  1832,  his 
parents  being  Andrew  and  ]\Iargaret  .\11- 
hands.  They,  too,  were  born  in  Indiana  and 
at  an  early  day  the  father  came  to  Illinois, 
purchasing  a  farm  in  Blount  township.  Ver- 
miliou  county,  where  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  death.  But  three  of 
their  children  are  now  li\ing :  Rebecca, 
who  resides  in  Fairbury,  Illinois;  Parmelia 
Fredericka,  who  is  also  living  in  this  state: 
and  Martha,  who  resides  near  Monticello, 
Indiana.  The  father  provided  his  children 
with   good   school   privileges,    their   educa- 


tions being  pursued  in  Indiana  and  in  \'er- 
milion  county. 

Francis  Al.  Allhands  spent  the  first 
eleven  years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity  and  with  his  father  came  to  Illi- 
nois. After  completing  his  education  he  as- 
sisted his  father  upon  the  farm  on  the  old 
home  in  Blount  township  and  also  in  Catlin 
township.  During  this  time  and  while  yet 
a  young  man  he  began  to  learn  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  followed  it  in  diliferent  parts 
of  the  state,  assisting  in  the  building  of 
many  country  residences  and  school  houses. 
He  was  thus  associated  with  the  improve- 
ment of  the  county  until  his  marriage.  As 
a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey 
he  chose  JMiss  Maiy  J.  Hilliary,  the  wed- 
ding taking  place  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1858.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
September  19,  1836,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Sarah  (Freese)  Hilliary.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  became  an 
early  settler  of  Vermilion  county,  Illinois. 
He  entered  land  from  the  government  in 
Danville  township,  for  all  of  the  district 
had  not  yet  been  claimed  liy  the  white  race. 
Upon  his  farm  he  resided  for  many  years, 
devoting  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  was  also  a  tailor  by  trade  and 
he  followed  that  business  for  a  year  in  Dan- 
ville, but  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life  he  made  his  home  upon  a  farm  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  died  in  Danville  town- 
ship. Unto  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allhands  were  born  eight  children  :  Orpha, 
now  deceased;  Orrilla  E.,  the  wife  of  W.  P. 
Myers,  of  Danville;  Grant  W'..  who  has 
also  passed  away;  Nettie  'SL.  the  wife  of 
H.  ^^'.  Funck,  of  this  city:  Luella  and  Sarah 
\\'..  Ijoth  deceased;  one  that  died  in  infancy; 
and  Mabel  E. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Allhands  fol- 
lowed   carpentering    in    A'ermilion    county 


F.   M.   ALLHANDS. 


LIBRARY 
OF   TME 

univ£F.g:vv  c?  Illinois 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


501 


and  also  carried  on  farming-,  Ijeing  thus 
engaged  until  after  the  hreaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war.  when  in  September,  1861,  he 
enlisted  for  three  years'  service  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  E,  thirty-fifth  Regiment 
of  Illinois  Volunteers.  He  was  in  many 
hard  fought  liattles  of  importance,  includ- 
ing the  engagements  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
Chickamauga  and  Pea  Ridge.  In  the  last 
named  he  was  wounded  by  a  bullet  in  the 
left  leg  and  he  was  in  the  hospital  from  May 
until  September.  His  wife  being  sent  for, 
quickly  made  her  way  to  his  side,  nursing 
him  back  to  life,  but  it  was  found  necessary 
to  amputate  his  leg  and  he  was  thus  left 
a  cripple  for  life.  Being  then  brought  home 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge  in  Jan- 
uary,  1865. 

It  was  impossil)le  for  him  afterward  to 
do  hard  w<irk  and  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  assessor  and  collector  of  Catlin 
township,  filling  that  position  until  1869. 
He  then  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  was  elected  count\-  treasurer 
of  \'ermili(in  oiunty  and  in  that  office  he 
ser\-etl  for  a  number  of  terms,  discharging 
his  duties  witli  marked  capability,  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity.  I'pon  his  retirement 
from  the  position  he  did  various  kinds  of 
office  work  in  Danville  until  his  later  years, 
when  he  retired  to  private  life  and  rested 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil  until  called  to  his  final  home  on  the  3d 
of  September,  1898.  In  ])olitics  he  was  a 
stanch  Republican,  gi\'ing  a  firm  snpp.art 
to  ilie  principles  of  the  party,  lie  was  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Danville  and  had  a  very  wide  ac- 
quaintance among  county  officials.  His 
friends,  too,  were  numerous  and  man\'  have 
expressed  a  wish  that  his  life  record  Ije 
recorded  on  the  pages  of  this  work.  His 
widow  is  a  member  of  the  Kinibcr  .Method- 


ist Episcopal  church,  of  Danville,  and  she 
and  her  daughter  now  reside  in  her  beauti- 
ful home  at  No.  330  Harmon  avenue.  She 
is  aLso  the  owner  of  other  residence  prop- 
erty in  Danville.  The  name  of  Mr.  .\1I- 
hands  deserves  to  be  in.scribed  high  upon 
the  role  of  honor  of  the  .soldiers  of  the  Civil 
war.  He  made  a  great  sacrifice  for  his 
country,  yet  he  made  it  willingly  because  he 
believed  in  the  Union  and  wished  to  aid  in 
its  preservation,  in  times  of  peace  he  was 
equally  faithful  to  the  old  fiag  and  the  cause 
it  represented,  and  his  loyalty  to  his  family 
and  friends  was  also  one  of  his  marked 
characteristics. 


O.  W  .  MICHAEL,  M.  D. 

Dr.  Michael  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of 
X'ermilion  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Oakwood  township  .\ugust  4,  uSjv  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Robert  Michael,  was 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  this  section 
of  the  state,  locating  in  Vermilion  county 
when  the  Indians  still  inhabited  this  dis- 
trict. He  came  from  Rooneville,  KciUucky, 
and  was  a  son  of  John  Michael,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  who,  on  crossing  the  Atlantic  to 
America,  located  in  .South  Carolina,  .\fter 
being  pressed  into  na\al  ser\-ice  and  serving 
for  lifteen  years,  he  managed  to  escape  from 
the  English  war  vessel.  During  all  of  that 
time  he  had  never  set  foot  ( m  land  witln  mt  be- 
ing attended  l)y  a  guard.  \t  Icngtli.  whei 
tlie  Re\olutionary  war  was  inaugin\ated,  he 
managed  to  obtain  his  freedom  fn)ni  Eng 
lisli  ser\-itude  and  enlisting  in  the  C  olonial 
army  he  served  under  (icneral  Washington, 
fighting  for  the  cau.se  of  .American  inde- 
pendence. Robert  Michael,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,   married  a  ladv  who   w;is  a 


302 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


granddaughter  of  Jt)hu  Rutledge,  of  South 
Carohna,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence. 

James  K.  Michael,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
and  after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he 
wedded  Mary  Burton,  also  a  native  of  this 
county,  her  parents  removing  from  southern 
Indiana  to  Pilot,  Illinois.  They  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county.  James  K. 
and  Mary  (Burton)  Michael  were  married 
in  Oakwood  township  and  the  father  there 
engaged  in  farming.  Through  many  years 
he  carried  on  that  business  with  excellent 
success  and  then  with  a  handsome  compet- 
ence he  retired  to  private  life,  his  present 
home  being  in  Pilot,  Illinois.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  a  number  of 
township  offices.  In  his  family  were  seven 
children  :  J.  T.,  an  attorney  of  Danville,  who 
married  Rose  Ohmke;  the  Doctor;  Delia, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years ;  Ber- 
tha, who  is  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  county;  Chester,  James  and  Van,  who 
reside  with  their  parents. 

Dr.  Michael  first  attended  the  Newtown 
district  school  and  afterward  became  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illi- 
nois. He  next  went  to  Lyons  county,  Iowa 
where  he  studied  under  a  preceptor  until  he 
entered  the  L^niversity  of  Indianapolis, 
there  pursuing  a  medical  course.  He  was 
graduated  March  29,  1898,  and  located  in 
Muncie  on  the  25th  of  April  of  the  same 
year.  Here  he  has  succeeded  in  gaining  a 
most  lucrative  practice  because  of  his  thor- 
ough understanding  of  the  principles  of 
medical  science  and  his  correct  application 
of  his  knowledge  to  the  needs  of  suffering 
humanity. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1899.  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  the  Doctor  wedded  Miss  Alice 


Pricer,  who  was  bom  in  Vermilion  county, 
January  i,  1877,  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Arniinta  (Abbott)  Pricer,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ohio  and  were  there  mar- 
ried. Mr.  Pricer  is  also  a  farmer  and  in 
1869  he  came  to  A'^ermilion  county,  locating 
west  of  Fithian,  in  Oakwood  township, 
close  to  the  county  line.  There  he  pur- 
chased a  good  farm,  which  he  continued  to 
successfully  cultivate  for  ten  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Potomac,  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  for  seventeen  years.  Here  he  also  en- 
gaged in  farming.  His  next  home  was  es- 
tablished in  Muncie,  where  both  he  and  his 
wife  resided  until  the  spring  of  1903,  when 
they  purchased  a  farm  on  the  outskirts  of 
Rnssville,  where  they  now  reside.  A  Re- 
puljlican  in  politics,  he  has  held  a  number 
of  township  offices.  He  is  a  valued  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
ser\-ed  for  four  years  in  the  Civil  war,  hav- 
ing enlisted  in  an  Ohio  regiment.  Fie  was 
in  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas,  went  with 
Sherman  on  his  celebrated  march  to  the 
sea,  and  at  one  time  was  captured  by  Quan- 
trell's  band  and  sent  home.  He  then  re-en- 
listed as  a  member  of  Company  F,  Eighty- 
first  Ohio  Infantr)',  and  with  that  command 
served  throughout  the  remainder  of  the 
war.  Mrs.  Pricer  had  two  uncles  who  were 
soldiers  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mrs.  Michael 
belongs  to  a  family  of  ten  children :  Charles 
A.,  who  married  Etta  Possee,  and  resides 
in  Mahomet,  this  state;  Luella,  the  wife  of 
Lovette  Williams,  of  Ambia,  Indiana;  John 
L..  who  married  Dora  Tomm  and  resides 
in  El  Paso,  Illinois;  Nancy,  the  wife  of  C. 
C.  Young,  of  Oakwood;  Artie,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Reynolds,  of  Rossville,  Illinois ; 
Alice,  the  wife  of  the  Doctor;  George. 
Thomas  and  Clara,  who  are  at  home;  and 
Clvde,  who  died  at  the  asre  of  four  months. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


503 


Dr.  Michael  belongs  to  the  Vermilion 
County  Medical  Association  and  through 
extensive  reading  and  study  he  keeps  well 
informed  concerning  the  progress  made  by 
the  profession.  His  specialty  is  the  treat- 
ment of  the  diseases  of  women  and  children, 
and  in  this  branch  he  has  been  \-ery  suc- 
cessful. One  of  his  most  noteworthy  cases 
was  the  saving  of  the  life  of  a  woman  who 
was  shot  through  the  lungs.  She  still  lives 
although  she  carries  the  bullet.  The  Doc- 
tor has  been  exceptionally  successful  in  his 
surgical  work.  This  is  due  to  his  accurate 
knowledge  of  anatomy  and  his  understand 
ing  of  the  component  parts  of  the  body, 
combined  with  masterly  skill  in  handling 
his  instruments  of  surgery  and  his  coolness 
and  deliberation  in  trying  circumstances 
He  is  examiner  for  the  Court  of  Honor,  for 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  the 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  New 
York.  He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp  and  in  his  political  view'S  he  is 
a  Prohibitionist.  The  Doctor  possesses  su- 
perior musical  ability  and  is  a  proficient  per- 
former on  the  violin,  mandolin,  guitar, 
clarionet,  and  cornet.  To  some  extent  he 
has  engaged  in  teaching  music,  and  his  abil- 
ity in  this  direction  makes  him  very  poi)ular 
in  musical  and  social  circles.  The  public 
and  the  profession  accord  him  prominence 
in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity,  whih 
his  genial  manner  and  sterling  worth  have 
gained  for  him  many  friends  in  social  life. 


W.  J.  PAYNE. 


I 


For  six  years  W.  J.  Payne  has  occupied 
the  position  of  assistant  postmaster  of  Dan- 
ville and  now  practically  has  control  of  the 


office,  in  which  the  volume  of  business  has 
largely  increased  during  recent  years.  He 
was  born  in  Vigo  county,  Indiana,  April 
10,  i<S55,  and  is  the  second  son  of  Allen 
F.  Payne,  who  carried  on  general  merchan- 
dise in  Clay  county  and  died  there.  W.  j. 
Payne  of  this  review  acfjuircd  his  early  c<lu- 
cation  in  the  public  schools  and  afterward 
attended  Grafton  Seminary,  at  Staunton, 
Indiana.  In  connection  with  his  brother  he 
became  the  owner  of  some  coal  lands  and 
was  engaged  in  the  coal  business  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  went  to  Texas  and  was  overseer 
on  a  cotton  plantation  for  two  years,  this 
sojoiuMi  in  the  south  lieing  made  in  the  hope 
of  benefitting  his  health.  Returning  to  Bra- 
zil, Indiana,  he  secured  a  position  with  the 
Singer  Manufacturing  Company,  first  trav- 
eling on  a  wagon  and  afterward  as  special 
agent.  In  August,  1879,  he  removed  to 
Rock\ille,  Indiana,  where  he  was  again 
connected  with  the  Singer  Company.  In 
July,  1887,  he  came  to  Danville,  where  for 
four  years  he  occupied  a  position  witli  the 
Illinois  Printing  Company,  after  which  he 
became  connected  with  the  Danville  News, 
serving  as  its  business  manager  for  eight 
years.  On  the  27th  of  March.  1897,  he  was 
appointed  assistant  postmaster  Ijy  W.  R. 
Jewell,  and  is  now  serving  in  !iis  sixth  year 
under  that  gentleman.  During  this  long 
period  he  has  become  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  office  in  every  detail  and  practically 
has  charge  at  this  time.  During  the  last 
six  years  the  business  of  the  office  has  nearly 
doubled  and  the  office  force  has  been  cor- 
res]:)onding!y  increased.  Dan\-ille  has  been 
made  a  depositary  for  postal  money  order 
funds  and  nine  rural  routes  have  been  es- 
tablished, Mr.  Payne  being  largely  instru 
mental  in  this. 


504 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


On  August  nj,  1879,  1^^  ^^■'is  married  to 
Rachel  A.  Oliver,  who  was  born  June  13, 
1859.  Of  this  union  nine  children  were 
born,  seven  of  whom  are  living :  William 
A.,  born  October  28,  188 1 ;  Geitrude,  born 
January  26,  1884;  Frank,  born  ]\Iay  18, 
1886;  Harry,  born  September  12,  1888; 
George  O.,  born  February  28,  1894;  Isabel, 
born  July  26,  1896;  and  Joseph  C,  born 
September  26,   1900. 

Mr.  Payne  is  a  member  of  the  [Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  charter 
member  of  Lodge  Xo.  254,  the  first  organ- 
ized in  \'ermilion  county.  His  political 
views  are  in  accord  with  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party  and  for  eight  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee  and  was  chairman  of  the  Dan- 
ville township  committee,  in  1898.  when  the 
township  was  won  for  the  Republican  party. 
That  for  which  the  commtmit}'  stands  chief- 
ly indeljted  to  him  is  his  marked  fidelity  to 
duty  and  his  excellent  executive  ability  com- 
bined with  an  accurate,  farsighted  knowl- 
edge of  men  and  afYairs  which  constitutes 
him  naturally  an  eminent  assistant  in  large 
enterprises. 


GEORGE  W.   PRATHER. 

George  \\'.  Prather,  who  is  now  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  jnirsuits  and  stock- 
raising  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  located  in  Ross 
and  Grant  townships.  He  has  placed  his 
land  under  a  very  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  lias  added  to  his  farm  all  modern  equip- 
ments and  accessories  so  that  it  is  to-day 
a  valuable  place  and  in  its  neat  and  thrifty 
appearance  indicates  to  the  passerby  the 
careful  supervision  of  the  owner. 


Mr.  Prather  is  a  native  son  of  V'ermilion 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  here  on 
the  15th  of  ^larch,  1845.  His  father, 
Uriah  Prather,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1 82 1,  while  the  grandfather,  Jonathan 
Prather,  was  a  native  of  \"irginia.  The 
family  cumes  of  German  ancestry  and  the 
first  of  the  name  to  emigrate  from  the  fa- 
therland to  America  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  pioneer  times  of  \'irginia  the 
family  was  also  established  in  that  state 
and  Jonathan  Prather  removed  from  the 
Old  Dominion  to  Kentucky,  Ijecoming  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Bath  county.  He 
was  one  of  nine  brothers  and  three  sisters 
who  became  residents  of  the  Blue  Grass 
state.  Subsequently  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  here  in 
the  year  of  the  Black  Hawk  war — 1832. 
He  took  up  his  abode  near  the  present  city 
of  Danville  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  es- 
tablish a  home  in  this  locality.  Later  he 
removed  across  the  state  line  into  Indiana, 
his  home  being  in  \'ermilion  county,  that 
state,  and  there  he  opened  up  a  farm  which 
he  cultivated  and  improved.  By  trade, 
however,  he  was  a  cabinet-maker,  and  after 
establishing  his  home  in  Indiana  he  was 
employed  in  making  the  seats  for  the  old 
L'nion  chapel  on  the  Prairieville  roatl. 

L'riah  Prather,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  reared  to  manhood  in  X'ermilion 
count^•.  Indiana,  and  was  there  married  to 
Sarah  Ritter.  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
count}'.  Pennsylvania,  a  daughter  of  John 
Ritter.  lie  remuvetl  from  the  Keystone 
state  to  Ohio,  where  both  he  and  his  wife 
spent  their  remaining  days.  During  her 
childhood  Mr<.  Prather  came  to  Illinois 
with  a  ci'usin  and  was  reared  here.  For 
four  or  five  years  the  father  of  our  subject 
engaged  in  farming  near  Danville  and  then 


Cf    THE 


G.  W.  PRATHER, 


MRS.  G.  W.  PRATHER. 


L!    ■■    ^Y 
UNlVERo;vY   Cf   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


509 


reinoved  to  a  farm  two  and  one-half  miles 
east  of  Rossville,  in  the  fall  of  1850,  pur- 
chasing more  than  four  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  he  broke  and  improved,  his 
richly  cultivated  fields  in  time  yielding  to 
him  golden  har\ests.  He  died  while  in  the 
prime  of  life,  passing  away  in  January, 
1855,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years  and 
eleven  months.  Airs.  Prather  survived  him 
and  reared  her  family  of  six  children,  five 
sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  yet 
living  with  the  exception  of  one  son. 

George  W.  Prather  of  this  review  was 
the  eldest  and  in  the  county  of  his  nativity 
he  was  reared,  pursuing  a  common-school 
education,  although  his  advantages  in  that 
direction  were  somewhat  limited,  for  his 
services  were  needed  to  carry  on  the  work 
of  the  home  farm.  In  July,  1862,  he  offered 
his  aid  to  the  government  for  a  one  hundred 
days'  service,  and  joined  Company  A  of  the 
Seventy-first  Illinois  Infantry,  with  which 
he  went  south  to  Cairo  and  joined  the  West- 
ern army.  He  was  engaged  in  guarding 
railroad  and  government  property  and  later 
was  in  Kentucky  until  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service,  when  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge  in  Chicago  in  October, 
1862.  From  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
lias  depended  upon  his  pwn  resources  for 
a  living  and  all  that  he  possesses  has  been 
acquired  in  this  way.  For  sexeral  years 
he  was  largely  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

As   a   companion   and   helpmeet  on   the 

journey    of    life    Mr.    Prather    chose    Miss 

C}iitliia  A.  Beehe,  their  wedding  being  cel- 

eljrated  May  10,  1877.     The  lady  was  l)orn 

near  Williamsport,  Indiana,  and  was  there 

reared.     Mr.    Prather  seciu'ed  eighty  acres 

of  raw   prairie   land,   which   he   broke  and 

1  fenced,   and   tiie   early   spring  plowing   and 

1  planting  was  followed  liy  good  harvests  in 

the    autumn.      lie    also    rented    other    land 

21 


which  he  operated  and  as  his  linancial  re- 
sources increased  he  bought  more  land  from 
time  to  time  until  he  has  to-day  three  farms 
in  the  same  neigliborhood,  comprising  two 
lunulred  and  seventy-seven  acres  of  \alua- 
blc  land,  on  which  are  three  sets  of  farm 
buildings.  He  has  tiled  and  fenced  his  land, 
has  added  all  modern  equipments  and  now 
has  a  very  desirable  property  which  returns 
to  him  a  gcjotl  income.  In  connection  with 
the  cultivation  of  the  cereals  best  adapted 
to  the  soil  antl  climate,  he  makes  a  specialty 
of  raising,  buying,  feeding  and  shipping 
stock,  fattening  about  two  or  three  carloads 
of  cattle  and  about  three  carloads  of  hogs 
each  year.  He  is  accounted  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the 
county  and  certainly  deserves  all  the  pros- 
perity that  has  come  to  him. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prather  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children.  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Andrew  A.  Miller,  a  farmer  of 
this  countv,  and  they  have  one  son,  Harold. 
Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Mouery,  a  mer- 
chant of  Rossville,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Clarence  A.  Albert,  the  youngest,  is  at 
home.  In  1895  Mr.  Prather  purchased 
pi'operty  and  built  a  neat  residence  in  Ross- 
ville, where  he  has  since  made  his  home 
and  from  this  point  he  superintends  his 
farming  and  stock-raising  interests.  Politi- 
callv  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  although 
he  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  lie  cast  his  first  presidciuial 
ballol  for  ( ieneral  L'.  S.  Grant  in  1S6S,  hut 
had  previously  voted  for  Joseph  Cannon  for 
congress.  He  has  never  sought  nor  would 
he  accept  political  office,  ])ref erring  that  his 
attention  should  lie  gi\-en  to  his  business  af- 
fairs. His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian  church. 

During  fifty-seven  }e.'irs,  co\ering  the 
period  of  his  entire  life,  he  has  witnessed 


q  lO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  wonderful  growth  and  advancement  of 
this  portion  of  Ilhnois.  He  hved  here  when 
t-he  countrj'  was  so  new  that  deer  and  other 
wild  game  were  to  be  seen  and  the  farmers 
had  to  watch  very  closely  in  order  to  keep 
the  wild  geese  and  cranes  from  eating  the 
young  crops.  Great  changes  ha\e  since  oc- 
curred as  civilization  has  advanced,  popula- 
tion increased  and  the  work  of  improve- 
ment and  development  been  carried  forward 
by  a  progressive  and  contented  people  who 
have  made  the  county  one  of  the  richest 
agricultural  districts  of  tlie  state,  while  its 
towns  and  villages  have  taken  on  metropol- 
itan proportions  and  have  become  imbued 
with  all  the  industrial  and  commercial  ac- 
tivity known  to  the  older  east.  Both  Mr. 
Prather  and  his  wife  are  highly  esteemed 
in  the  community  and  have  many  friends 
who  will  be  glad  to  read  the  record  of  their 
lives  in  this  volume. 


FRANK  E.  KESPLER. 

This  well-known  druggist  of  George- 
town is  a  man  whose  sound  common  sense 
and  vigorous,  able  management  of  his  af- 
fairs have  been  important  factors  in  his  suc- 
cess and  with  his  vmdoubted  integrity  of 
character  have  given  him  an  honorable  posi- 
tion among  his  fellow  men.  For  twenty- 
four  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Ver- 
milion county,  and  throughout  his  active 
business  life  has  been  identified  with  its  com- 
mercial interests. 

Mr.  Kespler  was  born  in  Perrysville. 
Indiana.  November  19,  1869,  and  is  a  son 
of  E.  C.  and  Anna  P.  (Neigenfind  Kes- 
pler. both  natives  of  Germany,  the  former 
born  in  the  Hessian  province  and  the  latter 
in  the  Schlesien  Province.    In  early  life  they 


came  to  the  United  States  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Danville,  Illinois,  in  1865.  Remov- 
ing to  Indiana,  the  father  purchased  a  farm 
adjoining  the  city  of  Perrysville.  where  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  throughout 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  there  No- 
vember 2"],  1878.  His  funeral  was  under 
the  auspices  of  the  United  Brethren  and  was 
attended  by  a  large  number  of  friends  and 
acquaintances  who  gathered  to  pay 
their  last  tribute  of  respect  to  their  fel- 
\o\x  townsman.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
of  his  township  and  was  highly  respected 
and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  an  ardent  Republican  and  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  though 
he  was  never  an  office  seeker. 

After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Kespler 
rented  the  farm  and  returned  to  Danville, 
Illinois,  to  make  her  home  with  her  parents. 
She  had  four  children,  namely:  !Mary  I.. 
now  the  wife  of  Louis  Steck,  a  farmer  of 
Ogden.  Illinois ;  Frank  E. ;  Anna  K.,  wife 
of  H.  L.  Schmidt,  who  is  conducting  a  meat 
market  in  Danville:  and  W.  F..  who  mar- 
ried ^L'ly  Will,  a  tlaughter  of  Henry  Will 
of  Danville,  and  is  now  clerking  for  the  Bell 
Clothiers  of  that  city. 

Frank  E.  Kespler  began  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Perrysville,  Indi- 
ana, and  later  attended  the  city  schools  of 
Danville,  Illinois,  being  only  nine  years  of 
age  on  the  removal  of  the  family  to  the  lat- 
ter city.  Laying  aside  his  text  books  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  entered  the  drug  store  of 
E.  C.  Winslow.  of  Danville,  as  an  appren- 
tice, and  after  five  years  spent  there  he 
matriculated  at  the  Illinois  College  of  Phar- 
macy in  Chicago,  where  he  completed  the 
prescribed  course.  He  then  took  the  ex- 
amination before  the  state  lx>ard  of  phar- 
macy, and  passing  it  satisfactorily  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  managing  druggist    of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


511 


the  T.  R.  Davis  drug  store  at  Hinckley,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  two  years  and  a 
half.  He  was  next  in  the  employ  of  Arthur 
Esslinger,  a  druggist  of  Dainille.  for  a  lit- 
tle o\'er  two  years,  and  on  resigning  that 
position  he  purchased  the  drug  store  of 
Donnelly  &  Shepherd,  at  Germantown, 
which  he  conducted  for  a  year.  He  then 
removed  his  stock  to  the  McCusker  block. 
No.  40  Jackson  street,  Danville,  and  after 
two  years  spent  at  that  place  removed  to  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Hazel  streets,  at  which 
point  he  carried  on  business  for  three  years 
and  a  half.  He  then  sold  out  to  U.  J.  Over- 
man, and  in  October,  1900,  opened  his  pres- 
ent up-to-date  drug  store  in  Georgetown, 
where  he  is  now  carrying  on  business  with 
most  gratifying  success.  He  makes  some- 
what of  a  specialty  of  putting  uj)  physicians' 
prescriptions  and  family  recipes.  Besides 
the  best  line  of  drugs  and  patent  medicines, 
he  handles  paints,  oils,  ttirpentine,  putty, 
window  glass,  stationery,  cigars,  tobacco, 
etc. 

On  the  i6th  of  May,  1894,  Air.  Kespler 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  M. 
Pracht,  a  daughter  of  John  G.  and  Rosa  M. 
(Schmidt)  Pracht.  The  father,  who  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  is  now  deceased,  and 
the  mother  is  now  the  wife  of  Joshua  Schec- 
ter,  a  liverj-man  of  Georgetown.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  one  child, 
Blanche  Esther,  now  seven  years  of  age. 
The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  George- 
town, standing  high  in  social  circles. 

.  Politically  Mr.  Kespler  is  identified  witli 
the  Republican  party  but  takes  no  active 
part  in  politics  aside  from  voting,  though 
he  is  interested  in  good  governmait.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  a  member  of  Ionian  Lodge,  No. 
502.  K.  P.,  of  Georgetown;  Weltonomah 
Tribe,  No.  120,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  of  Westville; 


and  Georgetown  Camp,  No.  188,  M.  W.  A. 
He  may  well  be  classed  among  the  self-made 
men  of  his  adopted  county,  for  his  success 
in  lile  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  well  directed 
and  energetic  efforts.  His  store  is  a  model 
of  neatness,  and  with  his  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  and  afifable  manner  he 
is  sure  to  meet  with   success   wherever  he 


J.  F.  McCOY. 

Comparati\-ely  few  of  the  citizens  of 
the  Llnion  have  attained  eminence  in  affairs 
of  state  or  in  military  circles,  but  the  field 
of  business  is  limitless  and  the  man  of  ability 
in  his  chosen  calling  can  always  win  success 
if  he  but  guides  his  efforts  by  correct  Inisi- 
ness  principles.  Mr.  McCoy  chose  as  a  life 
work  the  profession  of  the  architect  and 
builder.  He  thoroughly  mastered  the  busi- 
ness both  in  principle  and  in  detail  and  thus 
well  equipped  for  his  calling  he  has  become 
a  factor  in  the  building  interests  of  \'ermil- 
ion  county,  gaining  for  himself  a  rciiutation 
that  is  second  to  none  in  his  line  in  this  part 
of  the  state. 

.■\  native  of  Pennsvhania,  Air.  McCoy 
was  born  in  Carlisle,  that  state,  July  2,  1849, 
his  parents  being  Joshua  and  Eliza  (McCar- 
rol )  McCoy,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state  and  were  there  married. 
The  father  was  a  slioemaker  and  continued 
to  reside  in  Pennsvlvania  until  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  the  year  1876.  His  wife  jiassed 
awav  the  year  jircvious.  In  his  ])olitical 
afiiliations  Mr.  McCoy  was  a  Democrat.  In 
in's  family  were  twelve  children,  eight  of 
whom  are  yet  living :  Sarah,  the  widow  of 
Jonathan  Etter,  a  resident  of  Shippensburg, 
Pennsvlvania;  William,  who  resides  in  Car- 


512 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lisle,  Pennsylvania;  Margaret  the  widow  of 
Samuel  I'ystle  and  a  resident  of  Roxbury, 
Pennsj'lvania ;  Ellen,  the  wife  of  W'illiani 
Keifer,  of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania;  J. 
Keifer,  of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania; 
Da\id,  who  is  residing  in  Xewville, 
Pennsylvania;  J.  P.,  of  this  review; 
Archer,  whose  home  is  in  Newburg, 
Pennsylvania;  and  Daniel,  who  is  re- 
siding in  Blount  township,  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois.  Those  who  have  passed 
away  are  as  follows :  Rosanna  be- 
came the  wife  of  John  Wolf,  and  after  his 
death  married  Mr.  Burkholter,  who  is  also 
now  deceased.  By  her  first  union  she  had 
one  child,  Samuel  Wolf,  who  now  resides  in 
Kirkwood,  Illinois.  By  the  second  marriage 
there  was  one  daughter,  Ella,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Pennsylvania.  Joshua 
died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  being  ac- 
cidentally poisoned  through  eating  pie  while 
serving  his  country  in  the  Civil  war,  being 
at  that  time  with  McClellan  on  the  march 
to  Richmond.  Lacy  became  the  wife  of 
\\"illiam  McMullen.  who  resides  in  Oak- 
ville,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  leaving  three 
children.  Rebecca  was  also  married  and 
is  now  deceased.  She  resided  near  Stouchs- 
town.  Pennsylvania,  and  had  one  child. 

J.  F.  AlcCoy,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  attended  the  district  school  near 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  when  only  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  became  a  teamster  in 
the  Civil  war,  acting  in  that  capacity  in 
Pennsylvania.  When  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  began  learning  the  carpenter's  trade, 
serving  a  three  years'  apprenticeship.  In  1872 
he  came  west,  locating  first  at  Stateline,  In- 
diana, where  he  resided  for  eleven  months. 
He  then  removed  to  Danville  and  has  since 
been  an  active  factor  in  the  business  affairs 
of  this  city. 


In  the  meantime  he  had  married,  hav- 
ing on  the  7th  of  ^larch,  1870,  near  Carlisle. 
Pennsylvania,  wedded  Miss  Martha  J.  Gib- 
bons, \\ho  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Penn- 
S3-lvania.  January  13,  1851.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Smith)  Gib- 
bons, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Perry 
county,  where  they  were  married,  locating 
then  in  Blaine.  Her  father  was  a  black- 
smith and  resided  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity until  his  death,  which  occurred  about 
1858.  His  wife  long  survived  him,  passing 
away  in  1891.  In  their  family  were  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living:  Mrs. 
McCoy:  Kate,  the  wife  of  Edward  Hawk, 
of  Danville;  Reuben,  who  is  also  living  in 
this  city;  and  David,  who  makes  his  home 
near  Canton,  Ohio.  The  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  ^IcCoy  has  been  blessed  with  six 
children :  Clarence,  who  married  Anna 
Clark  and  resides  in  Danville,  where  he  is 
following  carpentering  and  contracting; 
Myrtle,  the  wife  of  Robert  Kinningham,  of 
Danville;  Kate,  the  wife  of  Harry  Conno- 
ver,  of  this  city,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 
Edna :  May.  who  is  an  architect  in  her  fath- 
er's ofiice:  Ethel  and  Harold,  at  home  with 
their  parents. 

In  1873  ]\Ir.  McCoy  began  Imsiness  in 
Danville,  since  which  time  he  has  engaged 
in  contracting  and  in  doing  architectural 
work.  He  devotes  his  time  largely  to  the 
latter  branch  of  his  business  and  to  superin- 
tending the  construction  of  buildings.  He 
has  erected  or  assisted  in  building  many  of 
the  finest  structures  of  this  city,  including 
the  opera  house:  the  First  ^^lethodist  Epis- 
copal church:  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church. 
St.  !\Iary's  Academy ;  the  Daniels  building. 
He  remodeled  the  First  National  Bank 
building:  lauilt  the  Danville  high  school: 
Lincoln,  Franklin  and   Grant  schools:  also 


cr  ,.,£ 

U,\'IVERC;vy  C5  I'MNO'S 


CHARLES  B.  HART. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


5'5 


the    First    Church    of    Christ;    the    Lincnln 
street     church;     the     jNIethodist     Episcopal 
church    at    Vermilion    Heights ;    the    Greer 
College  anil  the  puhlic  school,   of   Hoope- 
ston.    the    Methodist    Episcopal    church    of 
Hoopeston   and   at   least   fourteen   business 
blocks'  there:     the     Methodist     Episcopal 
church    at    Catlin ;    the    Catholic    school    at 
W'estville;  the  Baptist  church  at  Sidell ;  and 
the  public  school  there.     He  is  now  engaged 
on  the  construction  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian churcli  in  Dan\ille,  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  in  Fithian ;  and  the  public  library 
of  Danville.     He  has  erected  not  less  than 
one  hundred  of  the  business  blocks  of  this 
city  and  one  hundred  of  its  best  residences, 
besides  hundreds  of  attractive  homes  in  the 
county.  He  is  one  of  the  most  widely  known 
architects  and  contractors  of  this     part  of 
the  state.     The  beauty  of  the  designs  which 
he  makes,  combined  with  his  excellent  work- 
manship manifested   in  the  execution  of  a 
contract,  have  made  him  an  im]X)rtant  fac- 
tor in  the  progress  and  improvement  as  well 
as  the  adornment  of  Vermilion  county.     He 
has  offices  at  No.  305  First  National  Bank 
Building. 

Mr.  McCoy  is  a  strong  temperance  man 
and  his  views  on  this  subject  are  embodied 
in  the  political  support,  which  he  gives  to 
the  Prohibition  party.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
has  gained  for  himself  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  entire  community  in  which 
he  lives  by  his  honorable,  straightforward 
career.  We  read  of  the  lives  of  the  heroes 
of  the  past  and  they  not  only  prove  of  his- 
torical interest  but  serve  to  inspire  and  en- 
courage us,  yet  we  need  not  go  to  former 
days  for  examples  that  are  worthy  of  emu- 
latidu.  The  men  of  to-day  who  have  won 
distinction   and  honorable  success  equal   in 


exemplary  traits  of  character  those  who 
ha\e  passed  away  and  the  life  record  of  Mr. 
McCoy  may  well  prove  of  great  benefit  if 
we  will  but  heed  the  obvious  lessons  whicli 
it  contains. 

» ♦» 

CHARLES   B.   HART. 

The  large  concourse  of  people  who  gath- 
ered to  pay  their  last  tribute  of  respect  and 
love  to  Charles  B.  Hart  when  his  remains 
were  interred  in  Spring  Hill  cemetery, 
spoke  eloquently  of  the  place  he  had  held 
in  the  affections  of  those  with  whom  he  was 
associated.  Seldom  within  the  history  of 
Dan\ille  has  there  been  brought  together  on 
a  similar  occasion  such  a  large  number  of 
people.  The  deepest  regret  throughout  the 
community  was  felt,  for  Mr.  Il.-ut  had  en- 
deared himself  to  all.  He  was  pleasant, 
frank  and  jovial  in  manner  and  had  gained 
a  host  of  warm  friends.  Certainly  he  should 
be  classed  among  the  representative  men  of 
this  city  and  upon  the  pages  of  the  history 
of  Vermilion  county  his  life  record  deserves 
a  place. 

Mr.  Hart  was  bom  in  Mooresville,  In- 
diana, May  28,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Rich- 
ard and  Emma  Leah  (Farrend)  Hart.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  his 
father  was  of  German  birth,  while  John 
I\-u-rend,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage  and 
was  a  f.armer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Hart 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  in  which  city  her 
marriage  was  celebrated.  There  the  father 
of  our  subject  worked  at  the  carriage-build- 
ing trade  and  subsequently  carried  on  the 
same  business  at  Mooresville,  Indiana,  re- 
maining there  for  a  time,  or  until  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  Terre  Haute,  that  state, 
[n  the  last  named  place  he  was  extensivelv 


5ib 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


engaged  in  the  carriage  manufacturing 
business.  In  1871  he  came  to  Danville, 
where  he  embarked  in  stair-building,  and  he 
is  now  suijerintcndent  of  the  turning  de- 
partment in  the  Watson  Planing  Mill,  oc- 
cupying the  position  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  Such  a  life  record  of  usefulness  and 
acti\itv  should  put  to  shame  many  a  man 
who.  grown  weary  of  the  burdens  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  a  business  career,  would 
relegate  to  others  the  work  which  he  should 
perform.  About  fourteen  years  ago  Mrs. 
Hart  passed  away.  In  the  family  were 
seven  children,  but  only  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: Alice,  the  wife  of  L.  B.  Wolf,  who 
resides  at  No.  16  Fremont  street,  in  Dan- 
ville; Jesse,  of  Homer,  Illinois;  and  Ran- 
dolph, of  Lafayette,  Indiana. 

Charles  B.  Hart  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  of  Terre  Haute,  Indi- 
ana, and  of  Danville,  Illinois,  having  come 
to  the  latter  city  when  a  youth  of  ten  years. 
On  leaving  the  schoolroom  he  began  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  a  painter,  paper  hanger  and 
decorator,  and  became  so  expert  in  this  line 
of  work  that  his  skill  was  equalled  by  few 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  soon  left  the 
ranks  of  a  journeyman  to  become  a  con- 
tractor in  the  business,  and  in  his  industrial 
career  he  prospered,  his  patronage  becom- 
ing so  extensive  as  to  enable  him  to  employ 
a  number  of  men.  Large  and  iiuportant 
contracts  were  awarded  him  by  reason  of 
the  excellence  and  attractiveness  of  the 
work,  and  as  the  years  passed  he  gradually 
acquired  a  competence. 

In  his  political  \-iews  "Sir.  Hart  was  an 
earnest  Republican  who  believed  firmly  in 
the  principles  of  the  party,  but  refused  to 
hold  office.  Fraternallv  he  was  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
the  Court  of  Honor,  the  Royal  Americans, 
the   Royal  Circle  and  the  Fraternal  Army 


and  he  was  a  consistent  and  helpful  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  1886,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Congressman  Joseph  G.  Cannon, 
in  whose  family  the  lady  had  lived  for  twen- 
ty-three years,  Mr.  Hart  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Lizzie  A.  Mclntyre,  who 
was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  September 
22.  1859.  Her  father,  Samuel  Mclntyre, 
also  a  native  of  Canada,  was  of  French  an- 
cestry, a  son  of  Samuel  Mclnt_\Te.  wIid  was 
born  in  France  and  carried  on  merchandis- 
ing in  Canada.  He  married  Agnes  Hays, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  country,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Hays,  who  was  of  Scotch 
birth.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in 
Montreal,  Canada,  and  Mr.  Mclntyre  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter's  trade  there  until  1862, 
when  he  remo\'etl  to  Camargo,  Douglas 
county,  Illin(jis,  where  he  engaged  in  con- 
tracting and  building.  Subsequently  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  Tuscola,  Illinois,  where  he 
resided  for  many  years  and  then  went  to 
Hammond,  Illinois,  where  his  last  days 
were  passed.  He  erected  many  public  build- 
ings, residences,  schools  and  churches, 
which  still  stand  as  monuments  to  his  skill 
and  enterprise.  In  his  political  views  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  he  served  as  constable  and 
filled  various  township  oifices,  taking  an 
active  part  in  political  affairs.  He  held 
memliership  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
died  in  that  faith  October  14,  1891,  his  re- 
mains being  then  interred  in  the  cemetery 
at  Camargo,  Illinois.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  when  Mrs.  Hart  was  but  five  years  of 
age.  In  the  family  were  three  sons  and 
three  daughters :  John,  w'ho  resides  in  Tus- 
cola, Illinois;  William,  of  Hammond,  Illi- 
nois; Mrs.  Hart;  Samuel,  whc>  is  in  the 
west ;  Martha,  tlie  wife  of  Charles  Combs, 
of  Denver.  Colorado ;  and  Jennie,  the  de- 
ceased wife  of  Christopher  Cross,  who  re- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S'7 


sided  in  Tuscola,  tliis  state,  and  left  two 
children— Harry  E,,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Tuscola;  and  Agues,  who  is  a  singer 
of  that  place'.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  became 
the  parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters : 
Le  Roy,  who  was  born  June  14,  1887,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  class  of  1903  of  the  high 
school  of  Danville;  Mabel  Helen,  who  was 
born  January  18,  1888.  and  is  now  in  her 
first  year  in  the  high  school ;  and  Gertrude 
Hazel,  who  was  born  January  2,  189 1,  and 
is  now  attending  the  public  school. 

It  was  on  the  25th  of  August,  1902,  that 
the  family  were  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  the  husband  and  father,  who  passed 
away  on  that  date  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Spring  Hill  cemetery.  As  the  result  of  his 
business  acti\ity  he  was  enabled  to  leave 
his  family  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
and  moreover  he  left  to  them  an  untarnished 
name  and  pleasant  memories  of  the  many 
happy  hours  spent  in  his  companv.  for  his 
greatest  interest  centered  in  his  family  and  he 
considered  no  sacrifice  on  his  part  too  great 
if  it  would  promote  the  happiness  or  enhance 
the  welfare  of  his  wife  and  children.  Wher- 
ever he  went  he  made  friends  by  reason  of 
his  genial,  kindly  antl  sympathetic  manner. 
He  was  always  good  natured  and  jovial 
and  belonged  to  that  class  of  citizens  who 
shed  around  them  much  of  the  sunshine  of 
life. 

Mrs.  Hart  is  a  member  of  the  Fraternal 
Army,  of  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  of  the 
Tribe  of  Ben  Hur,  and  she  is  likewise  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  First  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  She,  too,  is  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  in  Danville  and  with  her 
family  she  resides  at  No.  437  Outten  street, 
tier  many  excellent  traits  of  heart  and  mind 
are  recognized  by  her  many  friends  and  like 
her  honored  husband  she  certainlv  deserves 
mention  in  this  volume. 


FRED  H.  AVERS. 

Fred   H.   Ayers  is  extensively  engaged 
in  real-estate  dealing  in  Hoopeston,  largely 
operating  in    farm   lands,  and  his  own   in- 
vestments in   pn:iperly  have  been  extensive 
and  profitable.     :\lr.   Ayres  is  a   native  of 
Grundy   county,    Illinois,   horn    in    the   year 
1850,  his  parents  being  William  Henry  and 
Eliza  Jane   (Benedict)    Ayres,     They  were 
residents  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and 
he  emigrated  westward  taking  up  his  abode 
in   Grundy   county,    Illinois,   in    1846.      On 
both  sides  ^Ir.  Ayres  comes  of  English  an- 
cestry.     The   Ayres   and   Benedict   families 
were  founded  in  the  new  world  prior  to  the 
Revolutionary    war   and   representatives   o." 
the  latter  name  have  frequently  been  men- 
tioned on  the  pages  of  American  history  in 
connection  with  affairs  of  prominence  bear- 
ing upon  the  substantial   de\-elopment  and 
upbuilding  of  the  nation.      While  residing 
in  the  east  the  father  of  our  subject  engaged 
in  business  as  a  tanner  and  currier,  and  after 
coming  to  Illinois  he  secured  a  homestead 
in  Grundy  county  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing until    1883.     In  that  year  he  sold  his 
property    there    and    removed    to    Iro(|uois 
county,  living  upon  a  farm  with  his  son,  F. 
H.  Ayres,  until  1894.     In  that  year  the  par- 
ents  of   our   subject   came    to    Hoopeston, 
where  the  mother  died  in  .March,  1898,  and 
the   father  in    Feliruary,    1899.        Fred   H. 
Ayres  always  resided  with  his  parents  and 
in  their  declining  years,  by  his  filial  atten- 
tion and  regard  he  repaid  them  for  the  care 
and  love  which  they  had  lavished  upon  him 
in  his  vouth.     There  was  one  daughter  in 
the  family.  Louvicea,  now  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.    Dana    Sherrill,    a    retired    Congrega- 
tional   minister  of   Hoopeston  who  at  one 
time  engaged  in  preaching  the  gospel  at  For- 


518 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


rest  and  at  Marshall,  Illinois,  and  afterward 
went  to  Sa\annali,  Georgia,  as  superinten- 
dent of  the  colored  schools  there.  The 
fatlier,  William  Henry  Ayres.  was  a  plain, 
unassuming  man,  who  possessed  sterling 
traits  of  character  that  brought  him  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  of  all  with  whom  he 
was  associated. 

Fred  H.  Ayres  spent  his  boyhood  days 
with  his  parents  in  the  pursuit  of  education. 
His  business  training  was  received  under  the 
direction  of  his  father.  He  assisted  in  the 
cultivatiiin  and  improvement  of  the  home 
farm,  father  and  son  working  together  in 
complete  harmony.  He  was  married  on  the 
old  home  place  near  Morris,  Grundy  coun- 
t_\'.  to  ]\nss  Man-  E.  Leach,  a  native  of 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  who  at  an  early 
age  became  a  resident  of  Kendall  county, 
Illinois.  Both  of  her  parents  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  marriage  of  the  young  couple 
was  celebrated  on  the  15th  of  January,  1873, 
and  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  Man.- 
L.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  IMarion  R.  Cle- 
ments, a  music  dealer  of  Hoopeston.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ayres  also  lost  two  children  in 
childhood. 

From  the  time  of  his  marriage  until 
1883  Mr.  Ayres  operated  his  father's  farm. 
In  the  latter  year  the  Grundy  property  was 
sold  and  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county, 
settling  in  Prairie  Green  township.  He  re- 
maineil  on  this  place  until  1894.  The  family 
then  came  to  Hoopeston  and  in  January. 
1895,  our  subject  embarked  in  business  with 
F.  W.  Nelson,  as  a  dealer  in  farm  imple- 
ments, harness,  buggies  and  hardware.  This 
partnership  was  continued  until  the  ist  of 
January,  1902.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Ayres 
has  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business, 
handling  farm  lands  on  an  extensive  scale. 
He  to-day  owns  eight  hundred  and   sixty 


acres  of  land  in  Fulton  county,  Indiana, 
which  is  splendidly  improved  and  yields  t(. 
him  a  good  financial  return.  The  family 
home  is  on  East  Penn  street  and  is  a  charm- 
ing residence  noted  for  its  pleasing  hospital- 
ity. In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Ayres  is  a 
Knight  of  Pythias  and  politically  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  served  for  two  terms  as  su- 
pervisor of  the  township  in  which  he  was 
reared,  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  oilfice  seeking.  While  possessing 
the  qualities  of  a  successful  business  man 
and  a  desirable  social  companion,  perhaps 
I\Ir.  Ayres'  most  strongly  marked  charac- 
teristic is  his  unswerving  fidelity  to  duty. 
His  private  interests  must  always  give  way 
to  the  public  good  and  thus  he  has  become 
honored,  esteemed  and  distinguished  by  all 
who  have  the  pleasure  of  his  accpaintance 
or  who  have  met  him  in  a  business  way. 


REV.  M.  M.  ALISON. 

Re\-.  ^I.  M.  Alison,  who  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Alvin  but  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  was  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  progressive  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  Vermilion  county,  came  to  this 
portion  of  the  state  in  the  spring  of  1864 
and  has  since  been  deeply  interested  in  its 
improvement  along  material,  intellectual 
and  moral  lines.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  of  the  locality  that  Ohio  has  fur- 
nished to  this  state.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  December  15,  1823, 
and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  \'irginia.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, Ross  Alison,  lived  in  that  state  and 
there  Samuel  Alison,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  bom  and  reared.    As  a  companion 


MRS.  M.  M.  ALISON. 


REV.  M.  M,   ALISON. 


'OF  T'.St 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


523 


and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  he  ciiose 
jNIargaret  IMcGavran,  who  was  of  Irish  par- 
entage. Thinking  to  better  his  financial 
condition  in  a  newer  region  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers 
in  Jefiferson  county.  Subsequently  he  re- 
moN'ed  to  Jackson  county,  w'here  he  reared 
his  family  and  spent  liis  remaining  days, 
being  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1858,  when 
about  sixty  years  of  age.  Our  subject  was 
the  younger  of  his  two  sons,  the  older  being 
■Ross  Alison,  now  a  well  known  business 
man  of  Danville. 

Rev.  Alison  of  this  review  spent  the 
da3's  of  his  manhood  in  Jackson  county, 
working  upon  his  .father's  farm  from  the 
time  of  early  spring  planting  until  crops 
were  harvested  in  the  autumn.  He  then  en- 
tered the  public  schools,  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  until  returning  spring  again 
brought  new  duties.  After  arriving  at  ma- 
ture years  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Jack- 
son and  \'inton  counties,  of  Ohio.  He  fol- 
lowed that  profession  continuously  for  five 
years  and  druing  the  winter  months  of 
many  years.  Ere  he  left  Ohio  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Jackson  county,  on  the  8th  of  Alarch, 
1849,  to  Sarah  Salmans,  who  was  born  in 
Guernsey  county,  that  state,  but  spent  her 
girlliood  days  largely  in  Jackson  and  Vin- 
ton counties.  Her  father,  W'illiam  Sal- 
mans, was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ohio  from 
Delaware. 

Different  farms  in  the  Buckeye  state 
were  owned  and  operated  by  Rev.  .Alison, 
who  carried  on  agricultural  work  there  un- 
til i8r)4,  when  he  packed  up  his  belongings 
and  came  to  Illinois,  accomplishing  the 
journey  to  A'ermilion  county  with  a  team 
and  wagon.  This  was  a  long,  hard  trip, 
but  ;it  length  he  safely  reached  his  destina- 
tion and  purchased  land  in  Ross  township, 
becoming   the   owner   of  one   hundred  and 


sixty  acres  of  land,  a  small  pnrtion  of  which 
bad  l)een  fenced  and  cultivated,  while  a 
little  house  had  also  been  built.  With  char- 
acteristic energy  he  began  the  further  im- 
provement of  the  property  and  afterward 
bought  more  land,  extending  the  boundaries 
of  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until  he  had 
four  hundred  acres  in  one  body.  He. also 
erected  a  comfortable  residence  and  barn 
and  planted  two  orchards  upon  his  place. 
His  farm  work  there  was  continued  until 
abiiul  i88j,  when  he  divided  his  farm 
among  his  children  and  purchase<l  twenty 
acres  where  he  now  resides,  on  whicli  he 
erected  a  comfortable  home.  He  has  since 
liought  land  adjoining  the  original  tract  un- 
til he  has  seventy-six  acres  in  his  home  place 
and  his  time  and  energies  are  given  to  the 
further  improvement  of  the  property. 

L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alison  have  been 
born  two  children,  who  are  yet  living;  Cic- 
ero, a  prominent  business  man  and  grain 
dealer  of  Alvin;  and  Almira,  now  the  wife 
of  John  N.  Ross,  of  Chicago.  They  also 
lost  four  children,  of  whom  two  died  in 
infancy.  Sarah  Margaret  grew  to  matur- 
ity, married  Harvey  J.  Stewart,  and  after 
iiis  death  became  the  wife  of  Andrew  Cope- 
land,  with  whom  she  removed  to  Okla- 
linma,  where  her  death  occurred  on  the  i  Jth 
of  April,  1895.  Rachel  I"",  married  Wal- 
lace Salmans,  of  Danville,  and  died  in  tliat 
cit\',  in  December,  1892.  William  and  Mary 
Ada  both  died  when  three  years  of  age. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alison  have  seventeen  grand- 
children and  one  great-grandchild. 

In  early  manhood  the  subject  of  this 
rc\-iew  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
chnrcii  and  was  afterward  ordained  to  the 
ministry.  He  wa.s  first  licensed  to  preacli 
in  Wilkesville  in  1852  and  later  was  or- 
dained in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  about  1856.  He 
has  always  been  active  in  church  work  and 


524 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


continued  to  ser\e  as  a  local  minister  of 
the  church  both  in  Ohio  and  in  X'ermilion 
county  until  1900.  His  labors  have  teen 
effective  in  promoting  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tianity and  his  influence  has  been  a  potent 
element  for  good  in  whatever  community 
he  has  lived.  When  the  Republican  party 
was  organized  and  nominated  John  C.  Fre- 
mont as  its  first  candidate  for  the  presi- 
dency, he  gave  to  it  his  support  and  lias 
never  wavered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  or- 
ganization, believing  that  its  principles  are 
best  calculated  to  conserve  the  cause  of  good 
government.  He  believes  in  advancement 
along  all  lines  tending  to  develop  character 
and  therefore  is  a  warm  friend  of  the  cause 
of  education  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
also  served  as  village  treasurer  of  Alvin  for 
eight  years  and  is  still  the  efficient  treasurer 
of  the  town  board.  He  has  a  wide  acquain- 
tance among  the  early  settlers  of  Danville 
and  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county,  and 
is  a  man  of  tried  integrity  and  wortli.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  and  also  their  chil- 
dren have  many  friends  in  this  locality  who 
will  be  pleased  to  receive  the  record  of  their 
history. 


LE\'IX   VIXSOX. 


Levin  \'inson,  whose  well  developed 
farm  is  located  on  section  i ,  Oakwood  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Parke  county,  Indiana, 
February  20,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Hen- 
son  and  Abigail  (McDowell)  Vinson,  both 
natives  of  Kentucky.  At  an  early  day  they 
removed  to  Indiana  and  there  they  reared 
their  family  of  nine  children,  of  whom  four 
are  living:  ^Mrs.  Delia  Ann  Burton  of  Oak- 
wood  tow-nship;  Levin:  Henson,  who  re- 
sides on   the   old   homestead :   and   Abigail 


Dizard.  of  Oakwood  township.  Three 
sons  and  two  daughters  have  passed  away. 
When  the  subject  of  this  review  was  ten 
years  of  age,  the  parents  removed  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  and  the  father  pur- 
chased land  in  Oakwood  township,  living 
in  a  log  cabin  while  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  he  devoteil  his  energies.  Upon 
the  place  which  he  there  developed,  he  re- 
sided until  his  death  and  his  wife's  death 
also  occurred  there. 

Levin  Vinson  was  educated  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  furnished  with  slab  benches 
and  greased  paper  windows.  In  the  sum- 
mer months  he  worked  upon  the  farm,  great- 
ly assisting  his  father  in  the  care  and  culti- 
vation of  the  home  place,  in  fact,  much  of 
the  work  devolved  upon  him  because  his 
father  was  in  poor  health.  He  plowed  in 
the  early  days  when  he  used  a  wooden  mold 
board  plow  and  a  single  shovel  plow  for 
the  corn.  The  grain  in  those  early  days  was 
dropped  by  hand.  When  the  summer  sun 
had  ripened  the  crops  he  used  a  reap  hook 
and  cradle  in  the  harvest  field.  The  family 
wore  homemade  clothing  and  raised  the 
flax  from  which  were  spun  and  woven  the 
garments.  They  also  raised  their  own  wool, 
which  was  taken  to  carding  machines  where 
it  was  spun  and  woven  into  cloth  at  home. 
Each  member  of  the  family  had  but  a  single 
pair  of  shoes  a  vear.  In  order  to  have  a 
fire  they  would  go  into  the  timber  and  pick 
punk  and  then  with  this  and  the  flint  and  tow 
would  make  a  fire,  for  there  were  no  niatche- 
at  that  time.  Economy  was  practiced  in  all 
lines  of  life,  even  to  the  carrying  of  shoes 
to  church  by  the  children,  who  wore  them 
onl\'  during  the  services,  removing  them  as 
soon  as  they  left  the  meeting  house.  The 
pioneer  families  drove  to  church  with  ox- 
teams,  ^Ir.  A'inson  never  seeing  a  buggy 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.     !\Iany 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


525 


times  he  watched  his  mother  dip  candles  be- 
fore the  days  when  candle  molds  came  into 
use  and  in  the  home  the  old  grease  lamp 
was  also  utilized. 

Mr.  Vinson  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  attained  his  majority  and  afterward 
engaged  in  breaking  prairie  with  oxen  for 
many  years.  He  once  drove  eight  yoke  of 
oxen  in  turning  the  first  furrows  on  the 
prairies  of  Illinois.  In  those  days  trading  was 
done  at  Covington,  Perrysville  and  Dan- 
ville, the  last  named  then  containing  only 
one  store.  On  the  12th  of  November,  1850. 
he  married  ]\Iiss  Naomi  Liggitt,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  March,  1832,  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Mary  (Coddington)  Liggitt.  In- 
order  to  provide  for  his  wife  Mr.  \^inson 
continued  to  break  prairie  and  follow  farm- 
ing and  was  thus  engaged  tintil  after  the 
Civil  war  broke  out.  He  and  his  brother 
John,  who  became  a  lieutenant  and  is  now 
deceased,  formed  a  companv  which  was 
mustered  in  as  Company  I  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
September  4,  1862,  the  regiment  being  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Harmon,  while  Mr. 
Vinson  was  given  command  of  the  com- 
pany. The  first  battle  in  which  he  partici- 
pated was  at  Perryville.  Kentucky,  and  af- 
ter taking  part  in  the  engagement  at  Crab 
Harbor  he  returned  with  his  men  to  Nash- 
ville. Being  taken  ill  he  only  served  for  a 
year,  resigning  February  29,  1864,  when 
he  returned  home.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year  he  located  upon  his  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  he  went  into  business  at 
Glenburn.  dealing  in  meat  and  groceries. 
He  now  conducts  the  only  general  store  at 
that  place  and  he  also  owns  one  hundred 
acres  of  rich  farming  land  on  section  i, 
Oakwood  township,  all  of  which  is  under  a 


high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  pleasantly 
located  a  half  mile  east  of  the  village. 

In  politics  Mr.  Vinson  is  a  Republican 
and  has  served  as  road  overseer  and  school 
director.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army 
Post  at  Glenburn,  of  which  he  has  served  as 
commander.  In  the  work  of  improvement 
and  progress  here  he  lias  taken  an  active 
and  helpful  part,  has  seen  the  county  grow 
from  a  wilderness  to  its  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  has  been  one  of  the  ujibuilders 
of  Oakwood  townshi]),  ha\-ing  broken  more 
land  than  any  other  man  within  its  borders, 
while  he  has  made  as  many  rails  as  any  one 
living  here.  In  the  improvement  of  the 
county  he  has  taken  a  deep  interest  and  he 
well  deserves  mention  among  the  early  set- 
tlers. 


RICHARD  A.  CLOYD,  M.  D. 

Through  a  longer  period  than  any  other 
physician  in  Catlin,  Dr.  Richard  A.  Cloyd 
practiced  his  profession  in  this  place.  He 
was  born  in  Georgetown,  Illinois,  May  24. 
1864,  and  is  a  son  of  John  P.  Cloyd,  a 
leading  physician  of  Vermilion  county.  The 
paternal  grandparents  were  William  and 
Julia  (Northington)  Cloyd,  the  former  a 
native  of  Washington  county.  Tennessee, 
an<l  the  latter  of  Virginia.  William  Cloyd 
was  a  wagon  manufacturer  and  made  the 
celebrated  six-horse  wagon,  known  as  the  old 
schooner.  He  died  in  1848.  leaving  a  wid- 
ow and  three  children,  John  V..  David  G., 
and  James  W.  After  John  J',  reached  man- 
hood his  mother  married  again  and  by  that 
union  there  was  one  child.  She  died  in 
Greenville,  Tennessee,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 


520 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


seven  years.  William  Cloyd,  an  uncle  of 
our  subject,  is  a  practicing  physician  of  east- 
ern Tennessee. 

John  P.  Cloyd  has  been  a  resident  of 
Georgetown  since  1869.  He  pursued  his 
studies  in  Rhea  Academy  at  Greenville. 
Tennessee,  where  he  completed  a  prepara- 
tory course  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years 
he  l^ecame  a  student  in  W^ashington  county, 
Tennessee.  At  the  close  of  the  first  term 
he  started  for  Vermilion  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
two  years  and  in  1859  he  came  to  Illinois, 
following  the  profession,  teaching  in  this 
state  until  1864.  He  then  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College 
and  after  pursuing  two  courses  of  lectures 
was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1S69.  Three 
and  one-half  years  prior  to  recei\ing  his  di- 
ploma, however,  he  had  begun  the  practice 
of  medicine  at  Yankee  Point,  but  since  he 
graduated  he  has  been  located  in  George- 
town and  is  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  of 
the  count}-.  In  1859  Dr.  Cloyd  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  Golden,  a  na- 
tive of  \'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Alice  (Frazier)  Gol- 
den, who  removed  from  eastern  Tennessee 
to  \'ermilion  county,  becoming  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Elwood  township.  Unto  the  mar- 
riage of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Cloyd  have  been  boni 
five  children,  namely:  Richard:  Belle,  the 
wife  of  Rev.  D.  G.  Murray,  of  Texas;  F, 
N.,  a  practicing  physicain  of  Westville,  Illi- 
nois, who  married  Jessie  Summers,  a  native 
of  East  Park,  Indiana,  by  whom  he  has  one 
child,  Mildred :  Grace  D.,  the  wife  of  C.  E. 
Pritchard.  of  Georgetown:  and  John,  who 
is  now  a  student  of  dentistr\^  in  Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana.  The  father.  Dr.  Cloyd,  is  a 
ver\-  prominent  !Mason,  belonging  to  the 
lodge    in    Georgetown    and    to    Athelstan 


Commandery  in  Danville.  He  is  also  a  cha- 
ter  member  of  the  ^'ermilion  County  ^lec- 
cal  Association  and  in  his  political  views  s 
a  Democrat. 

Dr.  Richard  A.  Cloyd  acquired  his  pi- 
mar}'  education  in  the  schools  of  Georg- 
town,  and  after  completing  a  high  schol 
course  there  entered  \\'abash  College  t 
Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  as  a  member  e 
the  class  of  \S6.  Later  he  attended  the  Eas- 
ern  Illinois  College,  after  which  he  engagd 
in  teaching  for  three  xears  preparatory  D 
becoming  a  medical  student.  He  taugh 
school  altogether  for  eight  jears.  He  spec 
one  year  in  Rush  Medical  College  of  Cl> 
cago.  and  in  the  class  of  1890  he  was  grai- 
uated  in  the  Indiana  ^ledical  College  c 
Indianapolis.  Subsequently  he  entered  th 
\\'abash  Railway  Hospital  at  Peru,  Indian; 
where  he  acted  as  house  surgeon  for  tw 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  h 
returned  to  his  native  county,  locating  1 
Catlin.  where  he  has  since  successfully  ei 
gaged  in  practice,  securing  a  good  patror 
age.  He  is  a  member  of  the  \^ermilio 
County  Medical  Association  and  the  Sydei 
ham  Medical  Society  of  Indianapolis  an 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society.  He  thu 
keeps  in  touch  with  the  advanced  though 
and  knowledge  of  the  profession  and  is  cor 
tinually  augmenting  his  efficiency  by  thi 
means  and  through  personal  reading  an 
investigation.  He  was  president  of  the  pei 
sion  board  of  examining  surgeons,  to  whic 
he  was  appointed  in  1895,  and  in  that  c? 
pacity  he  served  until  the  end  of  the  pres- 
dential  administration.  He  is  now  servin: 
as  examining  physician  for  Woodma 
Camp,  Xo.  431,  and  is  examiner  for  twelv 
of  the  large  eastern  old  line  insurance  com 
panics. 

Dr.   Cloyd  was  married  in   Chicago  ii 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


527 


1897  to  Miss  ^lay  Terpeiiing,  a  daughter  of 
D.  H.  Terpening,  who  was  horn  in  the  Em- 
pire state  and  whose  wife,  who  hore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  Pritchard,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Xorth  Carohna.  Mrs.  Cloyd  is  a 
lady  of  superior  cuhure  and  refinement  and 
is  one  of  the  popular  residents  of  \'ermilion 
county.  She  graduated  from  the  Catlin 
schools,  diligently  pursuing  her  studies  un- 
til she  had  successfully  passed  an  examina- 
tion, which  prepared  her  to  become  a  teach- 
er. When  only  sixteen  years  of  age  she  be- 
gan teaching  and  was  very  successful  and 
popular  as  an  educator.  She  has  also  grad- 
uated from  the  Chautauqua  course  of  study 
and  attends  many  of  the  annual  meetings  of 
the  Chautauqua  circle.  She  has  gained  a 
wide  reputation  as  a  reader  of  marked  abil- 
ity and  has  won  several  gold  medals  in  ora- 
torical contests,  including  the  Demorest 
grand  medal.  .She  does  excellent  crayon 
work,  but  is  more  widely  known  because  of 
her  elocution,  which  ranks  her  among  the 
best  representati\es  of  the  art. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Phi 
Gamma  Delta,  a  college  fraternity  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana.  \\'hile  engaged  in 
teaching  school  he  enlisted  an  the  loth  of 
August,  1RS.J.  in  Battery  A,  of  the  Illinois 
National  Cniartl  under  Captain  Edwin  Win- 
ter, serving  until  August  8.  1888,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  by  special  order 
on  account  of  disability.  b'ratcrnally  the 
Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias Lodge  of  Georgetown,  the  Improxcd 
Order  of  Red  'Slen  at  Catlin,  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity  of  Catlin.  He  has  passed  all  of  the 
chairs  in  the  Odd  I'ellows  Lodge  and  is  its 
medical  examiner.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  and 
Athelstan  Commandery  in  Danville,  and  of 


the  Benevolent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Rebckah 
degree  of  the  Odd  Fellows  society,  the  Roy- 
al Neighbors  anil  Eastern  Star.  Dr.  Cloyd 
deserves  much  credit  for  what  he  has  ac- 
complished. His  education  was  acciuired 
through  his  own  efforts,  his  labors  bringing 
to  him  the  fund  suflicient  to  meet  his  ex- 
penses of  a  college  course.  In  his  profes- 
sion he  ranks  high  and  has  strict  regard  for 
professional  ethics  and  at  the  same  time  pos- 
sessing marked  ability  in  administering  to 
the  needs  of  the  sick.  In  jxilitical  faith  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  is  a  public-spirited  and 
popular  citizen  of  Catlin. 


TOSTAH   RUSK. 


It  would  be  impossible  to  give  an  ac- 
curate account  of  business  development  in 
Hoopeston  without  mention  of  Josiah  Rusk, 
who  occupies  a  most  envialjle  ])osition  in  in- 
dustrial and  financial  circles  owing  to  his 
honorable,  straightforward  business  policy 
as  well  as  to  the  brilliant  success  he  has 
achieved.  He  was  born  in  Fountain  county. 
Indiana,  November  11,  1838.  His  father; 
Benjamin  Rusk,  was  a  pioneer  of  Fountain 
county,  settling  there  at  an  early  day  amid 
the  wild  woods  where  he  secured  one  bun 
dred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He  (hed  when 
our  subject  was  less  than  a  year  old  and  his 
widow  afterward  became  the  wife  of  .Xbra 
ham  Do\e.  Three  children  were  born  of 
this  union,  of  whom  two  are  living,  David 
AV.  and  William.  George  Dove,  the  olde.st 
of  the  three  children  of  the  second  marriage 
was  for  many  years  a  prominent  resident  of 
Hoopeston,  where  he  died. 

Josiah   Rusk  was   reared   in    Richmond 
township.    Fountain    county,    Indiana,    re- 


528 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


niaining  with  his  mother  after  his  father's 
death  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  acquired  a  common-school  education  and 
on  attaining  his  majority  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself,  going  to  Kansas.  He  there 
purchased  land  and  made  a  prospecting  toin^ 
over  the  state.  After  holding  his  property 
in  the  west  for  about  seven  years  he  sold  out. 
Inheriting  some  land  in  his  native  county. 
he  lived  upon  the  farm  upon  which  he  was 
reared,  devoting  his  attention  with  marked 
energA-  to  its  cultivation.  The  old  home 
place  comprised  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
and  later  he  added  to  this  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  remaining  on  the 
farm  for  four  years.  After  his  marriage  he 
took  up  his  abode  near  Covington,  Indiana, 
and  later  sold  his  original  property.  About 
seven  miles  from  the  city  of  Covington  he 
bought  two  hundred  and  eight  acres,  part 
of  which  was  improved,  while  the  remainder 
was  covered  with  timber.  There  he  con- 
tinued his  work  as  an  agriculturist  until 
1S89,  when  he  came  to  Hoopeston,  in  the 
meantime  having  transformed  his  property 
into  a  verv'  valuable  and  productive  fann. 
His  wife  had  inherited  three  eighty-acre 
tracts  of  land  sotitheast  of  Hoopeston  and 
our  subject  purchased  four  hundred  acres 
in  this  locality.  Subsequently,  by  additional 
purchase,  he  secured  a  tract  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  and  still  later  he  bought 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  adjoining 
Talbot,  Indiana.  He  also  purchased  another 
eighty  acres  in  Grant  township,  Vermilion 
county.  Thus  from  time  to  time  he  increased 
his  realty  possessions  until  they  became 
quite  extensive.  Now  all  of  this  land  with 
the  exception  of  eighty  acres  in  Grant  town- 
ship, the  Talbot  farm  and  his  town  prop- 
erty, has  been  divided  among  his  five  chil- 
dren. 


On  the  20th  of  April,  1862,  in  Indiana, 
I\Ir.  Rusk  was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Nliss 
IMalinda  Brown,  wlio  was  born  and  reared 
in  the  neighborhood  in  which  her  husband 
spent  his  early  life.  Her  parents  were  Jacob 
and  Susan  Brown,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  They  were  pioneer  farmers  of 
this  section  of  Indiana  and  at  the  time  of 
their  death  had  become  well-to-do.  in  fact 
were  considered  in  splendid  circumstances 
for  that  period.  Her  father  entered  about 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  \^ermilion 
county,  but  retained  his  residence  in  Foun- 
tain county.  There  he  died  in  1884,  after 
which  the  mother  lived  among  her  children 
and  died  in  Hoopeston,  October  17,  1895. 
]\Irs.  Rusk  has  one  sister,  Mrs.  Miranda 
Dove,  of  Hoopeston.  In  the  family  there 
were  originally  four  children.  Mrs.  Rusk 
being  the  third.  Our  subject  was  one  of 
three  children  and  has  a  living  brother, 
James,  also  one  sister,  Ellen  Roher.  de- 
ceased, who  invented  the  New  remedy  for 
the  lungs.  Xoah  Brown,  a  brother  of  Mrs. 
Rusk,  came  to  Hoopeston  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  town,  the  northern  part 
of  the  town  being  platted  upon  his  land.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  associated  with 
William  ]\Ioore  in  extensive  real-estate 
operations.  IMiss  Miranda  Brown,  the  sis- 
ter of  the  wife  of  our  subject,  married 
George  W.  Dove,  a  half-brother  of  Josiah 
Rusk.  Mr.  Dove  was  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  in  Hoopeston  for  many  years 
and  his  widow  is  still  living  here.  As  above 
stated  Mr.  Rusk  has  largely  divided  his 
landed  interests  among  his  children.  His 
daughter.  Sarah  Susan,  is  the  wife  of  Phin- 
eas  Rempster  and  to  her  he  gave  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  John,  who  married 
^laggie  Glover,  also  recived  two  hundred 
and     fortv    acres.     Ellen    is    the    wife    of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


529 


Charles  Reynokls  and  she  was  g'i\-en  one 
hun(h'ed  antl  sixty  aeres.  Albert,  wlin  mar- 
ried Ellen  Sherrin,  also  received  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  Miranda,  the  wife  ol' 
Karl  Matthews,  was  gi\en  a  (juarter  sec- 
tion of  land.  Mr.  Rempster  is  residing  near 
Cheneyville  hut  the  other  four  live  in 
Hoopeston.  John  Rusk,  the  second  child, 
is  the  inventor  of  the  Rusk  ex-ener,  and  is 
giving  his  attention  to  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  the  same,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
splendid  success.  Mr.  Rusk  of  this  review 
owns  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  property  in  houses  and  lots  in  Hoopeston. 
While  not  actively  engaged  in  business  af- 
fairs he  still  looks  after  his  farming  inter- 
ests and  his  town  property. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Rusk  was 
drafted  in  the  United  States  service  in  Rich- 
land township,  Fountain  county,  Indiana, 
but  was  never  sworn  in.  He  had  been  reared 
in  the  faith  of  the  Quaker  church  and  was 
therefore  opposed  to  war.  In  politics  lie 
was  formerly  a  Democrat  Ijut  is  now  a  Pro- 
hibitionist. His  wife  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  United  Brethren  church.  After 
her  marriage  she  joined  the  New  Light 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Rusk  held  memlier- 
ship,  but  both  joined  the  United  Brethren 
church  just  before  coming  to  Hoopeston. 
For  many  years  he  served  as  a  deacon  and 
was  very  prominent  in  church  affairs.  About 
1887,  however,  he  became  deeplv  interested 
in  Christian  Science  and  studied  the  litera- 
ture bearing  upon  that  subject.  There  was 
no  church  organization  of  that  denomina- 
tion here,  but  a  reading  circle  was  formed 
and  many  became  interested.  Mr.  Rusk 
also  took  lessons  in  the  Christian  Science 
school,  in  Chicago,  and  after  coming  to 
Hoopeston  he  was  among  the  leaders  that 
organized   the  society   here  and   conducted 


it  for  a  lew  years.  .\l)oul  iSyy  the  church 
was  organized  and  secured  a  charter,  there 
being  at  that  time  a  membership  of  fourteen 
which  has  now  been  increased  to  nineteen. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  leading 
S])irits  in  the  Iniilding  of  the  present  new  edi- 
fice, a  modern  church  building  which  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  between  seven  and  eight 
thousand  dollars,  including  the  ground.  The 
trustees  are  Michael  Hausz,  Josiah  Rusk, 
and  Charles  Reynolds.  Mrs.  Rusk's  sub- 
scription to  the  new  church  was  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  he  also  donated  twelve 
hundred  dollars.  He  was  the  treasurer  of 
the  building  fund,  is  clerk  of  the  church, 
and  his  wife  was  formerly  a  director  but 
later  resigned.  Miss  Stella  F.  Sabin  was 
the  first  reader  and  Miss  C.  H.  Catherwood 
the  second  reader.  Before  work  was  com- 
menced on  the  church  not  only  had  the  en- 
tire amount  necessary  for  building  been 
subscribed,  but  it  had  also  been  collected 
and  placed  in  the  bank. 

In  the  character  of  Josiah  Rusk  there  is 
something  he  obtained  in  the  early  schools 
where  he  was  educated  and  in  his  early 
farming  experiences  —  something  which 
might  be  termed  solidity  of  purpose  and 
which  is  a  characteristic  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. In  the  school  of  experience  he  has 
learned  lessons  that  have  made  him  a  well 
informed  man,  broad  minded  and  lil)cral  in 
his  view's  and  with  a  charily  th;it  reaches 
out  to  all  humanity. 


JOHN  JOHNS. 


The  name  of  this  gentleman  is  well 
known  to  every  early  settler  of  Vermilion 
countv  and  it  is  also  honorably   inscribed 


530 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


upon  the  pages  of  pioneer  history,  for  Mr. 
Jolins  settled  here  in  1829  when  this  portion 
of  the  state  was  vet  an  unlirokcn  wilderness, 
few  having  taken  up  their  abode  in  what  is 
now  Vermilion  county.  He  was  born  in 
Kentucky  on  the  25th  of  May,  1805,  a  son 
of  George  W.  Johns  who  was  likewise  a 
native  of  Kentucky  and  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  On  leaving  the  Blue  Grass 
state  he  removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  lived 
until  his  ileath. 

John  Johns  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  from  Kentucky  to  Vigo  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  and  there  was  reared  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  experiencing  all 
the  hardships  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
pioneer.  He  assisted  in  the  arduous  task 
of  developing  a  new  farm  and  there  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  until  1828,  when 
he  returned  to  his  native  county  in  Kentucky 
and  lived  for  a  year.  In  1829,  however,  he 
came  to  \^ermilion  county,  Illinois,  casting 
in  his  lot  among  its  first  settlers.  He  se- 
cured a  tract  of  land  in  Blount  township  of 
wild  prairie  and  timberland.  Clearing 
away  the  trees  he  prepared  the  fields  for 
cultivation  and  soon  made  extensive,  valua- 
ble and  important  improvements.  As  the 
years  passed  his  place  was  transformed  into 
a  fine  farm  and  thereon  he  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1866,  when  having 
acquired  a  handsome  competence  through 
his  untiring  eft'orts  and  capable  management 
he  retired  to  private  life  and  removed  to 
Danville,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death. 

Mr.  Johns  was  twice  married.  He  first 
wedded  ]\Iiss  Jane  Myers,  who  died  and  left 
two  children.  Charles,  who  is  em]:)]oyed  as 
a  clerk  in  the  Temple  Department  store  of 
Danville,  and  Amelia,  who  is  conducting  a 
millinerv  store  in  this  citv.     For  his  second 


wife  Mr.  Johns  chose  ]\Iiss  Alary  Humph- 
rey, a  daughter  of  John  Humphrey,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  removed  from  the  Old  Dominion 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  entered  land  from 
the  government  and  developed  a  farm,  to 
the  further  cultivation  and  improvement 
of  which  he  devoted  his  energies  until  his 
death.  By  the  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Johns  were  born  eight  children,  but  only  one 
of  this  number  is  now  living.  Sarah  is  the 
deceased  wife  of  Perry  Copeland.  Eliza 
is  the  deceased  wife  of  J.  H.  Miller.  Sue 
is  a  resident  of  Danville.  Martha  became 
the  wife  of  R.  S.  Partlow,  of  Oregon,  and 
has  also  passed  away.  Margaret  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Hacker,  and  her  husband  now 
resides  in  Danville.  William  H..  Emily  and 
Charles,  have  also  passed  away.  The  chil- 
dren were  provided  with  good  educational 
privileges  in  the  best  schools  of  this  city. 

In  his  early  days  Mr.  Johns  was  a 
Whig,  earnest  and  faithful  in  support  of 
the  party,  and  upon  its  dissolution  he  joined 
the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican  party  to 
which  he  firmly  adhered  throughout  the 
remainder  of  His  life.  He  was  quite  prom- 
inent in  public  afifairs  and  for  two  terms 
he  served  as  alderman  of  Danville  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  city  school  board. 
.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Danville 
and  he  took  a  deep  and  active  interest  in 
church  work  and  was  also  a  zealous  advo- 
cate of  the  cause  of  temperance.  The  first 
IMethodist  service  held  in  \'ermilion  county 
was  at  his  country  residence  in  Blount 
township,  in  1829.  His  influence  was  ever 
on  the  side  of  right,  of  progress  and  of 
Christianity.  In  matters  of  citizenship  he 
was  true  and  faithful  and  he  performed  no 
unimportant  part  in  the  early  development 
of  this  portion  of  the  state,  contributing  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


53' 


his  time  and  means  lo  many  measures  for 
the  general  good.  He  was  also  successful 
in  his  business  and  his  name  is  interwoxen 
with  the  early  history  of  Danxille  county 
as  that  of  a  man  whom  to  kudw  was  to  re- 
spect and  honor. 

Miss  Sue  Johns,  the  only  survix'ing 
member  of  the  family,  was  one  of  the  effi- 
cient and  successful  teachers  in  the  i)ublic 
schools  of  Danville  for  twenty  years.  On 
account  of  her  health  she  then  gave  up 
school  teaching  and  afterward  conducted  a 
private  school  in  this  city  for  several  years, 
leaving  the  impress  of  her  individuality 
upon  the  educational  work  antl  intellectual 
advancement  in  this  portion  of  the  state. 
She  now  owns  a  beautiful  home  at  No. 
428  Franklin  street  and  she  has  a  large  cir- 
cle of  friends  in  Dan\ille. 


FREDERICK  HACKER. 

Frederick  Hacker,  now  deceased,  be- 
came a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  in' 
1877,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  re- 
spected and  honored  agriculturist  here.  A 
native  of  Germany,  he  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  that  country  and  af- 
terward assisted  his  father  upon  the  home 
farm  where  he  remained  until  his  marriage. 
He  wedded  Miss  Eliza  Freis,  also  a  native 
of  Germany,  in  which  country  her  parents  * 
spent  their  entire  lives,  both  being  now  de- 
ceased. Fourteen  children  were  horn  unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hacker :  Fred,  a  carpenter 
residing  in  Danville;  Emma,  the  wife  of 
William  Evert,  a  brick  manufacturer  resid- 
ing in  this  citv :  Annie,  William  Ella,  the 
w-ife  of  Isaac  Keene,  their  home  being  with 
Mrs.  Hacker;  Caroline,  Johnie,  Eva  and  six 
who  died  in  early  childhood. 

22 


In  the  year  1862  Mr.  Hacker  came  with 
his  family  to  the  new  world,  for  he  believed 
that  he  might  have  better  business  oppor- 
tunities in  this  country.  Crossing  the  At- 
lantic to  America,  he  took  uj)  his  .'ibinle  in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  where  lie  worked  as  a 
laliorer  for  several  years.  He  had  a  sister 
li\-ing  in  \'ermilion  county  and  it  was  this 
that  induced  him  to  become  a  resident  of 
this  county,  in  the  year  1877.  .After  his 
arrival  he  purchased  a  farm  on  the  cild 
state  road  in  Danville  township  and  at  once 
began  making  impr(i\-ements.  there  carry- 
ing on  the  work  of  development  and  culti- 
vation throughout  his  remaining  days,  fol- 
lowing farming  with  good  success,  although 
owing  to  ill  health  his  sons  largely  relieved 
him  of  the  active  work  of  the  farm.  How- 
ever, he  supervised  its  management  and  his 
excellent  business  judgment  contributed  in 
a  large  measure  to  the  success  of  the  busi- 
ness. In  his  political  views  he  was  an  earn- 
est Democrat,  supporting  the  party  from  the 
time  he  became  a  naturalized  American 
citizen.  He  held  membership  in  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  clnu'ch  of  Danville  and  died 
in  that  faith  on  the  17th  of  October.  1891. 
respected  bv  all  who  knew  him.  He  never 
had  occasion  to  regret  his  determination  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  new  world,  for  he  found 
that  the  favorable  reports  which  he  had 
heard  prior  to  his  emigration  were  not  ex- 
aggerated. Taking  advantage  of  oppor- 
timities  offered,  he  steadily  worked  his  way 
up  in  the  business  world  and  gained  not  only 
a  comfortable  competence  but  a  good  home 
and  many  friends.  Mrs.  Hacker  is  also  a 
devoted  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church.  In  1892  sh  sold  the  Imme  farm 
and  removed  to  Danville,  where  she  is  now 
living  with  her  son-in-law.  Isaac  Keene.  at 
No.    1 1 19  Tennessee  street,   in  the  suburb 


532 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Germantown.  She  has  now  Ijeen  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
and  is  widely  known  here. 


ALFRED   ATW'OOD. 

Alfred  Atwood  was  one  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  Union  army  who  laid  down  his  life 
upon  the  altar  of  his  countiy,  for  though 
he  did  not  pass  a,way  on  the  battlefield,  his 
death  resulted  from  his  army  experience 
only  a  few  \\eeks  after  his  return  from  tlie 
front.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
1823,  and  when  but  six  years  of  age  he  was 
brought  to  Vermilion  county.  Li  iS.]/  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Diadama  Bloom- 
field,  whose  parents  were  neighbors  of  Mr. 
Atwood's  parents  in  Ohio.  He  had  been 
reareil  in  Pilot  township  and  in  early  life 
he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  some  time,  being  a  good  work- 
man so  that  his  services  were  in  continual 
demand.  Later,  however,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  farming  and  also  gave  consider- 
able time  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  as 
a  preacher  of  the  Christian  church.  At  one 
time  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  which  met 
in  the  Gorman  school  house,  was  also  pas- 
tor at  Burr  Oak  Grove  and  at  Craig  school 
house,  before  he  entered  the  army.  His  in- 
fluence was  widely  felt  as  a  potent  power 
for  good  in  the  community  and  his  labors 
resulted  greatly  to  the  benefit  of  the  moral 
development  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 

As  before  stated  Mr.  Atwood  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Bloomfield,  who  was 
born  in  Pilot  township  in  1832  and 
has  always  lived  here.  Her  father, 
Samuel  Bloomfield,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  or  Ohio  and  in  the  latter 
state      he      wedded      Margaret      Kirkham, 


will)  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  was  of  Irish 
descent.  1  hey  became  the  parents  of  twelve 
children,  ]\lrs.  Atwood  Ijeing  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth  and  four  of  the  daughters  are 
yet  living,  namely :  Mrs.  Xancy  Mozier, 
Mrs.  Eliza  blasters;  and  ]\Iargaret,  who  is 
living  with  her  sister,  ]\Irs.  Atwood.  At 
an  early  day  the  father  came  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling near  Georgetown  in  \'erinilion  county 
and  subsequently  he  removed  to  Pilot  town- 
ship. His  remaining  days  were  here  passed, 
his  death  occurring  upon  the  farm  in  Pilot 
township  that  is  now  occupied  by  Isaac  At- 
wood. His  widow  survived  him  for  some 
time  and  spent  her  last  days  in  the  home  of 
a  daughter  in  Missouri. 

i\Irs.  Atwood  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict school  and  reared  under  the  parental 
roof.  After  her  father's  death  she  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the 
old  home  place  of  ninety-two  acres  and  she 
secured  forty  acres  through  the  division  of 
the  estate.  They  lived  upon  the  home  farm 
and  ]\Ir.  Atwood  not  only  supervised  the 
management  of  the  property  but  also  la- 
bored earnestl)'  for  the  promotion  of  the 
cause  of  Christianity.  He  was  an  earnest 
speaker,  full  of  zeal  for  his  religion  and  the 
cause  of  the  Master  found  in  him  an  able 
exponent,  who  taught  by  example  as  well 
as  precept. 

After  the  inauguration  of  the  Civil  war 
Mr.  Atwood  enlisted  for  three  years'  ser- 
vice, but  returned  home  before  his  time  had 
expired,  owing  to  ill  health.  He  was  in  a 
hospital  for  nearly  a  year,  being  first  in  a 
hospital  in  Kentucky,  whence  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Chicago  and  there  he  was  hon- 
orablv  discharged.  He  had  joined  the  army 
as  a  member  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  under 
the  ciiniinand  of  Captain  Vinson  and  Cap- 
tain  Harmon.      He  joined   the  army  as   a 


LiBRAny 
Of  r.iE 

U;<IViifii,nV'  C;-  ILLINO'S 


MRS.  DIADAMA  ATWOOD. 


ALFRED   ATWOOD. 


L,  Y 

Or    i.'E 

UKlVERSrtV  CF  ll.UNO!£ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


537 


private  but  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
orderly  sergeant  at  Danville  before  the  reg- 
iment was  sent  to  the  front.  He  participat- 
ed in  no  battles,  iiis  regiment  being  held  in 
reserve.  His  health,  however,  was  under- 
mined through  the  hardships  and  exposures 
of  army  life  antl  he  lived  only  twelve  weeks 
after  his  return,  passing  away  on  the  2d  of 
June,  1865.  In  his  political  views  he  was 
an  earnest  Republican  and  in  all  life's  rela- 
itons  was  found  true  to  his  honest  convic- 
tions, never  faltering  in  the  pursuance  of  a 
course  which  he  believed  to  be  an  honorable 
one.  He  left  to  his  family  the  priceless  her- 
itage of  an  untarnished  name  and  his  ex- 
ample is  still  a  potent  influence  for  good  in 
tlie  lives  of  those  who  knew  him. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atwood  were  born 
four  children.  I\[ary  Margaret  became  the 
wife  of  George  Johnson,  of  Danville,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Diadama,  Lulu, 
Elmer  and  Alfred.  Isaac  J.,  of  Pilot  town- 
ship, married  Rachel  Johnson,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Edna  and  Charlie.  Sam- 
uel A.  married  Belle  Goodner,  of  Pilot 
township,  and  their  children  are  George  A., 
Maude  V.,  Robert  and  Walter.  James 
William,  also  living  in  Pilot  township,  mar- 
ried Fannie  Brooks,  now  deceased,  and  they 
had  a  son  and  daughter,  Gilbert  and  Ger- 
trude May.  After  her  death  he  married 
Anna  Rickard,  and  they  have  one  child, 
James  Russell.  Mrs.  Atwood  also  has  four 
great-grandchildren,  Palmer  and  Roland 
Craig,  Marion  Leland  Van  Allen,  and  Dor- 
othy L.   Atwood. 

Like  her  husband,  Mrs.  Atwood  is  an 
earnest  Christian,  for  thirty-five  years  hav- 
ing held  membership  witli  the  Christian 
church,  and  to  the  cause  she  is  most  de- 
voted, taking  an  active  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  its  growth.  Her  young- 
est child  was  but  four  years  of  age  at  the 


time  of  her  husband's  death,  so  that  upon 
her  devolved  the  task  of  rearing  the  family, 
educating  them  ;uid  preparing  them  for  the 
practical  and  responsil)lc  duties  of  life.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  ^Ir.  Atwood  owned 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  but 
before  the  property  was  divided,  owing  to 
the  capable  management  and  business  abil- 
ity of  the  widow  this  estate  had  been  in- 
creased to  three  hundred  and  seventy-two 
acres.  She  gave  to  each  of  her  children 
forty  acres  of  land,  retaining  possession  of 
one  hundred  acres  upon  which  she  lives  and 
she  also  has  eighty  acres  in  two  other  farms. 
She  has  always  been  the  manager  of  her 
own  landed  interests,  has  built  a  home  and 
barn  upon  her  place  and  with  the  aid  of 
hired  men  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
She  has  fed  as  high  as  forty-three  head  of 
cattle  of  her  own  raising,  and  has  sold  and 
shipped  much  stock.  She  has  always  han- 
dle<l  stock  since  her  husband's  death  and 
is  well  known  as  a  lady  of  marked  enter- 
prise, executive  force  and  keen  busines  dis- 
cernment. She  certainly  deserves  great 
credit  for  what  she  has  accomplished,  not 
only  in  a  business  way  but  in  rearing  her 
family  of  children,  all  of  whom  are  members 
of  the  chmxh  and  arc  a  credit  to  this  ex- 
cellent mother. 


CHRISTOPHER   .MUL\AXV. 

Christopher  ]\Iulvany,  who  is  filling  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  engages  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Fainnount.  was  born 
in  eastern  Tennessee  on  the  71I1  of  April. 
1845.  Flis  father,  (i.  W.  Mulvany.  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  while  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  likewise  born  in  that 
state,  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Susan 
Stansberrv,    and    was    of    German    lineage 


538 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


her  father  liaving  heeii  born  in  Ger- 
many. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mulvany  were  mar- 
ried in  Tennessee  and  there  lie  carried 
on  farming  until  1853,  when  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Marion  county,  Illinois, 
making  his  home  there  until  June.  188 1, 
when  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  His 
wife  had  died  in  the  '50s,  during  the  early 
childhood  of  our  subject,  and  he  was  again 
married  in  i860,  his  second  being  with 
Annie  E.  Adams,  who  was  born  on  the  Ber- 
muda islands.  She  yet  resides  in  Marion 
county  upon  the  old  home  place.  Mr.  Mul- 
vany was  a  Democrat  in  political  affiliations 
and  his  religious  faith  was  indicated  by  his 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  ten 
children,  of  whom  five  are  yet  living, 
namely :  Catherine,  who  is  the  widow  of 
William  Hockaday,  and  a  resident  of  ]\Iis- 
souri ;  Christopher,  of  this  review :  Hiram, 
who  resides  in  Nebraska;  J-  H..  v.dio  makes 
his  home  in  Clark  county,  Illinois ;  and 
George  W.,  who  resides  in  Marion  county, 
this  state.  The  children  of  the  second  mar- 
riage were  five  in  number,  and  three  yet 
survive :  Wesley,  Florence  and  Asbury,  all 
of  Marion  county. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Marion  county 
Christopher  ]\Iulvany  pursued  his  educa- 
tion, l)ut  his  o])portunities  in  that  direction 
were  somewhat  limited.  He  was  only  about 
eight  years  of  age  when  his  father  came  to 
Illinois  and  here  he  was  reared  upon  the 
old  homestead,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the 
farm  until  the  4th  of  October.  1862,  when 
he  placed  his  name  upon  the  roll  of  volun- 
teers for  service  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
in  Salem,  Illinois,  as  a  member  of  Company 
K.  One  Hundred  and  Eleventh  Illinois  In- 
fantry, under  the  command  of  Captain  Jo- 
seph Shultz  and  Colonel  James  S.  Martin 


He  was  mustered  in  at  Paducah.  Kentucky, 
July  3,  1863,  having  served  for  nine  months 
before  being  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service.  After  his  enlistment  he  was 
ordered  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and  re- 
mained there  through  the  winter,  going  in 
the  spring  to  Fort  Hindman,  Kentucky. 
From  that  place  he  proceeded  to  Paducah, 
and  afterward  to  Eastport,  Alississippi.  and 
Pulaski,  Tennessee.  He  next  went  to  De- 
catur Junction,  Alabama,  and  on  to  Law- 
renceville,  Alabama,  after  which,  under  the 
commanil  of  General  Giles  A.  Smith,  he 
went  on  the  raid  against  Atlanta.  He  took 
part  in  the  engagement  at  Snake  Creek  Gap 
and  Resaca,  Dallas  and  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
and  afterward  proceeded  to  Rossville,  cross- 
ing the  ri\er  on  the  22d  of  July  and  taking 
part  in  an  engagement  at  New  Hope  Church 
on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  He  was 
afterward  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro.  was 
encamped  at  Camp  McPherson.  Georgia, 
and  then  followed  Hood  to  the  Chatta- 
nooga valley,  after  which  his  command  re- 
turned to  Atlanta  and  joined  General  Sher- 
man's forces  on  the  march  to  the  sea.  The 
next  battle  in  which  ^Ir.  Mulvany  par- 
ticipated was  at  Fort  McAlister.  after  which 
his  division  went  by  transport  to  a  point 
where  they  landed  and  captured  a  large 
number  of  supplies.  Throughout  the  Car- 
olina campaign  our  subject  followed  the 
old  flag  and  was  at  Raleigh,  North  Caro- 
lina, when  General  Johnston  surrendered. 
With  his  command  he  then  participated  in 
the  grand  review  at  \\'ashin,gton,  which 
marched  through  the  streets  of  the  capital 
city  and  passed  the  reviewing  stand  on 
which  the  president  stood  watching  the  vic- 
torious troops  who  had  saved  the  national 
honor  and  preserved  the  Union  intact.  In 
Mav  of  that  vear  Mr.  iSfuh-anv  was  trans- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


539 


ferred.to  Company  F,  Forty-eightli  Illinois 
Infantry  and  sent  to  Louisville.  Kentucky, 
where  he  remained  until  Jnne.  The  regi- 
ment then  proceeded  l)y  steamer  to  Duvall's 
Bluff.  Arkansas,  and  on  to  Little  Rock,  af- 
ter which  they  returned  hy  steamer  to  Cairo, 
Illinois,  and  on  the  15th  of  August,  1865. 
oiu"  suhject  was  honorahly  discharged  at 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois.  He  was  mustered 
out  on  the  15th  of  September. 

Returning  to  Marion  county,  our  sub- 
ject engaged  in  farming  and  remained  there 
until  August  18,  1881,  when  he  came  to 
l'"airmount,  Vermilion  county,  where  he 
turned  his  attention  to  teaming.  The  fol- 
lowing vear  he  began  work  for  J.  H.  Par- 
rish,  in  the  grain  business,  remaining  with 
him  for  se^en  years.  He  afterward  silent 
two  years  in  the  employ  of  Air.  Benson  in 
the  grain  trade,  but  during  that  period,  in 
1883.  he  was  elected  constable.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  chosen  justice  of  the 
peace  and  has  since  occupied  that  position. 
proving  a  most  capable  officer,  his  decisions 
being  strictly  fair  and  impartial.  He  has 
held  several  other  offices  in  the  village,  in- 
cluding that  of  clerk  and  village  attorney, 
and  in  his  political  views  Mr.  Mulvany  is 
a  stalwart   Republican. 

On  the  2d  of  October.  1866,  in  Paoli. 
Indiana.  Christopher  Mulvany  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Adams,  win 
was  born  in  New  York.  September  if. 
1850.  a  daughter  of  John  and  A.  E.  (Mor- 
tin)  Adams.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  her  mother  was  born  in  the 
Bermuda  islands,  where  they  were  married. 
They  located  first  in  Canada  and  in  1855  re- 
moved to  Farina,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
mained for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Adams 
being  engaged  as  section  foreman  for  the 
Illinois    Central     Railroad    Company.       In 


i860  he  went  to  California,  settling  near 
San  Diego,  where  he  resided  for  twenty 
years,  his  death  occurring  there  in  188O. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  church. 
His  widow  .afterward  married  (i.  W.  Mul- 
vany, who  died  in  1881.  She  is  now  li\ing 
in  Marion  county,  Illinois. 

L^nto  Air.  and  Mrs.  MuKany  ha\e  been 
born  seven  children  :  .\.  T..  who  married 
Anna  Crane,  by  whom  ho  has  three  chil- 
dren, and  resides  in  Marion,  Illinois,  where 
he  is  employed  as  house  engineer  for  the 
coal  company;  Etta  C,  the  wife  of  J.  L. 
O'Harrow,  a  telegraph  operator  of  I'air- 
mount,  by  whom  she  has  five  children : 
Charles  A.,  a  coal  operator  of  Riverton, 
Illinois,  who  wedded  Maggie  Menzer  and 
has  one  child,  Nora,  who  is  employed  in  the 
telephone  exchange  in  Fairnionnt;  M.  S., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  jewelry  i.)usiness; 
O.  H.,  who  follows  farming;  and  Gracie 
B..  who  is  employed  in  the  wall  |)aper  store 
of  Lock  &  Robinson.  The  last  four  are 
all  at  home  with  their  parents  in  l-"airmount. 

Mr.  Mulvany  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Camp  and  is  well  known  in  the 
town  where  he  makes  his  home.  For  eigh- 
teen vears  he  has  filled  the  position  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  no  higher  testimonial 
of  his  capability  and  his  efficient  service 
could  be  given  than  the  fact  that  he  has 
so  long  continued  in  this  office.  He  is  to- 
dav  as  true  and  loyal  to  his  duties  of  citi- 
zenship in  times  of  peace  as  he  was  when 
he  followed  the  old  flag  on  southern  bat- 
tlefields. 


DA\  ID  JOHNSTON. 

David  Johnston  was  born  in  Mason 
county.  Kentucky.  February  6,  1826.  his 
])arents  being  John  and   Sarah    (Matheny) 


540 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Johnston,  the  former  a  nati\'e  of  Kentucky 
and  tlie  latter  of  Ohio.  Her  father  was 
Ehas  Matheny,  who  served  under  \\'asliing- 
ton  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  They  re- 
moved from  ]\Iason  county,  Kentucky,  to 
Adams  county,  Ohio,  during  the  infancy  of 
our  subject  and  in  1844  he  came  on  horse- 
back to  ^^ermilion  county,  Illinois,  settling 
in  the  edge  of  the  prairie  a  niile  and  a  half 
from  the  present  site  of  Oakwood.  \VhiIe 
in  his  native  state  he  had  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  for  eight  dollars  per  month  and  he 
continued  to  earn  his  living  in  that  way  until 
1830,  when  he  secured  three  yoke  of  oxen, 
which  he  used  breaking  the  prairie.  That 
fall  with  an  old  Mrginian  wagon  filled  with 
apples  he  started  for  Chicago,  peddling  his 
fruit  along-  the  way.  In  1852  he  went  to 
Chicago  with  a  team  of  horses  and  brought 
back  a  load  of  shingles  for  a  neighbor.  He 
hauled  oats  to  Covington,  where  he  sold 
them  at  ten  cents  per  bushel  and  his  trading 
point  in  those  early  days  was  Danville. 

On  the  nth  of  Xovember,  1852,  Mr. 
Johnston  wedded  ]\Iary  Brittingham,  a 
daughter  of  A.  \Y.  and  Matilda  (Watson) 
Brittingham,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermil- 
ion county  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky,  Mr. 
and  ]\Irs.  Johnston  began  life  here  in  a 
primitive  way.  Her  mother  had  gi-\en  her 
a  bedstead  which  she  still  has  in  her  pos- 
session, cherishing  it  as  a  relic  of  those  pio- 
neer times,'  but  with  the  exception  of  this 
piece  of  furniture  all  that  the  little  home 
contained  was  made  bv  ^Ir.  Johnston. 
Driving  some  wooden  pins  into  the  logs, 
he  placed  thereon  some  boards  and  thus 
formed  a  cupboard.  All  cooking  was  done  in 
skillets  or  in  kettles  in  the  great  fireplace 
and  cornbread  was  baked  upon  a  smooth 
board,  placed  amid  the  coals. 

j\Ir,   Johnston   was   but   fourteen   vears 


of  age  when  his  mother  died  and  he  had 
nothing  with  which  to  begin  life  save  what 
he  made,  but  with  the  assistance  of  his  esti- 
mable wife  he  has  managed  to  not  only 
provide  his  family  with  the  necessities  of 
life,  but  to  secure  many  of  its  comforts. 
In  the  early  days,  when  riding  horseback, 
he  run  prairie  wolves  down  and  knocked 
them  on  the  head  and  he  has  seen  as  many 
as  twenty-tive  deer  at  a  time,  while  wild 
turkeys  were  to  be  shot  in  vast  numbers  and 
other  wild  game  was  plentiful.  The  picture 
of  farm  life  at  that  time  is  verv  different 
from  that  presented  at  the  present  day. 
Now  the  farmer  rides  over  the  fields  upon 
his  improved  plows,  cultivators  or  harvest- 
ers, but  in  those  days  he  walked  behind  hi-- 
little  primitive  plow  with  its  wooden  mold 
board,  using  rope  traces  to  guide  the  horse. 
There  was  also  a  wooden  bridle  and  a  rope 
head-stall.  The  reap  hook  and  cradle  were 
used  in  the  harvest  fields  and  corn  was 
dropped  by  hand,  Mrs.  Johnston  in  her  early 
days  frequently  dropping  corn  for  her  fa- 
ther in  the  fields.  [Mr.  Johnston  has 
cradled  grain  many  days  for  seventy-fi\-e 
cents  per  day.  He  is  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  the  county  and  there  is  little 
concerning  the  primitive  development  of  this 
section  of  the  state  that  is  not  familiar  to 
him.  His  wife  was  born  only  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  north  and  a  half  mile  east  of  her 
present  home.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  children,  but 
Matilda  J.  is  now  deceased.  The  son,  John 
W.,  is  a  resident  of  Oakwood  township. 
The  daughter  was  the  wife  of  David  Young 
and  at  her  death  left  a  daughter,  Mary  E. 
Young,  who  became  the  wife  of  \\'illiam 
Van  Allen,  a  son  of  John  Van  Allen  and  of 
this  marriage  there  is  a  daughter,  Grace 
Van  Allen. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


543 


It  was  on  llie  5th  of  2ilarch,  1857.  that 
^Ir.  and  "Sirs.  Johnston  removed  to  the  farm 
upon  which  they  are  now  reslchng  on  section 
I,  Oakwood  townsliip,  where  he  owns  twc 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  the  best 
improved  land  of  \^ermiHon  county,  all 
tiled  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultixation. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  \'iews  antl 
has  served  as  school  director  anil  path- 
master.  Both  he  and  his  wife  Ijelong  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  anil  are 
earnest  Christian  people,  respected  by  all 
\\ho  know  them. 


EDW'IX  MARTIX. 


When  twenty-five  years  of  age  Edwin 
Martin  came  from  the  old  world  to  the 
United  States  and  at  once  took  up  his  abode 
in  Danville,  where  he  li\ed  continuously 
until  called  to  the  home  beyond.  For  many 
years  he  occupied  a  creditable  position  in 
business  circles,  conducting  a  grocery  store 
which  brought  to  him  success,  making  him 
one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  ]\lariin  was  born  in  Bedfordshire, 
England,  October  29,  1845,  and  his  i)arents 
were  also  natives  of  that  country,  where 
they  spent  their  entire  lives,  but  they  died 
during  the  early  boyhood  days  of  our  sub- 
ject, so  that  he  knew  little  concerning  the 
family  history.  He  had  four  sisters  and 
one  brother,  but  all  are  now  deceased.  His 
educational  privileges  were  e.xtremely  mea- 
ger but  in  the  school  of  experience  he 
learned  many  valuable  and  practical  les- 
sons, and  early  realizing  that  advancement 
can  be  secured  through  close  application, 
faithfulness   and   laudable   ambition    he   re- 


solved to  make  the  most  of  his  opportunities 
and  work  his  way  upward.  Early  in  life 
he  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  mercaiUile  es- 
tablishment, and  afterward  in  a  large 
grocer  house.  In  1S70  he  carried  mit  his 
cherished  plan  of  coming  to  .America,  for 
the  reports  which  he  had  heard  concerning 
this  country  led  him  to  believe  that  Ijetter 
business  opportunities  were  here  afforile<l, 
nor  was  he  disappointed  in  the  hope  that 
brought  him  to  the  new  world,  lie  came 
direclh'  to  Danville  and  soon  secured  a 
clerkship  in  the  dry-goods  store  of  C.  B. 
&  J.  R.  Holloway,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  several  years,  when,  ha\-ing  aciiuired 
some  capital  through  his  industry  and  econ- 
omy, he  began  Ijusiness  on  his  own  account 
as  a  grocer. 

On  the  30th  of  May,  1S77,  in  Danville, 
Illinois,  Edwin  Martin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Laura  Giddings,  an  estimable 
lady  who  proved  an  able  assistant  and  help- 
mate to  him.  She  was  born  in  this  city, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Caroline 
(Kitchiner)  Giddings,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Bedfordshire,  England,  where 
they  were  reared  and  married,  Mr.  Gid- 
dings clerking  in  a  mercantile  establishment 
of  his  native  country  until  1837,  when  he 
came  to  America  and  established  his  home 
in  this  city.  He  then  began  dealing  in 
wagons  and  carriages,  and  retired  from  ac- 
tive life  about  1865,  spending  his  last  ten 
vears  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well  merited 
rest.  He  exercised  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Danville  Lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  was  honored  with 
ol^ce  for  many  years,  and  belonged  to  the 
Methodist  lipiscopal  church.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1875  and  were  laid 
to  rest  in  Spring  Hill  cemetery.     In  their 


544 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


family  were  nine  children,  of  whom  five  yet 
survive,  namely:  J.  \\'..  of  Danville;  Fran- 
ces, the  widow  of  John  Partlow  and  a  resi- 
dent of  this  city;  C.  H.,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Evanston,  Illinois;  Albert,  of  Dan- 
ville; and  Mrs.  Martin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gid- 
dings  were  people  of  genuine  worth  whose 
life  experience  developed  in  them  characters 
of  uprightness  and  honor  and  by  all  who 
knew  them  they  were  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin was  blessed  with  two  children.  Xellie 
is  the  wife  of  E.  C.  Thornton,  a  professor 
of  music  in  Danville  and  the  organist  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  fa- 
ther is  chaplain  in  the  penitentiary  of  Joliet, 
Illinois.  Professor  and  Mrs.  Thornton 
ha\e  two  sons — Edwin  M.  and  Jesse  D. 
William  E.,  the  only  .son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Martin,  is  now  a  practicing  denti.st  oi  Dan- 
ville, with  an  oflice  in  the  Temple  building. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Martin  contin- 
ued in  the  grocery  trade  for  a  number  of 
years  and  subsequently  retired  to  pri\-ate 
life,  having  in  the  meantime  conducted  a 
profitable  trade.  He  always  made  it  his 
habit  to  spend  less  than  his  income  and 
thus  year  by  year  he  added  to  his  capital 
until  he  became  the  possessor  of  a  verv  de- 
sirable competence,  which  enaliled  him  to 
rest  from  further  labor.  He  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  but  refused  to  hold  office, 
although  he  took  an  active  and  helpful  in- 
terest in  the  growth  and  success  of  his 
party.  An  exemplary  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  he  was  made  a  Mason  in 
Danville  in  1880  and  attained  to  the  Knight 
Templar  degree.  He  was  also  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  had  due  regard  for  the  obligations  of 
religious  life,  served  as  a  member  of  the 
official  board  of  the  church,  as  superintcml- 


ent  of  the  Sunday-school  and  labored  earn- 
estly and  effectixely  for  the  promotion  of 
the  cause  of  Christianit}-  among  his  fellow 
men.  Such  laljor  always  reacts  upon  the 
indi\idual  and  there  was  de\-eloi)ed  in  Mr. 
Martin's  character  nobility,  generosity  and 
benevolence  which  caused  him  to  be  revered 
and  respected  by  all,  awakening  the  regard 
of  those  whom  he  met  and  gaining  him  the 
friendship  of  many.  He  passed  away  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1885.  but  those  who  knew  him 
cherish  for  him  pleasant  recollections  and 
his  influence  is  yet  felt  as  a  moving  force 
in  the  li\-es  of  those  with  whom  he  was  in- 
timateh'  connected. 


MAHLOX   ALDRIDGE. 

Mahlon  Aldridge,  now  deceased,  was  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  upright  princi- 
]>le  who  enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence 
uf  many  friends.  He  came  of  a  family 
noted  for  their  patriotic  spirit,  and  the  same 
love  of  country  and  fidelity  to  duty 
prompted  his  service  in  the  Civil  war.  His 
great-grandfather  fought  under  Washing- 
ton in  the  war  of  the  Revolutioii.  His 
grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
181 2  and  was  with  Harrison  in  the  battle 
of  Tippecanoe.  Flis  father  took  part  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war.  being  a  member  of  the 
Home  Guard,  and  our  subject  joined  the 
L'nion  army.  John  Aldridge,  the  father, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  181 1,  and  was 
twice  mru-ried.  For  his  second  wife  he 
chose  Grace  "Williams,  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Anna  (Loveday)  W^illiams.  She 
was  born  in  Cornwall.  England,  January 
17,  1806,  and  came  to  America  with  hor 
father's  family,  in  1819,  settling  in  \\'ash 
ington,    D.    C,   the    following   year.      Her 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


545 


mother  tlietl  in  i8_'_'  and  the  father  renidxed 
with  his  fanhly  to  W'ihnington,  Indiana,  in 
1823.  The  daughter  became  a  memher  01 
the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church  at  Xortli 
Hogan.  near  Johnston's  ]\lih.  and  e\er  h\ed 
a  consistent  Christian  hfe.  On  the  iGth  ot 
December,  1825,  she  gave  her  iiand  in  mar- 
riage to  John  Powelh  and  unto  them  were 
born  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
wliom  one  is  hving,  Airs.  S.  A.  Cornehus, 
of  Sidell,  Illinois.  They  li\ed  happily  to- 
gether until  his  death,  and  in  1841  she  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Jnhn  Aldridge. 
By  the  second  marriage  she  had  Init  one 
child,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Malilon  Aldritlge,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  record,  began  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Indiana,  and  at  the  age  of  ten 
years  he  became  a  resident  of  the  vicinit 
of  Fairmount.  He  resided  in  this  portion 
of  the  state  throughout  his  remaining  days, 
with  the  exception  of  a  period  of  five  years 
spent  in  West  Lebanon,  Indiana.  In  early  life 
he  became  a  factor  in  the  operation  of  his 
father's  farm,  and  continued  to  assist  in  its 
cultivation  itntil  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
his  patriotic  spirit  being  aroused  by  the  at- 
tempt of  the  south  to  overthrow  the  Union. 
he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, as  a  member  of  Company  B.  Later, 
on  the  6th  of  August,  1862,  he  became  a 
member  of  Company  E.,  Seventy-third  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  in  which  he  held  the  rank  of 
sergeant.  He  took  part  in  many  importruit 
battles  of  tlie  war  up  to  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin, Tennessee,  on  the  30th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1864,  at  which  time  he  was  wounded 
in  the  shoulder  by  a  rifle  ball.  He  was  then 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Xash\-ille,  Tennes- 
see, where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  af- 
ter which  he  was  transferred  to  the  hospital 
in   Cairo,   Illinois,   where  he   remained    for 


ten  months.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term 
,ol  enlistment  he  was  honorably  disch:irged, 
the  war  having  ended. 

Jn  1865  Air.  .\ldridge  rctiu-ned  to  h'air- 
niount.  and  engaged  in  clerking  with  his 
father,  later  becoming  a  partner  in  the  store. 
In  1866,  however  their  business  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  and  at  that  time  our  subject 
removed  to  a  farm,  where  he  remained 
until  1871.  The  following  five  years  were 
sjient  at  West  Lelianon,  Indiana,  after 
which  he  returned  to  llliudis,  beginning 
farming  in  \'ance  township,  Aerniilion 
county,  where  he  had  two  hundred  acres  of 
good  land.  To  thei  further  dexelopment 
and  improvement  of  this  propertv  he  de- 
voted his  energies  until  his  death,  and  was 
a  progressive  and  leading  agriculturist  of 
his  community. 

On  the  6th  of  November,  1866,  Air. 
Aldridge  was  married  in  Logansport,  In- 
diana, to  Aliss  Alaggie  Braught,  who  was 
born  in  Alonticello,  Indiana.  September  12, 
1843,  '^  daughter  of  William  and  .Adeline 
(  Reame)  Braught,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Their 
marriage,  however,  took  place  in  Alonti- 
cello, Indiana,  where  they  began  their  do- 
mestic life,  the  father  following  cabinet- 
making  there  until  1850,  when  he  was  called 
to  his  final  rest.  The  mother  sur\-i\-ed  him 
only  about  two  years.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Republican  and  fraternally  he  was 
a  Mason,  while  in  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Presbyterian  and  long  filled  the  position  of 
elder  in  his  church.  In  liis  family  were 
three  children.  .Alva  \\'.  Braught.  the 
brother  of  Airs.  .Aldridge,  was  in  the  regtt- 
lar  armv  when  last  heard  of.  Her  sister, 
Mrs.  Caroline  Gr.aham,  resides  in  Gossport, 
Indiana. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  bom 


546 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


eight  children.  Charles  L.,  the  eldest,  born 
August  8,  1867,  is  an  official  in  the  state 
penitentiary  at  Joliet,  Illinois.  He  wedded 
May  Towner,  who  died  No\'eniber  9,  1899, 
leaving  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living,  Stella.  Edna,  Opal  and  Roy. 
George  L.,  born  ]\Iarch  15,  1869,  resides  in 
Fairmoinit.  John  W  illiani.  born  August  5, 
1870.  enlisted  in  the  regular  army  during 
the  Spanish-American  war,  becoming  a 
member  of  Compan\'  G,  Third  Regiment. 
He  was  in  the  sharp  and  sanguine  engage- 
ments at  Santiago,  El  Caney  and  Saboney 
and  was  with  Colonel  Roosevelt  and  his 
Rough  Riders  in  the  charge  on  San  Juan 
Hill.  He  contracted  yellow  fe\-er,  which 
reduced  his  weight  from  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  pounds  to  eighty  pounds,  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  his  service  on  the  24th 
of  August.  1902.  Clara  Belle,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27.  1872,  is  the  wife  of  L.  McAllister, 
a  farmer  residing  near  Indianola,  Illinois, 
and  thev  have  five  children,  Grace,  Claude, 
^'irginia,  \'eril  and  Aldridge.  Emma 
Blanche,  born  October  17,  1873,  is  the  wife 
of  W.  E.  ^Morrison,  of  Jamaica,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  two  daughters,  !Mary  ^I.  and 
Jessie.  Harry  F.,  born  March  2,  1875, 
married  Phebe  Hague  and  resides  in  Deer 
Lodge,  Montana.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
Cuban  war  he  eidisted  at  Pekin.  Illinois, 
in  Company  L.  Fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  but 
was  afterward  transferred  to  Company  H 
of  the  same  regiment.  He  remained  in  the 
service  until  the  close  of  the  w^ar  but  his 
regiment  never  left  the  L^nited  States. 
Mahlon  Ray,  born  February  i,  1878.  is  liv- 
ing in  Butte,  Montana.  Grace  A.,  born 
February  15.  1880,  was  married  on  the  30th 
of  April,  1902.  to  Charles  Dougherty,  and 
they  now  reside  in  Fairmount,  Illinois. 
]Mr.    Aldridsfe,    whose   naiue   introduces 


this  review,  was  a  stalwart  Republican  but 
though  he  believed  firmly  in  the  principles 
of  the  party  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote its  growth  and  insure  its  success,  he 
ever  refused  to  hold  office.  He  passed  away 
January  24,  1888.  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Fainuount  cemetery.  He  had  been  a  \alued 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Society  and  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  was'' 
a  man  who  in  all  the  relations  of  life  was 
true  to  upright  principles  and  of  sterling 
worth.  In  1890  his  widow  removed  with 
her  family  to  Sidell  and  in  1892  took  up 
her  residence  in  Fairmount,  where  she  is 
now  living.  She  now  has  in  her  possession 
a  birch  cane  which  was  cut  on  the  Tippe- 
canoe battle  ground  ^lay  20,  1840,  by  her 
father,  William  Braught.  That  same  day 
he  and  a  companion  killed  a  deer  and 
divided  the  horns.  A  part  of  one  of  these 
was  used  to  adorn  the  cane.  Mrs.  Aldridge 
has  been  offered  fifty  dollars  for  this  cane 
by  the  war  museum  of  Indianapolis  but  has 
refused  to  part  with  it.  The  Aldridge  fam- 
ily has  long  been  a  prominent  and  influential 
one  here  and  the  members  of  the  household 
occupy  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles. 


JOHN    M.  DOUGLASS. 

John  ^I.  Douglass  is  a  retired  farmer 
and  pioneer  settler  of  \'ermilion  county, 
living  in  Catlin.  He  was  born  in  Ripley 
county,  Indiana,  August  21,.  1823.  His  fa- 
ther. Thomas  W.  Douglass,  was  born  on 
the  Penobscot  river  in  Elaine  and  emigrated 
to  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  settling  near 
Rising  Sun.  He  married  Delilah  Payne,  a 
native  of  New  Vork.  and  they  became  the 
parents    of   twelve   children,   ten    of   whom 


U.xlV^r.oi.y  C-   ILLIKO.'S 


J.  M.  DOUGLASS. 


THOMAS    W.   DOUGLASS. 


OF  ;,,E 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


55^ 


readied  adult  age.  while  seven  are  yet  liv- 
ing", the  subject  of  this  review  being  the 
fourth  in  order  of  birth.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  on  coming  to  Illi- 
nois he  dro\e  through  the  black  swamps  of 
IncHana,  while  the  wheels  would  sink  into 
the  mud  to  the  hubs.  He  arrived  here  in 
the  spring  of  1830,  several  families  making 
the  trip  together.  Here  he  entered  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  tipon  the  sec- 
tion where  the  county  farm  is  now  located. 
The  tents  of  the  Indians  were  still  pitched 
in  the  forests  and  the  redmen  roamed  over 
the  prairies.  The  wohes  then  were  more 
numerous  than  rabbits  at  the  present  day 
and  there  were  many  kinds  of  wild  game, 
including  turkeys,  geese,  prairie  chickens 
and  deed.  The  Dotiglass  family  lived  in  a 
double  log  house  for  over  thirty  years, 
which  the  father  ha<l  built.  It  had  a  stick 
and  clay  chimney  and  wood  was  used  for 
fuel,  for  although  there  was  coal  in  abund- 
ance in  this  part  of  the  state,  its  utility  was 
ni.it  recognized.  Chicago  was  the  main 
trading  point  ant!  often  trips  w^ere  made  to 
New  Orleans  in  flatboats  with  cattle  and 
hogs,  business  being  conducted  at  various 
river  points  along  the  way.  The  father 
frc(|uently  hauled  pork  to  Chicago  and  re- 
turned home  with  salt  and  other  provisions, 
also  with  leather  to  make  shoes  for  the  chil- 
dren. The  mother  used  to  spin  and  weave 
all  the  cloth  for  the  clothing,  making  thread 
from  flax.  Fires  were  often  lighted  with 
punk  gathered  in  the  timber  and  ignited  by 
means  of  flint  and  tow.  Camp  meetings 
were  often  held  in  the  forests  where  the  tal- 
low candles  furnished  light  and  the  girls  of 
the  household  frec|uently  went  to  church 
barefooted,  carrying  their  shoes  until  they 
neared  the  house  of  worship  and  removing 
them  after  the  service  was  over.  Mr.  Doug- 
lass of  this  review  hauled  wheat  to  Chicago 


when  in  his  sexenteenth  year  and  at  that 
-time  he  camped  out  at  night,  forded  the 
rivers  and  carried  with  him  provisions  for 
the  trip,  d(;ing  his  own  cooking.  Such  a  trip 
consumed  seven  days  and  on  reaching  the 
market  wheat  was  sold  for  fifty  cents  a 
bushel.  He  \isited  Chicago  in  1846  when 
it  was  but  a  hamlet  and  Danville  contained 
only  a  few  log  cabins  and  one  store.  The 
father  died  in  the  village  of  Catlin  in  Octo- 
ber, 1865,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in 
September,  1856.  Three  of  their  sons  en- 
tered the  arni\'  and  but  one  of  the  number  is 
Udw  lix'ing,  he  Ijeing  a  resident  cjf  Kansas. 
yir.  Douglass  also  has  a  sister  in  that  state 
and  another  in  Iowa. 

John  ^I.  Douglass  attended  school  al- 
together for  only  six  months  and  diu'ing 
that  time  he  sat  upon  a  slal)  1)ench  in  a 
hewed  log  school  building,  lighted  .  by 
greased  paper  windows.  His  training  at 
farm  labor,  however,  was  not  meager  and 
he  worked  in  the  fields  with  a  ])low  ha\ing 
a  wooden  mold  board  anc'  cultivated  the 
corn  with  a  single  shovel.  The  single  rope 
line  was  used  in  driving  the  horses  as  leather 
harness  had  not  Ijecn  introduced.  The  girls 
of  the  household  would  drop  the  corn,  keep- 
ing up  with  the  plow.  The  grain  was  first 
cut  with  a  sickle  and  afterward  with  a  cra- 
dle. 

Air.  Douglass  w^as  but  seven  years  of 
age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
comity  and  when  he  attained  his  majority 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  was 
married  November  14,  1844.  to  Alahala 
Burroughs,  who  was  born  A])ril  3,  iS_'4,  a 
daughter  of  Jesse  and  Polly  (Wilson)  Bur- 
roughs. They  became  the  parents  of  nine 
children:  Judith  A.,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Tristler ;' Winiield  S..  who  married  Lizzie 
Clark;  Mary  Delilah,  wIkt  died  at  the  age  of 
two   vears;    Thomas    Wilson,    who   died   in 


552 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


infancy;  Clarissa,  the  wife  of  James  Clip- 
son,  of  Catlin  township :  Mahala,  the  wife 
of  Ciiarles  Birley.  of  Catlin  township :  Per- 
melia,  wOio  died  in  infancy ;  Armilda.  the 
wife  of  Richard  O'ConneU;  and  Esther, 
who  died  when  only  a  week  old.  The  liv- 
ing children  are  residents  of  Catlin  town- 
ship with  the  exception  of  W.  S.  Douglass, 
who  resides  in  the  village. 

John  M.  Douglass  of  this  review  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 1 6.  Catlin  township,  at  three  and  one- 
half  dollars  per  acre  in  1852.  His  son-in- 
law  now  lives  on  this  property,  which  is 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  of  the  coun- 
ty. It  is  equipped  with  a  fine  residence, 
substantial  outbuildings,  a  splendid  lawn  and 
the  richly  cultivated  fields  are  also  supple- 
mented by  a  forty  acre  timber  tract.  In 
1887  Mr.  Douglass  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on 
the  loth  of  October,  of  that  year.  On  the 
30th  of  November.  1892.  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Laura  A. 
Stone,  who  was  born  at  Irish  Grove.  Sanga- 
mon county.  Illinois. 

In  politics  Mr.  Douglass  is  a  Democrat 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Catlin,  with  which  his 
family  is  also  connected.  He  likewise  be- 
longs to  the  ^lasonic  lodge  of  Catlin.  He 
has  resided  in  the  village  since  the  fall  of 
igoi,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest  from  fur- 
ther labor.  He  saw  the  first  plank  laid  in 
that  village  and  has  witnessed  its  entire  de- 
velopment, in  fact,  lias  seen  nearly  the  en- 
tire growth  and  progress  of  the  county  as  it 
has  merged  from  the  conditions  of  frontier 
life  to  take  its  place  among  the  richest  and 
most  prosperous  districts  of  this  great  state. 
^Ir.  Douglass  is  now  in  his  seventy-ninth 
year,  a  venerable  man.  whose  worth  is  wide- 
ly acknowledged. 


ARTHUR  JOXES. 

Arthur  Jones  belongs  to  a  prominent 
and  highly  honored  family  of-  \'ermilion 
county  and  is  now  li\-ing  upon  a  farm  on 
section  20,  Elwood  township.  He  was 
born  in  this  township  on  the  5th  of  January. 
1879.  his  parents  being  Ira  G.  and  Rhoda 
J.  (Weller)  Jones.  The  father  is  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  in  his  boyhood  days 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana,  whence 
he  afterward  came  to  Elwood  township. 
\'ermilion  county.  Illinois.  He  represented 
a  family  long  connected  with  agricultural 
pursuits  and  was  the  youngest  of  a  number 
of  children,  but  he  is  now  the  onlv  sur- 
vivor. Ira  Jones  is  an  enterprising  and 
prosperous  man  who  has  conducted  exten- 
si\e  and  important  business  interests,  and 
he  now  owns  nearly  three  thousand  acres 
of  the  finest  farming  land  of  this  state.  He 
resides  in  Ridgefarm  at  the  present  time  and 
is  accounted  one  of  the  extensive  land 
owners  and  capitalists  as  well  as  a  citizen 
of  sterling  worth.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Indiana,  and  in  Newport  that  state  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  j\Ir.  Jones  whom  she 
then  accompanied  to  Illinois.  All  of  their 
children  were  born  in  this  county.  Mrs. 
Jones  had  three  half  sisters  and  three  half 
brothers.  Early  in  life  the  father  of  our 
subject  married  a  ]\Iiss  Connor,  and  there 
were  five  children  by  that  marriage.  By 
his  marriage  to  the  mother  of  our  subject 
there  were  the  following  children.  Perl, 
the  husband  of  Alice  Davis,  by  whom  she 
has  three  children,  is  employed  in  a  planing 
mill  and  lumber  yard  in  Ridgefarm; 
Prank,  a  resident  farmer  of  Edgar  county, 
has  two  children;  and  Arthur. 

Having  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the   common   schools,   Arthur  Jones   after- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


553 


ward  pursued  a  higli  school  course.  He 
was  early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  assisting  in  the  labors  oi  held  and 
meadow  iluring  his  boyhooil  da)-s.  On  the 
17th  of  September.  1902,  he  married  Nettie 
Cooke,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  F.  and  Dru- 
silla  (Campbell)  Cooke,  residents  of  Love 
township.  X'ermilion  county.  Her  father 
is  a  native  of  Indiana  and  her  mother  of 
Missouri.  They  are  now  following  farm- 
ing in  this  locality.  Their  children  are 
Mrs.  Jones;  Roy,  of  Indianapolis,  who  is 
now  twenty-one  years  of  age;  Mrs.  May 
Hughes,  who  is  eighteen  years  of  age  an( 
lives  in  Humrick ;  Clay.  Blanche,  Harley, 
Lura,  and  Glen,  aged  respectively  fourteen, 
eleven,  nine,  seven  and  four  years  and  all 
yet  under  the  parental  roof.  Mrs.  Jones 
was  born  on  the  ist  of  December,  1879. 
in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  after  attend- 
ing the  common  schools  continued  her 
studies  in  the  Bloomingdale  Academy.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Cumljerland  Presbyter- 
ian church  and  Mr.  Jones  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen.  In  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican and  is  a  young  man  of  energv 
and  enterprise  now  successfully  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  20,  Elwood  township. 
He  has  always  lived  in  this  township  and  is 
widelv  kmnvn   among  its  citizens. 


A.  R.  SAMUEL. 


A.  R.  Samuel  is  cashier  of  the  Second 
National  Bank  of  Danville,  and  from  a 
humble  position  in  the  business  world  he 
has  risen  until  he  is  now  known  as  one  of 
the  leading  financiers  of  the  city  of  his  adop- 
tion. He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, on  the  31st  of  !March,   1859,  and 


is  a  son  of  A.  R.  and  Catherine  (  Boden ) 
Samuels,  the  former  a  native  of  Wales. 
When  a  boy  of  twelve  years  the  father  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  locating  in 
Philadelphia  where  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  glass  manufacturer.  Subsequently  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manulactiu-e  of  glass  under 
the  name  of  the  Keystone  (ilass  Works,  of 
which  he  was  sole  proprietor.  This  enter- 
prise became  an  extensive  and  important 
one  and  contributed  to  him  a  very  liberal 
income.  He  died  in  1S71  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years  and  his  wife,  surviving  him 
until  1883.  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years.  In  their  family  were  seven  chil- 
dre,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
three  are  yet  living,  Mr.  Samuel  of  this  re- 
view being  the  youngest.  The  others  are : 
John  B.,  a  residait  of  California,  and  H.  H., 
who  is  li\'ing  in  Philadelphia.  The  maternal 
ancestors  of  our  subject  were  of  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family  that  resided  near  Harris- 
burg. 

A.  R.  Samuel  pursued  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Philadeli)hia.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  went  into  business  for 
himself,  thus  entering  mercantile  life  at  an 
early  age.  on  account  of  his  father's  failure, 
caused  by  the  wide-spread  financial  panic 
of  1873.  He  was  first  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  a  grocery  store  in  Philadel])hia.  receiv- 
ing three  dollars  per  week.  A  few  years 
afterward  he  went  into  a  bank,  becoming- 
an  employe  in  the  Western  N.ational  Bank, 
of  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  em])loye(l  at 
twenty  dollars  a  month,  giving  up  a  position 
of  thirty  dollars  in  order  to  accept  this  be- 
cause he  desired  to  learn  tlie  banking  busi- 
ness. He  first  acted  as  messenger  boy.  but 
steadily  was  he  advanced,  promotion  com- 
ing to  him  in  recognition  of  his  ability,  close 
application     and     trustworthiness.       L^poii 


554 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


leaving  the  institution  he  was  occupying  the 
position  of  cashier's  clerk.  In  November, 
1881,  however  he  severed  his  business  rela- 
tions with  the  east  and  came  to  Danville, 
arriving  here  on  the  30th  of  the  month. 
On  the  ist  of  Deceml)er,  1881,  the  Second 
National  Bank  sprang  into  existence  as  a 
result  of  the  organizing  efforts  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel, who  has  since  been  connected  with  the 
institution.  He  at  first  occupied  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  and  after  ninety  days 
was  appointed  teller,  while  within  a  few 
months  he  was  made  assistant  cashier.  In 
1 888  he  was  elected  cashier  and  has  since 
continued  in  this  position.  Upon  the  death 
of  \^'illiam  P.  Cannon  he  was  also  chosen 
vice-president,  holding  the  dual  office  at  the 
present  time.  He  has  been  a  very  promi- 
nent factor  in  the  growth  of  the  institution. 
He  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  banking 
business  in  every  department  and  in  every 
detail,  and  he  considers  nothing  connected 
with  the  institution  too  unimportant  to  re- 
ceive his  attention.  This  has  been  one  of 
the  salient  features  in  his  career  and  has 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  pros- 
perity of  the  institution.  He  has  always 
followed  a  safe,  conservative  policy  in 
handling  financial  questions  and  interests 
and  his  work  has  been  of  marked  benefit  to 
the  Second  National  Bank.  A  man  of 
strong  executive  force  and  excellent  busi- 
ness foresight.  Mr.  Samuel  has  extended 
his  efforts  in  various  lines.  He  was  for 
several  years  one  of  the  owners  and  was 
occupying  the  position  of  treasurer  of  the 
street  railway  company  from  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  in  1886  until  1900. 
when  the  plant  was  sold  to  eastern  capital- 
ists. This  company  also  controlled  the  gas 
and  electric  light  plant  in  connection  with 
its  realtv  interests. 


On  the  6th  of  Nuxember,  1889,  Mr. 
Samuel  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Gertrude  T.  D.  Daniel,  a  daughter  of  A.  C. 
Daniel.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  have 
been  born  two  children,  but  both  are  now 
deceased.  They  have  also  an  adopted 
daughter,  Rosetta,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  his  brother  John  B.  Samuel.  They 
adopted  her  legally  and  she  has  since  been 
a  member  of  the  household.  Mr.  Sam- 
uel is  a  man  of  broad  humanitarian  spirit, 
progressive  and  enterprising,  and  at  the 
present  time  he  is  serving  as  a  director  of 
the  Lake  View  Hospital.  Socially  he  is 
identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra- 
ternally and  with  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  In  politics  he  'is  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  has  served  as 
township  school  treasurer,  but  the  honors  of 
office  have  had  little  attraction  for  him  as 
he  has  preferred  to  devote  his  time  and  en- 
ergies to  his  business  affairs.  There  has 
been  nothing  sensational  in  his  career. 
Every  step  has  been  thoughtfully  and  de- 
liberately made  and  every  advance  has  been 
at  the  cost  of  hard  and  self-denying  labor. 
He  stands  to-day  a  strong  man — strong  in 
the  consciousness  of  well  spent  years,  strong 
to  plan  and  perform,  strong  in  his  credit  and 
good  name  and  a  worthy  example  for  young 
men. 


THOMAS  DUFFIN. 


Thomas  Duffin.  a  retired  farmer  and 
man  of  wealth  living  in  Grant  township, 
Vermilion  county,  was  born  in  Lincolnshire, 
England,  in  1831.  five  generations  of  the 
family  living  in  the  same  house  in  Lincoln- 
shire, and  the  old  home  place  is  now  occu- 
pied by  his  brother  John.    His  parents  were 


THE    BIOGRAPHIC.\I.    RECORD 


555 


John  and  Jane  (^Holmes )  Duffin,  who  spent 
their  entire  hves  in  England.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  thirteen  children,  ten  of  whom  are 
now  living,  the  subject  of  this  review  being 
the  eldest. 

At  the  age  of  nine  years  Thomas  Duffin 
left  school  and  began  earning  his  own  living. 
He  remained  in  Lincolnshire  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  and  on  crossing  the  At- 
lantic to  America  he  located  in  Plymouth, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  farm 
hand  for  a  year.  He  then  returned  to  his 
native  countrj-  and  while  there  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte  Arnold. 
Bringing  his  bride  to  the  new  world  he  then 
again  took  up  his  abode  in  Plymouth,  Ohio. 
In  1864  he  came  to  \"emiilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  at  nine  dollars  per  acre. 
He  now  has  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  which  is  under  a  very  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved,  with 
all  modern  equipments. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Duffin  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children  who  are  yet 
living.  They  also  lost  three.  John  H..  the 
eldest,  married  Etta  Carl.  George  wedded 
Lillie  Raridan  and  is  living  in  Grant  town- 
ship. L.  J.  is  the  next  of  the  family.  F. 
G.,  the  present  treasurer  of  Grant  township, 
married  Marintha  Smith,  a  daughter  of 
Rhodes  and  Miner\-a  (Cossey)  Smith,  who 
are  residents  of  Hoopeston,  the  father  being 
a  retired  farmer.  The  daughter  was  bom 
in  Indiana  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  one  son,  Russell 
Maurice.  F.  G.  Duffin  and  his  wife  have 
an  adopted  daughter.  Vena,  who  is  now  ten 
years  of  age.  For  some  years  F.  G.  Duffin 
engaged  in  teaching,  and  for  one  year  was 
principal  of  the  schools  of  Chenepille.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  engaged  in  studying 


law  in  Bloomington,  Illinois.  The  next 
member  of  the  family  is  P.  S.,  who  was 
principal  of  the  Lincoln  school  of  Hoopes- 
ton. and  is  now  a  student.  The  youngest 
member  of  tlie  family  is  Charles  A.  The 
three  sons,  F.  G.,  P.  S.  and  C.  A.  are  all 
graduates  of  Greer  College,  of  Hoopeston, 
and  the  wife  of  the  first  named  is  likewise 
a  graduate  of  that  college. 

In  1893  Mr.  Duffin  of  this  review  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  liis  wife, 
who  died  in  the  month  of  July  and  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Floral  Hill  cemeten,-,  of  Hoopes- 
ton. He  belongs  to  the  Church  of  England, 
while  his  children  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  Republican,  earnest  and  faithful  in  sup- 
port of  the  part)-.  About  five  years  ago  he 
practically  retired  from  fanu  life,  while  his 
sons  operate  his  land.  He  placed  all  of  the 
improvements  upon  his  farm,  however,  and 
they  are  the  visible  evidences  of  his  life  of 
industr\-  and  earnest  toil. 


CHARLES  M.  LEWIS. 

Charles  M.  Lewis,  an  architect  of  Dan- 
ville, was  born  in  Macon  county,  Illinois, 
November  18,  1873.  He  is  therefore  yet 
a  young  man  and  is  just  reaching  the  zenith 
of  his  powers.  His  business  is  annually 
growing  both  in  volume  and  importance, 
and  to-day  he  is  a  leading  representative  of 
his  line  of  industrial  activity-  in  the  city 
where  he  makes  his  home.  His  father, 
Charles  S.  Lewis,  was  a  native  of  Xew  Jer- 
sey, and  in  this  state  was  married  to  Xancy 
Clements,  a  native  of  Kentuck}-.  They 
located  at  Blue  Mound,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  for 
some  years,  but  is  now  living  retired.  He 
is  a  Democrat  who  has  been  honored  with 


556 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


many  local  offices  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  had  but  two  chil- 
dren, the  sister  ot  our  subject  being  Sarah, 
the  wife  of  Elton  Nichols,  a  resident  ot  Blue 
Mound,  by  whom  she  has  two  children. 

Charles  M.  Lewis  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Macon  county  and  the  business 
college  of  Decatur,  while  later  he  became  a 
student  in  the  Cniversity  of  Illinois,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  architectural  de- 
partment with  the  class  of  1896.  He  was 
afterward  associated  with  his  father  in  the 
lumber  business  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and 
then  came  to  Danville,  where  he  secured  a 
position  under  the  government  in  the  arch- 
itectural department,  building  the  Soldiers' 
Home  at  that  place.  Afterward  he  opened 
an  office  of  his  own  in  the  Temple  building 
and  has  since  made  his  headquarters  here 
and  has  been  connected  with  the  construction 
of  many  of  the  important  buildings  here. 
He  is  also  a  stockholder  of  the  Dan\ille 
Artificial  Ice  &  Cold  Storage  Company  and 
the  Western  Ice  &  Cold  Storage  Company 
of  Indianapolis. 

On  the  2ist  of  April,  1898.  in  Urbana, 
Illinois,  yir.  Lewis  was  married  to  Miss 
Marian  Wright,  but  on  the  23d  of  May. 
1899,  she  passed  away.  Her  father.  Judge 
P.  yi.  Wright,  was  a  prominent  member  o'' 
the  Court  of  Claims  of  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Lewis  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views,  a  member  of  the  Elks  Society,  and  of 
the  Sigma  Chi  fraternity  of  the  State  Uni- 
versitv. 


SAMl^EL    PERRY    LE  XE\E. 

Samuel  Perry  Le  Xeve  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  honored  pioneer  settlers  of 
Newell  township,  his  birth  haxing  here  oc- 


curred on  December  23,  1828.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Rebecca  (^Newell)  Le  Neve,  his  fa- 
ther a  native  of  Tennessee  and  his  mother  of 
Harrison  county,  Kentucky.  They  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  oi  Newell  town- 
ship and  of  X'ermilion  county.  The  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  William  Newell,  in  whose 
honor  Newell  township  was  named.  The 
father  of  our  subject  began  life  with  the 
motlest  capital  of  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
dollars  and  fifty  cents.  With  this  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  timber  and  prairie 
land  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre. 
He  then  had  remaining  just  thirteen  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  with  which  to  begin  house- 
keeping. He  made  rails  to  pay  for  the  first 
cow  he  possessed,  and  he  made  a  place  for 
tlieir  dishes  by  dri\-ing  pins  in  a  log  of  the 
cabin  and  placing  a  board  on  them.  This 
old  log  house  was  the  birthplace  of  Samuel 
P.  Le  Neve  and  he  was  there  reared.  John 
Le  Neve  came  to  \"ermilion  county  with  his 
parents  in  an  old  "prairie  schooner."'  The 
parents  settled  seven  miles  west  of  \'in- 
cennes,  on  Elliston  prairie,  and  there  spent 
their  remaining  days.  John  Le  Ne\-e  was 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  was  a  noted 
stock  man  of  his  locality,  raising  a  fine 
grade  of  stock  and  deriving  a  good  income 
from  the  sale  of  the  same.  He  spent  his  re- 
maining days  on  the  old  homestead  in  New- 
ell tounship,  and  his  wife  also  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  while  living  there. 

The  brothers  and  sisters  of  our  subject 
should  also  be  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  family  history  as  they  have  all  borne 
important  parts  in  the  development  of  the 
communities  in  which  they  have  resided. 
Samuel  Perry  is  the  oldest  of  the  family. 
Isabel  Martin,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
is  deceased.  William,  who  was  a  well 
known    and    honored    resident    of    Indiana,. 


Li:;n.;:^v 
Of    i,;e 

UNiVERsiry  Of  /llino;s 


S.  p.  LE  NEVE. 


MRS.  S.  P.  LE  NEVE. 


L  Y 

I 


UNIVEfiSliy  OFILL/N'OIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


561 


dieil  there  iNJarch  16,  1902,  after  a  life  filled 
with  good  deeds.  He  first  married  Emma 
Smith,  of  ChampaigTi  county,  Illinois,  by 
whom  he  had  two  children  and  after  her 
death  married  Minnie  Mills.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Emma  and  John  S.,  deceased; 
Santford  \\\ ;  Lilly,  Thomas ;  Samuel ; 
Laura  and  Xellie,  twins.  John,  the  fourth 
member  of  the  Le  Xeve  family,  is  deceased. 
Seraphine  married  John  S.  W'ebber,  a  res- 
ident farmer  of  Paxton,  Illinois,  and  they 
had  eight  children :  Perry,  deceased ;  Al- 
mond Flavius,  who  married  Hattie  Har- 
nett; John;  Ciiarlie;  Lincoln;  Julia,  the  wife 
of  Henry  Corbly,  of  Champaign  county ; 
Nettie,  the  wife  of  Frank  Voule  and  the 
mother  of  one  son;  and  Ross,' now  Mrs. 
Stanley  Sutton,  who  also  has  one  son.  The 
sixth  member  of  the  Le  Neve  family  is  Al- 
mond N.,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Leon- 
ard is  deceased  and  left  two  children.  Perry 
and  Belle.  Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy, 
com]iletes  the  family. 

Samuel  Perry  Le  Neve  of  this  re\-iew 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  on 
the  old  home  farm,  assisting  his  father  in 
the  spring,  summer  and  fall  and  attending 
the  district  sch(.)ols  during  the  winter  sea- 
sons. His  early  education  was  supple- 
mented by  attendance  in  the  Danville  high 
school.  His  first  attendance  was  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  where  they  sawed  off  the  logs 
for  Ijcnches  and  ]Hit  in  pins  for  legs.  They 
•had  a  long  desk  made  of  slabs,  and  the  light 
came  through  an  aperture  that  was  covered 
with  oiled  paper.  Later  he  entered  the 
Georgetown  high  school,  where  he  contin- 
ued until  his  senior  year.  In  1852  he  went 
to  California  by  way  of  New  Orleans,  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Isthmus  of  Pana- 
ma, crossing  that  neck  of  land  by  way  of 
the-  Chagres    river,    and     on     reaching    tlie 

23 


otlier  side  he  fnund  se\'en  thousantl  passen- 
gers awaiting  transportation  to  California. 
After  a  delay  of  nineteen  days  he  secured 
passage  on  the  John  J.  Russell  to  San  b'ran- 
cisco.  After  leaving  the  isthmus  he  was  out 
fifty-three  days,  during  w  hich  time  he  near- 
ly (lied  from  starvation  and  was  put  on  tm 
allowance  of  one-half  pint  of  water  per  tlay. 
At  the  republic  of  Mexico  he  remained  for 
twenty -two  days  and  later  he  purchased  a 
ticket  on  the  (lolden  Gate  steamship  and 
\\ent  through  to  San  Francisco.  His  first 
work  done  in  the  western  coimtry  was  in 
the  mines  of  Marysville,  California.  He  re- 
ceived eighty  dollars  and  later  one  hundred 
and  ten  dollars  per  month  for  his  services, 
and  was  finally  advanced  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  dollars  per  month,  being  em- 
ployed in  the  town  of  Marysville  at  the  time 
he  received  the  latter  compensation.  Later 
he  engaged  in  the  teaming  business  for  him- 
self, which  occu])ation  he  followed  for  four- 
teen years.  He  then  went  to  Nevada  City 
and  liecame  identified  with  the  stock  and 
grain  business.  After  this  he  made  his 
home  in  Virginia  City  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Le  Neve  then  returned  to  his  native 
county  of  Vermilion,  by  way  of  New  York 
city,  and  engaged  in  general  farming  on 
section  2^.  also  carrying  on  stock-raising  to 
a  considerable  extent,  dealing  in  shorthorn 
cattle,  as  well  as  good  grades  of  hogs  and 
horses.  Here  he  resided  until  he  retired  to 
his  present  comfortable  home  three  n'Jies 
nortii  of  Danville.  Mr.  Le  Neve  har  wit- 
nessed the  growth  and  development  of  this 
progressive  city,  which  as  he  remembers  it 
in  its  primitive  state  had  only  three  small 
stores.  He  has  I)cen  closely  associated  with 
the  u])building  and  progress  of  Vermilion 
county,  and  especially  of  Newell  townshiii, 
having  borne  his  share  of  the  work  which 
was  ably  carried  forward  by  his  fellow  pio- 


562 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


neers.  On  his  farm  he  lias  worked  with 
untiring  activity,  has  hroken  the  prairies, 
plowed  the  fields,  planted  the  grain  and 
reapetl  the  rich  harvests  resulting  there- 
from, and  to-day  is  one  of  the  foremost 
men  of  the  community,  honored  and  re- 
spected by  all.  He  has  been  able  to  acquire 
a  comfortable  competence  through  his  own 
exertions  mainly,  supplemented  by  the  httle 
assistance  which  his  father  was  able  to  give 
iiim  and  by  the  education  which  fitted  him 
to  take  his  place  among  the  leading  business 
men  of  the  state. 

Mr.  Le  Neve  was  married  March  8, 
1869,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Ad- 
eline Wilson.  She  was  born  in  Virginia, 
December  13,  1847,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Stump)  Wilson,  both 
natives  of  Virginia.  She  is  the  third  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  her  father's  family. 

Mr.  Le  Neve  had  many  exciting  experi- 
ences during  his  travels  in  the  western  coun- 
try, where  the  desire  for  gold  brought 
many  adventurers  of  a  dangerous  charac- 
ter, as  well  as  good  citizens  of  the  calibre 
of  Mr.  Le  Neve.  During  his  absence  he 
was  accounted  lost  for  many  years,  and  on 
returning  to  his  native  county  his  own  rela- 
tives did  not  at  first  recognize  him.  He 
settled  in  Pilot  township,  on  section  23,  in 
1868,  and  from  there  removed  to  Danville. 
He  owns  over  four  hundred  acres  of  the 
best  land  in  V^ermilion  county  and  should 
be  numbered  among  the  substantial  agricult- 
urists who  have  made  the  county  what  it 
is  to-day — one  of  the  richest  in  the  state. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Pilot  Grove,  in 
which  they  have  both  been  active  and  earn- 
est workers.  He  has  contributed  liberally 
to  the  sup]iort  of  the  churches  of  the  county 
as  well  as  the  schools  and  to  other  ])ublic 


enter]jrises.  In  his  political  affiliations  Mr. 
Le  Neve  was  first  a  Whig  and  upon  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  joined 
its  ranks.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the 
issues  and  questions  of  the  day,  both  polit- 
ical and  otherwise,  and  has  ever  a  good 
word  to  speak  in  favor  of  the  social,  moral 
and  intellectual  ad\-ancemeut  of  his  town- 
ship, state  and  county. 


JOHN  W.  MILLER. 

John  W.  Miller,  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Miller  &  Dye.  proprietors  of  marble 
works  in  Danville,  was  born  near  Des 
INIoines,  Iowa.  July  10,  1865.  a  son  of  Ellis 
F.  and  Martha  (Robinson)  Miller,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Montgomery  county, 
Indiana,  and  were  there  married.  The  fath- 
er was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  in  1862 
removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1866,  when  he  became 
a  resident  of  Vermilion  county,  Illinois. 
After  farming  here  for  three  years  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  the  town  of  Hoopeston. 
where  he  engaged  in  the  marl)le  and  gran- 
ite busines  until  1899.  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Danville.  There  he  died  July  23, 
1901.  He  was  a  Democrat  Init  not  a  poli- 
tician and  cared  naught  for  the  honors  and 
emoluments  of  office.  He  belonged  to  tlr 
Church  of  Christ,  in  which  his  wife  also 
held  membership.  She  died  July  23.  1887. 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery  of 
Hoopeston.  after  which  the  father  was 
again  married  in  the  year  1889,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mrs.  Mattie  (Knox) 
Copeland,  of  Potomac.  By  the  first  mar- 
riage there  were  eight  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living,  namely :     John  W. ;  Lyda, 


libra:^y 

OF    TilE 
UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


JOHN  LE  NEVE. 


MRS.  JOHN  LE  NEVE. 


UI^lVERCiVY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


567 


the  wife  of  George  P.  Wright,  of  Danville; 
Evelyn,  the  wife  of  John  Waffle,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio;  and  Lynnie,  the  wife  of  Lyman 
L.  Logan,  of  Hoopeston,  by  whom  she  has 
one  son,  Gail.  By  the  secoml  marriage  of 
Ellis  F.  ^Miller  there  was  one  child,  Panl  D., 
who  is  residing  in  Danville  with  his  mother. 

John  W.  Miller  obtained  his  early  edn- 
cation  in  the  public  schools,  after  whch  he 
began  working  in  his  father's  marble  shop, 
remaining  there  for  eight  years.  He  then 
removed  to  Danville  and  in  1894  embarked 
in  business  as  a  partner  of  F.  D.  Knox,  a 
connection  that  was  maintained  for  five 
years,  when  Mr.  ]\Iiller  formed  his  present 
partnership  with  W.  W.  Dye,  under  the 
firm  style  of  Miller  &  Dye,  proprietors  of 
marble  and  granite  works.  They  have  se- 
cured a  good  business  of  growing  propor- 
tions and  already  their  trade  has  brought  to 
them  a  gratifying  income. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1889,  Mr.  Mil- 
ler married  iMiss  Lina  Green,  who  was  born 
in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  March  23,  1867, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  E. 
(Rogers)  Green,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  They 
were  married  in  IMontgomery  county,  In- 
diana, where  the  father  devoted  his  energies 
to  farming  until  his  removal  to  Illinois, 
about  i860,  when  he  settled  near  Hoopes- 
ton, living  there  until  about  thirty  years 
ago,  when  he  retired  from  business  life  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  living  in  the 
town  of  Hoopeston.  In  politics  he  is  a  Pro- 
hibition Republican.  He  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  has  long  been  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  which 
he  is  holding  the  office  of  deacon.  In  his 
family  are  four  children  who  are  \ct  liv- 
ing: Titus,  a  resident  of  Hoopeston:  Wil- 
lis T.  and  Henrv  Clav,  who  are  also  li\ing 


there;  and  AJrs.  Miller.  By  her  marriage 
Mrs.  Miller  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children:  Netta,  who  died  in  1890;  Ruth; 
Herman,  who  died  in  1898;  and  J.  Franklin. 
]n  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  ]\lillcr  is 
inde]x'ndent,  \oting  for  the  men  and  meas- 
ures rather  than  tiie  party.  He  has  many 
social  relations  and  is  a  v.ilued  representa- 
tive of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Court 
of  Honor,  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  the 
Travelers"  Protective  Asscxiation.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Church  of  Christ  and  main- 
tains a  spirited  interest  in  whatever  tends  to 
promote  the  welfare  and  improvement  of 
his  city  and  county.  Fr(_)m  early  boyhood 
he  has  closely  applied  himself  to  the  busi- 
ness which  he  vet  follows,  and  now  his  trade 
extends  far  beyond  the  limits  of  Vermilion 
county.  Tn  fact,  his  patronage  comes  from 
almost  every  county  of  the  state  and  the 
prosperitv  which  therebv  accrues  is  the  just- 
1\'  nieritetl  outcome  of  his  own  work. 


WILLIAM  CRADDOCK. 

Among  the  residents  of  Sidell  who,  af- 
ter long  years  of  business  connection  with 
the  interests  of  the  city  and  community  are 
now  living  retired,  is  numbered  William 
Craddock,  a  most  responsible  and  worthy 
citizen  who  for  forty-three  years  has  been 
a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  and  is  very 
widely  and  favorably  known  here.  He  is 
a  native  of  England,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Northamptonshire,  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1 83 1.  There  he  was  reared  upon  a 
farm,  enjoying  Init  meagre  school  privileges, 
so  that  he  is  largely  a  self-educated  as  well 
as   a   self-made  man.      He   was   twenty-six 


568 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  new  world. 
He  liad  heard  favorable  reports  of  the  op- 
portunities afforded  for  advancement  in  this 
land,  and  hoping  that  he  might  more  rapidly 
secure  a  competence  he  took  passage  on  a 
sailing  vessel  which  weighed  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  Liverpool,  and  in  October  reached 
the  harbor  of  New  York.  During  the  voy- 
age they  had  encountered  some  severe 
storms,  one  lasting  three  days.  Mr.  Crad- 
dock  did  not  tarry  long  in  the  east,  but  pro- 
ceeded westward  to  Ohio,  there  joining  some 
acquaintances  who  had  previously  located  in 
Elyria.  In  that  locality  he  secured  work 
upon  a  farm,  being  employed  in  that  capac- 
ity for  two  years.  In  1839  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago and  then  came  to  Vermilion  county, 
where  he  was  employed  for  a  number  of 
years  as  a  wagon  boss  for  Kirkland  Broth- 
ers, coal  merchants.  He  remained  with 
them  for  a  number  of  years  and  then  with 
the  capital  which  he  had  acquired  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  industry  and  enterprise,  he  pur- 
chased his  first  land,  becoming  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  broad 
prairie.  This  he  broke  and  fenced  and  soon 
he  erected  thereon  a  good  dwelling  and  barn. 
After  a  few  years,  however,  his  house  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  but  he  replaced  it  with  a 
still  better  one.  He  continued  his  farming 
operations  upon  the  land  which  he  originally 
owned,  until  1894,  and  then  bought  resi- 
dence property  in  Sidell.  His  present  home, 
however,  he  purchased  in  1901.  Since  re- 
moving to  the  town  he  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing a  small  tract  of  land  of  fifteen  acres 
adjoining  the  corporate  limits  of  Sidell.  In- 
dolence and  idleness  have  ever  been  utterly 
foreign  to  his  nature  and  it  seems  impossible 
for  him  to  entirely  put  aside  business  cares. 
In  this  respect  his  example  is  indeed  worthy 


of  emulation  and  might  profitably  be  fol- 
lowed by  many. 

Mr.  Craddock  was  married  in  \'ermilion 
county  in  1865,  the  ladv  of  his  choice  ijeing 
Sophia  Miller,  a  native  of  Coshocton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Miller, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  removed  from 
the  Keystone  state  to  Ohio,  and  about  1850 
settled  in  Crawford  county,  Illinois,  whence 
he  came  to  Vermilion  county.  The  home 
of  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Craddock  was  blessed  with 
ten  children ;  James,  a  resident  of  Sidell 
township;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Neil  Culp,  of 
Sidell ;  Jacob,  who  is  operating  the  home 
farm;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Richard  Swank, 
a  farmer  of  Sidell ;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Tafflinger,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  of 
Sidell ;  Lucy,  the  wife  of  Robert  Hedges, 
of  this  place;  Alice,  the  wife  of  Roscoe  Ow- 
ens, a  farmer  of  Sidell  township ;  ]\Iollie 
and  William  R..  who  are  at  home;  and 
Frank,  who  is  a  student  in  the  schools  of 
Sidell. 

In  early  life  William  Craddock  was  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party,  and  for 
several  years  past  he  has  supported  the  Re- 
publican party  and  keeiis  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day,  although  he  has  never 
been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seek- 
ing. He  is  a  true  and  tried  friend  of  the 
cause  of  education,  believing  in  good  schools 
and  the  employment  of  competent  teachers. 
He  served  as  one  of  the  school  directors 
for  a  number  of  years  and  was  also  road  su- 
pervisor for  some  time.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  in  the  Free  ^Methodist 
church  and  are  deeplv  interested  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  uplifting  of  their 
fellow  men  and  to  the  support  of  the  cause 
of  Christianity.  From  pioneer  times  down 
to  the  present,  covering  the  period  of  forty- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


569 


three  years  which  embraces  the  time  of  his 
residence  in  the  count}',  Air.  Craddock  lias 
always  been  an  advocate  of  every  measure 
for  the  general  good  and  has  manifested  a 
public  spirited  pride  in  what  has  been  ac- 
complished in  the  county  as  the  work  of 
development  and  improvement  has  been  car- 
ried forward  and  \'erniilion  county  has  been 
transformed  from  the  wet.  unculti\'able  dis- 
trict into  one  of  the  richest  farming  sections 
of  the  state,  in  the  midst  of  which  stands  one 
of  the  leading  metropolitan  centres  of  Illi- 
nois, gether  with  nourishing  tnwns  of  lesser 
proportion  but  of  marked  enterprise  and 
progressive  spirit. 


JOHN  GERRARD. 

\Mde-awake  and  enterprising,  quick  to 
recogiiize  business  opportunities  and  to  im- 
prove them,  John  Gerrard  is  now  numbered 
among  the  leading  merchants  and  citizens 
of  Westville  and  is  successfully  conilucting 
a  general  store  wherein  a  liberal  patronage 
is  accorded  him.  He  was  born  in  George- 
town township,  A'ermilion  county,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1855.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Sarah 
H.  (Stevens)  Gerrard,  were  both  natives  of 
Indiana  and  about  1850  the  father  came  to 
this  county,  settling  on  a  farm  on  section  7, 
Georgetown  township.  He  was  then  nine- 
teen years  of  age  and  had  made  the  journey 
hither  witli  his  father,  the  latter  purchasin;^ 
a  farm,  upon  which  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  death.  The  father 
of  our  subject  also  engaged  in  farming  upon 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead  in  Georgetown 
township  and  subsequently  he  removed  to  a 
farm  near  Armstrong,  this  county,  contin- 
uing to  cultivate  the  soil  there  and  harvest 


his  crops.  As  the  years  passed  by  his  work 
brought  to  him  a  comfortable  li\ing  and 
he  died  February  13,  1886,  respected  and 
honored  l>y  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1880,  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  as  follows:  John; 
Eliza  J,,  who  is  the  widow  of  James  P. 
Cook,  and  is  living  in  Catlin  township;  Will- 
iam, a  retired  farmer  of  Georgetown;  Sam- 
uel, who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Danville  township;  Alexander,  who  was 
born  February  11,  1864.  and  is  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Catlin  township;  Sarah  Hannah, 
who  is  also  living  in  that  township:  Jacob 
and  Elzora,  both  deceased.  All  were  af- 
forded the  school  privileges  of  the  district. 

After  completing  his  education  John 
Gerrard  turned  his  attention  to  farm  work 
in  Georgetown  township  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged until  1 88 1,  when  he  went  to  South 
Dakota  and  took  up  a  claim.  He  resided 
in  that  state  for  six  years,  giving  his  time 
and  energies  to  the  development  of  his  farm. 
He  then  returned  to  A'ermilion  countv  an<.l 
in  connection  with  his  brother  embarked  in 
general  merchandising,  opening  a  store  near 
Grape  Creek.  This  they  conducted  for  some 
time,  after  which  they  sold  out  and  came  to 
the  village  of  Westville.  Here  the  brothers 
again  established  a  general  mercantile  store. 
which  they  conducted  in  partnership  until 
1 81)6,  when  our  subject  purchased  his  broth- 
er's interest  in  the  business  and  Inas  since 
Ijeen  alone.  He  now  has  a  large  and  care- 
fully selected  stock  of  goods,  ha\-ing  tlie 
most  extensive  store  in  the  village  and  he 
does  a  constantly  growing  and  profitable 
business. 

Mr.  Gerrard  was  married  in  this  county 
to  Miss  Mary  Alexander,  a  daughter  of  V. 
M.  Alexander,  also  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  this  part  of  the  state,  where  he  engaged 


570 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  farming.  He  now  resides  in  Danville, 
living  a  retired  life.  The  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gerrard  has  been  blessed  with  one 
child,  Bertie  Frances.  Our  subject  votes 
■with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  identified 
with  the  ]\Iodern  ^^'oodmen  lodge.  Xo.  2~. 
of  Westville.  also  with  Tribe  No.  120  of 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  in  which 
he  is  now  serving  as  treasurer.  His  wife 
belongs  to  the  Christian  church  and  he  con- 
tributes liberally  to  its  support.  He  gives 
his  aid  and  influence  to  all  measures  for  the 
general  good  and  is  a  progressive  citizen, 
recognized  as  one  of  the  valued  men  of 
West\ille.  He  entered  upon  his  business 
career  without  the  aid  of  influential  family 
connections  or  pecuniary  assistance  and  that 
he  has  won  a  creditable  position  on  the  plane 
of  affluence  is  the  direct  result  of  his  own 
labor. 


ROBERT    A.  LEEMON. 

Robert  A.  Leemon  needs  no  special  in- 
troduction to  the  readers  of  this  volume  for 
he  has  always  lived  in  this  portion  of  Illi- 
nois and  because  of  the  prominence  of  his 
father  and  his  own  sterling  worth  he  has 
become  widely  known.  He  was  born  in  Iro- 
quois county.  Xoveml^er  19.  1872,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  Leemon.  who  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  When  the  family 
removed  to  Vermilion  county  he  continued 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  this  locality 
and  later  he  became  a  student  in  Greer  Col- 
lege of  Hoopeston,  while  he  was  prepared 
for  the  responsible  duties  of  a  business  ca- 
reer as  a  student  in  the  Gem  City  Commer- 
cial College,  at  Quincy.  Illinois. 

On  the  28th  of  August,  1895.  Mr.  Lee- 
mon was  united  in  marriage  to  ]vliss  Bessie 


I.  Gilson,  who  was  born  in  Cook  county, 
this  state,  on  the  7th  of  April.  1875.  Her 
fatlier  is  E.  \\'.  Gilson.  a  resident  of  Chi- 
cago, and  she  has  three  brothers  and  one 
sister:  Sarah  Gertrude,  now  the  wife  of 
Eugene  Rinkenberger,  of  Chicago ;  Chan- 
ning.  Elmer  and  Lyell,  all  of  Chicago.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leemon  has  been 
blessed  with  two  interesting  children :  Dor- 
cas Irene  and  Allen  Wallace. 

In  the  fall  of  1896  Mr.  Leemon  removed 
to  Chicago,  where  he  lived  for  four  years. 
During  that  time  he  was  connected  with  the 
National  Biscuit  Company  as  wagon  sales- 
man, and  he  also  worked  for  the  Brink's 
City  Express  Company.  He  now  owns 
three  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres  of  valu- 
able land  in  Iroquois  and  \'ermilion  coun- 
ties. For  about  a  year  he  has  lived  in 
Hoopeston,  having  an  attractive  home  on 
East  Penn  street,  worth  about  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  He  is  extensively  engaged  in 
raising  fine  stock,  making  a  specialty  of 
shorthorn  cattle,  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  Shrop- 
shire sheep  and  standard  bred  horses.  He 
also  has  an  interest  in  twelve  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Scott  county.  Although  he  re- 
ceived from  his  father  a  goodly  inheritance, 
he  has  never  felt  that  it  released  him  from 
business  duties  or  obligations,  and  instead 
of  squandering  the  legacy  which  he  received 
he  has  made  it  his  effort  to  increase  this 
through  honorable  business  methods.  He  is 
to-day  a  representative  and  enterprising 
farmer,  and  his  land  adjoining  Hoopeston 
on  the  north  brought  him  an  offer  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre, 
which,  however,  he  refused.  In  December, 
1902,  he  established  a  dairy  business  and 
now  has  thirty  cows  in  his  herd  and  to-day 
has  the  leading  milk  business  of  Hoopeston. 
He  possesses  excellent  business  ability  and 


ROBERT  A.  LEEMON. 


LIBRARY 

OF   TrIE 

UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


573 


executive  force,  and  his  keen  discrimination, 
combinetl  witli  his  enterprise,  has  enabled 
him  to  carry  on  liis  work  to  a  successful 
completion.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
is  a  Democrat,  hut  has  ne\er  had  time  nor 
the  desire  to  become  an  active  factor  in  po- 
litical circles.  The  community  in  which  he 
lives,  however,  values  him  for  his  public 
spirited  interest  in  e\erything  pertaining  to 
the  general  good. 


■  GEORGE  PRICE. 


In  the  year  1833  George  Price  became 
a  resident  of  \'ermilion  county  antl  through 
the  long  years  which  have  since  passed  he 
has  manifested  a  spirit  of  citizenship  that 
has  promoted  the  general  welfare  along  pro- 
gressive lines.  He  was  born  in  ]\radison 
county,  Ohio,  August  19,  1834,  and  comes 
of  a  family  that  in  an  early  day  was  estab- 
lished in  Virginia.  His  father,  John  Price, 
was  born  in  that  state  and,  removing  to 
Ohio,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Rowe,  a 
native  of  the  Buckeye  state.  They  settled 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Madison  county,  the  father  there 
engaging  in  farming  until  his  death.  He 
had  become  the  owner  of  an  extensive  and 
valuable  tract  of  land.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
passed  away  about  1839.  His  widow  after- 
ward became  the  wife  of  Thomas  Green 
and,  removing  to  \'ermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, settled  in  \'ance  township,  where  Mr. 
Green  purchased  land  and  where  she  lived 
until  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1862.  Our 
subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children: 
Nancy,  the  wife  of  .-Xndrew  Shepherd,  a 
resident  of  Madison  county,  Ohio;  William, 
who  is  living  in  the  same  county;  Elizal^eth. 


who  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Goings  and 
resided  in  Catlin,  but  both  arc  now  deceased; 
Polly,  the  wife  of  Moses  Sheiihertl,  of  Tilton, 
Illinois;  Susan,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Wesley  Cheshire  and  resided  in  Indianola 
Iowa,  but  both  are  now  deceased;  John, 
who  resides  in  Homer,  Illinois;  Gertrude, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  Shoemaker, 
and  li\ed  in  Madison  count\',  ( )hio.  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond;  (ieorge,  the  next 
of  the  family;  and  Abraham  and  Fannie, 
who  are  deceased. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity  George 
Price  pvu'sued  his  education  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  although  his  school  privileges 
were  somewhat  meager  e\en  during  that 
period.  He  afterward  worked  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand  and  remained  in  Madison 
coimty  until  1853 — the  year  of  his  arrival 
in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  1  lere  he  rent- 
ed land  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own 
account.  He  fully  completed  his  arrange- 
ments for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his 
marriage,  which  took  place  near  Catlin,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  1855,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Ruth  Wooden,  who  was  born  in 
Catlin  township,  Vermilion  county,  July  25, 
1830.  Her  parents,  Amos  and  Elizabeth 
(Berdick)  Wooden,  were  liorn,  reared  and 
married  in  New  York  and  after  living  for 
a  time  upon  a  farm  in  that  state  came  to 
the  west.  During  the  war  of  181 2  they 
stopped  at  Bus  Row  Prairie  in  Indiana  and 
about  1825  came  to  this  county,  locating  at 
the  Salt  Works  near  Catlin.  The  town  of 
Catlin  is  now  built  upon  the  land  which  Mr. 
Wooden  purchased  at  that  time,  his  farm 
comprising  three  hundred  acres,  the  most 
of  which  he  entered  from  the  government. 
He  did  his  dealing  at  Danville,  which  at 
that  time  contained  two  or  three  stores  and 
a   few   houses.      He  voted   with   the   W'hig 


574 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


party  ami  was  a  member  of  tlie  ^lasonic 
fraternity.  Upon  his  farm  he  iixed  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  about  1837.  after 
which  his  widow  remained  on  the  old  home- 
stead until  after  her  children  were  married, 
when  she  resided  with  them.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  1864.  ]\Irs.  Price  was  one  of  a 
family  of  ten  children.  ^Matilda  became  the 
wife  of  Henry  Kassler,  and  they  resided  in 
Dutchess  county.  New  York.  Both  are  now 
deceased  and  they  left  one  son.  Elmore 
married  Rebecca  Springer  and  lived  in  Cat- 
lin,  Illinois.  They,  too,  passed  away,  leav- 
ing five  children.  Jane  became  the  wife  of 
Bonaparte  Stansbury  and  died  in  Catlin, 
while  he  died  in  the  west,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren. The  ne.xt  member  of  the  W^ioden 
family  died  in  infancy.  Esther  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years.  Daniel  married  Sarah 
Springer  and  they  lived  in  Champaign  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  but  both  are  now  deceased.  They 
left  four  children.  ]\Ioses  wedded  Caroline 
Woolcott  and  made  his  home  in  Champaign 
county,  where  four  children  were  born  unto 
him  and  his  wife.  The  parents,  however. 
are  now  deceased.  Cynthia  is  the  widow 
of  Ira  W'hitcomb  and  resides  in  Byron,  Olm- 
steil  county,  ^^linnesota.  She  has  five  chil- 
dren. Ruth  is  the  honored  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. Elizabeth  became  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Richardson  and  they  lived  in  ^ladiso- 
county,  Illinois,  but  both  have  departed  this 
life,  leaving  four  children. 

The  home  of  Air.  and  Airs.  Price  was 
blessed  with  eight  children.  J.  W.  married 
Addie  Lacock  and  resides  in  Warren  coun- 
ty. Iowa,  where  he  follows  farming.  They 
have  three  children :  William,  Victor  and 
Jessie.  Elizabeth,  the  second  of  the  family, 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  Baldwin,  of  Ver- 
milion county,  and  died  leaving  six  chil- 
dren,  George,   Blanche,   Grace,   Fred,   Guy 


and  Ruth.  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Fairmount, 
Illinois,  wedded  Alice  Yerkes,  and  of  their 
four  children,  two  are  living — Ethel  and 
Gladvs.  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Xed  Rice 
of  Sidell  and  their  children  are  Addie, 
Esther,  Roy  and  May.  .\ddie  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Jackson,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Sidell.  Alberta  is  the  wife  of  Alonzo 
Clapp,  a  farmer  of  Oakwood,  Illinois,  and 
their  two  children  are  Lawrence  and  Aler- 
rill.  The  ne.xt  two  members  of  the  Price 
family  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Price  located  in 
\*ermilion  county,  where  he  rented  land  un- 
til 1868.  He  then  purchased  ninety  acres 
in  A'ance  township  and  to  his  farm  he  has 
added  until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  acres.  He  also  owns  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  \\'arren  coun- 
t\',  Iowa,  and  a  nice  residence  in  Fairmount. 
He  has  bought  and  sold  much  stock,  ship- 
ping as  extensively  as  any  man  in  this  coun- 
ty, and  his  large  business  operations  in  this 
direction  ha^•e  brought  to  him  a  very  cred- 
itable and  gratifying  competence.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  is  a  member  of  Fairmount 
Lodge,  No.  590,  F.  &  A.  AI.,  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church,  in 
which  for  many  years  he  has  served  as  a 
trustee.  Such  a  life  record  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation  for  his  career  has  been  char- 
acterized by  diligence  in  business,  by  loyalty 
in  citizenship  and  by  honor  in  all  social  re- 
lations and  to  his  family  and  friends  he  is 
most  loval  and  devoted. 


JOHN  A.  DICKINSON. 

John  A.  Dickinson  is  a  dealer  in  grocer- 
ies and  confectionery  in  Catlin.  where  he  is 
also  conducting  a  lunch  counter.     His  busi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


575 


ness  ability  is  recognized  and  though  lie  has 
met  with  reverses  he  possesses  strong  deter- 
mination and  enterprise  and  his  success  is 
the  direct  outcome  of  his  own  labors.  He 
was  born  in  Xew  York,  Linci)lnsliire.  Eng- 
land, October  6,  1865,  a  son  of  William  and 
Eliza  (Carbey)  Dickinson,  also  natives  of 
Lincolnshire,  the  former  born  in  1822  and 
the  latter  in  1836.  In  the  year  i88t  they 
emigrated  with  their  family  to  America,  es- 
tablishing their  home  in  A^ermilion  county 
when  our  subject  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 
Here  the  father  worked  by  the  month  for  a 
time  and  then  rented  a  farm  in  Catlin  town- 
ship, whereon  he  remained  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  July  18,  1894.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  nine  children :  Betsey  Maria,  who 
was  born  April  17,  1853.  and  died  Decem- 
ber 10,  1880;  Henry  Thomas,  who  was  born 
December  30,  1856;  Stephen  Carbey.  who 
was  born  December  29,  1859,  and  died  ]\Iay 
22,  1891 ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Jane  Kay.  who  was 
born  September  25.  1861,  and  died  in 
1901 ;  Stephen,  born  September  21.  1863; 
John  A. ;  William  A.,  born  December 
25,  1867;  Alice  Elizabeth,  who  was  born 
September  25,  1870.  and  died  May  29, 
1877;  and  Moses,  who  was  born  May  17, 
1873,  and  died  August  12,  1877. 

John  A.  Dickinson,  the  sixth  in  order  of 
birth,  pursued  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  country  and  after  arriving  in 
Vermilion  county  he  worked  on  a  section 
of  the  Wabash  Railroad  for  one  dollar  and 
ten  cents  per  dav  and  upon  the  death  ot  Iiis 
father  he  assumed  control  of  the  home  farm. 
where  he  remained  for  a  few  years.  He 
then  came  to  Catlin.  where  in  partnership 
with  a  younger  brother,  he  established  a 
grocery  store,  which  they  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  Dickinson  Brothers  for 
three  years.     Our  subject  then   purchased 


his  brother's  interest  and  continued  the  Ijusi- 
ness  alone.  On  the  27th  of  May,  1901,  how- 
e\'er,  his  store  was  destroyed  by  fire  and 
thus  he  lost  most  of  his  hard  earnings.  He 
had  recently  cleared  his  store  of  all  indebt- 
edness and  now  he  had  to  borrow  mone\ 
to  again  gain  a  start.  On  the  26th  of  July, 
of  the  same  year,  he  was  once  more  ready 
to  engage  in  trade  and  now  he  is  conducting 
a  well  appointed  establishment,  containing 
a  large  line  of  groceries  and  confectionery. 
He  also  conducts  a  lunch  counter  and  his 
business  is  setadily  growing  so  that  be  is 
meeting  with  well  deserved  success. 

Mr.  Dickinon  was  nominated  and  elect- 
ed justice  of  the  peace  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  receiving  a  flattering  majority.  After 
serving  for  one  year  he  was  prevailed  upon 
by  his  friends  to  become  the  candidate  of 
the  Rcpulilican  party  for  supervisor  of  Cat- 
lin township  in  1900  and  being  elected  to 
this  office  he  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity. 
His  official  record  is  indeed  creditable  for  his 
course  has  been  marked  Iiy  a  deep  interest 
in  the  general  good.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  has  filled  all  of  the  ofiices  in  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  of  Catlin  and  has  been 
elected  to  represent  it  in  the  grand  lodge.  He 
has  likewise  filled  various  ofiices  in  the  Or- 
der of  Red  Men.  was  elected  representative 
to  the  grand  council  and  now  holds  the  oftice 
of  deputy  great  sachem  of  Vermilion  coun- 
t}',  having  been  appointed  by  the  grand  sa- 
chem of  Illinois.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  \\W)dmcn  of  America  and  his  wife 
holds  membership  with  the  Royal  Neigh- 
bors of  Catlin. 

^Ir.  Dickinson  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Cora  Bennett,  who  was  born  in 
this  county  January  21.  1875.  and  is  a 
daughter    of    Ilenrv     T.    and    Melissa    A. 


576 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


(Stark)  Bennett.  Her  mother's  parents 
were  John  and  Mary  A.  (Cassady) 
Stark,  pioneers  of  \'ermiHon  county.  Unto 
our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  one 
son,  John  Thomas,  who  is  now  six  years  of 
age.  His  mother  is  also  a  member  of  the 
houseliold,  having  hved  with  'Sir.  Dickinson 
since  lier  husband's  death.  Our  subject  is 
a  citizen  of  vahie  to  the  community,  co- 
operating in  e\"ery  measure  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  town  along  material,  social,  in- 
tellectual and  moral  lines.  He  is  an  ener- 
getic, enterprising  man  and  one  worthy  of 
success. 

— ■ •-•-♦ 

JOHX    M.  CARSOX. 

John  M.  Carson  was  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Danville,  for  many  years 
being  at  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Carson  & 
Company,  owners  of  a  plumbing  establish- 
ment of  this  city.  The  business  which  he 
conducted  is  still  carried  on  by  his  widow 
and  her  sons,  who  have  followed  the 
straightforward  and  creditably  policy  in- 
augurated by  the  husband  and  father. 

Mr.  Carson  was  a  natix'e  of  Scotland, 
born  May  lo,  1842.  His  parents,  John  and 
Helen  Carson,  were  likewise  natives  of  the 
land  of  hills  and  heather,  and  in  1852  they 
to  America  with  their  faiuily.  settling  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  the  father  died  the 
same  year.  The  mother  spent  her  last  days 
in  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

John  M.  Carson  was  a  lad  of  only  ten 
summers  when  his  father  and  mother 
crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the  new  world. 
Owing  to  his  father's  early  death  his  school 
privileges  were  very  limited  and  he  early 
started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account.  He 
began  to  learn  the  plumber's  trade  in  Cin- 
cinnati  and  mastered  the  business  both   in 


principle  and  detail.  His  capabijity  and  fi- 
delity won  him  recognition  and  one  promo- 
tion after  another  eventually  made  him  fore- 
man of  a  large  plumbing  establishment 
there.  He  acted  in  that  capacity  for  sev- 
eral years,  in  fact,  was  working  at  his  trade 
in  Cincinnati  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out. 

In  the  hrst  year  of  that  sanguinary  con- 
flict he  donned  the  blue  uniform  of  the 
United  States  army  and  became  a  volunteer 
of  Company  K,  Seventy- fourth  Ohio  Infan- 
try, with  which  he  ser\-ed  throughout  the 
war,  participating  in  many  important  en- 
gagements, including  the  battles  of  Foi't 
Henry,  Xealey's  Bend,  Stone  River,  Hoov- 
er's Gap.  Tullahoma,  Dug  Gap,  Chicka- 
mauga.  Missionary  Ridge,  Tunnel  Hill.  Res- 
eca.  Dallas  Gap.  Pine  Alountain,  Pumpkin 
\'ine  Creek,  Kenesaw  ]\Iountain.  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Savannah, 
Bentonville  and  Raleigh.  In  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  Mr.  Carson  was  captured  and 
sent  to  Libby  prison  where  he  was  incar- 
cerated for  three  months,  suffering  much  be- 
cause of  the  cruelties  intlicted  and  from 
lack  of  nourishing  food.  He  had  several 
narrow  escapes  while  in  battle,  at  one  time 
his  hat  lieing  shot  away  while  at  another 
time  the  heel  of  his  boot  was  shot  off.  He 
was  discharged  June  15.  1865,  and  gladly 
returned  to  his  home,  for  although  he  had 
ever  been  found  faithful  to  his  duty,  the 
hardships  of  war  make  militarj^  experience 
anything  but  pleasant. 

Locating  in  Cincinnati,  Mr.  Carson 
worked  for  a  short  time  at  his  trade  there 
and  then  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
where  he  openetl  a  plumbing  shop,  conduct- 
ing business  at  that  point  for  several  years. 
While  there  he  built  the  waterworks  at 
Owensboro.  Kentuck}-,  and  alsi^  at  Jeffer- 
sonville.  Indiana.  After  his  marriage, 
which   was  celebrated    in    Louisville.   Ken- 


JOHN  M.  CARSON. 


LIBRARY 

CF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


579 


tuckv,  lie  continued  business  in  tliat  city  un- 
til 1882,  when  he  arrived  in  Danville  and 
established  his  plumbing  store.  He  also 
built  the  waterworks  at  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois, and  in  Danville  and  for  several  years 
he  was  employed  to  operate  the  plant  here. 
Throughout  all  the  years  he  conducted  his 
plumbing  work  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  proprietor  of  an  extensive  and  profit- 
able establishment  at  Xo.  32  Hazel  street, 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Carson 
&  Company,  plumbers  and  steam  fitters. 

Mr.  Carson  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  M.  Young,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tuckv,  and  unto  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren: William  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
plumbing  business  at  Xo.  12  liast  Xorth 
street.  Danville;  G.  G.,  who  is  in  business  at 
Texarkana.  Arkansas;  John  W.,  who  is 
manager  of  the  business  established  liy  his 
father  at  the  corner  of  Xorth  and  Hazel 
streets,  Danville,  and  resides  with  his  moth- 
er; Robert  H..  who  is  also  a  member  of  the 
firm,  his  home  being  in  this  city ;  Arthur, 
deceased;  and  Harry,  who  is  yet  with  his 
mother. 

Mr.  Carson  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  Danville  for  a  number  of  years  but 
was  never  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office 
seeking,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  affairs  in  which  he 
met  with  signal  success.  He  voted  with 
the  Republican  party  and  at  one  time  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  in  Lou- 
isville but  he  never  joined  either  organiza- 
tion after  coming  to  Danville.  He  was, 
however,  a  member  of  the  Grand  .\miy 
Post  iiere  and  served  as  its  commander  for 
sometime.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  city 
and  he  always  took  a  deep  and  active  inter- 
est in  the  church  work,  doing  everything  in 


his  power  to  promote  its  growth  and  extend 
its  influence.  He  served  as  a  deacon  for 
sometime  and  for  several  years  he  was  also 
superintendent  of  the  Sunday-schools. 
Mrs.  Carson  is  (|uile  prominent  here,  her 
circle  of  friends  being  very  extensive.  She 
owns  one  of  the  finest  residences  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  city,  located  at  No. 
903  Logan  avenue.  Mr.  Carson  was  a  very 
successful  business  man.  He  possessed 
those  cjualities  of  character  which  mainly 
contribute  to  the  success  of  private  life  and 
to  the  public  stability  and  he  therefore  en- 
joyed the  respect  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  his  lousiness  affairs  were  con- 
ducted, the  same  being  in  strict  conformity 
with  the  ethics  of  commercial  life  and  among 
his  friends  he  displayed  qualities  of  man- 
hood that  endeared  him  lo  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact. 


JACOB  Y  \rr. 


Jacob  Yapp  has  been  a  resident  of  \'er- 
milion  county  for  forty-eight  years.  He 
^vas  born  in  Allegany  county,  X'ew  York, 
June  12.  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Ayres)  Yai)p,  she  being  a  member 
of  the  family  of  Ayres  of  sarsaparilla  fame. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  near 
Hoboken,  and  his  father,  the  grandfather 
of  [acob  'S  a])p,  was  born  in  Great  Britain 
in  1 716,  while  the  paternal  grandmother 
was  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Ayres)  Yapp  became  the  parents  of 
ten  children :  Horatio  J.  died  in  Nebraska, 
in  1885,  leaving  a  widow  and  eight  chil- 
dren. The  widow  afterward  died  in  Xe- 
braska  also.  Gideon  \V.  died  in  Iowa  in 
1864  and  left  a  widow  and  four  children. 
The   widow   afterward    died    in    Sansramon 


5  So 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county,  Illinois.  Susan  H.  was  the  widow 
of  James  Jackson,  of  X'ermilion  county,  and 
died  in  1901,  leaving  two  daughters,  Mary, 
the  wife  of  Gilbert  F.  Canady.  of  Homer, 
and  Sarah  A.  Jackson,  also  of  Homer.  Jacob 
of  this  review  is  the  next  younger.  Phineas 
died  in  infancy.  Abigail,  who  became  the 
wife  of  John  Mills,  of  Fairmount,  Illinois, 
died  in  1894.  Her  husband  was  a  minister  and 
was  connected  with  Partlows  and  others, 
in  Danville.  Jane  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
in  western  Xew  York.  David  E.  now  lives 
in  Allegany  county,  New  "^'ork,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  one  son, 
Herbert.  Samuel  died  in  Ogden.  Illinois, 
July  12,  1902,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 
He  left  a  widow,  but  no  children.  Mrs. 
Mary  Davis  is  a  widow  living  in  Iowa.  All 
the  children  enjoyed  common-school  edu- 
cations, and  Alary  and  Abigail  were  teach- 
ers. The  father  and  mother  died  within 
twenty-one  days  of  each  other,  the  father 
preceding. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  the  subject  of 
this  review  entered  the  employ  of  Rufus 
Kinney,  of  Culia,  Xew  York,  as  an  appren- 
tice at  harness-making  and  carriage-trim- 
ming, in  which  capacity  he  served  for  three 
years.  He  was  then  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  for  a  short  time.  He  afterward 
sold  out  and  accepted  a  position  as  fore- 
man in  a  large  harness  and  trimming 
establishment,  where  he  had  charge  of  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  hands.  This  was  in  the 
employ  of  William  P.  Stevens,  at  Cuba, 
New  York,  where  he  continued  for  seven 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  for  about  three  years,  when  he  sold 
out  and  came  to  Georgetown,  Illinois.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Ambrosia  C.  Sheldon, 
a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Anna  (]^hm- 
ter)    Sheldon,  l)oth  of  whom  were  natives 


of  New  York.  ]\Ir.  Yapp  lost  his  first  wife 
by  death.  By  this  marriage  there  was  one 
child,  Helen  A.,  the  wife  of  Pleasant  \\'est, 
of  Georgetown,  Illinois.  He  was  at  one 
time  in  the  mercantile  business  and  also 
owns  a  farm  near  Georgetown.  They  have 
two  children.  Derelle  is  the  wife  of  C.  Por- 
ter Johnson,  now  residing  in  Oklahoma 
City,  Oklahoma,  Mr.  Johnson  being  a  prom- 
inent lawyer  of  that  place.  Roy  O.  West, 
also  a  prominent  lawyer,  resides  iri  Chica- 
go. He  is  now  president  of  the  board  of 
review,  of  Cook  county,  which  position  he 
has  filled  for  nearly  foiu'  years.  He  was 
married  June  11,  1898,  to  Miss  Louise  Au- 
gustus, of  Paris,  Illinois,  who  died  leaving 
a  son,  Roy  Owen  West. 

Mr.  Yapp  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Adelia  E.  Palmer, 
the  marriage  ceremony  taking  place  on  Feb- 
ruary 13.  1 85 1.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Palmer,  of  Cuba,  Xew  York,  a  na- 
tive of  that  place.  r\Irs.  Yapp  was  born  at 
Warsaw,  Wyoming  count}-,  X'ew  York, 
June  23,  1829. 

Upon  arriving  in  Georgetown  Air.  Yapp 
opened  a  saddlery  and  harness  business  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  square,  where 
he  continued  about  t^^•o  }ears,  then  removed 
to  the  building  on  the  south  side  of  the  square 
ouned  by  Plenderson  &  Plolloway,  where 
he  greatly  enlarged  his  business,  carrying  a 
good  stock  and  adding  all  necessary  equip- 
ments for  the  conduct  of  his  extensive  es- 
tablishment. He  continued  in  the  above 
named  building  for  several  years,  when  he 
Iniilt  a  large  two-story  frame  building  one 
block  north  of  the  square,  which  he  expect- 
ed to  use  as  a  shop  and  residence,  but  on 
account  of  the  hotel  of  the  town  burning 
about  this  time  he  opened  a  hotel  instead. 
While  conducting  the  hotel  he  had  a  con- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


581 


tract  for  carrying  mail  from  Danville  to 
Paris,  for  twelve  years.  In  1862  Mr.  Yapp 
■vvas  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  for  thirty-six  years.  He  could 
have  retained  the  office  longer,  but  would 
not  accept  it.  He  discharged  his  duties 
faithfully  during  his  incumbency,  showing 
fa\or  to  none,  and  his  decisions  were  ever 
on  the  side  of  right  and  justice.  In  186S 
Mr.  Yapp,  with  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  W'est, 
engaged  in  the  hardware  and  tinning  busi- 
ness, afterward  adding  lumber.  In  this 
business  they  continued  until  1888.  when 
they  closed  out  the  business  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  ten  years,  on  the  expiration  of 
which  period  they  sold  their  stock  and  rent- 
ed their  lands.  They  have  an  office  in 
Georgetown,  where  they  write  insurance 
and  entertain  their  friends  who  are  legion. 
]\Ir.  Yapp  owns  something  over  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  considerable  of  this  ly- 
ing in  Georgetown.  He  has  just  sold  fifty 
acres  to  Grace  C.  Pritchard.  which  is  platted 
and  known  as  Jacob  Yapp's  addition  to 
Georgetown.  Mr.  Yapp's  residence  in 
Georgetown  is  commodious  and  modern, 
with  conx'enient  outbuildings  and  all  the  ac- 
cessories of  an  attracti\-e  American  home  of 
the  twentieth  century,  whose  appointments 
are  in  perfect  taste.  This  home  is  situated 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  North  Second 
and  Main  streets,  and  there  the  cordial  hos- 
pitality of  the  household  is  extended  to 
many  friends.  For  almost  a  half  century 
Mr.  Yapp  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
and  has  watched  with  interest  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  which  has  since  taken 
place.  His  share  in  this  work  has  been  of 
no  small  value,  for  in  building  up  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  place  he  has  taken  an 
important  part.  When  he  came  to  this  coun- 
ty he  received  assistance  to  the  amount  of 


three  hundred  dollars  irom  his  former  em- 
ployer in  Cuba.  Xcw  York,  and  Mr.  Yapp 
bought  hides  and  shi])ped  to  this  gentleman 
for  a  number  of  years.  Willi  the  capital 
so  acquired  he  started  out  upon  his  busi- 
ness career  and  through  industry  and  fair 
dealing  he  has  achieved  the  jiroud  jjosition 
in  the  iinancial  and  socird  wnrld  which  he 
to-day  occupies.  He  has  been  a  Mason  for 
fifty-three  years,  having  become  connected 
with  the  fraternity  in  Cuba,  New  York. 
He  is  a  member  oi  the  blue  lodge  of 
Georgetown,  and  Scottish  I'iite  Consistory 
of  Chicago,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  l'"cllows  for  over 
fifty-five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yapp  have 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  for  many  years.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  in  past  years  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  party,  but 
he  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  preferring" 
the  quiet  life  of  a  private  x\merican  citizen, 
to  the  honors  and  emoluments  of  office.  He' 
has  been  a  consistent  and  conservatixe  man 
of  business  and  has  ever  been  regarded  as 
one  of  the  substantial  and  representative 
men  of  his  county  where  he  is  widely  and 
favorablv  known. 


O.  P.  CHAiMBERLIN. 

O.  P.  Chamberlin.  who  is  now  exten- 
sively and  successfully  engaged  in  the  grain 
brokers'  business  in  Ploopeston.  was  born  in 
SeYieca  county,  Ohio,  on  the  17th  of  Decem- 
ber, 185 1,  a  son  of  James  M.  and  Cather- 
ine A.  (Jones)  Chamberlin.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  died  in 
Ohio,  August  13,  1888,  while  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1884.     In  their  family  were 


582 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


four  sons :  O.  P.  and  Charles  W..  twins, 
the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-three: 
W".  H.  and  James  M.  By  a  former  n)ar- 
riage  of  James  M.  Chamberlin  one  child 
was  born,  John  W'.,  who  was  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  prominent  Masons  of 
Ohio.  His  death  occurred  at  Tiffin.  Ohio, 
in  August,  1901. 

Under  the  parental  roof  on  the  home 
farm  the  subject  of  this  review  was  reared 
while  in  the  common  schools  he  pursued  his 
education.  He  left  home  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen years,  and  for  a  year  followed  farm- 
ing. He  was  also  employed  in  an  elevator 
and  general  store  at  Adrian,  Ohio,  for  about 
eighteen  months,  and  then  began  learning 
telegraphy  in  Oberlin,  where  he  continued 
for  three  months.  In  1874  he  came  to 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  arriving  in  the  month 
of  August,  and  for  two  years  was  employed 
as  an  operator  on  the  line  of  the  Wabash 
Railroad.  On  the  ist  of  September,  1876, 
he  arrived  in  Hoopeston  and  took  charge  of 
the  station  of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  now  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad,  filling  that 
position  acceptably  until  1885.  In  the  latter 
year  he  accepted  the  position  of  bookkeeper 
in  the  firm  of  Moore  &  Bushnell.  grain  oper- 
ators, with  whom  he  remained  for  two 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  they  went 
out  of  business.  iSlr.  Chamberlin  then  re- 
moved to  Danville,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  the  grain  brokerage  business  for  a  number 
of  months.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  how- 
ever, he  resumed  railroading,  acting  as  as- 
sistant in  his  old  position  for  a  few  months. 
He  was  then  transferred  to  Tipton,  Indiana, 
where  he  had  charge  of  the  station  for  three 
months,  and  in  September,  1890,  he  was 
offered  the  position  of  assistant  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Hoopeston.  Ac- 
cepting the  offer  he  capably  served  in  that 


capacity  initil  April,  1898,  when  failing 
health  compelled  him  to  resign.  While  fill- 
ing that  position  he  also  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance business  in  connection  with  E.  C. 
Griffith,  and  he  also  conducted  a  grain  brok- 
erage business.  Mr.  Chamberlin  is  a  man  "of 
wonderful  business  ability.  He  was  the  orig- 
inator of  the  telephone  system  of  Hoopeston, 
in  which  enterprise  he  was  associated  with  U. 
E.  Cory,  and  the  business  relation  l^etween 
them  is  still  continued.  They  have  control 
of  the  entire  telephone  system  of  Hoopeston 
and  surrounding  towns.  They  began  oper- 
ations on  the  1st  of  May.  1895,  with  twen- 
ty-se\en  subscribers.  They  now  haxe  over 
three  hundred  subscribers,  while  the  busi- 
ness is  rapidly  increasing.  When  they  be- 
gan operations  they  had  a  capital  of  about 
one  thousand  dollars  invested,  but  this  has 
been  increased  to  fifteen  thousand,  as  they 
have  built  new  lines  and  placed  new  'phones 
throughout  the  city  and  surrounding  dis- 
trict. They  also  ha\-e  a  branch  exchange 
at  East  Lynn.  ]\Ir.  Chamberlin  also  con- 
tinues in  the  grain  and  brokerage  business, 
representing  eastern  firms.  He  buys 
througliout  this  portion  of  the  country,  hand- 
ling millions  of  bushels  of  grain  annually. 
In  this  line  of  business  activity  he  is  also 
meeting  with  splendid  success,  his  opera- 
tions having  reached  very  extensive  propor- 
tions, which  make  his  efforts  profitable. 
While  connected  with  banking  interests  in 
connection  with  ]\Ir.  Griffith  he  owned  a 
grain  elevator  at  Hoopeston  and  one  at 
Cheney vi lie.  \\"hatever  he  undertakes  he 
carries  forward  to  successful  completion  and 
his  enterprise,  keen  discernment  and  per- 
severence  are  marked  elements  in  his  suc- 
cessful career. 

On  the  I2tli  of  April.  1877,  in  Bloom- 
ville,  Ohio,  ^Ir.  Chamberlin  was  united  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


533 


marriage  to  Miss  Nettie  Cory,  whose  par- 
ents are  now  residents  of  Hoopeston.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child: 
Charles  Cory,  who  was  born  April  9,  1S78. 
and  is  now  employed  in  the  general  offices  of 
the  American  Car  Company  of  Chicago. 
^Ir.  and  Airs.  Chamberlin  have  a  very  pleas- 
ant home  at  No.  306  East  Penn  street, 
which  was  erected  in  1889,  and  in  atldition 
to  this  property  and  the  various  business 
interests  mentioned,  he  owns  a  half  section 
of  land  in  Stevens  county,  Kansas.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  an  earnest  Republican, 
for  two  terms  has  served  as  alderman  of  the 
city  and  he  has  also  been  a  member  ijf  the 
school  board.  Fraternally  he  is  both  a  blue 
lodge  and  chapter  Mason,  and  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. He  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  chinch 
in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  an  elder.  He 
is  likewise  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  Since  coming  to  Hoopeston  he  has 
served  as  treasurer  of  the  church  here  and 
has  taken  a  very  active  and  influential  part 
in  its  promotion  and  upbuilding.  While 
Mr.  Chamberlin  has  largely  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  demands  of  ex- 
tensive and  important  business  interests,  he 
has  at  the  same  time  found  ojjportunity  to 
faithfully  perform  his  duties  of  citizenship 
and  to  co-operate  in  many  movements  for 
the  general  good  along  social,  intellectual 
and  moral  lines. 


MRS.  MARY  BEYER. 

Mrs.  Mary  Beyer  is  a  Inighly  respected 
and  prominent  resident  of  Fairmount.  \'er- 
milion  county,  Illinois.  She  was  born  in 
this  county.  March  19,  1869.  and  is  a  daugh- 


ter of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Hughel)  Gun- 
der.  the  former  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Ohio,  May  24,  i8_'5.  and  the  latter  a  native 
ot  Madison  county.  Indiana,  born  August 
24.  183 J.  They  were  married  at  .\nderson, 
Indiana,  in  1840.  Mr.  Gunder  followed 
fanning  throughout  his  active  life,  ruid  in 
1868  the  family  remoxed  to  X'ermilion 
county,  Illinois,  locating  in  \'ance  township. 
He  purchased  land  and  followed  farming 
until  189J.  when  he  retired  from  active  life 
and  located  in  Fairmount.  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  24,  1899.  He  was  Ijuried  in  Davis 
cemetery.  The  wife  and  mother  died  Octo- 
ber 1  of  the  same  year.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  man  of  his  community,  being 
county  supervisor  for  several  terms  and  hav- 
ing lilled  all  the  township  offices.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which 
he  was  a  deacon,  and  was  a  member  of  Fair- 
mount  Lodge.  No.  590.  .\.  V.  &  A.  M.,  of 
whicli  he  was  a  charter  member.  In  ])olitics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  ]\Irs.  Be\er  was  one  of 
a  family  of  ten  children.  Alice,  the  wife  of 
J.  J.  Howard,  resides  in  Vance  township. 
Susie  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Baldwin 
but  both  are  now  deceased.  J.  X.  is  a  drug- 
gist of  Indianapolis.  Indiana.  James  is 
freight  agent  of  the  W:ibash  Railroad  at 
Decatur,  Illinois.  Samuel  resides  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  is  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing Dr.  Graves'  toothpowder.  Jennie  died 
unmarried.  Daniel  died  in  infancy.  Our 
subject  is  the  eighth  child.  Julia  is  the  wife 
of  Frank  Goodwin,  a  real  estate  dealer  of 
Decatur,  Illinois.  Arthur  H.  resides  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  \'ance  township.  The 
Gunder  family  is  of  German  and  English 
extraction. 

On    the    1 0th    of   December,    1890,    in 
\'ance  township,  occurred  the  marriage  of 


584 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Peter  Beyer  and  ]\liss  Mary  Guilder.  Mr. 
Beyer  was  born  in  Danville,  Illinois,  .\ugust 
8,  1865.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter  and  Julia 
(Ford)  Beyer,  the  former  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. This  couple  located  in  Danville,  111 
nois,  where  the  father  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business,  so  continuing  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  Septeml)er.  1898.  His 
widow  still  sur\ives  him  and  is  li\-ing  in 
Danville.  Mr.  Beyer,  Sr.,  was  a  member 
of  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  cliurch.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  connected  with  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  in  politics  was 
a  Republican.  L'nto  Peter  and  Julia  (Ford) 
Byer  were  born  twelve  children,  of  whom 
the  following  grew  to  years  of  maturity : 
Lucy  is  the  wife  of  John  Hill,  a  jeweler 
of  Danville.  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Douglas 
Stahl,  and  resides  in  Lincoln.  Nebraska. 
Da\-id  resides  in  Danville,  Illinois.  Peter 
was  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Beyer  of  this  re- 
view. Edward,  George,  Fred,  Katie  and 
Hester,  all  reside  in  Danville. 

For  the  first  two  years  after  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Beyer,  he  engaged  in 
the  nursury  business,  owning  a  nurserv  near 
Danville.  They  then  located  in  Springfield, 
Illinois,  where  Mr.  Beyer  engaged  in  the 
market  and  provision  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  November  17,  1896. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  Danville,  Illi- 
nois. L'nto  Mr.  Beyer  and  wife  were  born 
three  daughters:  Vera,  born  November  23, 
1891 ;  Bessie,  born  March  2,  1894;  and 
Sarah,  born  July  8,  1896.  Mr.  Beyer  was 
an  energetic  and  a  good  business  man.  He 
\vas  a  man  of  sterling  characteristics,  being 
honorable  and  upright,  and  charitable  to  a 
high  degree.  He  won  many  friends  who 
sincerely  mourned  his  loss.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and  in 
politics   was  a   Republican,   but   refused   to 


hold  ofifice.  ]\Irs.  Beyer  owns  a  farm  of 
forty-eight  acres  in  V'ance  township  and 
also  residence  property  in  Fairmount.  She 
has  a  comfortable  and  attracti\e  home  and 
is  highly  regarded  in  the  community  where 
she  resides,  as  a  ladv  of  estimable  worth. 


JONATHAN    C.  STEARNS. 

The  Buckeye  state  is  noted  for  its  high 
class  of  citizens  who,  whether  statesmen,  in- 
ventors or  those  following  mercantile  and 
agricultural    pursuits,    have   always   been    a 
credit   to   the   communities     in     which    they 
have     lived.      Illinois,    like    other     western 
states,  has  been  benefited  by  the  emigration 
of  some  of  these  men  and  among  their  num- 
ber is  Jonathan  C.  Stearns,  who  was  born 
in   Clinton  county,  Ohio,   August   5,    1835. 
He  is  a  son  of  Seneca  and  Hannah  (Hum- 
phreys) Stearns.     The  father  was  born  near 
Bennington,  Vermont,  December   17,   18 10, 
and  the  mother  was  a  nati\e  of  New  Jer- 
sey, born  March  7,  181 1.     They  were  mar- 
ried in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  there  he 
engaged  in  farming.     In   1836  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Oak- 
wood  township,  one  mile  northeast  of  Fiftb- 
ian,  in  \'ermilion  county.     Here  he  entered 
land  and  carried  on  farming  until  the  death 
of  his  wife,  when  he  lived  with  his  children 
until  his  death,   which  occurred  August   i, 
1898.      His  wife  had  passed  away  July  7, 
i88t.      He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee,  and  in 
politics  was  first  a  Whig  but  became  a  Re- 
publican, on  the  organization  of  that  party. 
He  and   his  wife   were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  fi\e  sons  and  one  daughter.     The 
subject  of  this   review   is   the  eldest   child. 
James  N.  resides  at  Fithian.  Illinois.     Will- 


LIBRARY 
CF   THE 

u.mivers;ty  of  Illinois 


J.  C.  STEARNS. 


MRS.  J.  C.  STEARNS. 


GF   Ti;E 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


589 


iam  H.  resides  at  Yankton,  South  Dakota. 
John  H.  resides  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  Al- 
fred L.  resides  in  ^luncie,  IlHnois.  Sarah 
E.  is  the  wife  of  ^ViIham  H.  Littell  and  re- 
sides in  Fithian,  lUinois. 

The  history  of  the  Stearns  family  is  in- 
teresting, fomiing  part,  as  it  does,  of  the 
annals  of  early  days  in  the  settlement  of  this 
country.  Seneca  Stearns  was  a  son  of  Mel- 
ville Stearns,  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  a  son  of  David  Stearns,  who  was 
also  born  in  that  state.  The  ancestors  who 
established  the  Stearns  family  in  America 
came  from  England  in  1632  and  settled  in 
Massachusetts,  three  brothers  coming  to  the 
United  States  at  that  time.  The  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  in  company  with  his  fa- 
ther, started  from  Olean,  New  York,  on  the 
Alleghany  river  near  the  Pennsylvania  line, 
on  a  raft,  in  1815.  They  proceeded  down 
the  Ohio  river  and  settled  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  they  lived  and  died.  Sen- 
eca Steams  was  one  of  a  family  of  two 
brothers  and  one  sister,  all  of  whom  lived 
in  Clinton  county,  Ohio.  Later  they  came 
to  Illinois.  Seneca  Stearns  and  his  brother 
Harrison  came  to  Illinois  in  1836.  His  sis- 
ter, Sarah  E.  Izard,  came  in  1845.  Her 
death  occurred  in  Muncie,  Illinois.  Han- 
nah (Humphreys)  Stearns,  the  mother  of 
our  subject,  was  taken  by  her  parents  from 
Xew  Jersey  to  Ohio  in  181 5.  Her  ances- 
tors originally  came  from  England  and  set- 
tled in  New  Jersey.  She  had  only  one  sis- 
ter, Phebe,  who  went  to  Ohio  in  181 5  and 
died  in  Parke  county,  Indiana,  in  1841. 

Jonathan  C.  Stearns  of  this  review  at- 
tended school  in  the  winter  of  1841-2  in  an 
old  log  schoolhouse  on  the  state  road,  one 
mile  south  and  one-quarter  of  a  mile  east 
of  Muncie,  Illinois.  He  then  attended 
school  in  a  log  house  one-quarter  of  a  mile 
northeast  of  Muncie  in   1843.     His  oppor- 

24 


tunitics  in  the  educational  line  were  limited, 
as  lie  could  only  attend  during  the  winter 
months.     In  the  summer  his  services  were 
required  on  the  home  farm.     He  continued 
his  schooling  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  or  until   1853.     He  then  worked  for 
se\-en  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  also 
engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land,  where 
he  lived  for  three  years  after  his  marriage. 
This  important  event  in  his  life  occurred 
on   the  4th   of   December,    1861,   in   Catlin 
township,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mary 
S.   Snyder,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery 
counter,  Indiana,  November  6,   1841.     She 
was  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Snyder,  a  native  of 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  who  removed  from  that 
state  to  Indiana.    His  father  was  also  named 
Jacob  and  was  a  native  of  Northumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania.    In  1808  he  removed 
to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  there  made  his 
home  until  his  death.     His  ancestors  were 
originally    from   Germany   and   on   coming 
to  the  United  States  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  mother  of  Mrs.   Stearns  in  her  maid- 
enhood was  Emily  Allen,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  May  20,  181 8.     She  first  mar- 
ried Jacob  Snyder,  and  after  his  death  mar- 
ried William  McBroom  and  in  1854  moved 
to     Catlin     township,    Vermilion     county, 
where  she  is  still  living.     She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Allen,  also  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, the  Allen  family  having  been  estab- 
lished in  that  state  at  a  very  early  day,  emi- 
grating thence  from  Virginia.     Jacob  Sny- 
der   followed     carpentering    in     connection 
with  his   farming  interests,   and   died  near 
Crawfordsville,    Indiana,    about    1845.     In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat.     He  and  his 
wife  became  the  parents  of  four  daughters 
and  two    of    the    number  are  still  living, 
namely :     Mrs.   Stearns ;  and  Amanda,  the 
wife  of  L.  J.  Place,  of.  Newport,  Indiana. 
The  home  of  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Stearns  has 


590 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


been  blessed  with  five  cliiklren,  four  of 
whom  are  now  hving.  The  first  born  was 
James,  who  was  born  on  the  14th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1863.  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  months.  He  was  a  remarkably  bright 
child  and  knew  all  of  his  letters  at  the  age 
of  twenty  months.  Emily  S.  married  Will- 
iam G.  Yount.  They  ha\e  one  child  and 
reside  in  Catlin  township.  Ellis  married 
Irene  McDonald,  who  is  now  deceased.  He 
has  two  sons  and  resides  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship with  his  parents.  Hattie  is  the  widow 
of  Scott  Pate  and  resides  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship. She  has  two  sons  and  lost  one  daugh- 
ter. Isla  F.  married  \\'inifred  C.  Dalbey 
and  he  resides  on  one  of  his  father-in-law's 
farms  in  Oakwood  township.  He  had  one 
child,  now  deceased,  and  a  little  daughter, 
Elsie  E.,  born  February  11,  1903. 

Three  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Stearns  purchased  the  farm  which  is  now 
his  hoine.  This  comprises  two  hundred  and 
sixty-one  acres  on  section  22,  in  Oakwood 
township,  ^^ermilion  county.  Besides  his 
farming  interests  Mr.  Steanis  also  has  gold 
mining  stock  in  Oregon.  His  farm  is  well 
cultivated  and  equipped  with  all  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  cent- 
ury. He  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock  and 
is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  agricultur- 
ists of  the  township.  A  firm  adherent  to 
the  Republican  party,  he  has  yet  refused  to 
accept  ottice.  Mr.  Stearns  and  his  wife  are 
genial,  kindly  people  who  have  hosts  of 
friends. 


LEVI  JOHNS. 


Since  the  year  1866  Levi  Johns  has  been 
a  resident  of  Danville.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  hardest  workers,  leading  a  busy,  useful 


life  and  through  his  earnest  labor,  guided 
by  sound  business  judgment,  he  has  accum- 
ulated a  comfortable  competence.  He  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  October  12,  18 14, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (John- 
son) Johns,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  At  an  early  day  they  went 
to  Ohio,  where  the  father  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. Subsequently  he  took  up  his  abode  in 
Zanesville,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
his  wife  also  passing  away  near  that  city. 

Levi  Johns  obtained  but  limited  school 
advantages  in  his  native  county  and  after 
putting  aside  his  text-books  worked  at  odd 
jobs  until  his  marriage.  In  Zanesville  he 
\\edded  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Boyd,  who  was  born 
near  that  city.  October  20,  1819,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  Boyd,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  Ohio  and  there 
spent  their  entire  lives.  L'nto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  have  been  born  fi\e  children : 
Alice  M.,  who  died  in  childhood;  George 
Elbert,  who  died  in  Indian  Territory  in 
1881  ;  Alice  Elizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years:  Caroline  L..  who  has  remained 
at  home  with  her  parents,  and  largely  re- 
lieves her  mother  in  affairs  of  the  house- 
hold ;  and  Alice  Anna,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Johnson,  also  deceased. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Johns  took  up 
his  abode  in  Coshocton,  where  he  remained 
until  1853  when  hoping  to  more  rapidly  ac- 
quire success  amid  the  mines  of  California 
he  made  his  way  to  the  Pacific  coast  and 
was  there  engaged  in  mining  until  1866. 
Upon  his  return  eastward  he  settled  in  Dan- 
ville where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  coal  business  and  then  for  several  years 
operated  a  stone  quarry  near  the  city.  His 
business  brought  to  him  prosperity  and  year 
by  year  he  added  to  his  capital  until  at  length 


SENECA   STEARNS. 


LISHAIY 

GF  t:;e 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


593 


with  a  comfortable  cempetence  lie  retired 
to  private  life.  In  politics  he  is  an  earnest 
Republican,  but  has  never  sought  office.  ^Ir. 
Johns,  his  wife  and  daughter  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Kimber  Methodist  church  of 
Dan\ille.  The}-  ha\e  a  pleasant  home  at  X(.). 
432  Bryan  a\enue,  where  they  have  resided 
since  locating  in  the  city  more  than  a  third 
of  a  century  ago.  Mr.  Johns  always  com- 
manded the  confidence  of  his  patrons  be- 
cause he  was  ever  fair  and  honorable  in  his 
business  dealings,  and  his  incorruptible  in- 
tegrity   has    been   a    salient    feature    in    his 

career. 

■«  t » 

HEXSON  VINSON.       • 

Henson  \'inson  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  families  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, whose  history  is  inseparably  interwoven 
with  the  records  of  this  portion  of  the  state. 
He  was  the  seventh  child  in  the  family  of 
Henson  and  Abigail  (McDowell)  Vinson 
and  was  born  April  16,  1837,  in  Parke  coun- 
ty, Indiana.  During  his  infancy  he  was 
brought  to  this  county  by  his  parents  and  ir, 
order  to  acquire  an  education  he  had  to  go 
about  two  or  three  miles  to  a  log  school 
house,  which  was  seated  with  slab  benches 
and  lighted  by  greased  paper  windows. 
Heat  came  from  an  immense  fireplace,  which 
occupied  one  entire  end  of  the  room  and  the 
school  was  conducted  on  the  subscription 
plan.  Mr.  Vinson  has  always  lived  upon 
the  farm  on  which  his  father  settled  on  com- 
ing to  the  county  and  the  place  is  therefore 
endeared  to  him  by  the  associations  of  his 
boyhood  as  well  as  those  of  later  life.  He 
has  seen  all  of  the  improvements  made  in 
the  county,  witnessing  great  changes  in 
methods  of  farming,  as  the  primitive  farm 


machinery  has  been  replaced  by  the  substan- 
tial improved  implements  of  the  present  day. 
He  did  his  share  in  the  work  of  field  and 
meadow,  tramping  after  the  plow  for  many 
an  hour  at  the  time  of  early  spring  planting, 
and  later  assisting  in  gathering  the  crops 
which  were  cut  with  a  sickle,  while  later  a 
cradle  was  used  in  the  harvest  field.  Corn 
was  dropped  by  hand  and  covered  with  a  hoe 
and  jumper.  Matches  had  not  then  been  in- 
troduced and  flint,  tow  and  punk  often 
proved  the  factors  in  lighting  a  fire,  while 
the  houses  were  illuminated  at  night  by  tal- 
low candles  made  by  the  mother  or  by 
greased  lamps.  The  mother  also  had  her 
loom  and  from  the  wool  taken  from  the 
sheep  raised  upon  the  farm  she  wove  and 
spun  the  clothing  that  was  utilized  in  mak- 
ing the  garments  for  the  diliferent  members 
of  the  family.  The  individual  considered 
himself  fortunate  if  he  was  able  to  have  one 
pair  of  shoes  a  year.  O.xen  were  not  only 
used  in  breaking  prairie  and  in  cultivating 
fields,  but  also  hauled  the  wagons  in  which 
the  family  would  go  to  church  or  market, 
for  there  were  no  carriages  at  that  time.  As 
horses  came  into  more  general  use  the  girls 
would  often  sit  behind  the  man  upon  the 
pillion.  The  country  was  full  of  wild  game 
and  there  were  also  many  prairie  and  timber 
wolves.  The  old  family  home  which  was 
erected  by  the  father  in  1842  is  still  stand- 
ing and,  being  weather  boarded,  is  to-day 
used  as  a  barn.  It  was  built  of  walnut  tim- 
ber taken  from  the  farm  and  the  gable  ends 
still  remain  as  they  were  in  the  beginning. 
There  is  enough  timber  in  the  frame  work  of 
this  structure  to  build  two  houses  such  as- 
are  in  use  at  the  present  day.  For  sixty 
years  has  this  building  looked  out  upon  the 
surrounding  landscape — a  mute  witness  of 
the  development  and  progress  of  the  cottn^ 


594 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ty.  The  father  of  our  subject  took  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  early  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ment of  this  portion  of  the  state  and  his 
brother,  Levin,  was  also  a  pioneer  settler, 
who  became  an  extensive  landowner,  pur- 
chasing many  farms  from  squatters.  Hen- 
son  Vinson,  Sr.,  died  in  1848,  at  the  age 
of  fifty  years  and  his  wife  passed  away  in 
February,  1897,  at  the  very  advanced  age  of 
one  hundred  and  two  years. 

Air.  Vinson  of  this  review  has  never 
been  away  from  the  old  homestead  for  three 
months  at  a  time.  He  can  remember  the 
first  cook  stove  brought  into  the  neighbor- 
hood. It  was  a  step  stove,  owned  by  his 
brother  Levin.  Our  subject  made  a  trip  to 
Chicago  with  ox-teams  taking  with  him  a 
load  of  apples  and  meat  and  returning  with 
salt  and  a  cook  stove.  In  order  to  see  that 
wonderful  piece  of  household  furniture 
neighbors  came  for  miles,  for  previous  to 
this  time  all  cooking  was  done  over  the  fire- 
place in  iron  kettles  or  skillets,  while  corn- 
pone  was  baked  on  a  smooth  board  with  a 
flat  iron  behind  it.  When  neighbors  killed 
their  hogs  the  meat  was  divided  and  thus  all 
got  to  share  in  the  supply  of  pork. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1867,  Air.  Vin- 
son wedded  Alarian  Hall,  who  was  born  in 
Putnam  county,  Indiana.  She  died  May 
17,  1883,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine  years, 
ten  months  and  two  days,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren :  Xora,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Broth- 
ers of  Oakwood  township,  by  whom  she 
had  two  children,  Pearl  and  Clyde;  Mary, 
the  wife  of  John  Olihy,  of  South  Dakota, 
by  whom  she  has  four  children;  and  Ida, 
who  is  living  in  Danville.  In  1893  Mr. 
Vinson  was  united  in  marriage  to  Harriet 
O'Neil,  of  Vermilion  county.  He  now  owns 
about  one  hundred   acres  of   rich   farming 


land  on  section  i,  Oakwood  township.  He 
served  as  school  director  for  sixteen  years 
and  in  politics  is  a  stanch  Republican. 


JOHN    \V.  XEWLOX. 

From  the  time  when  as  a  soldier  boy  of 
the  Civil  war  John  Newlon  placed  himself 
on  the  side  of  his  country's  protectors  down 
through  various  official  positions  to  the 
present  time,  he  has  manifested  unswerving 
lo3'alty  to  the  United  States.  Both  local  ad- 
vancement and  national  progress  are  causes 
dear  to  his  heart  and  in  various  offices  he 
has  manifested  unswerving  fidelity  to  the 
trust  reposed  in  him.  John  W.  Newlon  is  a 
native  of  Oakwood  township,  Vermilion 
county,  born  June  13,  1840.  His  father^ 
.  Thomas  B.  Newlon,  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  Virginia,  and  wedded  Mrs.  Ange- 
line  Griffith  Alakemson,  a  native  of  AA'ayne 
county,  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
Griflith,  who  became  a  resident  of  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  in  1826.  At  that 
time  Airs.  Newlon  was  nine  years  of  age 
and  to-da}'  she  is  more  than  ninety,  but  she 
still  resides  in  Kansas  and  is  enjoying  good 
health.  Thomas  Newlon,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  accompanied  his  father,  John  New- 
lon, to  Vermilion  county  in  1837,  removing 
thither  from  Champaign  county,  Ohio. 
They  settled  in  Catlin  township  and  after 
the  marriage  of  the  parents  of  our  subject 
they  took  up  their  abode  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship, Avhere  Air.  Newlon  followed  general 
farming  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  also 
actively  identified  with  the  development  of 
his  portion  of  the  state.  In  1866  he  re- 
moved  with   his   familv   to   Kansas   but   in 


JOHN  W.   NEWLON. 


C-        rE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


599 


1872  returned  to  Vermilion  county  and 
spent  his  remaining  days  in  Danville,  pass- 
ing away  in  February,  1877. 

John  W.  Newlon  was  the  eldest  of  the 
seven  children  of  the  family  and  was  reared 
upon  the  home  farm,  attending-  the  common 
schools  in  the  winter  months  and  afterward 
suplementing  his  early  education  through 
reading,  study  at  home  and  through  experi- 
ence and  observation.  Thus  he  became  well 
informed  and  for  several  years  he  taught 
school,  but  during  much  of  his  life  he  has 
■carried  on  farming  and  has  been  largely  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  shipping  stock,  car- 
rying on  extensive  operations  in  that  way. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1861,  Mr.  New- 
lon attained  his  majority  and  in  July  he 
enlisted  for  service  in  Company  I,  Thirty- 
fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  with  which  he  was 
•connected  until  1864.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Stone  River,  Cor- 
inth. Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge  and 
went  with  Sherman  on  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. At  Kenesaw  Mountain  he  was 
slightly  wounded  and  he  was  twice  taken 
prisoner,  but  he  managed  to  elude  the  vigi- 
lance of  his  captors  and  both  times  suc- 
ceeded in  making  his  escape.  At  the  close 
of  his  term  he  was  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field with  the  rank  of  sergaint.  He  then 
returned  to  his  native  township  and  was  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  in  teaching 
school  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1865,  Mr. 
Newlon  was  married  to  Ivea  E.  Taylor,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  A.  and  Ivea  (Allen) 
Taylor,  who  came  to  Vermilion  county  in 
1853  and  located  in  Catlin  township,  where 
]\Ir.  Taylor  died  September  19,  1876.  His 
wife  sur\-ived  him  several  years,  departing 
this  life  in  1893  in  her  seventy-eighth  year. 
Mrs.  Newlon  continued  her  education  until 
■she  had  reached  the  senior  vear  in  the  high 


school  of  Springfield,  Illinois.  She  was 
born  in  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  Febru- 
ary 2,  1845,  'I'l'l  after  her  marriage  she 
went  with  her  husband  to  Winterset,  Iowa, 
b'.it  a  year  later  they  returned  to  Vermilion 
county.  Their  children  are  Temperance 
Jane;  Nora,  the  wife  of  H.  B.  Catlett,  by 
whom  she  has  four  children — Roland  J., 
Elizabeth  Ashton,  Stanley  B.  and  Eugene 
Leigh;  Mildred,  who  is  at  home;  Lena,  also 
at  Iiome;  and  Lowell  T.,  who  is  assistant 
teller  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dan- 
ville and  married  Miss  Vera  Seed,  by  whom 
he  has  one  son,  John. 

Mr.  Newlon  of  this  review  has  beea 
quite  prominent  in  his  community,  having 
been  called  to  various  public  offices.  For 
three  terms  he  served  as  supervisor  of  Cat- 
lin township  and  was  also  collector  and  as- 
sessor there.  In  1888  he  came  to  Danville 
and  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  J. 
C.  Gundy,  filling  that  office  for  two  years. 
]n  1890  he  was  elected  sheriff  and  for  four 
years  acted  in  that  capacity,  during  which 
time  there  occurred  the  great  strike  of  the 
American  Railway  Union  and  at  the  same 
time  five  thousand  miners  in  Vermilion 
county  went  out  on  a  strike.  The  exigencies 
of  the  position  were  such  as  have  seldom 
been  imposed  upon  a  county  official,  but  he 
met  the  difficulties  which  confronted  him 
and  the  seven  companies  of  militia  who  were 
called  into  service  were  all  uqder  his  direc- 
tion. He  proved  himself  most  capaljle  in 
handling  the  troops  and  in  mastering  the 
situation  at  this  critical  time  and  the  peo- 
ple manifested  their  confidence  in  him  and 
their  approval  of  his  course  by  electing  him 
county  treasurer  without  opposition  when 
his  term  as  sheriff  had  expired.  He  served 
for  four  years  as  treasurer  and  in  1898  he 
became  chief  deputy  sheriff',  serving  for 
three  and  one-half  vears  under  Tames  Sloan, 


6oo 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  was  then  appointed  commissary  in  the 
Danville  branch  of  the  National  Home  for 
disabled  soldiers  and  has  since  acted  in  this 
capacity. 

Mr.  Xewlon  has  always  been  an  active 
member  of  the  Republican  party  and  has 
served  several  years  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  and  state  conventions.  He  was  as- 
sistant sergeant-at-arms  at  the  St.  Louis 
convention  when  William  McKinley  was 
nominated  for  the  presidency  and  for  sev- 
eral terms  he  has  served  as  a  central  com- 
mitteeman. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  belongs  to  Vermilion  Chapter, 
No.  89,  R.  A.  M.  and  to  Athelstan  Com- 
mandery.  No.  45,  K.  T.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  zealous  members  and  active  work- 
ers in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 
He  owns  a  splendid  farm  in  Catlin  town- 
ship in  addition  to  town  property,  and  in 
Danville  and  Vermilion  county  Mr.  Newlon 
ranks  among  those  whose  worth  to  the  com- 
munity is  widely  recognized.  His  public 
career  will  bear  the  light  of  the  strongest 
investigation  and  scrutiny  for  his  fidelity 
to  dutv  has  ever  been  one  of  the  strongest 
elen^ents  in  his  career. 


O.  M.  DANIEL. 


O.  M.  Daniel,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Danville,  was  born  in  Roxbury,  New 
York,  June  19,  1843,  a  son  of  Aaron  Burr 
and  Cornelia  Ann  (Moffett)  Daniel,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Empire  state. 
The  Daniels  family  are  descendants  of  the 
Sturgis  family,  to  whom  Jay  Gould  also 
traced  his  ancestry.  They  came  originally 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  New  York. 
The  parents  of  O.  M.  Daniel  were  married 


in  New  York,  after  which  they  located  in 
the  town  of  Deposit,  the  father  there  en- 
gaging in  farming.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  he  married  Phebe  Ogden,  also  a 
native  of  New  York.  About  1870  he  re- 
moved to  Danville,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  contracting.  He  as- 
sisted in  the  construction  of  the  Paris  & 
Danville  Railroad,  now  a  branch  of  the  Big- 
Four  system,  and  then  retired  from  business 
life.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He 
died  about  1891  and  is  survived  by  his  sec- 
ond wife,  who  is  still  living  near  Danville, 
By  the  first  marriage  there  were  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living:  O.  M.,  of 
this  review ;  Ella,  who  is  married  and  resides 
in  Chicago;  Sarah,  the  widow  of  James 
Thompson,  her  home  being  near  Danville; 
and  Mrs.  Cornelia  Smith,  of  Kansas.  By 
the  second  marriage  there  were  four  chil- 
dren :  Charles,  who  resides  in  Indiana  ;^ 
William,  of  Danville;  Irving,  of  Catlin,  Illi- 
nois ;  and  Leslie,  who  resides  with  his 
mother. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Deposit,  New- 
York,  O.  M.  Daniel  pursued  his  education- 
and  in  the  year  of  1861  came  to  Danville,, 
where  he  began  earning  his  living  by  driv- 
ing a  team  for  the  firm  of  Donlain  &  Daniel, 
coal  dealers,  with  whom  he  remained  for  two 
years.  He  then  spent  six  months  as  night 
operator  and  ticket  agent  in  what  was  called 
the  Great  Western  depot.  He  next  went  to- 
Champaign,  Illinois,  and  for  six  months 
was  en-iployed  as  a  brakeman  on  the  road, 
after  which  he  was  advanced  to  the  position 
of  conductor  and  sent  to  the  southern  dis- 
trict of  Illinois,  running  between  Centralia 
and  Cairo.  For  a  year  and  a  half  he  re- 
n-iained  with  the  road  and  then  returned  to- 
New  York. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


60  r 


The  object  of  his  visit  was  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  on  the  3d  of  June,  1871,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jane  Thomp- 
son, who  was  born  in  Delhi,  New  York. 
May  8,  1841,  a  daughter  of  Robert  Thomp- 
son, whose  birth  occurred  in  Scotland.  After 
coming  to  America  he  was  married  in  Delhi, 
New  York,  to  Helen  Shaw,  a  native  of  that 
place.  In  order  to  provitle  for  his  family 
he  first  learned  the  stone  mason's  trade  and 
afterward  carried  on  farming.  His  last 
years  were  spent  in  Deposit,  New  York,, 
where  his  deatli  occurred  about  1894,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1898.  He  belonged 
to  the  Baptist  church  and  gave  his  political 
support  to  the  Democracy.  In  his  family 
were  thirteen  children,  of  whom  five  are 
yet  living:  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Dan- 
iel; Helen,  the  wife  of  John  Faulkner,  a  resi- 
dent of  Deposit,  New  York ;  Robert,  who  is 
living  in  Susquehanna,  Pennsylvania,  and 
Everett  and  Etta,  who  are  also  residents  of 
that  place.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Daniel  has  been  blessed  with  five  children, 
but  Orin,  tiie  first  born,  died  in  Danville. 
Alvin  married  Anna  Smith,  by  whom  he  has 
a  daughter,  Edna,  and  their  home  is  near 
Danville.  Fred,  a  resident  of  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, married  Jennie  Faulkner,  and  has  two 
children.  Perry  is  physical  instructor  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  Effie  L.  resides  with 
her  parents  and  is  a  memljer  of  the  class  of 
1903  in  the  high  school. 

Mr.  Daniel  has  fifty  acres  of  land  two 
miles  south  of  Danville  and  also  owns  a 
good  home  and  other  real  estate  in  the  city. 
To  some  extent  he  buys  and  sells  coal,  but 
is  now  practically  living  a  retired  life.  In 
politics  he  has  always  lieen  a  Democrat,  but 
has  ever  refused  to  hold  office.  Some  years 
ago    he   became   the   candidate    for   county 


sheriff  and  succeeded  in  reducing  the  usual 
Republican  majority  of  thirty-three  hundred 
to  nine  hundred,  a  fast  which  indicates  his 
personal  popularity  antl  the  confidence  re- 
posed in  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  He 
belongs  t(j  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Ameri- 
ca and  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks  in  Danville.  Having  long  re- 
sided in  this  county  he  is  widely  known  and 
enjoys  the  respect  and  good  will  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 


JOHN  TEXAS  DAVIS. 

John  Texas  Davis  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  Ver- 
milion county.  Through  more  than  fifty 
years  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the  progress 
and  upbuilding  of  this  portion  of  the  state 
because  he  has  spent  his  entire  life  here. 
He  was  born  in  \'ance  township,  September 
17,  1850,  his  parents  being  James  and 
America  (Boggess)  Davis,  who  are  repre- 
sented on  another  page  of  this  work.  At 
the  usual  age  the  subject  of  this  review  be- 
gan his  education  as  a  student  in  the  Wal- 
nut Grove  schoolhouse  and  there  he  contin- 
ued his  studies  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  attending,  liowever,  mostly 
in  the  winter  seasons,  while  during  the 
months  of  the  summer  he  worked  in  the 
fields  from  the  time  of  early  plowing  and 
planting  until  the  crops  were  gathered  in 
the  autumn.  He  assisted  in  the  cultivation 
of  tlie  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-three 
years  of  age  and  then  removed  to  the  farm 
upon  which  he  is  now  living,  it  having  since 
been  his  home.  It  gives  evidence  of  the  care 
and  labor  which  he  has  bestowed  upon  it 
in  its  well  tilled  fields,  excellent  improve- 
ments and  neat  and  llu-ifty  appearance. 


602 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


On  the  13th  of  February,  1873,  in  Vance 
township,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Davis  and  ]\Iiss  Jennie  Gilbert,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio.  By  this  marriage  there  has  been 
born  one  son,  James  Roy,  who  resides  upon 
one  of  hie  father's  farms.  He  married  Myr- 
tie  Rogers  and  they  have  two  children, 
Dai.sy  D.  and  Texas  Eugene.  On  the  15th 
of  August,  1888,  in  Danville,  Mr.  Davis 
^vedded  Katie  Thomas,  who  was  born  in 
Nyesville,  Indiana,  on  the  31st  of  July, 
1864.  Her  father,  Andrew  J.  Thomas,  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  when  he  had 
reached  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Sarah 
J.  Dice,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Indiana. 
They  were  married  in  Rockville  of  the  latter 
state.  The  mother  of  ^Mrs.  Davis  died  in 
August,  1875,  but  the  father  is  still  living, 
his  home  being  in  Conkeytown.  He  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  having  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life.  His  po- 
litical support  is  given  to  the  Republican 
party.  In  his  family  were  nine  children,  of 
whom  four  are  yet  living. 

Mr.  Davis  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
acres  of  very  rich  and  valuable  land  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Vance  township.  It  was  formerly 
the  property  of  his  paternal  grandfather  and 
has  since  been  in  possession  of  the  family. 
He  is  a  partner  in  the  ownership  of  the 
famous  Shire  stallion,  Newton  Ladd,  and 
is  extensively  engaged  in  breeding  horses, 
in  which  branch  of  business  he  has  been  very 
successful.  He  also  buys  and  sells  horses 
and  Poland  China  hogs,  and  as  a  stock  deal- 
er is  very  widely  known,  being  one  of  the 
leading  representatives  of  this  business  in 
^''ermilion  county.  As  a  general  farmer  he 
is  also  prospering  and  his  enterprise  and 
capable  management  are  important  elements 
in  his  success. 

Although  his  life  is  a  Ihisv  one  he  yet  finds 


time  to  support  the  principles  in  which  he 
believes,  and  is  an  ardent  Republican.  He 
has  always  refused  to  hold  office,  however. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  Homer  Lodge, 
No.  199,  F.  &  A.  M.,  having  been  made  a 
]\Iason  there  when  twenty-four  years  of  age. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  chapter  at  Homer  and 
is  a  Knight  Templar  of  Athelstane  Com- 
mandery.  No.  45,  K.  T.  of  Danville.  He 
has  attained  to  the  thirty-second  degree  of 
the  Scottish  Rite,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
consistory  and  Mohammed  Temple  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine  at  Peoria.  He  holds  member- 
ship relations  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America  and  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  is 
popular  in  these  organizations  because  of 
his  good  fellowship,  genial  spirits'  and  cor- 
dial manner. 


JOHN    D.  CAMPBELL. 

John  D.  Campbell  is  now  practically  liv- 
ing retired  but  still  owns  and  operates  his 
A'aluable  farm  property  on  section  23,  New- 
ell township,  where  he  has  long  lived  and 
\\:here  he  has  two  hundred  and  five  acres  of 
rich  land,  well  improved  with  substantial 
buildings.  His  birth  place  was  on  section 
26.  Newell  township,  south  of  his  present 
home  and  his  natal  day  was  June  7,  1843. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Eliza 
(Makemson)  Campbell,  the  former  a  native 
of  .Seneca  county,  New  York,  the  latter  of 
Harrison  county,  Kentucky.  His  grandfa- 
ther, Samuel  Campbell,  came  to  Vermilion 
county  about  1828,  settling  on  the  farm  on 
which  the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred. 
He  made  the  journey  overland  in  a  covered 
wagon  from  New  York  to  Ohio  and  then 
some  of  his  sons  came  ahead  to  A'ermilion 
county,  being  later  followed  by  the  parents. 


J.  D.  CAMPBELL. 


L  Y 

UlxlVERSlTY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


607 


\vho  lived  first  in  a  little  log  cabin  sur- 
rounded by  Indian  neighbors.  There  they 
underwent  all  the  hardships  and  trials  inci- 
dent to  the  establishment  of  a  home  upon 
the  frontier.  Later  the  little  log  cabin  was 
replaced  by  a  more  substantial  and  modern 
residence  and  was  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
]\Irs.  Samuel  Campbell  until  called  to  their 
final  rest  at  an  advanced  age.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  eight  children,  of  whom  Joseph 
Campbell  was  the  youngest  son.  After  his 
father's  death  he  purchased  the  interest  of 
the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead  and 
there  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  own  death,  which  occurred  March  7, 
1S58,  when  he  was  forty-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  the  father  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters. 

John  D.  Campbell,  the  eldest  son  and 
the  second  in  order  of  birth,  pursued  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  district  schools,  the  little  tem- 
ple (if  learning  lieing  a  log  schoolhouse, 
seated  with  slab  benches  and  heated  by  an 
immense  fire-place,  from  which  the  smoke 
made  its  egress  through  a  mud  stick  chim- 
nev.  The  school  was  conducted  on  the  sul> 
scription  plan.  His  father  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board  at  the  time  when  the 
log  school  building  was  replaced  by  a  frame 
structure  and  also  acted  in  that  position  be- 
fore the  Ijuilding  of  the  new  schoolhouse. 
Mr.  Campbell  of  this  review  attended  school 
for  about  three  months  in  the  winter  and 
throughout  the  remainder  of  the  year  as- 
sisted in  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  Later 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  having  about 
forty  or  fifty  scholars.  After  a  time,  how- 
ever, he  devoted  his  entire  energies  to  farm 
work  and  for  more  than  thirty-five  years 
has  l)een  identified  successfully  with  agri- 
cultural interests.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five 
vears  he  married    Tulia  Howard,  the  wed- 


ding ceremony  being  performed  October  13, 
1869,  by  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Johnson.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  two 
are  yet  living.  Ida  is  the  wife  of  O.  M. 
Berry,  of  Newell  township,  whom  she 
wedded  December  18,  1895.  Joseph  How- 
ard is  a  practicing  physician  of  Bismarck. 
He  attended  the  high  school  of  Danville  and 
for  one  term  was  a  student  in  Greer  College 
of  Hoopeston.  He  afterward  entered  Kan- 
kakee Hospital,  where  he  was  employed  for 
about  four  or  five  years  and  there  he  met 
Beatrice  May  Krohn,  an  experienced  nurse, 
to  whom  he  was  married  August  22,  1900. 
Determining  to  make  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine his  life  work  he  entered  the  college  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Chicago  and 
was  graduated  on  the  20th  of  May,  1902. 
Immediately  afterward  he  opened  his  office 
in  Bismarck  and  is  now  successfully  eng'aged 
in  practice.  Alter  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Campbell,  of  this  review,  was  married 
to  IMiss  Mary  K.  Barger,  the  wedding  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  Rev.  H.  Woods 
on  the  22d  of  May,  1888.  Her  parents 
were  William  Charles  and  .\nn  (Barns) 
Barger,  the  latter  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Her  father  was  l)orn  in  Newell  township, 
\vhere  liis  father  had  located  in  an  early  day, 
coming  to  the  west  from  Ohio.  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell was  the  eldest  of  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living, 
her  birth  occurring  in  Newell  township,  Oc- 
tober 26,  1 86 1.  She  pursued  her  education 
in  Stateline,  Indiana,  and  by  her  marriage 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren :  Jessie  M.,  Bessie  D.  and  McCowan. 
I\Ir.  Cam])bell  has  been  quite  successful 
in  his  business  afi^airs.  He  located  on  his 
present  farm  about  1868  and  has  since  de- 
voted his  energies  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising,  although  at  the  present  time 


6o8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lie  is  largely  living  retired.  He  has  made 
a  specialty  of  handling  shorthorn  cattle  and 
their  ready  sale  upon  the  market  has 
brought  to  him  a  good  return.  He  now 
rents  the  greater  part  of  his  farm,  the  in- 
come from  his  property  supplying  him  with 
all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life.  He  saw  Danville  l^efore  there  was 
a  railroad  in  the  town  and  in  those  early 
days  all  grain  was  hauled  to  Covington.  He 
also  rememljers  well  when  the  stage  coaches 
ran  from  Terre  Haute  to  Danville  and  to 
Chicago,  going  north  along  the  state  road. 
All  travel  in  that  period  was  by  river,  cana! 
and  stage.  In  the  work  of  progress  and  im- 
provement Mr.  Campbell  has  always  taken 
a  deep  and  active  interest,  doing  everything 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  general  good. 
For  about  nine  years  altogether  he  has  served 
as  commissioner  of  highways  and  for  thirty 
years  he  has  acted  as  school  director,  taking 
a  helpful  part  in  erecting  schools  and  secur- 
ing competent  teachers.  He  is  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Stateline  and  for  several  years  he  has 
been  one  of  its  trustees.  His  wife  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Campbell 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  State- 
line  and  to  the  Odd  Fellows  Society'  and  for 
a  number  of  years  he  has  been  active  in  fra- 
ternal circles,  but  now  largely  leaves  this 
work  to  younger  men.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  well  known  in  Vermilion  county 
and  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  those  with 
whom  they  have  come  in  contact.  They  are 
now  favorably  situated  in  a  comfortable 
home  which  has  been  gained  through  their 
combined  and  well  directed  efforts.  Mr. 
Campbell  has  cleared  much  timber  land  in 
this  county  and  has  assisted  materially  iti 
making  the  county  what  it  is  to-day,  one  of 
the  richest  counties  in  this  great  state. 


T.  H.  RUXYOX,  M.  D. 

Dr.  T.  H.  Runyon  of  Tilton  was  born  in 
Mason  county,  Kentucky,  April  25,  1831, 
his  parents  being  Daniel  and  Ruth  (Rob- 
inson) Runyon.  The  paternal  grandparents 
were  Daniel  and  Rachel  Runyon,  the  former 
born  August  28.  1750,  died  December  26, 
1817,  while  the  latter,  whose  birth  occurred 
May  13,  1752,  survived  her  husband  until 
December  2y.  1833.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Kentucky,  A  Jay  23,  1788, 
and  died  May  6,  1876.  He  married  Ruth 
Robinson,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
]\Iarch  22.  1788,  and  died  February  3, 
1857.  In  their  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren and  two  sisters  of  the  Doctor  are 
now  living — ]Mrs.  Sarah  W'orthington  and 
]\Irs.  Mary  Writt,  both  of  whom  are  resi- 
dents of  Kentucky.  The  Doctor  has 
recently  visited  them  antl  the  former  is  now 
eighty-five,  years  of  age  and  the  latter  sev- 
enty-four years  of  age.  The  members  of 
his  father's  family  who  have  passed  away 
are:  J.  R.,  who  died  in  1900.  at  the  age  of 
eighty-eight;  W.  G.,  who  died  in  1843:  R. 
L.,  who  was  born  in  181 2  and  died  in  1876; 
E.  A.,  who  was  born  December  5,  1821,  and 
departed  this  life  December  27,  1899;  Asa. 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  E.  J.,  who  was 
born  October  17,  1826,  and  passed  away 
March  9,  1852. 

Dr.  Runyon  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  state,  coming 
to  \'ermilion  county  in  1869.  He  had  ac- 
quired his  literary  education  in  Kentucky 
and  pursued  his  medical  course  in  the  Jef- 
ferson }kledical  College  of  Philadelphia, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1855. 
He  began  practice  in  ^lason  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  i860  he  went  to  Louisiana, 
practicing  in  Concordia  Parish  until  the  fall 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


609 


of  1 861.  He  then  enlisted  as  a  private  of 
Company  F,  First  Louisiana  Cavalry,  under 
Colonel  John  S.  Scott  and  Lieutenant  Col- 
onel J.  O.  Nixon  of  New  Orleans.  With 
the  command  Dr.  Runyon  was  sent  to  Bow- 
ling Green  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
sergeant.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Donelson.  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Missionary  Ridge,  Springhill. 
Kentucky:  Big  Hill,  Kentucky;  Stone  Ri\- 
er,  Perryville  and  others  of  minor  import- 
ance, and  was  mustered  out  at  Holly 
Springs,  Mississippi,  in  May,  1865.  He 
acted  as  officer's  guard  and  most  of  the  time 
was  assistant  surgeon.  He  also  aided  in 
making  the  exchanges  of  prisoners  on  nu- 
merous occasions.  His  experience  as  as- 
sistant surgeon  proved  of  value  to  him  ii 
his  later  practice.  At  the  close  of  the  war 
he  returned  to  Mason  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  established  an  office  and  continued 
in  practice  until  1869,  when  he  arrived  in 
Catlin,  Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  Here 
he  opened  an  office  and  continued  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  profession  until  1876. 
when  he  left  for  Florida.  Later  he  returned 
to  McLean  county.  Illinois,  and  subsequent- 
ly settled  in  Perrysville,  Indiana,  but  in  1880 
he  again  went  to  Catlin,  where  he  remained 
continuously  until  1902,  when  he  removed 
to  Tilton,  where  he  is  now  located.  He  is 
examiner  for  a  number  of  the  old  line  in- 
surance companies. 

Dr.  Runyon  was  married  February  26, 
1867,  in  Minerva.  Kentucky,  to  Miss  Cora 
Lee  Triplett,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  and  Martha 
(.-Vnderson)  Triplett,  the  former  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Runyon  was  their  second  child  and  was  born 
in  Kentucky  June  21,  1845.  She  died  Aug- 
ust 2"],   1880.  leaving  three  children,  while 


three  had  also  passed  away  in  infancy. 
Those  still  living  are :  William  H.,  of  In- 
dian Territory;  Kate  L..  the  wife  of  A.  L. 
Olmsted  of  Tilton,  by  whom  she  has  three 
children — Orvil,  Ward  and  Ruth;  and  Clay, 
of  Oklahoma,  who  married  Miss  Albright 
and  has  one  daughter,  Ruth.  On  the  5th 
of  April,  1883,  Dr.  Runyon  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Tillie  A. 
Onley,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Adams)  Onley.  She  was  born  in  London, 
England,  October  20,  1847,  '''"'1  '^^r  par- 
ents, also  natives  of  that  country,  came  to 
Vermilion  county  at  an  early  day.  Mrs. 
Runyon  was  educated  in  this  state  and  has 
made  three  trips  across  the  Atlantic. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  of  which  he  has  been  examining 
physician  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Court 
of  Honor  and  is  a  charter  member  of  Cat- 
lin Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  for  a  number  of  years  and  he 
votes  for  men  and  measures  rather  than  for 
party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  memljers 
of  the  Christian  church  of  Danville.  TIk 
Doctor  has  seen  many  changes  in  this  coun- 
ty, has  witnessed  the  development  of  Dan- 
ville from  a  small  village.  He  has  ridden 
for  miles  across  the  country  in  the  early 
days  of  his  professional  career  here  and  is 
now  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  in  this  part 
of  the  state,  being  still  actively  engaged  in 
practice,  although  now  in  his  seventy-first 
year.  He  has  in  his  possession  a  coverlet 
which  his  mother  wove.  He  has  seen  the 
tlax  used  in  his  mother's  home,  the  garments 
for  the  men  l)eing  made  of  jeans  and  gar- 
ments for  the  girls  and  women  of  linsey. 
He  has  seen  the  dipped  candles  and  remem- 
bers when  the  candle  mold  came  into  use. 
With  matters  of  growth  and  improvement 


6io 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  \''ermilion  county  he  has  been  identified, 
ever  taking  a  deep  interest  in  what  has  tend- 
ed to  promote  the  general  \\-elfare. 


-MARCUS    C.    DAMS. 

Alarcus  CereHous  Davis,  who  carries  on 
general  farming  in  Pilot  township,  was 
born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  November 
lo,  1833,  his  parents  being  Owen  and  Mar- 
garet (Neff)  Davis.  They  w-ere  married 
in  the  Buckeye  state,  of  which  the  father 
was  a  native,  while  the  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred in  Virginia.  Both  now  ha\-e  depart- 
ed this  life.  In  their  family  were  three  chil- 
dren :  Absalom;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Snider:  and  Marcus  Cerelious,  all  yet  liv- 
ing in  Pilot  township. 

Mr.  Davis,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  spent  the  first  eighteen  years  of  his 
life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and  pur- 
sued his  education  in  an  old  log  schoolhouse 
with  its  accessories  and  old  time  appoint- 
ments. It  was  about  1848  that  he  came  to 
the  west,  settling  in  Pilot  township.  On  at- 
taining his  majority  he  left  home  and  was 
married  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
2d  of  May,  1853,  to  Miss  Mary  Neff,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Hardy  county,  V-irginia, 
August  19,  1832.  Mrs.  Davis  has  but  one 
living  brother,  Peter  Neff,  who  still  resides 
in  Ohio.  They  are  the  only  sur\iving  mem- 
bers of  her  father's  family. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Davis  returned  to  this  part  of  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Pilot  township,  and  has  since  lived 
upon  his  present  farm  on  section  23.  He 
began  his  domestic  life  here  with  a  cash 
capital  of  about  two  hundred  dollars.  From 
his  father  he  rented  land  and  also  operated 
other  leased  land  for  several  vears,  but  as 


time  passed  he  added  more  and  more  to  his 
savings  until  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  his 
present  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  acres 
on  sections  14,  19,  and  23,  Pilot  township,  _ 
and  ten  acres  in  Blount  township.  Here  he 
devotes  his  energies  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  fields  and  to  the  raising  of  crops  best 
adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate,  and  also 
keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock  upon  the  farm, 
but  while  he  is  yet  living  on  the  old  home 
place  the  work  of  the  farm  is  largely  per- 
formed by  his  son,  so  that  he  is  enjoying  a 
well  merited  rest. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Da\-is  were  bom 
six  children,  but  the  first  born  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  George,  whose  birth  occurred 
June  3,  1855,  passed  away  on  the  12th  of 
June  of  the  same  year.  Hettie,  born  No- 
vember 18,  1856,  is  the  wife  of  John  Craig, 
of  Oakwood  township,  and  they  have  eight 
children,  Minnie,  JNIabel,  Maude,  May, 
Edith,  Nellie,  Willie  and  Emily.  Mary, 
born  February  7,  i860,  is  the  widow^  of 
Charlie  Cork,  and  lives  with  her  father. 
Absalom  John,  who  was  born  June  28, 
1865,  married  Nettie  Cork,  by  whom  he  had 
three  children,  Robert  L.,  Glenn  V.  and 
Cord  ]\IcLean,  but  the  mother  died  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1896,  and  on  the  7th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1898,  Mr.  Absalom  J.  Davis  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Flora 
\\'iltermood.  Josie,  born  October  26,  1870, 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Vinson,  of  Pilot  town- 
ship, by  w^hom  she  has  two  children,  Ross 
and  Clarence. 

Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,  at  Charity,  and  for  several  }-ears 
has  served  as  its  steward.  He  gives  his 
political  support  to  the  Republican  party 
and  is  serving  as  a  school  trustee.  He  has 
also  been  road  commissioner  and  school  di- 
rector, belongs  to  Newtown  Lodge,  No. 
714,  F.  t^  :V.  I\I.,  and  is  a  worthy  examplar 


OF   r.-iE 
UXlVERClTy  Of  IIUKOIS 


MRS.  M.  C.   DAVIS. 


M,   C.   DAVIS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  T.IE 

UNIVERSITY  GF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


6is 


of  the  craft,  his  life  being  in  harmony  with 
its  teachings  of  mutual  helpfuhiess  and 
brotherly  kindness.  During  the  long  years 
of  his  residence  in  Vermilion  county  he  has 
ever  lived  as  to  command  the  respect  and 
good  will  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been 
associated.  He  has  seen  the  county  develop 
from  a  wild  frontier  district  into  one  of  the 
richest  portions  of  this  great  state,  and  in 
the  work  of  development  and  progress  he 
has  borne  his  part  and  taken  deep  interest 
in  what  has  been  accomplished  iiere. 


JAMES  DAVIS. 

The  citizen  who  comes  to  Vermilion 
county  to-day  enjoys  all  the  privileges  and 
advantages  known  to  the  older  east,  who 
is  surrounded  by  the  evidences  of  progress 
and  development  known  to  the  world  in  the 
last  half  century  cannot  realize  what  was 
the  condition  which  the  pioneer  of  fifty  years 
ago  faced.  The  Davis  family  is  one  of  the 
oldest  of  the  county  and  James  Davis  well 
deserves  honorable  mention  among  the  early 
settlers  who,  taking  up  their  abode  here 
upon  the  frontier,  reclaimed  this  wild  dis- 
trict for  the  uses  of  the  white  man  and 
sought  the  raw  land  for  purposes  of  civiliza- 
tion, that  it  might  be  made  rich  and  pro- 
ducti\-c  farms. 

James  Davis  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  January  21,  182S,  and  in  various  lines 
the  family  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to 
Wales.  Ireland  and  Scotland.  Henry  Davis, 
his  father,  was  born  on  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1 78 1,  and  served  his  country  as  a  valiant 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  uncle  Van 
Meter  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolu- 
tion and  owned  a  powder  horn  which  was 
brought  from  England  and  which  was  car- 


ried in  the  battle  which  resulted  in  the  de- 
feat of  Braddock.     It  is  now  a  highly  prized 
family  heirlooms  in  the  possession  of  George 
Davis.     After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity 
Henry  Davis  married  Miss  Rachel  Pollock, 
who  was  born  June  3,   1785,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  ten  children :     Azariah 
married  Jane  Conner  but  both  are  now  de- 
ceased;   Samuel   died   in    infancy;   William 
married  Elizabeth  Hays,  of  Ohio,  and  after 
her  death  he  wedded  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  (Cot- 
lett)   Lee;  Jane  became  the  wife  of  Moses 
Hays  and  they  resided  near  Homer,  Illinois, 
but  both  are  now  deceased ;  Abraham  mar- 
ried Electa  Stearns  and  for  a  time  they  re- 
sided in  this  county,  but  afterward  removed 
to  Iowa  and  dietl  in  Wapello  county,  north 
of  Ottumwa;  Joseph  was  married  in  Iowa, 
in  May,   1S49,  ^"^  his  widow  now  resides 
in  that  state ;  Van  Meter  wedded  Mary  Ann 
Copeland  and  after  her  death  married  Katie 
Callahan,   who   died   in    1893,   since  which 
time  he  has  married  Elvira  Thompson  and 
they  make  their  home  in  Danville;  Martha 
became  the  wife  of  John  T.  Hardin,  a  resi- 
dent of   Hardin   county,   Iowa,   where   she 
died  in  August,  1S92;  John  died  in  Te.xas 
at  the  age  of  twenty- four  years;  and  the 
other  member  of  the  family  is  James  Davis 
of  this  review.     The  father  of  this  family 
died   in    1855   and  the  mother's  death  oc- 
curred November  i,  1848. 

Educated  in  the  district  school  and 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm,  James  Davis 
early  became  familiar  with  the  occupation 
which  he  has  made  his  life  work.  In  early 
manhood  he  was  married  to  Miss  America 
J.  Boggess,  who  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  an- 
cestry, and  who  was  born  in  Vennilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1833.  Her 
father,  John  Boggess,  was  a  native  of  Green- 
brier county,  Virginia,  and  his  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  McCorkel,. 


6i6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Unto 
them  were  born  eleven  children :  ^^'illiam, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years ; 
Diana,  who  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Grif- 
fith and  resided  in  \'ermilion  county,  but 
both  are  now  deceased  •.  Becky,  the  wife  of 
William  Ray,  a  resident  of  Delevan,  Mor- 
rison county,  Kansas :  Harvey,  deceased, 
who  married  Emma  White  and  resided  in 
Kansas;  Charles,  who  married  Hulda  Patter- 
son and  resides  in  Homer.  Illinois ;  America 
J.,  the  wife  of  our  subject:  Perry,  who 
wedded  Mary  Lightner  and  after  her  death 
married  Lizzie  Austin,  who  also  passed 
away,  since  which  time  he  married  Antoinetta 
Elliott,  their  home  being  now  in  Catlin  town- 
ship, this  county;  John,  who  married  Bella 
Piper  and  is  a  physician  of  Catlin,  Illinois; 
and  three  who  died  in  early  childhood. 

The  marriage  of  James  and  America 
Davis  was  blessed  with  two  children :  John 
Texas,  who  was  born  September  17,  1850; 
and  Rachel  A.,  born  November  19,  1852. 
She  is  the  wife  of  E.  R.  Danforth,  a  produce 
commission  merchant  of  Danville,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  two  living  children,  Jennie 
and  James. 

Throughout  the  years  of  an  active  busi- 
ness career  James  Davis  has  carried  on 
farming.  Coming  to  Vermilion  county 
when  this  district  was  upon  the  western 
frontier  he  secured  a  tract  of  wild  land  and 
with  characteristic  energj-  began  its  develop- 
ment, transforming  it  into  a  productive 
tract.  As  the  years  passed  he  added  to  his 
possessions  until  he  had  about  four  hundred 
acres.  He  still  resides  upon  a  farm  in 
Vance  township,  one  of  the  esteemed  and 
worthy  pioneers  who  deserves  much  credit 
for  the  active  and  helpful  part  which  he  has 
taken  in  the  development  and  upbuilding  of 
his  adopted  county. 


GENERAL  ROBERT  H.  CARNAHAN. 

General  Robert  H.  Carnahan  was  born 
in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1823,  and  therefore  his  life  rec- 
ord covers  more  than  eighty  years.  In  this 
long  period  he  has  displayed  a  patriotic 
spirit  which,  whether  it  be  an  inheritance 
from  his  Revolutionary  ancestors  or  an  in- 
herent quality,  has  made  him  a  citizen  of 
worth.  He  traces  his  lineage  from  Robert 
Carnahan.  who  was  a  valiant  soldier  of  the 
Continental  Army  and  was  detached  from 
his  command  by  General  Washington  to 
guard  the  frontier.  As  an  Indian  scout  he 
gained  considerable  reputation  and  did  ef- 
fective and  valient  service  in  defending  the 
borders  against  the  advances  of  tbe  hostile 
red  men.  He  had  two  relatives  who  were 
also  in  the  war  and  one  of  them  went  down 
the  river  with  Aaron  Burr  on  the  filibuster- 
ing expedition  which  has  become  a  matter 
of  history,  settling  in  Louisiana.  The  Carn- 
ahan family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  and 
the  father  of  our  subject  was  a  cousin  of 
Professor  Carnahan,  president  of  Prince- 
ton College,  who  was  the  preacher  that  de- 
li\ered  the  funeral  sermon  over  the  remains 
of  Aaron  Burr.  He  often  visited  at  the 
home  of  William  Carnahan.  In  the  early 
days  when  William  Penn  led  his  colony  into 
the  state  which  was  named  in  his  honor,  the 
Carnahans  crossed  the  Delaware  river  into 
that  district  and  through  many  generation? 
representatives  of  the  name  were  prominent 
in  public  affairs  of  Pennsylvania.  William 
Carnahan  was  born  in  Cumberland  county, 
as  was  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Mary  Houston.  Their  marriage  occurred 
in  that  country  and  the  father  there  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  in  order  to  pro- 
vide for  his  familv  until  his  removal  west- 


'ayHO-ZyC^l^' 


L!' "-""Y 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


619 


ward  when  he  took  up  his  ahode  in  Foun- 
tain county,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  un- 
til called  to  his  final  rest.  The  mother  of 
our  sulijcct  died  in  1824  and  the  father 
married  Margaret  Cooper,  of  Cumberland 
count\',  Pennsyhania.  In  his  political 
views  he  was  a  Republican  and  was  an  earn- 
est Christian  man  who  long  held  member- 
ship in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  for 
many  years  sened  as  one  of  its  elders.  He 
died  in  the  spring  of  1870  and  his  second 
wife  passed  away  in  1882.  By  the  first  m;ir- 
riage  there  were  two  children,  the  brother 
of  our  subject  being  Andrew  Carnahan, 
who  served  as  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature in  Indiana,  and  died  in  Covington,  in 
1852.  By  the  second  marriage  there  were 
three  daughters  and  two  sons,  ami  three  of 
the  number  are  yet  li\ing:  Mary,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Dr.  Cole,  and  resides  at  Rob 
Roy.  Indiana :  Sarah,  the  widow-  of  John 
McGiffort,  and  a  resident  in  Duluth,  Minne- 
sc?ta ;  and  John,  who  is  living  in  Maysville, 
Tennessee.  . 

To  a  limited  extent  General  Carnahan 
attended  the  schools  of  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  but  his  education  has  been 
largely  acquired  in  the  school  of  experience, 
and  therein  he  has  learned  many  lessons  of 
practical  \alue.  He  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  ware- 
house in  Attica,  Indiana,  and  later  he  pur- 
chased the  business  continuing  as  a  commis- 
sion merchant  at  that  place  until  1861. 

In  the  meantime  General  Carnahan  was 
married  on  the  ist  of  January,  1849,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Newark, 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  May  2-j,  1822,  a 
daughter  of  Judge  Zachariah  and  Elizabeth 
(Roberts)  Davis,  the  former  a  native  of 
Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of 
Martinsburg.  \'irginia.     They    were    mar- 


ried in  Xewark,  Ohio,  and  in  early  life  the 
Judge  followed  the  wheelwright's  trade, 
while  later  he  devoted  his  energies  to  pork- 
packing,  which  business  he  carried  on  ex- 
tensively. A  Republican  in  politics,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church — the 
character  of  the  man  is  thus  indicated,  for 
his  endorsement  of  the  beneficent  principles 
of  the  craft  and  the  Christian  teachings  of 
the  church  was  manifest  in  a  life  of  up- 
rightness and  honor.  He  died  in  1865,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1848.  In  their 
family  were  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  but  only  three  of  the  number  are 
now-  living:  Mrs.  Carnahan;  Wylie,  of 
Mahomet,  Illinois;  and  William,  of  Mount 
Pleasant,  Iowa.  The  home  of  General  and 
Mrs.  Carnahan  was  blessed  with  two  chil- 
dren, the  daughter  being  Clara,  the  wife  of 
Thomas  S.  Parks,  who  is  a  clerk  in  the 
treasury  ofl'ice  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Robert  and 
Margaretta.  The  son,  William  McDowell, 
is  engaged  in  the  coal  business  in  Chicago. 
General  Carnahan  continued  in  the  com- 
mission business  until  after  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the  Civil  war,  but  previous  to  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities  he  had  watched  with 
interest  the  progress  of  events  in  the  south, 
had  noticed  the  hostile  attitude  of  certain 
commonwealths  below  the  Mason  and  Dixon 
line  and  resolved  that  if  a  blow  was  struck 
to  overthrow  the  Union  he  would  .strike  one 
in  its  defense.  Accordingly,  in  July,  1861, 
at  Fairbury,  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  he 
offered  his  services  to  the  government  in  de- 
fense of  the  country  which  his  ancestors  had 
aided  in  establishing  and  became  a  member 
of  Company  K,  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  un- 
der command  of  Colonel,  now  General 
Eugene  A.  Carr.  He  was  elected  captain 
of   his   company  and   was   mustered   in   at 


620 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Camp    Butlei%    at    Springfield,    Illinois,    by 
General  Pitcher,  after  \\'hich  the  regiment 
went  to  St.  Louis  to  join  General  Fremont. 
Later  the   Third   Illinois   proceeded   to   St. 
Charles,  Missouri,  and  afterward  to  Spring- 
field, followed  by  a  trip  to  Rolla  and  on  to 
Lebanon,  from  which  place  they  returned  to 
Springfield  with  General  Hunter,  who  suc- 
ceeded General  P'remont,  and  later  General 
Curtis.     In  that  locality  Captain  Carnahan 
with  his  command  was  engaged  in  scouting 
for  a  time  and  was  in  the  rear  of  Springfield 
when  Zargonia  charged  upon  the  city.     La- 
ter the  troops  proceeded  to  Pea  Ridge  and 
from  there  with  Curtis  to  Helena,  Arkansas, 
and  afterward  were  with  General  Sherman 
in  the  attack  on  A'icksburg  and  in  the  Yazoo 
river  campaign.     After  the  battle  of  Chick- 
asaw Bayou,   in    which    the  Union  troops 
were  repulsed.   Captain   Carnahan  went  to 
Arkansas    with    General    McClernand    and 
captured  Arkansas  I^ost  with  five  thousand 
prisoners.     Next  they  proceeded  to  Young's 
Point  where  they  went  into  camp  and  at 
that  place  General  Grant  took  command  of 
the    western    army,     following    which    he 
started  for  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.     At  the 
battle  of  Pea  Ridge  our  subject  had  received 
the  appointment  as  captain  in  charge  of  the 
battalion    and    this    battalion    was    ordered 
with    Grant    in    the    spring   of    1863.      At 
Vicksburg  it  was  attached  to  Osterhouse's 
Division  under  command    of    General  Mc- 
Clernand  and   Captain   Carnahan   was   ap- 
pointed provost  marshal  of  the  division,  and 
also  at  siege  of  Vicksburg.     Following  the 
surrender  of  Vicksburg    he    was  with  his 
command  in  the  battles  of  Raymond,  Cham- 
pion Hills  and  Big  Black  River,  in  the  rear 
of  Vicksburg,  and  subsequently  the  division 
was  ordered  to  join   Sherman,  proceeding 
to  Jackson,  Mississippi.    After  the  surrend- 
er of  that  place  Captain  Carnahan  returned 


to  Vicksburg    and    by  General  Grant  was 
ordered  to  report  with  his  battalion  of  cav- 
alry to  General  Banks  of  New  Orleans,  and 
following  this  order  he  next  proceeded  with 
Banks  up  the  Red  river.     When  the  cam- 
paign in  that  part  of  the  country  was  ended 
he  went    with    General    Franklin    into  the 
Tash  Bayou  country  west  of  Louisiana,  fol- 
lowing which  he  was  attached  to  General 
McClernand's  staff,  on  the  expedition  up  the 
Red   river.      After  General   Fremont's   ex- 
pedition he  remained    in    command  of  the 
post  at  Germantown  for  a  short  time,  later 
he  received  orders  to  scout  in  western  Ken- 
tucky, and  then  reported  to  General  Paine 
in  Paducah,  that  state.     About  this  time  his 
three  years'  term  of  service  expired  and  re- 
porting at  Springfield,  Illinois,  he  was  given 
command  of  a  regiment  of  Illinois  Veteran 
Cavalry  and  filled  up  the  quota.     This  regi- 
ment was  then  stationed  at  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, and  afterward  marched  with  Hatc'n 
to  confront  General  Hood  who  at  that  time 
crossed  the  Tennessee    river    at    Florence. 
The  Union   troops     fell    back   in    front  of 
Hood,  fighting  day  and  night,  a  battle  oc- 
curring each  day  until  they  reached  Nash- 
ville.    Then  occurred  the  siege  and  battles 
of  Nashville.     The  Union  troops  followed 
General  Hood  on  his  retreat  to  the  Tennes- 
see river.     Returning  they  went  into  camp 
at  Gra^■elly    Springs,  near    Paducah.  Ken- 
tucky, where  they  remained  for  three  weeks, 
when  Colonel  Carnahan  was  ordered  to  take 
his  regiment  to  St.  Louis  and  there  report. 
In  the  latter  city  the  regiment  was  equipped 
and  then  sent  to  join  General  Sibley,  at  St. 
Paul,    Minnesota,    at    which    place    Colonel 
Carnahan  was  given  command  of  the  inde- 
pendent Indian  expedition  across  the  plains. 
He  scouted  all  over  the  country  in  the  Da- 
kotas  and  Montana  clear  to  the  British  line 
and  returned  to  Fort  Snelling  upon  the  loth- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


62  T 


of  October,  1S65,  when  he  was  mustered 
out.  He  then  took  his  regiment  to  Spring- 
field, llhnois,  where  the  men  were  paid  off. 
In  recognition  of  his  meritorious  service  he 
was  brevetted  brigadier  general,  an  honor 
recommended  by  Governor  Richard  Ogles- 
bv,  and  at  Wasliingtou  he  was  specially 
recommended  for  promotion  l\v  tiiose  high 
in  authority.  His  commission  was  sigiied 
by  President  Johnson.  When  on  the  Red 
river  expedition  he  had  been  detached  from 
his  regular  command  and  was  on  General 
McClernand's  staff,  acting  as  chief  of  pick- 
ets of  Thirteenth  Army  Corps  on  that  occa- 
sion, his  regiment  at  that  time  being  at 
Memphis,  Tennessee.  General  Carnahan 
never  sustained  a  wound  which  he  considered 
serious  enough  to  cause  him  to  retire  from 
acti\-e  service,  although  many  times  he  suf- 
fered much  from  the  Rebel  bullets  and  had 
many  narrow  escapes. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  the  United 
States  Army  General  Carnahan  came  to 
Danville  and  it  is  a  noticeable  fact  in  his 
career  that  while  for  many  years  he  has  held 
office  he  was  never  elected  to  a  position  of 
public  trust,  the  honors  coming  to  him  by 
appointment  from  those  who  recognized  his 
capability.  He  was  chosen  as  assessor  of 
internal  revenue  for  this  district  when  it  com- 
prised eight  counties,  and  for  two  years  he 
acted  in  that  capacity.  On  his  retirement 
from  the  office  he  was  elected  superintendent 
of  the  Moss  back,  or  Diamond  coal  mine,  and 
for  twelve  years  was  connected  with  that 
business  after  which  he  was  chosen  quarter- 
master and  commissary  of  the  Soldiers 
Home  at  Ouincy,  Illinois,  occupying  that  po- 
sition from  the  opening  of  the  institution 
until  a  period  of  six  years  had  passed.  He 
then  returned  to  Danville  and  has  since  lived 
a  retired  life  making  his  home  at  the  corner 
of  Madison  and  Franklin  streets  where  witli 

25 


his  estim;d)Ic  wife  he  resiiles.  In  his  political 
views  the  General  is  a  stalwart  Republican 
and  while  he  believes  lirnily  in  the  principles 
of  the  party  he  has  never  been  an  office 
seeker.  I  le  belongs  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, having  been  made  a  ilason  in  1865, 
and  he  has  attained  the  Knight  Templar 
degree  in  the  commander}'  of  Danville.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  attend  the  service  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  General  Carnahan 
rendered  his  country  effective  and  signal 
service  in  tlie  greatest  war  of  modern  times 
and  high  on  the  roll  of  fame  should  his  name 
be  inscribed.  While  in  recent  years  his  life 
lias  been  more  quietly  passed,  he  has  been 
no  less  loyal  to  duty  and  to  the  right,  and 
throughout  tlie  city  in  which  he  makes  his 
home  he  is  honored  and  respected  for  what 
he  has  accomplished.  He  rccei\es  the  vener- 
ation and  regard  which  should  ever  be  ac- 
corded those  who  have  attained  advanced 
years  and  which  should  ever  be  given  to  a 
man  whose  love  of  country  is  greater  than 
personal  considerations  and  whose  faithful- 
ness to  duty  stands  as  the  strongest  element 
in  his  career. 


MRS.  MARY  JANE  LANCASTER. 

Mrs.  Mary  J.  Lancaster,  who  has  many 
friends  in  Vermilion  county  and  well  de- 
serves mention  in  this  history,  was  Ijorn 
July  8,  1858,  in  Carroll  township,  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  her  parents  being  Mer- 
rick and  Priscilla  Patten,  both  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Pier  father  was  a  farmer 
and  came  from  Indiana  to  Illinois.  In  his 
family  were  the  following  named  :  Mahlon, 
who  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Georgetown  and 
has  one  child,  Mrs.  Lancaster;  Davis  R.. 
who  was  a  farmer  and  well  driller  of  Ridge 
Farm,   is  married,  and  has  four  children : 


622 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Lilla;  Allee.  whose  husband  is  a  driller  at 
Carmel,  Indiana,  and  has  one  child;  and 
I.  E.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  Houston,  Texas.  He  is  married 
and  has  two  children. 

Under  the  parental  roof  ^lary  Jane 
Patten  spent  her  girhood  days  and  was  in- 
terested in  the  duties  of  the  household,  so 
that  she  was  well  prepared  to  take  care  of 
a  home  of  her  own  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage. She  pursued  her  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  on  the  25th  of  February. 
1878,  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
Elwood  Lancaster,  of  this  county,  a  son 
of  Robert  and  Martha  Lancaster.  His  fa- 
ther is  still  living  in  Carmel,  Indiana,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  years  and  is  a  well 
preserved  man  able  yet  to  visit  among  his 
relatives.  Elwood  Lancaster  had  seven 
brothers  and  five  sisters.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  at  the  time  of  their  mar- 
riage he  and  his  young  wife  removed  to 
a  beautiful  farm  which  lies  about  two  miles 
east  and  a  mile  north  of  Ridgefarm.  Here 
Mrs.  Lancaster  has  always  remained.  He 
Avas  a  good  neighbor,  a  Christian  man. 
faithful  friend  and  a  devoted  father  and 
husband.  As  a  citizen  he  was  public-spirited 
and  progressive  and  took  much  interest  in 
whatever  pertained  to  the  general  good  and 
to  the  material  upbuilding  of  his  commun- 
ity, the  cause  of  education  finding  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  he  desired  that  his  chil- 
dren should  have  good  educational  privi- 
leges. In  1891  he  became  ill  of  a  fever, 
and  on  the  28th  of  November,  of  that  year, 
was  called  to  his  final  rest.  He  left  behind 
•him  an  honorable  name  and  an  example 
which  is  in  many  respects  well  worthy  of 
emulation. 

L'nto  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Lancaster  were 
born  five  children.     Mvrtle  is  now  the  wife 


of  ^Vade  Hampton,  who  is  proprietor  of  a 
restaurant  in  Danville,  Illinois.  Addie, 
Albert,  Ira,  and  Elsie,  the  last  named  now 
thirteen  years  of  age,  are  still  at  home  with 
their  mother.  The  children  have  been  pro- 
vided with  good  educational  advantages. 
On  completing  the  common-school  course 
they  ha^e  entered  high  schools  and  Albert 
and  Addie  were  graduated  in  the  Vermilion 
Academy,  with  the  class  of  1901.  ^Irs.  Lan- 
caster is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
or  Quakers,  and  is  an  earnest  Christian 
woman,  de\-oted  to  her  family  and  to  all 
that  is  ennobling  and  beneficial  to  the  human 
race. 


GEORGE  C.   MAHOXEY. 

George  C.  ]^Iahoney.  who  is  now  en- 
gaged in  real  estate  operations  in  Hoopes- 
ton,  largely  handling  his  own  property,  was 
born  in  Madison  county,  Ohio,  on  the  5th  of 
Tanuar}^  1864,  his  parents  being  John  and 
Elizabeth  ]\Iahoney.  who  are  also  residents 
of  Hoopeston.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Hoopes- 
ton in  1898,  now  living  retired.  He  owiis 
property  on  South  ilarket  street  and  is  the 
possessor  of  a  comfortable  competence 
which  supplies  him  with  all  the  necessities 
and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  His  chil- 
dren were :  Laura.  Kate,  ^lame,  Sallie, 
Effie,  Lemuel,  John,  Ed.,  Charlie  and 
George. 

George  C.  ^lahoney  was  but  three  years 
of  age  when  brought  by  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, his  parents  settling  in  Ford  county, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  pur- 
sued his  education  in  the  district  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  left  home 
and  was  united  in  marriage  in  1886  to  Miss 


i:  -ly 

f.  .  „.£ 
j,<rvEhw;."Y   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


625 


Alice  A.  Phebus,  who  was  born  near  Cov- 
ington. Indiana,  in  1861.  Her  father,  Will- 
iam Phebus,  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Rankin,  and  is  a  well-to-do  man,  owning 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable 
land  together  with  several  good  properties 
in  the  town  of  Rankin.  The  living  members 
of  his  family  are,  Emma,  Katie,  Grace, 
Frank,  William,  Orville,  Delmer  and  Ira. 
Both  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Mahoney  were  reared 
amid  the  scenes  of  farm  life  and  eckicated 
in  the  district  schools.  Their  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  Cora,  who  is 
now  nine  years  of  age,  and  they  also  lost 
one  child  in  infancy.  .Vt  the  time  of  his 
marriage  Mr.  Alahoney  began  farming  on 
his  own  account  and  successfully  carried  on 
agricultural  ])ursuits  for  many  years.  He 
at  first  had  few  possessions,  in  fact  at  tlie 
time  of  his  marriage  he  owned  but  little 
save  a  horse.  He  rented  land  for  about  ten 
years  and  then  purchased  a  farm  and  as  time 
passed  he  has  gradually  extended  his  pos- 
sessicjus  until  he  is  now  rated  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  his  community,  lie 
carried  on  his  farm  work  until  1897.  ^'^'^'^ 
year  following  he  was  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Rankin.  He  then  traded  his 
barn  for  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  south  of  East  L\-nn.  and  then  he  sold 
a  number  of  lots,  lie  also  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  X'ermilicju  county.  His 
farm  possessions  in  I-'ord  county  comprised 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  which  he 
traded  for  his  livery  business  in  Rankin,  and 
he  also  owned  eighty  acres  oi  land  south  of 
the  town.  I  Ic  now  has  one  liundrod  and  ten 
acres  near  i\rcadia,  Jndiana.  On  selling 
the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
1898  he  removed  to  Hoopeston  and  here 
began  dealing  in  real  estate,  which  business 
he  carried  on  for  three  years.     He  then  pur- 


chased a  grocery  store  which  he  conducted 
for  seven  months,  during  which  lime  his 
business  amounted  to  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  then  sold  out  and  re-entered  the 
real  estate  business,  dealing  in  both  farm 
lands  and  town  property.  During  his  first 
connection  with  this  line  of  activity  he  was 
associated  with  his  father.  He  has  pur- 
chased and  sold  land  on  his  own  investment 
and  has  always  been  successful. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Mahoney  is 
a  stalwart  Republican,  taking  an  active  in- 
terest in  promoting  the  growth  and  insuring 
the  success  of  his  party,  yet  he  has  never 
been  a  candidate  for  office  nor  desired 
political  honors.  He  is  prominent  in  sev- 
eral civic  societies,  belonging  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  in  which  he  has  held 
office,  and  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra- 
ternity in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  senior 
guard.  Mr.  Mahoney  is  widely  known  as 
a  man  of  marked  enterprise  and  though  he 
has  met  some  obstacles  and  difficulties  in 
his  path,  he  has  steadily  overcome  these  by 
persistent  effort  and  to-day  is  numbered 
among    the    successful    men    of    his    coni- 

munit}'. 

♦-•-• 

JOHN  L.  HAMIL'i'OX. 

John  L.  I  iamilton  has  long  occupied  a 
])rominent  position  in  the  foremost  ranks 
of  the  financiers  of  Illinois.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  untiring  activity  and  has  been 
crowned  with  a  high  degree  of  success,  yet 
he  is  not  less  esteemed  as  a  citizen  than  as 
a  man,  and  his  kindly  impulses  and  charm- 
ing cordiality  of  manner  have  rendered  him 
exceedingly  popular  among  all  classes. 

lolin  L.  Hamilton  was  l)orn  on  the  8tli 
of    I\Iav,    iSC)2,    on    a    farm    in    Macoupin 


626 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


county,  Illinois.  His  father  John  L. 
Hamilton,  Sr.,  died  in  Watseka,  Illinois,  in 
May,  1900,  and  the  mother  still  lives  there. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  and  intluentia! 
citizen  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  state  legislature, 
having  been  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket  four  different  times.  He  left  the  im- 
press of  his  individuality  upon  the  legisla- 
tion enacted  dtiring  his  service  and  he  was 
a  man  widely  recognized  as  a  leader  of  pub- 
lic thought  and  action  and  a  mokler  of  pub- 
lic opinion.  He  was  commended,  too,  be- 
cause of  his  loyalty  to  the  general  good  and 
his  untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  state.  His  property  holdings 
were  extensive.  He  owned  twenty-four 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  and  seventeen  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  Texas.  In  his  family  were  four 
sons :  John  L.,  William  A.,  Edward  C. 
and  George  H.  The  last  three  are  all  resi- 
dents of  Iroquois  county  and  are  extensively 
engaged  in  the  cattle  business  in  Texas. 

When  a  small  child  of  two  years  John 
L.  Hamilton  was  taken  to  Iroquois  county, 
the  family  settling  near  Wellington.  He 
obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
Watseka.  The  family  removed  to  that 
place  in  1875,  and  when  his  father  was 
elected  coimty  treasurer  our  subject  oc- 
cupied the  position  of  deputy  treasurer  and 
later  he  became  deputy  county  clerk.  He 
also  assisted  in  organizing  the  Citizens' 
Bank  of  Watseka,  and  was  one  of  the  stock- 
holders, but  disposing  of  his  interests  he 
came  to  Hoopeston  on  the  ist  of  April, 
1889.  Here  he  accepted  the  position  of 
cashier  in  the  banking  house  of  Burwell, 
Hamilton  &  Morgan.  Changes  have  since 
occurred  in  the  ownership  of  the  institution 
and  the  firm  is  now  Hamilton  &  Cunning- 
ham.    They  conduct  a  private  banking  in- 


stitution of  large  proportions  with  'Slv.  Cun- 
ningham as  the  president  and  Mr.  Hamilton 
as  cashier.  This  institution  has  a  capital 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars  and  its  owners 
are  men  of  well  known  business  reliability. 
They  receive  a  liberal  patronage  and  do  a 
general  banking  business,  following  a  safe,, 
conservative  polity  which  has  won  uniform 
confidence.  Mr.  Hamilton  is  likewise  vice- 
president  of  the  Commercial  Trust  &  Sav- 
ings Bank,  of  Danville,  and  one  of  its  stock- 
holders. He  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished members  of  the  State  Bankers' 
Association  of  Illinois,  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can Bankers'  Association.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  members  of  those  or- 
ganizations with  various  important  offices. 
Perhaps  no  better  idea  of  his  prominence 
among  the  representatives  of  his  own  line 
of  business  can  be  obtained  than  by  quoting 
from  one  of  the  Vermilion  county  journals 
of  1901,  which  said : 

"At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Ameri- 
can Bankers,  Association  held  in  Alilwau- 
kee,  October  15,  16  and  17,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  elected  one  of  the  ten  members  of  the- 
executive  council.  He  was  also  made  chair- 
man of  the  fidelity  bond  committee,  which 
is  considered  one  of  the  leading  if  not  the 
most  important  committee  of  the  associa- 
tion. The  conferring  of  these  high  honors 
upon  Mr.  Hamilton,  without  solicitation 
upon  his  part,  comes  as  the  strongest  pos- 
sible official  endorsement  of  the  valuable- 
work  he  has  been  doing  for  the  association 
for  many  years.  The  honors  in  this  in- 
stance have  fallen  upon  shoulders  well 
worthy  of  receiving  theni.  No  man  in  the- 
association  takes  a  deeper  interest  in  look- 
ing after  all  that  tends  to  improve  the  pres- 
ent system  of  banking  than  Mr.  Hamilton. 
His  careful  and  conscientious  study  of  the 
financial   problem   with   which   all   banking- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


627 


institutions  must  necessarily  come  in  con- 
tact, has  supplied  a  fund  of  information 
that  has  earned  for  him  the  well  merited 
distinction  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  and 
most  conspicuous  authorities  on  financial 
questions  in  the  association.  In  recogni- 
tion of  his  ability  to  pursue  a  thorough  and 
-exhaustive  study  of  all  questions  involving 
the  interests  of  banks  i\Ir.  Hamilton  was 
sent  to  England  in  June,  1901,  by  the  Amer- 
ican Bankers'  Association  to  study  the 
financial  conditions  in  that  country.  When 
it  is  taken  into  consideration  that  this  asso- 
ciation now  has  six  thousand  and  three  hun- 
dred members,  and  is  the  largest  financial 
.association  in  the  world,  the  reader  can  form 
■sone  idea  of  the  responsibility  assumed  by 
Mr.  Hamilton  in  accepting  this  work.  The 
task  occupied  about  two  months,  and  the 
able  and  exhaustive  report  he  rendered  the 
association  on  his  return  elicited  from  its 
members  the  most  favorable  comments, 
and  the  Hoopeston  banker  was  the  recipient 
•of  many  congratulations  for  the  successful 
manner  in  which  he  carried  out  the  mis- 
sion assigned  him.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  not 
■only  held  the  highest  i)ositions  within  the 
gift  of  the  State  Bankers'  Association,  of 
which  he  was  chosen  president  in  1898,  but 
has  served  on  some  of  the  most  important 
•committees  in  the  American  Bankers'  Asso- 
ciation." He  likewise  served  as  chairman 
of  the  executive  council  of  the  State  Bank- 
ers' Association  for  four  years,  and  is  a 
life  member  of  that  committee.  He  also 
has  served  for  the  past  ten  years  on  the 
legislative  committee. 

In  addition  to  his  other  business  inter- 
ests Mr.  Hamilton  owns  considerable  land, 
Iiaving  about  two  liundred  acres  in  Iroquois 
county,  two  thousand  acres  of  prairie  land 
in  Texas  and  thirty  thousand  acres  in  Geor- 
gia, covered  with  yellow  pine.     He  also  has 


extensive  interests  in  Echols,  Worth  and 
Irwin  counties,  of  Georgia,  and  in  Hoopes- 
ton he  owns  a  pleasant  home  at  the  corner 
of  Penn  and  Filth  streets.  He  is  a  director 
and  the  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Hoopeston  Horse  Nail  Company. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1892,  in 
Homer,  Illinois,  Mr.  Flamilton  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Hall,  a  na- 
tive of  Iroquois  county,  and  they  iiave  three 
sons,  John  Lawrence,  Donald  H.  and  Rob- 
ert H.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hamilton 
is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  has  been  hon- 
ored with  the  highest  office  within  the  gift 
of  his  fellow  townsmen,  that  of  mayor.  He 
has  also  been  alderman  of  Floopeston. 
While  he  was  chief  executive  five  miles  of 
pavement  were  laid  here,  the  city  hall  was 
built  and  he  established  and  appointed  the 
library  board.  His  administration  was  very 
practical  and  business-like  antl  he  exercised 
his  official  prerogatives  in  support  of  prog- 
ress, reform  and  improvement.  He  has  fre- 
quently been  a  delegate  to  state  conventions 
and  his  influence  in  the  councils  of  his  party 
is  of  no  restricted  order.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  blue  lodge,  chapter,  commandcry 
and  consistory  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  de- 
partments of  Masonry,  is  also  identified 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and 
has  passed  through  all  of  its  chairs. 


CHARLES  FREMONT   BUSBY. 

Charles  Fremont  Busby,  an  enterprising 
farmer  living  on  section  32,  Ehvood  town- 
ship, was  born  near  Catlin,  in  this  county, 
October  24,  1857.  His  paternal  grand- 
parents were  John  and  Pliebe  (Boggess) 
Busby,  who  in  the  year  1822  removed  from 
\\'est  Virginia   to   Indiana,  thence  coming 


628 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1853.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
West  Virginia,  in  1800,  and  died  in  Madi- 
son county,  Iowa,  in  1880.  His  wife,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  West  Virginia,  in  1800, 
also  passed  away  in  Madison  county,  Iowa. 
The  parents  of  our  subject  were,  William 
H.  and  Virginia  (Poyndexter)  Busby,  na- 
ti\-es  of  Madison  county,  Indiana.  The 
father  was  one  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and 
si.x  daughters.  Those  who  lived  to  mature 
years  were  I.  N.,  who  is  a  retired  farmer  of 
Fairmount  and  is  eighty  years  of  age; 
Thomas  E.,  now  deceased;  William  H.,  the 
father  of  our  subject;  Dudley  F.,  who  is 
seventy-two  years  of  age  and  is  a  retired 
farmer  of  Creston,  Iowa;  S.  M.,  sixty-four 
years  of  age,  an  agriculturist  of  Ridge- 
farm;  Mrs.  Malinda  Boggess,  deceased: 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  McNeer,  also  deceased;  and 
Mrs.-  Frances  Morey,  of  Winterset,  Iowa. 
After  arriving-  at  years  of  maturity  William 
H.  Busby,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Virginia  Poyndexter. 
She  was  l^orn  in  Madison  county,  Indiana, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sydney  Poyn- 
dexter, of  that  county,  in  whose  family  were 
twelve  children.  Mrs.  Busby  died  on  the 
23d  of  January.  1857,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-four  years,  five  months  and  twenty- 
three  days,  our  subject  being  then  an  infant 
only  tluxe  months  old.  His  only  brother, 
Leonidas  Poyndexter  Busby,  is  a  farmer 
living  near  Catlin.  He  married  Laura  A. 
Church,  a  daughter  of  William  .\..  and  Hes- 
ter Church,  of  Catlin  townshi]).  and  their 
family  now  numbers  seven  children,  two 
sons  and  five  daughters.  WHien  the  country 
became  involved  in  civil  war  the  father  of 
our  subject  responded  to  the  countrv's  call 
for  aid.  enlisting  in  1861  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,    Seventy-third  Illinois  Volun- 


teer Infantry.  For  two  years  he  fought  for 
the  preservation  of  the  union  and  died  in 
the  service,  passing  away  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, August  7,  1863,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
four  years,  two  months  and  twenty-two 
days. 

Charles  F.  Busby  of  this  review  pursued 
his  education  in  the  common  graded  and 
normal  schools  and  for  two  years  prior  to 
his  marriage  he  was  successfully  engaged 
in  teaching.  He  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing and  is  to-day  numbered  among  the 
progressive  agriculturists  of  his  community. 
On  the  17th  of  September,  1890,  he  was 
joined  in  wefllock  to  ]\Iiss  Rosa  E.  Gannon 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Samantha  Gannon. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Kings  county,  Ire- 
land, and  emigrating  to  the  new  world  set- 
tled in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  a  short 
time,  after  which  he  came  to  Georgetown,. 
Illinois.  In  this  county  he  married  Sa- 
mantha Wyre,  a  daughter  of  David  and 
Sarah  Wyre,  of  Georgetown  township.  Her 
brother,  David  Wyre,  was  a  brave  soldier 
of  the  Civil  war,  ser\'ing  as  a  defender  of 
the  L'nion.  .Mr.  Gannon,  the  father  of 
Mrs.  Busby,  died  in  igoo,  but  her  mother  is 
still  living,  luaking  her  home  on  the  old 
homestead  farm  in  Georgetown  township. 
In  their  family  were  seven  brothers  and  two 
sisters,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  broth- 
er, all  are  still  living,  while  one  sister  and 
two  brothers  are  yet  at  home  with  the 
mother.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  INIrs.  Busby 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children:  Earl, 
liorn  December  3,  1893,  is  a  bright  boy, 
now  in  school.  Garnet,  born  July  17,  1895. 
is  also  attending  school.  Roy,  born  Octo- 
ber 25,  1897.  and  Gladys,  born  July  27, 
1899.  'ii'c  ^'1^  younger  members  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Busby  resides  on  an  excellent  farm 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


629 


of  eighty  acres  one  mile  east  of  the  town 
of  Ridgefarm.  His  land  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  is  well  improvetl 
with  modern  improvements  and  tine  build- 
ings. Everything  about  the  place  denotes 
the  care  and  supervision  of  the  owner,  who 
is  accounted  one  of  the  progressive  agri- 
culturists of  this  portion  of  the  state.  His 
political  support  is  given  to  the  Repul)lican 
party,  and  fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  i\.merica,  while 
his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  in  which  he  holds  membership. 
He  is  regarded  as  a  good  neighbor,  a  kind 
and  considerate  husband  and  lather  and  a 
loval  citizen. 


JAMES  C.  WOODBURY. 

Among  the  young  men  of  busines?,  abil- 
ity whose  skill  and  enterprise  are  rapidly 
winning  for  them  a  place  in  the  front  ranks 
among  the  representatives  of  commercial 
interests  in  Danville,  is  numbered  James  C. 
Woodbury.  He  was  born  in  this  city,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1870,  a  son  of  James  11.  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Chandler)  Woodbury.  The  father 
was  born  in  Ripley  count)',  Indiana,  and 
they  were  married  in  Danville  in  1855. 
He  then  followed  his  trade  of  wagon-mak- 
ing and  some  years  later  he  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business,  which  he  carried  on 
until  1876.  He  then  retired  and  removed 
to  his  fruit  and  stock  farm  in  Danville 
township,  remaining  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  28,  1885.  In  poli- 
tics a  Republican,  he  served  as  internal 
revenue  collector  for  his  district  and  also 
city  treasurer  of  Danville.  He  belonged  to 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  to 


the  Kimber  Methodist  Episcopal  chmx-h 
and  was  a  man  of  marked  probity  of  char- 
acter and  genuine  worth.  His  first  wife 
passed  away  h'cbruary  7,  1870.  and  on  the 
15th  of  June,  1 87 1,  he  wedded  Ahvilda  E. 
McClellan.  who  died  in  January,  1894. 
Our  subject  was  one  of  five  children  born  of 
the  first  marriage,  of  whom  three  are  yet 
living:  Jane,  the  wife  of  James  S.  Bick- 
nell,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  residing  in  Champaign,  Illinois;  and 
May,  who  resitles  with  her  brother  James, 
the  youngest  member  of  the  family.  By 
the  second  marriage  there  were  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one  is  yet  lixing.  Fannie  E., 
a  resident  of  Danville. 

James  C.  \Voodbury  became  a  student 
of  the  public  schools  of  Danville  at  the 
usual  age  and  was  graduated  in  the  high 
school  with  the  class  of  1887.  He  then  spent 
two  and  one-half  years  as  a  student  in  the 
Polytechnic  Institute  at  Terre  Haute,  In- 
diana, after  which  he  returned  to  Danville. 
He  was  married  on  the  i8th  of  ]March,  1891. 
in  Lovington,  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  to 
Mertie  L.  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Loving- 
ton,  August  2,  1 87 1.  Her  parents,  John, 
A.  and  Adelia  (Bicknell)  Foster,  were  both 
natives  of  Illinois  and  were  married  in 
Lovington,  where  the  father  engaged  in 
general  merchandising,  while  later  he  car- 
ried on  farming.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  died  in  1874,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1877.  Mrs.  Wood- 
btuy  was  their  only  child  and  by  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  one  son, 
Bicknell  J.,  who  was  born  May  10.  1896, 
in    Danville,  and   is  here  attending  school. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  \\'oodbm-y  be- 
gan reading  law  in  the  ofiice  of  E.  R.  E. 
Kimbrough.  who  directed  his  study  for 
three  years  and  on  the  utb  of  June,  1895, 


630 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  opened  a 
law  oflice,  entering  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  which  he  continued  until  the  ist 
of  February,  1902,  wlien  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Emery  Dry-Goods  Companj'  of 
Danville,  in  which  he  was  a  stockholder  and 
officer  as  well,  being  the  secretary  of  this 
company.  He  assisted  in  its  organization 
and  the  business  has  grown  until  theirs  is 
one  of  the  best  dry-goods  houses  of  eastern 
Illinois.  In  January,  1903,  Mr.  Woodbury 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  business  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  law  with  his  office 
at  517  Temple  Building.  He  owns  a  resi- 
dence in  Danville  valued  at  seven  thousand 
dollars  and  his  wife  is  the  owner  of  a  sec- 
tion of  farm  land  in  Moultrie  county. 

Mr.  and  JNIrs.  Woodbury  hold  member- 
ship in  the  First  Presbyterian  church  and 
he  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fra- 
ternity and  to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  His  right  of  franchise  is 
exercised  in  support  of  the  Republican 
party,  but  he  has  refused  to  enter  political 
circles  as  an  office  seeker.  He  has,  however, 
been  active  in  promoting  everything  in- 
tended for  the  general  good,  and  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  best  type  of  citizenship 
in  Danville — trustworthy  in  business,  faith- 
ful in  friendship  and  loyal  to  the  interests  of 
tile  home  and  of  the  public  welfare. 


HERALD  CATLETT. 

Through  the  long  years  of  an  active 
iness  career  Herald  Catlett  was  extensively 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
became  widel\-  known  as  a  representative  of 
this  branch  of  business  and  was  also  a  val- 
ued citizen,  because  of  his  loyalty  to  ever}' 
measure  tending  to  advance    the    general 


good.  When  he  had  reached  an  advanced 
age  he  was  called  to  the  home  beyond,  leav- 
ing, however,  to  his  family  a  comfortable 
competence  and  the  priceless  heritage  of 
an  untarnished  name.  In  early  pioneer 
days  he  came  to  X'ermilion  county  and  from 
that  time  until  his  death  was  classed  among 
the  citizens  of  worth  here. 

A  native  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Catlett  was 
born  in  Charlottesville,  June  5,  1826,  a  son 
of  Lawrence  Talaferro  and  Sally  (Har- 
man)  Catlett.  The  father  came  from  Eng- 
lish and  Italian  ancestry.  The  family,  a 
wealthy  one,  was  founded  in  \'irginia  at 
an  early  day  and  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  at  one  time  owned  all  of  the  land 
on  which  Thomas  Jefferson  established  his 
home,  calling  the  place  Monticello.  The 
maternal  ancestry  of  our  subject  came  from 
Germany  and  the  grandfather  \\'as  a  sur- 
geon in  the  ami}-  under  General  Washing- 
ton in  the  Revolutionary  war.  j\lrs.  Cat- 
lett was  born  in  Stanton,  Virginia,  in  which 
state  she  \\as  reared  and  married  and  it 
was  in  that  place  that  the  parents  of  our 
subject  began  their  domestic  life,  remain- 
ing there  until  1828.  The  father  was  edu- 
cated for  the  legal  profession,  but  in  going 
security  for  others  necessity  compelled  the 
adoption  of  the  saddler's  trade.  In  1828 
he  removed  to  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  and 
shortly  after\yarcl  went  to  Winchester,  Ten- 
nessee, but  two  years  later  returned  to  Char- 
lottesville, Virginia.  There  he  remained 
until  1835,  when  he  became  a  resident  of 
Bloomingburg,  Ohio,  and  on  the  ist  of 
October,  1846,  he  started  for  \^ermilion 
county,  Illinois,  arriving  on  the  18th  of 
the  same  month.  Here  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
July  2,  1861.  He  belonged  to  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  was  a  Baptist  in  religious  faith 
and  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political  affil- 


■^r 


L,         .Y 

u;<iver3;ty  of"  iilinc:s 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


633 


iations.  Most  charitable  and  benevolent, 
his  generous  gifts  were  many  and  tlie  poor 
and  needy  never  appealed  tu  him  in  \ain. 
In  fact,  much  of  his  wealth  was  bestowed 
in  charity  upon  his  fellow  men,  yet  he  was 
still  in  comfortable  circumstances  at  the 
time  of  his  demise.  His  wife  survived  him 
ten  years,  passing  away  Jaiuiary  10,  1871. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children, 
six  sons  and  six  daughters,  but  only  two  are 
now  living:  Virginia,  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Charles  Lamon,  of  Fairmount;  and  Hiram 
H.,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
A'olume. 

Herald  Catlett  pursued  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Charlottesville,  Virginia,  un- 
til nine  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Bloomingburg,  Ohio,  where 
he  remained  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
At  that  time  he  became  a  resident  of  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  and  turned  his  at- 
tention to  farming.  On  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1858,  in  Bethel,  Ohio,  he  wedded  Miss 
Elizabeth  H.  Bouhvare,  who  was  born  in 
\\'illianisburg,  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
April  17,  1840,  a  daughter  of  Hiram  and 
Sarah  (Shottwell)  Bouhvare,  both  natives 
of  Clermont  county,  where  their  marriage 
was  celebrated.  The  Bouhvare  family  was 
founded  in  the  Buckeye  state  at  a  very  early 
day  and  was  of  French  extraction.  Some 
of  the  name  lived  at  Pittsburg  at  the  time 
when  the  old  fort  stood  there  and  later  rep- 
resentatives of  the  family  became  pioneers 
of  Ohio  and  of  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  settling 
in  this  state  when  it  was  almost  an  unl)ro- 
ken  prairie.  Mrs.  Catlett"s  grandmother, 
Mary  Shottwell,  certainly  deserved  her 
name,  because  she  was  considered  an  expert 
with  the  rifle  and  in  the  early  days  of  Ohio 
she  killed  over  one  hundred  squirrels  in 
a  single  day  to  protect  their  corn.  She 
found  no  difficulty  in  bringing  down  a  hawk 


on  the  wing,  and  Simon  Kenton,  tlie  great 
pioneer,  trapper,  hunter  and  explorer  of 
Kentuck}-,  when  dining  with  her  family, 
complimented  her  on  her  superior  marks- 
manship. Mrs.  Bouhvare  was  born  in  Cler- 
mont county,  Ohio,  and  is  still  living  at  the 
achanced  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Her 
father  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-four  and 
her  mother  reached  the  age  of  ninety-four. 
Mr.  I!(jul\varc  gave  his  attention  to  farming 
and  lived  in  t'lermont  county,  Ohio,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1845.  He  was 
a  member  of  Ihe  Masonic  fraternity,  was  a 
Whig  in  his  political  views  and  filled  the 
olifice  of  justice  of  the  peace.  In  his  family 
were  three  children,  the  eldest  being  Mrs, 
Catlett.  Charlotte  is  the  widow  of  Charles 
Triplette  and  resides  in  Unionville,  Mis- 
souri. She  has  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Hiram,  the  brother,  entered  the  ser- 
\"ice  of  his  country  in  the  Ci\'il  war  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years  and  two  years  later 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh. 

Throughout  the  period  of  his  entire 
manhiiod  Herald  Catlett  resided  in  Vermil- 
ion county,  Illinois,  and  in  his  business 
affairs  he  prospered  because  his  life  was  a 
very  industrious  and  energetic  one.  He 
not  only  engaged  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil, 
but  also  bought  and  sold  cattle  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale  in  partnership  with  his  broth- 
er, Hiram.  They  perhaps  handled  more 
cattle  than  any  other  man  in  the  county.  In 
later  years  he  devoted  his  attention  to  both 
stock-raising  and  farming  and  he  accumu- 
lated over  live  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
X'crmilion  count}'  and  also  assisted  his  sons 
in  becoming  owners  of  farms.  He  possessed 
excellent  executive  ability  and  keen  business 
force  and  whatever  he  undertook  he  car- 
ried forward  to  a  successful  completion.  He 
possessed  strong  resolution  and  unflagging 
diligence    and     thus    he    gained    his    place 


634 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


among  the  men  of  affluence  in  his  adopted 
county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Catlett  were  born 
eight  children.  Orin  resides  with  his  moth- 
er and  manages  the  home  farm.  H.  Boul- 
ware  married  Nora  Newlan  and  is  the  vice 
president  of  the  First  Uational  Bank  of 
Weleetka,  in  the  Indian  Territory.  He  also 
owns  three  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
near  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  he  belongs  to  the  Bap- 
tist church.  In  his  family  are  four  children : 
Roland,  Elizabeth.  Stanley  and  Eugene. 
Blanch,  the  third  member  of  the  family, 
died  in  infancy.  Robert,  who  resides  upon 
the  farm  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
near  Jacksonville,  wedded  Rose  Nicholson 
and  they  have  two  children,  Gilbert  D.  and 
Thelma  B.  In  politics  he,  too,  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  also  belongs  to  the  Baptist  churcli. 
John  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Portia 
L.,  Wilfred  II.  and  Harman  reside  with 
their  mother. 

Mr.  Catlett  strongly  endorsed  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democracy  but  would  ne\-er 
consent  to  become  a  candidate  for  public 
office.  He  was  an  exemplary  member  of 
Fairmount  Lodge,  No.  590,  F.  &  A.  ]\I.. 
and  from  the  age  of  fourteen  years  was  a 
consistent  and  devoted  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  in  which  he  long  served  as  dea- 
con. He  died  in  that  faith  May  i,  1902, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Davis  cemetei7 
in  Vance  township.  Through  an  active 
career  he  accomplished  much  both  in  the 
acquirement  of  a  fortune  and  the  develop- 
ment of  an  upright  character  and  while  he 
left  his  family  in  comfortable  circumstances 
he  also  gave  to  them  a  legacy  which  is  far 
better  than  gokl — an  untarnished  name.  In 
the  pioneer  develo])ment  of  the  county  he 
took  an  active  and  interested  part  and  his 


labors  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
splendid  result  accomplished  l.)y  the  early 
settlers. 


LEONARD  J.  HAHN. 

Leonard  J.  Hahn,  who  since  1876  has 
made  his  home  in  Danville  and  is  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  at  No.  412  Green 
street,  was  born  in  Germany,  September  3, 
1 84 1.  His  father  was  manager  of  a  factory 
there,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their 
entire  lives  in  that  country.  Our  subject 
and  a  brother  who  is  now  living  in  Wiscon- 
sin came  to  America  in  1871,  settling  first 
in  Hoboken,  New  Jersey,  where  ^Ir.  Hahn 
of  this  review  remained  for  a  short  time. 
He  afterward  visited  many  of  the  leading 
cities  of  the  United  States  in  search  of  a 
location  and  finally  took  up  his  abode  in 
Wisconsin,  where  he  attended  school  for 
four  years  in  order  to  learn  the  English 
language.  He  next  went  to  Green  Bay. 
Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  for  a  short 
time  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
remo\-ed  to  Pilot,  Illinois,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  for  three  years. 
In  1876  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  con- 
tinued educational  work  for  four  years  and 
then  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  grocery  store 
where  he  was  employed  for  a  similar  period. 
\\'hen  that  time  had  elapsed  he  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business  on  his  own  account 
at  412  Green  street  and  here  he  carries  a 
fine  line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries, 
country  produce,  cigars,  tobacco,  and  in 
fact  ever}-thing  found  in  a  first  class  estab- 
lishment. In  his  business  career  he  has 
been  very  successfid  and  now  has  a  large 
trade  bringing  to  him  a  gratifying  income. 

Mr.    Hahn   was   united   in   marriage  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


635 


]\Iiss  Albertina  Snyder,  of  Champaign 
county,  Illinois,  but  in  F'ebruary,  1890,  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife 
who  passed  away  lea\ing  two  children, 
Henry,  who  is  now  attending  school  in 
Peru,  Illinois,  and  Constance,  who  resides 
with  her  grandfather.  Another  daughter, 
Shebella,  is  now  deceased. 

In  his  political  views  ]\Ir.  Hahn  is  inde- 
pendent, supporting  men  antl  ineasiu'es 
rather  than  party,  and  never  seeking  office. 
He  belongs  to  the  German  Catholic  church 
of  Danville  and  is  regarded  as  a  prominent 
merchant  here,  a  splendid  representative  of 
our  German-American  citizenshii),  loyal  to 
the  best  interests  of  his  adopted  land  and 
with  a  strong  love  for  the  country. 


MILTON  ELLIOTT. 

Milton  Elliott,  now  deceased,  was  at  one 
time  a  very  prominent  and  influential  farmer 
of  Vermilion  county.  He  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  February  24.  1827, 
and  was  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Smith)  Elliott.  They  lived  on  a  farm  in 
Ohio  until  1829,  when  they  came  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  where  the  father 
purchased  land.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  in  politics  was  a  Repub- 
lican. He  was  three  times  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Elizabeth  Smith, 
and  his  third  wife  being  Mrs.  (Sewell) 
Dalby.  By  the  first  marriage  there  Avas  one 
child,  now  deceased.  I5v  the  second  mar- 
riage, two  children  are  still  living  out  of  a 
family  of  six.  Francis,  who  resides  in 
Potomac,  Illinois,  married  Jane  Doney,  and 
after  her  death  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
McFarland,  now  also  deceased.     Marv,  the 


.second  child  of  the  second  union,  is  the 
widow  of  Elland  Speary  and  is  also  a  resi- 
dent of  Potomac,  Illinois.  There  were  no 
children  by  the  third  marriage. 

Milton  Elliott  of  this  review  attended 
the  district  schools  of  Vance  township  until 
he  was  able  to  work  on  the  farm,  wlicn  he 
put  aside  his  text  books  and  assisted  in  the 
work  of  plowing  the  fields  and  reaping  the 
harvests.  Later  he  purchased  the  farm 
which  is  now  the  home  of  his  widow.  On 
the  loth  of  March,  1853,  near  Fairmount, 
Illinois,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Smoot,  who  was  born  in  Coshocton,  Ohio, 
January  22,  183 1,  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Barton  and  Hannah  (Doney)  Smoot,  lioth 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio,  where  they 
were  married  and  resided  until  1841,  when 
they  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  near 
Logansport.  They  remained  in  the  latter 
place  for  four  years,  when  they  removed  to 
Vance  township.  The  mother  died  April 
30,  1895,  and  file  father  passed  away  in 
1884.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  was  an  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Mrs.  Elliott  is  a  member  of 
a  family  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  four 
brothers  and  two  sisters  are  yet  living: 
Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  our  subject;  James, 
who  married  Mary  Davis  and  resides  in 
Greenville,  ^Missouri ;  John,  who  married 
Sarah  Lewis  and  resides  in  Homer,  Illinois ; 
Lvsandcr,  a  farmer  of  Fithian,  Illinois,  who 
married  Lydia  Randall ;  Daniel,  a  resident 
of  Fairmount,  who  married  Nettie  Doren ; 
Phoebe,  the  wife  of  Robison  Cook,  a  resi- 
dent of  Tallula,  Illinois;  and  Molly,  the 
wife  of  Garry  Temple,  of  Fairmount.  Illi- 
nois. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Elliott  and  his  wife 
was  blessed  with  six  children.  Bart  mar- 
ried Marv  Baldwin  and  lives  in  Fairmount, 


636 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Illinois.  They  have  three  children,  Everett, 
Oscar  and  Goldie.  James  married  Lizzie 
Egy.  They  reside  in  Danville,  Illinois,  and 
have  five  children,  Grace,  Burleigh,  George, 
Holmes  and  Ferrol.  Ellis  married  Fanny 
Lowell  and  they  reside  in  Fairmount.  Mil- 
ton married  Ulta  Bale.  They  reside  in 
Vance  township  and  have  two  children, 
Earl  and  Myrtle.  John  is  at  home  with  his 
mother  and  manages  the  farm  for  her. 
Rosa  is  also  at  home  with  her  mother. 

After  their  marriage  jMr.  and  Mrs. 
Elliott  located  upon  the  farm  which  she  now 
occupies.  Air.  Elliott  was  very  industrious 
and  energetic  and  through  his  capable  man- 
agement became  the  owner  of  four  hundred 
and  ninety-six  acres.  This  has  now  been 
partly  divided  among  the  children  and  the 
remainder  is  controlled  by  his  widow.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  cliurch  and 
in  politics  was  a  Republican.  In  his  life  he 
exemplified  the  principles  of  truth  and  right 
and  he  was  a  man  highly  respected  in  his 
community.  He  left  many  friends  besides 
his  family  to  mourn  his  loss.  His  death  oc- 
curred on  the  2 1st  of  November,  1878,  and 
he  was  laid  to  rest  in  Davis  cemetery.  Mrs. 
Elliott  is  a  lady  of  estimable  character  who 
is  now  successfully  managing  her  landed 
interests  and  she  is  a  valued  resident  of 
Vance  township. 


JOFIX  \y.  GOODWIXE.  Sr. 

John  W.  Goodwine,  Sr.,  is  an  octogenar- 
ian of  Vermilion  county,  living  in  Potomac. 
He  is  now  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest  which 
has  crowned  a  life  of  labor  and  industry. 
For  over  fiftv  ^•ears  he  was  connected  with 


the  farming  interests  of  the  county  and  the 
prosperity  which  attended  his  efforts  has 
supplied  him  with  the  means  of  living  in 
retirement  from  further  labor,  his  com- 
petency being  sufficient  to  supply  him  with 
all  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life. 
Mr.  Goodwine  is  a  native  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  born  December  9,  1822.  His 
father,  James  Goodwine,  was  born  in  Penn- 
syh'ania  and  was  a  son  of  John  Goodwine. 
The  family  is  of  English  lineage  and  was 
established  in  the  Keystone  state  at  an  early 
epoch  in  its  development.  It  was  in  that 
state  that  James  Goodwine  was  reared  to 
manhood  and  subsequently  he  removed  to 
Buffalo,  where  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Snyder,  of  German  lineage.  For  some 
years  thereafter  tlie}-  resided  in  Kentucky 
and  then  removed  to  Indiana,  settling  in 
Bartholomew  county.  There  in  the  midst 
of  the  green  forest  the  father  of  our  subject 
developed  a  farm.  The  sound  of  the  wood- 
man's ax  was  soon  heard  as  he  chopped 
away  the  trees  in  order  to  transform  his 
farm  into  productive  fields  for  the  raising 
of  crops  best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Warren  county 
A\here  he  again  opened  up  a  farm  upon 
which  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  his 
remaining  daj'S,  passing  away  there  about  ■ 
1848,  when  seventy  years  of  age.  His  wife 
had  died  in  1824,  when  John  W.  was  a  lit- 
tle child  of  two  years.  The  father  after- 
ward married  again. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  John  W.  Goodwine  was 
reared  and  early  in  life  he  became  familiar 
with  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  de- 
veloping a  new  farm.  He  took  his  place 
in  the  forest  where  he  assisted  in  cutting 
down  the  trees,  clearing  away  the  brush  and 
preparing  the  fields  for  cultivation.     \Mien 


LIPRA^Y 

cf'v..e 
univergivy  of  illinois 


MRS  JOHN  W  GOODWINE 


JOHN    W.GOODWINE  .  SR 


I  mo  K  ny 

Ci     .    £ 
UNlVERSiTY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


641 


this  was  done  he  bore  his  part  in  the  work 
of  plowing  and  planting  and  later  in  har- 
vesting the  rich  grain.  His  school  privi- 
leges were  limited  and  he  is  almost  entirely 
a  self-educated  as  well  as  a  self-made  man 
who  deserves  great  credit  for  what  he  has 
accomplished.  As  a  companion  and  help- 
meet for  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Jane 
Charlton,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  In- 
diana, their  wedding  being  celebrated  in 
Warren  county,  that  state  in  1845.  They 
became  the  parents  of  five  children  and  the 
mother  died  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
about  1867.  Of  her  four  sons  ^Marion, 
John  and  James  are  yet  living,  while  Fre- 
mont died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The 
daughter,  Mary  Jane,  is  also  deceased.  Mr. 
Goodwine  was  again  married  in  this  coun- 
ty, his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Ar- 
minda  Dare,  a  widow,  who  was  born  in  this 
county.  They,  too,  have  four  children : 
Llartha,  the  wife  of  D.  E.  Juvinall,  of  Cali- 
fornia; Helen,  the  wife  of  De  Marcus  Juvi- 
nall, of  Vermilion  county;  Dora,  who  was 
married  but  is  now  deceased;  and  Grant  W. 
The  year  1848  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
John  W.  Goodwine  in  Vermilion  county. 
He  settled  in  Blount  township,  where  he 
purchased  six  hundred  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  which  he  began  to  improve  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  he 
engaged  in  stock-raising  and  feeding.  He 
soon  became  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
progressive  and  extensive  farmers  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  From  time  to  time 
he  added  to  his  landed  possessions  until  he 
owned  six  thousand  acres  comprised  in  dif- 
ferent farms.  From  his  youth  he  made  a 
specialty  of  feeding  cattle  for  the  market, 
and  his  extensive  corn  products  were  thus 
utilized.  Each  year  he  would  sell  from 
three  to  five  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  a 


large  number  of  hogs  were  also  raised  upon 
his  farm  and  sent  to  the  city  markets.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  extensive  stock 
dealers  in  the  county,  and  his  well  directed 
efforts  brought  to  him  splendid  success.  In 
1898,  however,  he  put  aside  the  more  ardu- 
ous cares  of  business  life  and  removed  to 
Potomac  where  he  is  now  living  retired  save 
that  he  gives  his  attention  to  the  supei"vis- 
ion  of  his  farms  and  invested  interests.  He 
still  owns  three  thousand  acres  of  the  rich 
and  valuable  land  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  All  has  been  deeded  to  his  children 
and  will  pass  into  their  possession  at  his 
death. 

Politically  Mr.  Goodwine  was  an  old  line 
Whig  and  he  probably  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Zachary  Taylor.  He  con- 
tinued to  afiiliate  with  the  party  until  1856- 
when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Re- 
publican party  and  has  never  failed  to  vote 
for  each  of  its  presidential  candidates  since 
that  time.  The  honors  of  public  office  have 
never  been  sought  by  him  for  his  time  has 
been  fully  occupied  by  his  large  business  in- 
terests. During  fifty-four  years  he  has  re- 
sided in  the  county  and  is  to-day  one  of  its 
most  respected  and  honored  agriculturists. 
He  has  seen  Danville  grow  up  from  a  small 
village  and  has  watched  the  onward  march 
of  progress  in  the  state.  All  that  has  tend- 
ed to  improve  the  county  and  promote  its 
welfare  has  received  his  endorsement.  He 
is  well-known  in  Danville  and  throughout 
the  community  as  a  man  of  tried  integrity 
and  worth  and  his  life  history  should  serve 
to  encourage  young  men  who  have  to  begin 
in  business  as  he  did,  without  capital  or 
the  aid  of  financial  friends.  His  own  career 
proves  conclusively  that  strong  determina- 
tion and  unremitting  diligence  can  secure 
splendid  success. 


642 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ROBERT  CRA^^•FORD   SAIALLEY. 

The  life  record  of  such  a  man  as  Robert 
Crawford  Smalley  should  serve  as  a  source 
of  inspiration  and  encouragement  to  his  fel- 
low men  because  it  proves  that  success  may 
be  won  through  earnest  and  persistent  effort 
and  without  the  aid  of  wealthy  or  influential 
friends  at  the  outset  of  one's  career.  I\lr. 
Smalley  is  now  living  retired,  having  dur- 
ing the  years  of  his  business  activity  won 
a  handsome  competence  which  classes  him 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  Hoopes- 
ton.  A  native  of  Benton  county,  Indiana, 
he  was  born  on  the  31st  of  August,  1847, 
and  when  only  about  eighteen  months  old 
remo\-ed  to  W'arren  county.  Indiana,  with 
his  parents.  His  father,  William  Smalley, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  January  1 1 . 
1813.  of  German  lineage,  was  engaged  in 
cabinet  work  in  his  younger  days  and  after- 
ward turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He 
married  Sarah  Sargeant,  who  \\as  born  in 
Warren  county,  Indiana,  June  20,  181 7,  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  29th  of  Au- 
gust, 1833.  The  lady  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Warren  county,  obtaining  a 
common-school  education.  She  died  April 
26,  1 85 1,  at  the  age  of  thirty- four  years, 
when  our  subject  was  but  three  years  of  age. 
The  father  afterward  married  Eliza  Stew- 
art, this  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the 
20th  of  November,  1851.  She,  too,  is  now 
deceased  and  Mr.  Smalley  passed  away  on 
the  3d  of  February,  1868,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five  years.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had 
nine  children,  but  only  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: David,  who  was  born  June  13,  1839, 
and  is  living  in  Sheldon,  Illinois;  Robert 
C. ;  and  Anna  E.,  the  wife  of  Charles  Hick- 
man. She  was  born  August  29.  1850,  and 
is   living   in   Hoopeston.      By  the   father's 


second  marriage  the  children  were:  ]\Iary 
A.,  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Alillikin,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Warren  township,  Warren 
county,  Indiana ;  Charlotte  }il.  the  wife  of 
Alfred  ]\Iillikin,  of  the  same  county;  Eliza 
J.,  the  wife  of  Newton  Atkinson,  of  Mount 
Gilboa,  Indiana;  Martha  E.,  the  wife  of 
Peter  Ault,  of  Warren  county;  and  Edwin 
G.,  who  is  living  in  the  same  county. 

Reared  and  educated  in  Warren  county, 
Indiana.  Robert  C.  Smalley  afterward  en- 
gaged in  farming  there  and  for  two  years 
operated  the  old  home  place  near  Attica, 
Indiana,  after  his  father's  death.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  belonging  to  his  father-in-law, 
P.  J.  Hickman,  Sr.,  and  in  1872  he  took 
up  his  abode  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
upon  a  farm  northeast  of  Hoopeston,  hav- 
ing inherited  forty-two  acres  at  that  place. 
This  he  at  once  improved  and  cultivated, 
making  it  his  home  for  a  year.  In  August. 
1872.  however,  he  removed  to  Ashgrove 
township.  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  lived  for  fourteen  years,  lacking  two 
days.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Hoopeston 
and  has  since  been  a  valued  resident  of  this 
place.  Pie  now  owns  four  hundred  and  fi\'e 
acres  of  valuable  land  all  in  one  body,  the 
place  being  known  as  the  James  Coleman 
farm.  It  is  now  rented  and  returns  to  Mr. 
Smalley  a  very  good  income.  In  August. 
1886,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Hoopeston. 
In  March  of  the  following  year  he  embarked 
in  the  hardware  business  which  he  carried 
on  for  five  years,  being  for  two  years  asso- 
ciated with  Albert  Daggett,  while  for  three 
years  he  was  connected  with  his  son  Wesley. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  ^Ir.  Smalley  ]nu-- 
chased  a  stock  of  drugs  in  Milford.  placing 
the  business  under  the  care  of  his  son.  Per- 
sonally he  has  given  the  most  of  his  atten- 
tion to  his  farming  interests.     In  1890  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


643 


built  a  brick  storeroom  now  occupied  by 
Elliott  Brothers.  ■Nlr.  Snialle)-  tradeil  his 
stock  of  drugs  in  IMiltord  for  a  farm  in 
Crescent  township,  Iroquois  count}-,  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  re- 
tained the  ownership  of  this  until  June. 
1901,  when  he  sold  it.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  purcliased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Ross  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  and  the  same  year  Ijccame  the 
owner  of  fifty-two  acres  of  land  near  Cicero, 
Indiana.  He  has  in  Hoopeston  a  pleasant 
home  on  Honeywell  avenue  which  he 
erected  in   1892. 

Mr.  Smalley  was  married  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  iith  of  Januar_\-, 
1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  Hickman,  whose  birth 
occurred  March  4,  1851,  a  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Mary  (Gullett)  Hickman,  both 
natives  of  Delaware,  the  former  born  in 
Kent  and  the  latter  in  Sussex  county.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  aiid  stockman  and  died 
in  Indiana,  November  12,  1892.  while  his 
wife  passed  away  on  the  13th  of  Feliruary, 
1897.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smalley  now  have  four 
children.  ]Mary  Edith,  born  February  5, 
1873,  was  married  in  1893  to  Dr.  J.  O. 
Miessen,  of  Cicero,  Indiana,  and  they  have 
two  children.  Dale  and  Robert.  \\'esley, 
born  September  8,  1874.  married  Laura 
Forrester,  l)y  whom  he  has  one  child,  Helen, 
and  they  live  in  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 
Annice,  born  December  4,  1876,  is  the  wife 
of  John  Bennes,  an  architect  of  Baker  City, 
Oregon.  They  have  one  son,  John  V. 
Robert,  born  April  29,  1896,  is  the  youngest 
memljer  of  the  Smalley  family  and  is  with 
liis  parents.  Edward,  the  first  born,  whose 
birth  occurred  November  13,  1871,  died  at 
the  age  of  ten  months  and  a  half. 

Mr.  Smalley  is  a  member  of  Star  Lodge, 
No.  709.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Hoopeston  Chap- 


ter, No.  181,  R.  A.  M.  Ho  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star.  He  is  a  past  master  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  serving  as  senior  warden  of  his 
lodge,  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  grand 
lodge  which  met  in  McX'icker's  theater,  of 
Chicago,  in  1897.  In  politics  he  has  been 
an  earnest  Republican  since  he  cast  his  first 
presidential  \ote  for  General  Grant  in  1868, 
at  Indepemlence.  Indiana.  While  living 
upon  his  farm  he  served  for  several  years 
as  school  trustee  and  after  coming  to 
Hoopeston  lie  \\-as  elected  a  member  of  the 
school  board  on  which  he  served  for  about 
eleven  years,  the  cause  of  education  finding 
in  him  a  warm  friend.  For  two  years  he 
represented  the  third  ward  on  the  board  of 
city  aldermen.  Mr.  Smalley  is  to-day  num- 
bered among  the  men  of  affluence  of  his 
county.  Starting  out  in  life  for  himself 
at  an  early  age,  he  realized  that  energy, 
determination  and  ambition  are  imjxjrtant 
elements  in  success  'and  upon  these  as  a 
foundation  he  has  reared  the  superstructure 
of  his  prosperity.  Such  a  character  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation  and  respect,  and  Mr. 
Smalley  is  justly  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing and  representative  men  of  his  adopted 
count  V. 


GEORGE  R.  TILTON. 

George  R.  Tilton  is  one  of  the  leading 
member  of  the  Democratic  parly  in  \'er- 
milion  county  and  since  the  ist  of  January, 
1898,  has  been  the  editor  and  manager  of  the 
Danville  Daily  Democrat,  which  is  puljlished 
in  the  interest  of  the  national  organization. 
He  was  born  October  8,  i860,  in  Ripley 
county,  Indiana,  the  only  child  of  William 
W.  and  Martha  J.  Tilton.     He  pursued  his 


644 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


literary  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
lived  upon  the  home  farm  at  Elrod,  Indiana, 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  Determining 
to  engage  in  the  practice  of  law  he  then  en- 
tered the  law  department  of  the  Wesleyan 
Universit}''  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  in 
1883.  In  June,  1884,  he  located  in  Dan- 
ville, where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  chosen  profession  until  the  ist  of  Jan- 
uary, 1897,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to 
journalism  and  has  since  been  the  editor  and 
manager  of  the  Danville  Daily  Democrat. 
In  1884  he  was  nominated  for  the  position 
of  states  attorney  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  in  1888  he  was  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  Illinois  house  of  representa- 
tives, whei-e  he  served  for  one  term,  proving 
an  active  working  member  of  that  body. 
From  1892  until  1902  he  was  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  county  central  committee 
and  is  a  most  active  and  efficient  political 
worker.  He  recognizes  possibilities  and 
opportunities  readily  and  by  securing  con- 
certed action  has  contributed  in  no  small  de- 
gree to  the  growth  and  success  of  his  party 
in  this  portion  of  the  state.  On  the  6th  of 
June,  1894,  Mr.  Tilton  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Catherine  M.  Thompson,  of 
Urbana,  Illinois.  They  are  well  known  in 
Danville,  and  with  matters  of  public  concern 
Mr.  Tilton  has  been  actively  connected,  aid- 
ing not  a  little  to  form  public  opinion 
through  the  columns  of  his  paper. 


STEPHEN  A.  D.  HARRY. 

To  an  early  epoch  in  the  history  of 
America  may  the  ancestry  of  the  Harr)"- 
family  be  traced,  representatives  of  the 
name  having  established  a  home  in  the  new 
world  during  its  pioneer  development.  Ja- 


cob Harry,  the  father  of  our  subject,  w-as 
a  native  of  Preble  count}',  Ohio,  and  after 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded 
Susanna  Tobey,  w^ho  was  born  near  Hag- 
erstown,  ^Maryland.  Her  grandfather  in  the 
paternal  line  came  from  Germany,  crossing 
the  Atlantic  to  America  at  a  very  early  day. 
One  of  the  great-grandfathers  of  our  sub- 
ject w'as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  King's  ISIoun- 
tain.  Jacob  Harry  w-as  a  brick  mason  by 
trade,  following  that  pursuit  in  early  life. 
He  subsequently  carried  on  farming,  be- 
came moderately  well-to-do,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  owned  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  He  also  reared  a 
large  family,  to  whom  he  gave  educational 
advantages  of  a  high  order,  most  of  his 
children  attending  college.  Taking  up  his  , 
abode  in  Illinois  at  a  primitive  period  in  its 
development,  he  resided  in  Coles  county 
when  the  prairie  w-as  unreclaimed  and  un- 
improved and  when  there  were  many 
wolves,  and  when  the  deer  were  also  quite 
numerous,  while  the  smaller  game  was  to 
be  had  in  abundance.  His  life  was  one  of 
industry  and  earnest  toil  and  his  sterling 
worth  commended  him  to  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him.  His 
death  occurred  in  March,  1899,  and  his 
wife,  survi\ing  him  for  a  few  years,  passed 
away  in  April,  1902,  in  Coles  county.  In 
the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were 
eleven  children :  Francis,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Jefferson,  a  resident  of  Coles  coun- 
ty; Madison,  who  is  a  twin  brother  of  Jef- 
ferson and  is  a  Baptist  preacher  of  the  state 
of  New  York;  Mrs.  Amanda  Hedges,  wha 
is  living  in  Coles  county;  Hiram,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Lamar,  Missouri;  Nathan- 
iel, who  was  engaged  in  merchandising  iii 
Springfield,    Missouri,    where    he    died    h\ 


,  J 


UN!V! 


LI  ■" 

~Y 

OF 

r.-iE 

;ty 

OF  1 

1  1 

!K0: 

THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


647 


1894;  Frank,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of 
Watseka,  Illinois,  who  is  now  servmg  as 
a  judge  of  Iroquois  county;  Ellen,  who 
died  in  infancy ;  Clinton,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Coles  county ;  Stephen  A.  D. ;  and  Nel- 
son, a  farmer  of  Coles  county,  who  tlicd 
in  1896. 

Prof.  Stephen  A.  D.  Harry  has  attained 
to  a  distinguished  position  in  educational 
circles,  being  recognized  as  one  of  the  fore- 
most members  of  the  profession  in  eastern 
Illinois.  He  was  born  near  Mattoon,  in 
Coles  county,  on  the  24th  of  May,  i860, 
and  his  early  life  was  spent  upon  his  fath- 
er's farm,  during  which  time  he  acquired 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  then  began  teaching  and  thus 
acquired  the  funds  necessary  to  enable  him 
to  continue  his  own  education.  He  became 
a  student  in  the  Central  Indiana  Normal 
School,  in  which  he  was  graduated,  com- 
pleting the  teacher's  course.  He  afterward 
taught  again  near  Areola  and  then  for  a 
time  was  a  student  in  the  Eastern  Illinois 
College  of  Danville,  in  which  he  was  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1884. 

Entering  the  profession  of  teaching  as 
a  life  work,  Mr.  Harry  was  employed  in  the 
Indiana  Normal  School  at  Covington,  In- 
diana, for  a  year,  after  which  he  was  offered 
and  accepted  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  the  public  schools  of  Covington,  filling 
that  position  in  a  most  acceptable  manner 
for  four  years.  In  1891  he  came  to  Dan- 
ville and  for  a  short  period  was  assistant 
principal  in  the  high  school,  while  from 
1892  until  1897  he  ^'^"'^s  principal  of  the  high 
school.  In  the  latter  year  he  came  to 
Hoopeston  and  has  since  been  superinten- 
dent of  the  schools  of  this  city.  He  holds 
a  state  certificate  from  Indiana,  having  in 
1890  successfully  passed  an  examination 
there  upon  twenty-two  subjects,  the  exam- 

26 


ination  covering  three  days.  Wliile  resid- 
ing in  Indiana  he  served  for  two  years  as 
president  of  the  County  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation and  for  one  year  during  his  resi- 
dence in  Danville  was  president  of  the  Ver- 
milion County  Association.  He  has  done 
considerable  institute  work  during  the  sum- 
mer months  and  his  entire  attention  is  de- 
voted to  school  work,  in  \\hich  he  has 
steadily  progressed,  and  his  own  zeal  and 
earnestness  ha\e  been  potent  factors  in  se- 
curing advancement  in  the  different  insti- 
tutions of  learning  with  which  he  has  been 
connected. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1884,  in  Coles 
county,  Illinois,  Professor  Harry  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  to  Miss  Aladge  Wyeth,  a 
native  of  that  county,  born  December  9, 
i860.  Her  father,  Thomas  E.  Wyeth,  is 
still  li\ing  in  Coles  county,  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  wealthy  farmers  there. 
His  wife  died  in  1874  when  Mrs.  Harry 
was  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  he  after- 
ward wedded  Julia  Price,  with  whom  he 
is  now  living.  The  home  of  Professor 
Harry  and  his  wife  was  blessed  with  one 
daughter,  Zola  Bernice,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 30,  1886.  On  the  loth  of  July,  1901, 
the  family  were  in  a  wreck  on  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  near  Marshall,  Missouri, 
and  Mrs.  Harry  was  so  severely  injured 
that  she  died  the  following  day  in  Kansas 
City.  The  Professor  and  his  daughter  also 
sustained  injuries  of  a  permanent  nature. 
The  wife  and  mother  \\-as  brought  back  to 
Illinois  and  tenderly  laid  to  rest  in  the  cem- 
etei-y  at  Areola.  She  was  a  most  estimable 
lady  and  enjoyed  the  high  regard  of  many 
warm  friends.  The  family  received  a  total 
of  twenty-nine  thousand  dollars  from  the 
railroad  company  because  of  their  injuries, 
the  daughter  being  awarded  fourteen  thou- 
sand, four  hundred  dollars  of  the  amount. 


648 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL.    RECORD 


From  his  boyhood  days  Professor  Har- 
ry has  been  identified  with  the  ]\Iethodist 
Episcopal  church  and  is  now  superinten- 
dent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  was  also 
superintendent  of  the  First  JMethodist  Epis- 
copal Sunday-school  in  Danville  for  four 
years,  and  has  been  actively  and  earnestly 
identified  ^^■ith  religious  work  through  a 
long  period,  his  influence  being  of  marked 
benefit  in  that  direction.  He  has  been  a 
prominent  factor  in  musical  circles  in  ever}^ 
•city  where  he  has  resided,  being  leader  of 
the  church  choirs  at  Covington,  Indiana ; 
Danville  and  Hoopeston  in  addition  to  his 
duties  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
schools.  He  is  also  instructor  in  vocal  mu- 
sic in  the  schools  of  Hoopeston.  For  four 
years  while  living  in  Danville,  he  was  first 
tenor  in  the  Arion  Male  Quartet,  being  as- 
sociated with  Charles  P.  Nelson,  second 
tenor;  L.  H.  Griffith,  first  bass;  and  Will 
Pundt,  second  bass.  This  quartet  sang  iii 
various  places  throughout  Indiana  and 
Illinois. 

Socially  Professor  Harry  is  identified 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  he  belongs  to  the  blue  lodge,  chap- 
ter and  commandery  of  Masonry,  serving 
at  the  present  time  as  chaplain  in  the  blue 
lodge.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  was 
long  a  Democrat,  but  for  the  past  eight' 
years  he  has  given  his  support  to  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  As  the  years  have  passed 
he  has  made  judicious  investments  in  real 
estate  and  to-day  owns  a  good  farm  in 
Coles  county,  one  in  Iroquois  county  and 
two  in  Fulton  county,  Indiana,  his  posses- 
sions thus  aggregating  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  He  also  has  stock  in  the  Cen- 
tral Trust  Company,  of  Chicago,  and  has 
joined  a  syndicate  owning  twenty-seven 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  Cuba,  the  com- 


pan)'  having  been  incoroprated  under  the 
laws  of  the  land  and  comprising  about  fif- 
teen members.  At  this  point  it  would  be 
almost  tautological  to  enter  into  any  series 
of  statements  as  showing  the  Professor  to 
be  a  man  of  broad  intelligence  and  genuine 
public  spirit,  for  these  have  been  shadowed 
forth  between  the  lines  of  this  review. 
Strong  in  his  indi\-iduality,  he  never  lacks 
the  courage  of  his  convictions,  but  there 
are  dominating  elements  in  his  individual- 
ity, a  lively  human  sympathy  and  an  abid- 
ing charity,  which,  taken  in  connection  with 
the  sterling  integrity  and  honor  of  his  char- 
acter, have  naturally  gained  for  him  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  men. 


T.  L.   SMITH. 


Prominent  among  the  old  settlers  01 
\'ermilion  county  is  J.  L.  Smith,  who  was 
born  in  Georgetown  July  ij,  1S37,  and  has 
therefore  witnessed  and  taken  part  in  much 
of  the  development  and  improvement  of  the 
community  which  is  the  outward  indication 
of  its  prosperity.  His  parents  were  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Brown)  Smith,  both  natives  of 
\\'ashington  county,  Tennessee,  their  mar- 
riage taking  place  in  Jonesboro,  that  state. 
The  father  followed  teaming  and  farming 
in  that  locality,  and  throughout  his  active 
business  career  was  an  agriculturist  of  prom- 
inence and  influence.  Later  the  family  set- 
tled in  Georgetown  township,  where  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  was  born.  In  the  family 
were  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  were 
born  in  Tennessee.  Those  deceased  are  Mar- 
tha Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty; 
George  \V.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five;  Jessie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three:  Enoch,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


649 


Lookout  ]\l(iuntain,  at  tlie  age  of  thirty; 
William  D.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
eight;  and  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six  years.  The  two  latter  were  bur- 
ied on  the  same  day.  The  Ii\ing  members 
of  the  family  are:  Abram,  a  resident  of 
Danville,  now  li\ing  retired  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six  ;  Eliza,  who  is  eighty-eight  years 
of  age  and  is  the  widow  of  William  Gautz, 
residing  in  Georgetown  township ;  Amanda, 
the  widow  of  Andy  Reynolds,  also  of 
Georgetown  township,  who  is  eighty- 
two  years  of  age;  Katherine,  the  wife 
of  Adam  Kyger,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Douglas  county,  ^Missouri;  Eliza- 
beth, the  widow  of  a  Mr.  Haines,  who 
was  a  farmer  living  near  Paris,  Edgar  coun- 
ty, where  the  widow  now  resides;  M.  C,  a. 
farmer  of  Brocton,  Edgar  county,  now  aged 
seventy-eight  years;  and  J.  L.  All  the  chil- 
dren received  common-school  educations. 
Mr.  Smith,  Sr.,  was  in  politics  first  a  Whig 
and  afterward  a  Democrat,  and  died  believ- 
ing in  the  principles  of  that  party.  He  and 
his  wife  were  earnest  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church. 

The  subject  of  this  review  pursued  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  near  the 
home  farm.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood,  as- 
sisting his  father  in  the  work  of  field  and 
meadow  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  when  his  father  allowed  him  for  his 
time  and  he  began  saving  money  on  his  own 
account.  He  continued  to  operate  his  fath- 
er's farm  and  for  twenty  years  also  ran  a 
thresher  in  connection  with  his  farm  work. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  in  August,  i86r, 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Cook,  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Sarah  (Myers)  Cook. 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  There 
were  seven  children  born  of  this  union  :  .\1- 
bert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  and  one- 


half  years;  Jessie,  who  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years;  Melvin,  who  lives  in 
Elwood  township  and  follows  farming 
there,  his  wife  being  Annie  Carrigan,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Carrigan,  of  Vermilion 
county;  Dora,  who  married  Thomas 
Hughes,  the  latter  now  renting  and  operat- 
ing the  farm  of  J.  L.  Smith;  O.  T.,  who 
married  Cora,  datighter  of  Andy  Tipton, 
and  who  lives  in  Georgetown  township,  fol- 
lowing farming  there;  \V.  C,  who  married 
Grace  Alderson,  and  follows  farming  in 
northern  Indiana;  Bertie  E.,  who  married 
John  Bennett  and  lives  two  miles  west  of 
Georgetown.  These  children  all  received  a 
good  common-school  education  and  were 
thus  well  fitted  to  enter  upon  life's  practical 
duties. 

About  the  lime  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
Smith  began  working  in  the  winter  for  a 
pork  packing  establishment.  In  this  place 
he  had  the  distinction  of  doing  the  largest 
day's  work  on  record.  He  cut  up  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  fifty  hogs  and  threw 
one-half  that  number  on  the  block.  This 
of  itself  beat  all  former  records,  but  in  addi- 
tion, after  11  P.  M.  of  that  day  he  cut  up 
five  hundred  frozen  one-half  hogs.  This  is 
a  slight  indication  of  the  energy  and  activity 
of  Mr.  Smith,  and  it  is  owing  to  such  ef- 
forts that  he  is  to-day  the  possessor  of  his 
valuable  farm,  comprising  two  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  acres  on  section  18,  in  George- 
town township.  Upon  the  farm  he  has  made 
all  improvements  and  is  now  renting  the 
land  and  living  retired,  enjoying  a  well- 
merited  rest  from  business  cares. 

Mr.  Smith  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  first  wife  February  10,  1877, 
and  was  again  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Lucy  Ann  (Ogden)  Lewis,  the 
widow   of  Jacob  Lewis.     She   too  passed 


650 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


awa}^  on  the  20th  of  June,  1899.  Mr.  Smith 
has  had  a  great  deal  of  sickness  in  his  fam- 
il}',  hut  by  careful  management  and  by  rea- 
son of  his  beautiful  character  which  enables 
him  to  patiently  bear  affliction,  he  has  out- 
ridden the  storms  of  adversity  and  has  come 
off  victor  in  the  struggle.  He  has  been  a 
faithful  and  devoted  member  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  for  forty-two  years,  has  been  its 
elder  for  two  years  and  also  one  of  its  trus- 
tees. Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  also 
of  the  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  of  George- 
town. In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, practically,  but  always  votes  for  the 
men  and  measures  that  he  thinks  are  right. 
He  has  filled  the  office  of  school  director, 
and  though  he  does  not  care  for  office,  yet 
he  ever  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  political 
issues  and  questions  of  the  day.  A  man  of 
sterling  qualities  and  upright  life,  Mr. 
Smith  is  an  honored  pioneer  son  of  Vermil- 
ion county. 


WATTS  FINLEY. 


\\'atts  Finle)',  of  Hoopeston,  was  born 
near  I-awrenceburg,  in  Ripley  county,  Indi- 
ana, on  the  4th  of  November,  1833.  His 
father,  David  Finley,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky and  wedded  Nancy  Miller,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  They  lived  for  some 
years  along  the  bottoms  of  the  Miami  river, 
and  in  1834  came  to  Vermilion  county,  lo- 
cating near  the  present  site  of  Catlin.  They 
were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  and  bore 
all  of  the  hardships  and  trials  incident  to 
pioneer  life  and  assisted  in  laying  the  foun- 
dation for  the  present  prosperity  and  up- 
building of  this  section  of  the  state.  The 
f--itlipr  died  in   1853  at  the  age  of  seventy- 


three  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  when 
sixty-six  years  of  age.  They  died  within 
three  days  of  each  other,  departing  this  life 
in  the  month  of  August.  In  their  family 
were  seventeen  children,  including  two 
pairs  of  twins.  Our  subject  is  the  youngest 
of  the  family  and  is  the  only  one  now  living. 
yir.  Finley  of  this  review  was  only 
about  six  months  old  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  The 
family  home  ^\•as  on  a  tract  of  land  south 
of  Danville  and  he  remained  with  his  father 
and  mother  until  their  death.  His  educa- 
tion was  acquired  in  a  log  schoolhouse  and 
in  a  frame  building  which  was  used  both 
for  church  and  school  purposes.  For  about 
eight  or  ten  years  he  continued  his  studies 
through  the  three  winter  months  and 
with  returning  spring  he  again  took  up 
his  work  in  the  fields  to  assist  in  the 
cultivation  and  development  of  the  home 
farm.  In  the  spring  of  1855,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother.  Miller  T.  Finley, 
and  his  sister  Nancy,  afterward  the  wife  of 
Captain  Eraser,  he  removed  to  a  farm  upon 
which  he  lived  ^vith  his  brother  for  four 
years.  He  was  then  married  to  ]\Iiss  Alar- 
garet  P.  Davis,  the  wedding  taking  place 
on  the  17th  of  April,  1859.  She  was  born 
April  16,  1834,  in  Ohio,  a  daughter  of 
Amaziah  Davis,  who  came  to  Vennilion 
county  during  the  period  of  its  early  devel- 
opment. His  wife  is  still  living  in  Ross- 
ville  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one- 
years.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Finley  took  up  their  abode  upon 
a  farm  in  Grant  township,  which  he  had 
purchased  in  1855,  comprising  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  wild  land.  Not  a 
furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improvement 
made,  but  with  characteristic  energy  Mr. 
Finley  began  the  improvement  of  his  prop- 


OF  T.IE 
UNIVERSiiY   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


653 


erty  which  he  soon  transformed  into  a  fine 
farm.  His  wife  proved  a  capable  and  faith- 
ful assistant  and  helpmate  to  him  and  they 
traveled  life's  journey  happily  together  for 
a  number  of  years,  but  at  length  the  wife 
suffered  from  mental  disease  and  during  the 
last  five  years  of  her  existence  she  was  in  a 
hospital  at  Kankakee,  where  she  died  in 
1895.  Three  children  were  born  unto 
them,  of  whom  two  are  yet  li\ing,  Mary 
and  Charles.  The  former  is  the  wife  of  A. 
M.  Honeywell,  a  resident  of  Hoopeston, 
and  their  children  are  Gilbert,  Helen,  Mar- 
garet, antl  ]Marie.  Charles  R.,  the  son  of 
our  subject,  marrietl  Addie  Reece  and  is 
engaged  in  the  operation  of  his  father's  old 
homestead.  His  children  are,  Marion,  Mar- 
garet and  Watts. 

In  1896  Mr.  Finley  was  again  married, 
in  Danville,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Leah  Hamilton,  who  for  a  number  of  years 
prior  to  his  first  wife's  death  had  acted  as 
his  housekeeper.  She  is  a  native  of  Ver- 
milion county  and  her  mother  now  resides 
in  Livingston  county,  although  she  spends 
part  of  the  time  with  Air.  and  Mrs.  Finley. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  bus- 
iness career  the  subject  of  this  review  has 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  in  con- 
nection with  general  farming  has  engaged 
in  stock-raising  with  excellent  success.  He 
is  to-day  the  owner  of  seven  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  valuable  land  on  sections  24 
and  25,  (]rant  township,  the  farm  being 
occupied  by  his  son  at  this  writing.  In 
1892  he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Fair- 
bury,  Livingston  county,  where  he  remained 
for  four  years.  In  his  business  affairs  he 
has  been  very  successful  and  all  that  he 
possesses  is  the  reward  of  his  own  enter- 
prise and  labor.  He  certainly  deserves 
great  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished 
and  his  life  should  serve  as  a  source  of  in- 


spiration and  encouragement  to  others.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
interested  in  the  success  of  the  party,  but 
has  never  been  an  office  seeker.  Both  of 
his  ^^'ives  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  he  has  been  a  liberal  contrib- 
utor to  church  work  and  to  other  inter- 
ests which  he  believes  will  prove  of  value 
to  the  community.  Mr.  l-'inley  is  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  of  this  section  of  Illi- 
nois. Continuously  connectetl  with  its  de- 
velopment and  improvement,  he  has 
watched  its  progress  from  pioneer  times 
and  lias  taken  an  active  ami  helpful  interest 
in  much  that  has  pertained  to  the  general 
good  and  to  the  substantial  upbuilding  of 
Vermilion  county. 


C.  J.  BOGART. 

C.  J.  Bogart,  who  is  now  efficiently 
serving  on  the  police  force  of  Hoopeston, 
was  born  in  Covington,  Indiana,  on  the  25th 
of  March,  1872,  a  son  of  Nelson  and  Eliza 
Bogart.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  only 
eight  years  of  age,  and  his  father  passed 
away  at  Marion,  Indiana,  in  1897.  After 
the  death  of  his  mother  he  came  to  Vermil- 
ion county,  Illinois,  and  made  his  home  with 
an  uncle  in  Danville  township  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  his  education  being  acquired 
in  the  district  schools  of  that  locality.  Later 
he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  near  Danville 
until  1885,  when  he  came  to  Hoopeston  and 
held  a  position  in  a  meat  market  for  a  time 
and  later  drove  an  ice  wagon  for  two  years. 
In  1896  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  on 
the  night  police  force  under  Mayor  McFer- 
ren,  and  lias  since  been  connected  with  that 
department  of  the  city  government,  his  du- 
ties being  performed  in  a  most  capable  and 


654 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


satisfactory  manner.  In  1902  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Mayor  McFerren  as  marshal  of 
HoopeSton,  and  is  now  serving  in  tliat  ca- 
pacity. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1900,  at  Hoopes- 
ston,  Mr.  Bogart  married  Miss  OUie  Tim- 
mons,  a  daughter  of  John  Timmons,  a  ma- 
chinist employed  in  the  Sprague  factory  of 
Hoopeston.  Her  brothers  and  sisters  are 
Eva,  Wilbur,  Pearl,  Nellie,  Parker  and  Har- 
old. Mr.  Bogart  has  two  brothers  and  one 
sister  living,  namely :  Will,  now  a  resident 
of  Los  Angeles,  California;  Morton,  of  Ox- 
ford, Nebraska ;  and  Myrtle,  wife  of  Rowan 
Yerkes,  of  Covington,  Indiana.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  a  son, 
Ralph,  whose  birth  occurred  June  13,  1901. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Bogart  is  connected 
tvith  the  Yeomen  of  America,  and  politically 
he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  young  man, 
whose  success  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  efforts  for  since  the  age  of  nine  yeans 
he  has  practically  been  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources  for  a  livelihood. 


A.  A.  TAYLOR. 


To  Indiana  Vermilion  county  is  indebted 
for  many  of  her  valued  residents.  A.  A. 
Taylor  is  a  native  son  of  the  Hoosier  state, 
born  December  9,  1839.  His  father  was 
Thomas  A.  Taylor,  a  native  of  Shelby  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  born  in  1805,  and  his  mother 
was  Iva  (Allen  ) Taylor,  a  native  of  Bour- 
bon county,  Kentucky,  born  in  1806.  They 
were  married  near  Lafayette,  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1830,  and  after  their  marriage 
they  located  on  a  farm  there,  where  Mr. 
Tavlor  also  worked  at  the  tanner's  trade. 


They  removed  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  April,  1853,  and  located  in  Catlin 
township.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm  and 
lived  on  it  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  20,  1876.  The  mother,  long  sur- 
viving him,  passed  away  December  3,  1893. 
Mr.  Taylor  was  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land l^resbyterian  church  and  in  his 
political  views  was  a  Republican.  Un- 
to himself  and  wife  were  born  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing: Serepta,  born  September  5,  1837, 
was  married  March  29,  1854,  to  James  M. 
Dougherty,  now  deceased,  whose  sketch  is 
given  on  another  page  of  this  volume.  A. 
A.  is  the  subject  of  this  review.  Elizabeth, 
born  February  2,  1845,  ^^'^^  married  Sep- 
tember 19,  1865,  to  John  W.  Newlin,  of 
Danville,  Illinois.  Thomas  A.,  born  April 
25,  1847,  '^'^'^s  married  March  11,  1869,  to 
Mary  C.  Acree,  and  they  live  in  Catlin.  Cyn- 
thia, born  May  13,  1857,  was  married  to 
Robert  Smith.  December  25,  1873.  and  they 
now  reside  in  Bolivar,  ^Missouri. 

In  the  schools  of  Tippecanoe  county, 
the  subject  of  this  review  received  his  boy- 
hood training  until  he  was  thirteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Catlin  township,  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois. There  he  continued  his  studies  and 
assisted  on  the  farm.  At  Catlin,  July  3, 
1 861,  he  responded  to  his  country's  call  for 
aid,  enlisting  in  Company  I,  Thirty-fifth 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
Lewis,  Colonel  A.  G.  Smith,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  William  P.  Chandler.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  was 
from  there  ordered  with  his  command  to 
Jefferson  City,  Missouri.  He  then  joined 
General  Fremont's  forces  in  pursuit  of 
Price  and  went  to  Raleigh,  ]\Iissouri,  where 
the     regiment     went     into     winter     quar- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


655 


ters.  After  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  tliey 
returned  to  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri. 
From  there  they  took  a  boat  and  went  south, 
joining  Grant's  forces.  Later  they  came 
back  to  Corinth  and  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
and  were  there  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Buell.  Mr.  Taylor  participated  in  the 
battle  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  then  went  south 
to  Nashville  and  was  in  the  campaign  at 
Alurfreesboro.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River,  then  under  General  Rose- 
crans.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Chat- 
tanooga, Chickamauga  and  Missionary 
Ridge  and  was  in  all  the  skirmishes  and  bat- 
tles of  his  command.  He  was  with  Sher- 
man in  his  Atlanta  campaign,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  face  with  a  rifle  ball  at  Rock 
Face  Ridge,  in  Georgia,  near  Dalton.  He 
had  received  a  wound  in  the  arm  at  Chicka- 
mauga, but  continued  in  the  fighting  line. 
He  was  taken  to  the  hospital  on  account  of 
his  wound  in  the  face  and  before  he  was  re- 
leased by  the  surgeons  his  time  had  ex- 
pired. He  was  mustered  out  with  his  regi- 
ment at  Springfield,  Illinois,  September  27. 
1864.  He  then  returned  to  CatHn  township 
and  engaged  in  farming. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1866,  Mr.  Tay- 
lor was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna 
Neville,  who  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  January  15,  1845,  a  daughter 
of  George  N.  and  Mary  Susan  (Throck- 
morton) Neville.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  ]\Toorefield,  Hardy  county,  Virginia, 
born  February  2,  1820,  and  her  mother  was 
a  native  of  Romney,  Hampshire  county,  Vir- 
ginia, born  December  16,  1823.  The  father 
came  to  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  in 
1835,  and  the  mother  came  in  1839.  They 
were  married  in  Romney,  that  county,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1840.  They  removed  to  Ver- 
milion county,   Illinois,   in    1854.     He  fol- 


lowed farming  and  also  engaged  in  carpen- 
tering. He  was  a  member  of  the  ]\Iethodist 
Episcopal  church  and  in  politics  was  a  Re 
publican.  His  death  occurred  January  8, 
1891,  at  12:15  '^-  M.,  while  his  wife  died 
August  24,  1889,  at  3  :oo  P.  M.  They  were 
the  parents  of  the  following  children,  ten  in 
number:  Delia  E.,  born  j\Iay  26,  1841, 
died  April  7,  1843.  George  W.,  born  No- 
vember 16.  1842,  and  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry.  lie  was  wounded  in 
the  battle  of  Kcnesaw  Mountain,  June  23. 
1864,  and  died  July  nth,  of  the  same  year. 
Ann  Catherine,  born  January  15,  1845,  '^ 
now  Mrs.  Taylor.  Norborn  N.,  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1847,  niarried  Elizabeth  Price 
September  14,  1870.  He  is  in  the  bakery 
business  and  resides  at  Fairmount,  Illinois, 
Mary  Elizabeth,  born  December  13,  1849, 
was  married  August  9,  1870,  to  Henry  Col- 
lins. Frank,  born  September  8,  1853,  mar- 
ried Maggie  Cannon,  January  2,  1877,  and 
they  reside  in  Fairmount.  Sallie  Virginia, 
also  of  Fairmount,  was  born  September  8. 
1855.  Ada,  born  January  26,  1858,  was 
married  June  24.  1879.  to  Rev.  L.  W.  Cal- 
fee.  and  they  reside  in  San  Jose,  California. 
Nellie,  born  June  30,  1861.  was  married 
January  27,  1881,  to  G.  W.  Owen.  Their 
home  is  in  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas.  Lucy 
T.,  born  September  22,  1863,  died  June  9, 
1864. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  been 
born  three  children,  but  two  have  passed 
away.  George  A.,  born  February  9.  1869, 
in  Catlin.  Illinois,  married  Orpha  D.  Sil- 
vers. They  reside  near  Catlin,  and  haVe 
two  sons,  Frank  and  George  A.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Taylor  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  his  son  George  A.  now  resides,  in 
Catlin   township.     He  remained  upon  that 


6s6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


farm  until  1881,  when  he  went  to  Eureka 
Sj)rtngs,  Arkansas,  spending  eighteen 
months,  there.  He  then  returned  to  llhnois 
and  located  in  Fairmount,  where  he  has 
since  lived,  retired  from  active  life.  His 
former  years  of  industry  had  brought  to 
him  a  good  competency,  and  he  has  been 
very  successful.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres  of  land  besides  city  property 
in  Fairmount.  In  that  place  he  has  a  spa- 
cious, modern  home,  and  is  surrounded  with 
all  the  comforts  of  life.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  now  belong  to  the  Christian  Science 
church  and  he  has  ever  been  interested  ir 
its  welfare  and  in  the  uplifting  of  his  fellow 
men.  lie  is  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views,  but  has  refused  to  accept  office,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  energies  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  In  all  of  these  he  has  pros- 
pered and  he  is  regarded  as  a  substantial 
citizen  of  Fairmount.  Mr.  Taylor  has  a 
complete  genealogical  history  of  the  Taylor 
family. 


THO:\IAS  BENNETT. 

From  pioneer  times  down  to  the  present 
Thomas  Bennett  has  been  a  resident  of  Ver- 
milion county  and  here  through  his  busi- 
ness affairs  carefully  and  honorably  direct- 
ed he  has  won  excellent  success.  His  pala- 
tial home,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
about  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  stands  as 
a  monument  to  his  life  of  enterprise.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  attractive  residences  of 
the  county,  beautifully  furnished  with  all 
that  wealth  can  secure  and  refined  taste  sug- 
gest. It  contains  fourteen  rooms  with  hard 
wood  finishing  throughout  aiid  all  modern 
com'eniences.      It   is  lighted  with  gas   and 


Mr.  Bennett  has  his  o\vn  water  works  upon 
the  place  with  two  and  a  half  horse  power 
gasoline  engine. 

A  native  of  England,  Thomas -Bennett, 
was  born  June  24,  1830,  in  Bedfordshire, 
his  parents  being  Thomas  and  Rebecca 
(Stewart)  Bennett,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  England  and  came  to  America  in 
1 85 1,  settling  in  Ross  township,  Vermilion 
county.  Here  the  father  purchased  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  and  be- 
came a  well  known  farmer,  cultivating  and 
improving  his  property,  which  in  the  course 
of  years  became  quite  valuable.  It  was  a 
raw  tract  when  it  came  into  his  possession, 
but  he  had  splendid  equipments  and  contin- 
ued his  farming  operations  throughout  his 
active  business  career.  He  died  when  about 
seventy-four  years  of  age,  and  like  his  wife 
W'as  laid  to  rest  in  the  !Mann  burying 
ground. 

Thomas  Bennett  was  the  seventh  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  three  are  now  living.  His  brothers, 
Samuel  and  Simeon,  are  both  residents  of 
Danville.  He  obtained  his  early  education 
in  England,  attending  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  country  and  after  coming  to 
America  he  assisted  his  father  in  farming. 
He  had  learned  the  l)utcher's  trade  in  Eng- 
land and  he  also  followed  that  pursuit  for 
fifteen  years  at  Covington,  Indiana.  He 
also  began  the  packing  business  in  a  small 
way  and  gradually  developed  a  large  enter- 
prise of  profitable  proportions.  Mr.  Ben- 
nett likewise  engaged  in  butchering  at  Dan- 
ville and  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Henry 
Smith,  a  pioneer  butcher  of  Danville,  work- 
ing for  twelve  dollars  per  month.  He  also 
drove  a  team  for  ^\'illiam  Lamb,  another 
pioneer  settler  of  the  county,  who  was  killed 
during  the  Civil   war.      For  this   work  he 


^^(Z<; 


LI""  "Y 

C       .fc 

UNIVERSIiV   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


659 


reci\'ed  only  twehe  dollars  per  moiUli  and 
had  to  board  himself. 

In  October,  1858,  Mr.  Bennett  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  E. 
Mann,  a  sister  of  Abraham  Mann,  and  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  Mann,  Sr.  She  died 
in  1872  and  the  six  children  born  of  that 
marriage  are  also  deceased.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  Bennett  chose  Miss  Frances 
Beal,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  resident 
of  Vermilion  county.  They  occup\'  the 
beautiful  home  before  described  and  extenil 
to  their  many  friends  its  gracious  and 
warm-hearted  hospitality. 

Mr.  Bennett  now  owns  about  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  well  improved  and  highly  cul- 
tivated land.  As  his  financial  resources 
have  increased  he  has  made  judicious  in- 
vestments in  real  estate  and  was  at  one  time 
the  owner  of  sixteen  hundred  acres,  but  of 
recent  years  has  sold  six  hundred  acres. 
He  makes  a  specialty  of  the  feeding  of  cat- 
tle and  the  raising  of  high  grade  hogs.  He 
annually  ships  from  three  to  five  hundred 
head  of  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  and  from  seven- 
ty-five to  one  hundred  head  of  cattle  each 
year.  His  business  interests  have  been  well 
managed  and  he  is  to-day  widely  known  as 
a  successful  and  leading  stock-dealer  of  this 
portion  of  the  state.  Great  changes  have 
occurred  in  the  county  since  his  arrival  here 
for  the  priniiti\e  conditions  had  not  given 
way  liefore  the  advance  of  civilization  when 
the  Bennett  family  was  established  in  east- 
ern Illinois.  Prairie  chickens,  geese  and 
ducks  furnished  ample  opportunity  for  the 
hunter  to  indulge  his  love  of  that  sport  and 
Mr.  Bennett  also  engaged  in  hunting  wolves 
on  many  occasions. 

He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Jolm  C.  Fremont  and  long  gave  his  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  but  now  votes  in- 


dependenll)-.  h'ur  many  years  he  served  as 
school  treasurer  and  has  always  been  inter- 
ested in  the  cause  of  education  and  the  prac- 
tical development  of  the  schools  here.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church  and  Thomas  Bennett 
is  numbered  amcjug  the  influential  citizens 
and  pioneer  settlers  whose  life  record  forms 
an  integral  part  in  the  histoiy  of  Vermilion 
county.  His  achievements  in  business  are 
all  of  a  notable  character,  because  without 
capital  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and 
he  stands  to-day  among  the  prosperous  men 
of  the  county,  his  beutiful  home  being  a 
monument  to  his  well  spent  life. 


FRANCIS  M.  CAMPBELL. 

Among  the  representatives  of  agricul- 
tural interests  in  Vermilion  county  who 
were  also  numbered  among  the  boys  in  1:)lue 
of  the  Civil  war,  is  Francis  Clarion  Camp- 
bell, who  now  resides  on  section  17,  F.lwood 
township,  where  he  has  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  born 
October  8,  1846,  in  Vermilion  county,  In- 
diana, near  Clinton,  on  the  edge  of  Heath 
Prairie.  His  parents  were  Jonas  and  Anna 
(Tenbrook)  Campbell.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  southern  Ohio,  and  his  mother  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  childhood  they  re- 
moved with  their  respective  parents  to  In- 
diana, settling  near  Terre  Haute,  in  1806. 
Some  years  afterward  Jonas  Campbell  went 
up  the  river  to  Parke  county,  where  he 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Tenbrook, 
and  they  were  united  in  marriage,  beginning 
their  domestic  life  in  Indiana.  They  there 
remained  until  1854,  when  they  came  to 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  settling  in  El- 
wood  township.     L'''pon  the  farm  which  the 


66o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


father  there  secured,  tliey  reared  their  fam- 
ily, numbering  eight  children,  namely :  Ol- 
ive, who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years;  Mrs.  Barbara  Long,  a  widow,  resid- 
ing in  Danville;  William,  who  was  killed 
in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  while  serv- 
ing as  a  sergeant  in  the  Union  army,  during 
the  Civil  war,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years;  Mrs.  Rachel  Van  Dyne,  a  resident  of 
Sidell,  Illinois ;  Nancy,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years;  Francis  M. ;  Mrs.  Isabel 
Nicholson,  of  Upland,  California;  and  Airs. 
Lizzie  Bell,  of  Oakwood,  Illinois.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
in  1875  and  the  mother  passed  away  in 
1870. 

Francis  ~\I.  Campbell  pursued  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  and  was 
reared  under  the  parental  roof  in  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  having  been  brought  to  this 
locality  when  a  young  lad.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  nth  of  January,  1871,  to  Mary 
J.  Reynolds,  a  daughter  of  ]\Ioses  and  Eu- 
nice (Pearson)  Reynolds.  In  early  life  they 
were  residents  of  Parke  county,  Indiana, 
were  there  married,  and  in  the  year  1854 
came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  settling 
in  Elwood  township.  Their  children  were 
Mrs.  Campbell  and  Elvira  A.,  who  died 
February  24,  1878,  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their 
domestic  life  on  a  farm  in  Elwood  town- 
ship, and  in  the  year  1871  he  purchased  his 
present  home  farm  on  section  17,  which  is 
now  under  high  cultivation,  and  returns  to 
him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  labor 
he  bestows  upon  it.  Through  his  entire  life 
his  time  and  energies  have  been  devoted  to 
agricultural  pursuits  with  the  exception  of 
the  period  of  his  service  in  the  Civil  war. 
At  the  time  when  the  countrv  became  in- 


volved in  hostilities  over  the  slavery  ques- 
tion he  offered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, enlisting  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry.  In  his  farm- 
ing methods  he  is  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive and  upon  his  place  are  some  of  the 
latest  improved  farming  implements  and 
other  equipments  for  facilitating  his  work. 
In  his  business  methods  he  is  alike  honor- 
able and  trustworthy  and  his  success  is 
due  none  the  less  to  his  business  integrity 
than  to  his  indefatigable  labor. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children,  but  only 
one  is  now  living:  Cloyd,  born  November 
20,  1873,  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Clay- 
ton, born  October  15,  1880,  passed  away 
October  15,  1883,  on  his  third  birthday. 
Paul  J.,  born  November  8,  1884,  is  still  with 
his  parents.  He  possesses  considerable  lit- 
erary ability  and  is  a  wide-awake,  enter- 
prising and  intelligent  young  man.  Islr. 
Campbell  is  identified  with  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  with  the  Republican  party,  to 
which  he  gives  a  loyal  support,  although 
he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office 
He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  citizens 
of  his  community  because  in  all  life's  rela- 
tions he  is  true  and  honorable,  and  to-day 
he  is  also  classed  among  the  substantial  ag- 
riculturists of  Elwood  township. 


R.  T.  BARTON. 


The  prosperity  of  any  community,  town 
or  city  depends  upon  its  commercial  activ- 
itv,  its  industrial  interests  and  its  trade  re- 
lations, and  therefore  the  real  upbuilders  of 
a  town  are  those  who  stand  at  the  head  of 
its  leading  enterprises.     ]Mr.  Barton  is  well 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


661 


known  in  Jamaica  in  connection  with  the 
grain  and  kimber  trades,  and  although  a 
young  man  has  met  with  sucess  that  many 
a  one  of  twice  his  years  might  well  envy. 
He  is  a  native  of  Urbana,  Illinois,  born  June 
7,  1872.  His  father,  C.  W.  Barton,  was 
born  in  Walker,  Indiana,  and  after  arriving 
at  years  of  maturity  was  married  in  that 
state  to  Emazetta  Dillon,  a  native  of  Mar- 
ion, Indiana.  The  father  was  a  stationary 
engineer  and  after  residing  for  a  time  in 
Marion,  Indiana,  he  removed  to  Urbana. 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  the  year 
1882  he  came  to  Fairmount,  where  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  now  residing.  He  became 
employed  as  an  engineer  in  the  Fairmount 
coal  mines.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  fraternally  he  is  connect- 
ed with  Fairmount  Lodge,  No.  590,  F.  &  A. 
M.,  and  with  the  Brotherhood  of  Mine 
Hoisting  Engineers.  In  the  family  were 
six  children :  Ida,  the  wife  of  William 
Holmes,  a  resident  of  San  Francisco,  Cal- 
ifornia; W.  C,  who  is  conducting  a  barber 
shop  in  Champaign ;  Royal  T. ;  Zerba,  the 
w^ife  of  C.  N.  Perkins,  of  Fairmount,  Illi- 
nois ;  Elmer,  who  is  weighmaster  of  the  coal 
mines  of  Fairmount ;  and  Sadie,  who  resides 
with  her  parents. 

R.  T.  Barton  pursued  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  LTrbana,  Illinois,  and  of  Fair- 
mount,  putting  aside  his  text-books  in  Jan- 
uary, 1S93.  in  order  to  become  a  factor  in 
the  business  world.  Pie  accepted  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  at  the  coal  mines,  where 
he  remained  for  six  months.  He  was  then 
transferred  to  the  office  of  the  superinten- 
dent of  the  mines  in  Danville,  acting  in  the 
capacity  of  assistant  there  for  a  year  and 
a  half.  He  was  next  returned  to  Fairmount. 
having  charge  of  the  company's  business  at 
this  place  for  two  years.     He  retained  his 


position  as  manager,  and  was  engaged  in 
business  on  his  own  account.  He  then  re- 
signed, and  in  January,  1897,  he  purchased 
a  half  interest  in  an  elevator  at  Jamaica, 
Illinois,  becoming  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Porterfield  &  Barton,  his  partner  being  M. 
F.  Porterfield,  the  banker  at  that  place.  They 
still  conduct  the  business  which  is  success- 
fully carried  on,  and  are  doing  a  large  trade 
in  grain,  making  extensive  purchases  and 
sales.  Mr.  Barton  is  also  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  with  W.  I.  Baird,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Barton  &  Company,  at  Jamai- 
ca, and  in  this  enterprise  is  meeting  with 
creditable  success,  the  patronage  of  the  firm 
having  constantly  grown  until  the  sales  are 
now  large  and  profitable.  He  has  made 
judicious  investments  in  real  estate  and  is 
the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Harris  county,  Texas,  near 
Houston,  which  is  devoted  to  the  cultivation 
of  rice. 

On  the  19th  of  August,  1897,  in  Fair- 
mount,  Mr.  Barton  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mamie  Browning,  who  was  born 
in  Danville,  Illinois,  on  the  9th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1874.  Her  father,  George  Browning, 
was  born  April  30,  1826,  in  Sheffield,  Eng- 
land, and  in  1836  the  parents  came  to  Amer- 
ica, establishing  their  liome  in  Cherry  Val- 
ley, New  York.  Later  they  removed  to 
Spring-field,  Ohio.  Mr.  Browning  became 
identified  with  the  butchering  business  and 
engaged  in  that  trade  in  Springfield  until 
1848,  when  he  came  to  Fairmount,  Illinois. 
Here  he  also  engaged  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness and  purchased  land.  He  was  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Boothby  Browning,  also  a  native 
of  England.  After  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity George  Browning  was  joined  in  wed- 
lock to  Mary  Riley,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel   (Dalby)   Riley,  who  were  also  na- 


662 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tives  of  the  "merrie  isle."  2\Irs.  Browning's 
birth  occurred  February  23,  1836,  in  Lin- 
ton, Greene  county,  Indiana.  IMr.  Brown- 
ing gave  his  political  support  to  the  Prohi- 
bition party  and  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church.  His  death  occurred  in  July, 
1897.  Unto  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
the  following  children:  Harriet,  the  wife 
of  J.  S.  Baird,  of  Homer,  Illinois;  Fannie, 
the  wife  of  J.  R.  ^^■ragg,  a  resident  of 
Springfield,  Ohio;  Hanson,  who  married 
Alice  Cluxton,  and  is  living  in  Urbana,  Illi- 
nois ;  Albert,  who  married  Lucy  Wilson,  and 
makes  his  home  in  Gibson  City,  Illinois; 
\\'alter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years;  Mamie,  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject; Ruth,  who  died  in  October,  1897,  al 
the  age  of  nineteen  years;  Naomi,  who  is 
a  twin  sister  of  Ruth  and  resides  in  Fair- 
mount;  John  O.,  who  is  a  plumber  and  gas 
fitter  of  Seattle,  Washington;  and  Ethel, 
who  resides  with  her  mother.  By  a  former 
marriage  there  was  one  child,  Jessie,  wife 
of  J.  F.  Baird,  of  Vance  township. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barton  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  Mildred,  born 
June  12,  1S98.  The  family  have  a  very 
pleasant  home  in  Jamaica,  and  the  parents 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Fair- 
mount.  In  politics  Mr.  Barton  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  served  as  town  clerk.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  Jamaica  Camp. 
No.  9222,  M.  W.  A.,  of  Jamaica.  A  young 
man.  he  possesses  the  enterprising  spirit  of 
the  west  which  has  been  a  dominant  factor 
in  producing  the  wonderful  development  of 
this  section  of  the  country.  To  him  there 
has  come  the  attainment  of  a  leading  posi- 
tion in  connection  with  the  commercial  en- 
terprises of  his  county,  and  his  efforts  have 
l)een  so  discerningly  directed  along  well  de- 
fined lines  of  labor  that  he  seems  to  have 


realized  the  full  measure  of  his  possibilities 
for  accomplishment.  His  success  is  the  di- 
rect result  of  his  own  foresight,  business 
ability  and  perseverance,  and  he  is  justly 
accounted  one  of  the  leading  young  business 
men  of  Jamaica. 


PAUL  E.   FITHIAN,   ^I.   D. 

Dr.  Paul  E.  Filhian  has  become  recog- 
nized as  a  capable  physician  of  his  native 
count}'.  His  thorough  preparation  and 
earnest  study  have  made  him  proficient  as 
a  practitioner  of  mfdicine  and  gained  for 
him  a  liberal  patronage.  He  was  born  on 
the  old  Fithian  homestead,  July  4,  1866,  a 
son  of  Elisha  C.  B.  Fithian,  whose  sketch 
is  given  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
He  began  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  later  became  a  student  in  the 
high  school  at  Danville.  Subsequently  he 
obtained  a  county  certificate  and  began 
teaching  in  Oakwood  township,  following 
that  profession  for  two  years.  Having 
then  determined  to  make  the  medical  pro- 
fession his  life  work,  he  began  studying  and 
for  several  years  continued  to  read  private- 
ly. He  then  entered  the  Keokuk  Medical 
College,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  188S,  and  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1890.  Not 
content  yet  to  enter  the  ranks  of  medical 
practitioners  he  matriculated  in  Rush  Med- 
ical College  of  Chicago,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1891. 

After  his  graduation  Dr.  Fithian  went 
to  Springfield.  Illinois,  where  he  began 
practicing  as  house  physician  in  the  Wa- 
bash Hospital,  acting  in  that  capacity  for 
two  vears.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  remo\ed  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  where  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


66  s 


was  in  cliarge  of  the  Wabash  Dispensaiy 
for  three  years  and  there  he  gained  a  good 
practice.  He  next  returned  to  Springfield, 
Ilhnois,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  Wabash 
Hospital  until  his  removal  to  Fithian.  He 
has  built  up  a  good  practice  in  this  place 
and  has  demonstrated  his  ability  to  cope 
with  many  of  the  intricate  problems  which 
continually  face  the  physician. 

In  ]\Iarch,  1898,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Dr.  Fithian  and  Mrs.  Cora  Jewell.  The 
Doctor  was  made  a  Mason  in  Macon  Lodge, 
No.  8,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  he  also  belongs 
to  Macon  Chapter,  No.  21,  R.  A.  M.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  an  earnest  Demo- 
crat, but  the  honors  and  emoluments  of 
office  have  no  attraction  for  him.  In  con- 
nection with  his  practice  he  superintends  his 
father's  landed  interests,  comprising  eleven 
hundred  acres.  The  Doctor  is  well  known 
in  his  native  county  as  a  man  of  many  ex- 
cellent traits  of  character  and  a  genial  dis- 
position and  is  popular  with  a  large  circle 
of  friends. 


GEORGE  T.  JONES. 

George  T.  Jones  is  a  representative  agri- 
culturist of  Vermilion  county  and  the  owner 
of  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship. He  was  born  June  ist,  1859,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  R.  and  Peninnah  (Coon) 
Jones,  the  former  a  native  of  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  also  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state,  where  they^were  married. 
In  the  sketch  of  Charles  E.  Jones,  which 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  work,  the 
genealogy  of  the  Jones  family  is  traced  back 
to  Elisha  Jones,  the  great-grandfather, 
whose  son,  Elisha  Jones,  was  the  father  of 
A\'illiam  R.  Jones,  who  in  turn  was  the  fath- 


er of  the  subject  of  this  review.  William 
R.  Jones  was  born  June  11,  1828,  and  was 
married  October  4,  1848.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  him  and  his  wife:  James 
K.,  born  September  20,  1849,  married  Car- 
rie Harrison.  They  have  one  cliild  and  re- 
side in  Norwood,  Kansas.  Mary  Angelina, 
now  deceased,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Adolphus  Copeland,  a  resident  of  Oakwood 
township.  She  was  born  August  9,  185 1 
and  his  birth  occurred  May  16,  1850. 
Charles  E.  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
Lydia  Ann,  born  March  20,  1856,  died  July 
15,  1857.  George  T.  is  the  fifth  child.  Mar- 
guerita  Louisa  was  born  July  5,  1862.  Mil- 
lie, the  sevnth  child  and  youngest  of  the 
family,  was  born  August  10,  1865,  and  died 
January  30,  1866.  William  R.  Jones  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade  and  also  followed  min- 
ing in  Dubuque,  Iowa,  besides  owning  and 
operating  farms  in  Ohio,  Iowa  and  Illinois, 
his  last  farm  being  in  Vermilion  county,  lib 
nois,  where  he  resided  continuously  for  thir- 
ty-four years  before  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  9,  190 1.  He  lost  his  first 
wife  by  death  and  was  married  the  second 
time,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Henrietta 
Smith,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Fithian,  Illinois.  Mr.  Jones  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  fraternally  was  connected  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  very 
active  and  energetic  man  and  did  much  to- 
ward the  upbuilding  and  development  of 
the  communities  where  he  resided. 

George  T.  Jones  attended  school  in 
Fairmount,  Illinois,  and  also  in  Oakwood 
township,  he  having  come  to  Vermilion 
county  when  he  was  six  years  of  age,  with 
his  parents.  He  left  school  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  and  then   worked  on  his   father's 


666 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


farm  until  his  marriage,  which  important 
event  in  his  hfe  occurred  on  the  9th  of  De- 
cember, 1S82,  near  Armstrong,  Vermihon 
county,  Illinois,  when  he  led  to  the  altar 
Miss  Martha  A.  Seals.  She  was  born  in 
Vermilion  county,  December  9,  1861,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Charles  Brady  Seals. 
a  native  of  Tennessee.  Rev.  C.  B.  Seals 
was  of  German  descent  and  was  a  son  of 
Dawson  Seals,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Rev.  Seals  was  a  minister  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  was  married  to  Jemima  Parsley, 
a  native  of  Indiana.  The  wedding  was  sol- 
emnized in  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  Rev. 
Seals  was  ordained  at  Mount  Pleasant 
church,  near  Muncie,  Illinois.  He  continued 
as  pastor  of  that  church  for  over  twenty 
years,  also  preaching  the  gospel  at  the  Bap- 
tist church,  at  Momence,  Illinois,  and  sev- 
eral other  churches  in  Illinois.  He  gave  up 
his  pastorate  at  Walker's  Point,  Illinois, 
and  went  to  Chrisman,  this  state,  there  re- 
maining for  four  years,  and  then  his  health 
failing,  he  removed  back  to  his  farm.  He 
has  been  minister  of  the  church  at  East 
Lynn  and  at  Luddenville,  Illinois,  and  since 
then  has  been  preaching  in  the  south, 
through  Tennessee.  He  is  a  very  accom- 
plished theological  scholar,  a  man  of  brill- 
iant intellect  and  strong  moral  and  spiritual 
character.  His  mental  attributes  are  of  the 
highest  quality,  and  his  influence  for  good 
has  been  widely  felt  throughout  the  com- 
munities where  he  has  labored  as  a  minister, 
and  many  have  been  brought  to  choose  the 
"straight  and  narrow  path"  by  reason  of 
his  eloquence  and  good  example.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  people  of  noble  character 
and  have  many  friends.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  IMasonic  fraternity  and  in  politics  is 
a  strong  Democrat,  believing  firmly  in  the 
principles  of  the  party.       Rev.   Seals  and 


wife  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
six  girls  and  two  boys.  Of  these,  five  grew 
to  years  of  maturity  and  are  still  living,  as 
follows :  Molly,  the  wife  of  Frank  P.  Dal- 
bey,  has  six  chiklren  and  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Fithian,  Illinois.  Martha  is  now  Mrs. 
Jones.  Emma,  the  wife  of  Brazier  Brown, 
resides  in  Monon,  Indiana,  and  has  four 
children.  John  B.  married  Lucy  Lynch  and 
resides  in  Leverette,  Illinois.  Retta,  the 
wife  of  Frank  Umphenour,  resides  in  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  and  has  one  child. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  have  been  born 
six  children,  three  of  whom  ai'e  still  living: 
Nellie  A.,  born  July  3,  1885,  and  Ernest  R., 
born  August  13,  1887,  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church;  and  George 
Raymond,  born  September  30,  1898. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Jones  located  on 
a  farm  near  Armstrong,  Illinois.  There  the 
young  couple  remained  for  one  year,  when 
they  removed  to  the  farm  of  Mr.  Jones' 
father,  situated  opposite  to  the  farm  on 
which  they  now  reside.  They  remained  on 
the  father's  farm  for  one  year  and  then  re- 
moved to  the  farm  of  C.  E.  Jones,  a  brother 
of  the  subject  of  this  review.  Here  they 
also  lived  one  year,  when  !Mr.  Jones  pur- 
chased a  fanu  one  and  three-fourths  miles 
west  of  Oakwood,  February  10,  1887.  This 
was  a  farm  of  eighty-four  acres.  Mr.  Jones 
remained  on  this  farm  for  fourteen  years. 
He  then  sold  it  and  purchased  the  old  home- 
stead farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres 
situated  on  section  20,  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship. He  acquired  this  farm  by  purchasing 
the  interest  of  the  other  heirs.  His  father 
had  burnt  the  brick  and  lime  to  build  the 
house  and  cut  the  timber  on  this  place,  in 
1874.  The  residence  is  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  county,  and  its  appointments  are  in  the 
very  best  taste,  having  an  artistic  appear- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


667 


ance  and  also  being  very  comfortable.  Mr. 
Jones  raises  a  liigh  grade  of  stock  for  tbe 
market  upon  his  farm,  and  this  returns  to 
him  a  good  income  for  his  care.  He  is 
accounted  a  progressive  farmer  and  one  who 
is  thoroughly  up-to-date,  having  all  modern 
equipments  and  accessories  with  which  to 
conduct  the  work  and  compel  the  fields  to 
yield  crops  of  the  best  quality  and  large 
amount.  In  January,  1903,  Mv.  Jones  pur- 
chased the  Fithian  telephone  exchange, 
which  covers  the  surrounding  country  within 
a  radius  of  several  miles  from  Fithian.  This 
is  a  personal  affair  and  he  gives  his  direct 
supervision  to  it.  ]\[r.  Jones  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church  and  he 
has  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket,  be- 
ing a  strong  adherent  to  the  principles  of 
that  party.  Mr.  Jones  has  added  to  his  in- 
come through  diligence  and  perseverence 
and  he  well  deserves  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  his  friends  and  associates,  which 
is  cheerfullv  accorded  him. 


FRAZIER  N.  CLOYD,  M.  D. 

Frazier  X.  Cloyd,  a  leading  physician  of 
W'estville,  was  born  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship. \"ermilion  county.  May  19,  1868,  and 
is  a  son  of  Dr.  J.  P.  and  Hannah  (Golden) 
Cloyd,  the  father  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and 
the  mother  of  Illinois.  Dr.  Cloyd,  the  elder, 
has  followed  the  practice  of  medicine  for 
thirty-five  years,  and  is  a  well  known  phy- 
sician of  his  part  of  the  county,  command- 
ing a  liberal  patronage  by  reason  of  his  effi- 
ciency in  liis  chosen  calling.  Fraternallv  he 
is  a  thirty-third  degree  Mason,  who  in  his 
life  exemplifies  the  precepts  of  the  craft.  His 
wife  departed  this  life  in  February,  1895. 


When  the  subject  of  this  review  was  but 
eleven  months  old  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  the  village  of  Georgetown,  where 
the  family  has  since  resided  and  where  Fra- 
zier N.  Cloyd  grew  to  manhood.  In  his 
youth  he  received  a  good  education,  attend- 
ing the  high  .school  and  being  a  graduate  of 
the  same.  He  then  taught  school  at  Maple 
Grove  schoolhouse  for  one  year,  at  West- 
ville  two  years,  Georgetown  grammar 
school  for  one  year,  after  which  he  was 
principal  of  the  Catlin  schools  for  one  year. 
In  the  fall  of  1891  he  entered  Rush  Medical 
College,  of  Chicago,  there  to  pursue  a  course 
of  study  preparatory  for  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  attended  the  sessions  of 
1891-2,  and  then  became  a  student  in  the 
medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  during  1892-3,  in 
which  he  was  graduated  March  13,  1893. 
He  then  returned  to  Georgetown  and  upon 
arriving  home  found  an  appointment  await- 
ing him  as  a  member  of  the  medical  staff  of 
the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane, 
at  Kankakee,  Illinois,  which  position  he  ac- 
cepted and  capably  filled  until  September 
15,  of  that  year,  when  on  account  of  the 
severe  illness  of  both  his  parents  and  the 
need  of  his  presence  at  home  he  resigned 
his  position  and  returned  home  to  care  for 
them.  The  following  February — 1894 — he 
opened  up  an  office  in  Georgetown  and  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  medicine  there  un- 
til February  16,  1897,  when  he  moved  to 
Westville,  where  he  already  had  quite  a 
practice  built  up  in  recognition  of  his  worth 
and  ability  in  his  chosen  profession.  He 
purchased  a  lot  on  North  State  street,  front- 
ing east,  where  he  erected  a  commodious 
house  and  office.  He  has  since  continued 
to  practice  with  increasing  success.  He  has 
inherited  a  natural  gift  for  his  line  of  work. 


668 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  to  this  lie  lias  added  all  the  advantages 
that  may  be  acquired  through  careful  study 
and  research  as  well  as  practical  experience, 
and  he  is  widely  known  in  his  community 
as  a  skilled  physician  whose  sympathetic  na- 
ture and  cheery  manner  in  the  sick-room 
have  brought  comfort  anil  health  to  many  a 
household. 

On  March  15,  1896,  Dr.  Cloyd  was  unit- 
ed in  marriage  to  Miss  Jessie  M.  Summers, 
of  Earl  Park,  Indiana.  The)-  have  one 
child,  Mildi'ed,  born  July  17,  1897.  Dr. 
Cloyd  is  a  member  of  Ionian  Lodge,  No. 
502,  K.  P.,  of  Georgetown ;  Danville  Lodge, 
No.  132,  B.  P.  O.  E.;  Weltonomah  Tribe, 
No.  120,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  of  Westville,  Illinois; 
and  Westville  Camp,  No.  2966,  M.  W.  A. 
The  Doctor  is  medical  examiner  for  several 
old  line  insurance  companies  as  well  as  for 
some  fraternal  organizations,  and  is  local 
surgeon  for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  Company.  His  religious  faith  is 
indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Metho- 
dist church  of  Georgetown,  to  which  his 
wife  also  belongs.  They  are  valued  mem- 
bers of  the  community  and  the  cordial  hos- 
pitality of  their  attractive  home  is  extended 
to  their  many  friends. 


GEORGE  W.  INGLE. 

George  W.  Ingle  is  one  of  the  large  land 
owners  of  Vermilion  county.  There  is 
much  that  is  of  deep  interest  in  the  life  rec- 
ord of  this  gentleman,  showing  that  a  char- 
acter of  worth  and  marked  industry  and 
enterprise  can  overcome  all  disadvantages 
such  as  are  occasioned  by  a  lack  of  wealth 
or  of  adequate  education.  Again  and  again 
does   the   history   of   American   citizenship 


prove  that  upon  the  foundation  of  energy 
and   unfaltering   industry   may   be   builded 
prosperity.     This  is  exemplified  in  the  life 
record  of  our  subject  and  to-day  he  is  one 
of   the  honored  and   respected   as   well   as 
prosperous    men    of   Hoopeston.      He   was 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  when  only  four 
years  of  age  was  taken  to  the  wild  forest 
region    of    Ohio    by    his    parents,    both    of 
whom  died  there,  the  mother  passing  away 
when  our  subject  was  only  four  and  one- 
half  years  of  age.     He  then  went  to  live 
with  his  uncle,  Sam  Ingle,  in  Darke  county, 
and  with  him  he  remained  until  nine  years 
of  age.     At  that  early  period  in  his  career 
— a  time  when  most  boys  are  sheltered  by 
the  loving  influence  of  the  home  and  are  en- 
joying educational  privileges  which  prepare 
them  for  later  duties  in  life — he  began  earn- 
ing  his   own    livelihood,   working   at   farm 
labor  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fourteen. 
He  then  went  to  Detroit,  ^Michigan,  where 
he  spent  a  few  months,  and  then  returned  to 
Marion   county,   Ohio,   where  he  remained 
until   1855,  when  he  came  to  Grant  town- 
ship,   A'ermilion    county,    Illinois,   dn   com- 
pany with  Thomas  Hoopes.  who  purchased 
about  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land.     For 
twenty-three  years  ilr.  Ingle  remained  with 
Mr.   Hoopes,  each  year  earning  more  and 
more  largely  the  confidence  of  that  gentle- 
man because  of  his  fidelity  to  his  interests, 
his  energy  and  capability  in  business  and  his 
honesty  in  all   life's   relations.      When   the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  was  in 
process  of  construction  Mr.  Ingle  aided  in 
carrying  the  chain  and  driving  the  sticks  in 
the  survey  for  the  original  plat  of  Hoope- 
ton,  the  town  being  named  in  honor  of  his 
friend  and  benefactor,  ^Ir.  Hoopes,  most  of 
it  being  laid  out  on  land  belonging  to  that 
gentleman. 


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UNIVERoiiV   Ut    iLLi.NOlS 


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UMIVERSS.Y   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


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In  IMarch,  1872,  in  Danville,  Mr.  Ingle 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rachel  A. 
Scott,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio,  and  whose  parents  are 
deceased.  The  home  in  which  Mr.  Hoopes 
lived  was  built  for  two  families  and  after 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  he  took  his 
young  bride  to  that  house,  which  they  occu- 
pied for  a  year  together.  At  the  end  of 
that  ime  Mr.  Hoopes  removed  \\ith  his  fam- 
ily to  the  town  and  i\Ir.  Ingle  rented  the 
farm,  comprising  six  hundred  acres.  There 
he  was  extensively  engaged  in  handling 
stock  which  he  obtained,  fattened  and  sold 
to  local  buyers.  He  •  leased  the  farm  for 
alxmt  six  }'ears  and  then  began  to  inirchase 
land,  later  moving  to  his  own  property, 
where  he  remained  continuously  until  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Hoopeston,  in  1895. 
Two  years  later  he  returned  to  his  farm, 
which  was  again  his  home  for  three  years, 
and  in  the  siiring  of  1900  he  returned  to 
Hoopeston,  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  owns  one  thousand  acres  of  land  in 
three  farms  and  has  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  within  .  the  corporation  limits  of 
Hoopeston.  He  also  owns  three  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  in  the  school  district,  while 
one  of  his  farms  is  three  miles  southwest 
of  Hoopeston  and  the  other  is  four  miles 
south  of  Rossville.  Mr.  Ingle  was  remem- 
bered by  Mr.  Hoopes  in  his  will,  a  merited 
recognition  of  his  fidelity  to  his  former  em- 
ployer and  his  earnest  labors  for  his  wel- 
fare and  prosperity.  In  business  matters 
trained  in  the  hard  school  of  experience, 
Mr.  Ingle  has  shown  marked  discernment 
and  capability  and  in  the  control  of  his  own 
affairs  he  has  met  with  splendid  success. 

The  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  blessed  with  one  son,  Scott,  who  is 
living  with  his  parents  and  was  bor4i  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1878.     He  has  been  a  student  in 

27 


Oberlin  College  of  Ohio,  Knox  College  of 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  in  Bryant  &  Strat- 
ton  Business  College  of  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Ingle  is  a  daughter  of  ^Merchant  and 
Mary  (Stringer)  Scott  and  was  born  in 
Easton,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio.  Her  father 
was  a  farmer  and  school  teacher  and  died 
in  the  year  1859,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1896.  At  the  time  of  her  father's  death 
Mrs.  Ingle,  then  about  seventeen  years  of 
age,  went  to  li\e  with  her  uncle  antl  was 
reared  among  relatives.  She  acquired  a 
common-school  education  and  completed 
her  studies  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
school  at  New  Athens,  Ohio,  taking  ad- 
vanced work  in  geometry  and  algebra  there. 
In  1870  she  came  west  to  visit  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Cunningham,  who  was  reared  by  Wx. 
Hoopes,  and  it  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Hoopes 
with  whom  Mrs.  Ingle  made  her  home  in 
Ohio.  For  one  term  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Prairie 
Green  township  and-  for  two  terms  in  Grant 
township.  She  is  a  lady  of  superior  cul- 
ture, intelligence  and  refinement  and  is  held 
in  the  highest  regard  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  here.  As  before  stated,  by  her  mar- 
riage she  became  the  mother  of  one  son. 
He  too  was  educated  in  Oberlin  College, 
wdiere  he  studied  nmsic,  making  that  his 
one  study.  He  is  an  expert  performer  on 
the  cornet  and  from  the  age  of  thirteen  has 
been  a  menil)cr  of  the  band  in  Hoopeston. 
He  possesses  marked  musical  al)ility. 

In  his  political  afliliations  Mr.  Ingle  is 
a  Republican,  although  his  father  was  a 
Jackson  Democrat.  He  is  ever  fearless  in 
defense  of  what  he  believes  to  be  right, 
whether  in  ]iolitical  circles  or  elsewhere. 
He  ser\-ed  as  path  master  of  roads  in  his 
township  and  for  ten  years  was  a  member 
of  the  school  board  of  Hoopeston,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  he  resigned  on  account 


6;: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  ill  healtli.  Dnring  his  incumbency  the 
west  side  school  building  was  erected  and 
the  old  building  was  improved  and  enlarged. 
]\Irs.  Ingle  is  at  present  the  president  of  the 
board  of  education  here,  having  been  elect- 
ed in  1902,  being  the  first  lady  ever  chosen 
as  a  member  of  the  Hoopeston  school 
board.  Since  his  arrival  in  A^ermilion 
county  Mr.  Ingle  has  resided  continuously 
in  Hoopeston,  or  within  a  mile  of  the  city. 
He  has  always  taken  the  deepest  interest 
in  the  progress  and  upbuilding  of  this  por- 
tion of  the  state  and  as  his  time  and  means 
have  permitted  he  has  assisted  largely  in  the 
development,  improvement  and  ad\-ance- 
ment  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  Strong 
of  purpose,  resourceful  and  with  keen  dis- 
crimination lie  has  made  the  most  of  his 
opportunities  and  by  reason  of  his  large 
success,  his  unblemished  character,  his  just 
and  liberal  life  and  the  universal  esteem 
which  he  here  enjoys,  Mr.  Ingle  might 
without  invidious  distinction  be  called  one 
of    the    foremost    citizens    of    his    adopted 

county. 

■*—* 

THOMAS  WATSOX. 

Long  actively  connected  with  agricul- 
tural interests  in  Vermilion  county,  owning 
and  operating  five  hundred  sixty  acres  of 
valuable  land.  Thomas  Watson  thereby  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence  which  now 
enables  him  to  live  retired  from  further 
business  cares  and  at  his  pleasant  home  at 
No.  417  Gilbert  street,  in  Danville,  he  is 
now  enjoying  a  well  merited  rest.  He  was 
born  in  Vermilion  county,  near  the  city  of 
Danville,  February  18,  1846.  and  is  a  son 
of  John  R.  Watson,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky.  May  4.   181 1. 


The  grandfather,  William  Watson,  was  als. 
a  native  of  Nelson  county,  and  on  lea\ing 
the  Bluegrass  state  removed  to  Indiana  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  Harrison  county.  In 
1826  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
V^ermilion  county  among  its  earliest  resi- 
dents. Here  he  purchased  land  and  devel- 
oped a  farm,  being  one  of  the  pioneer  agri- 
culturists of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
home,  however,  for  his  death  occurred  in 
1829.  His  son,  John  R.  Watson,  was  but 
a  boy  when  the  famil}-  came  to  Illinois.  He 
served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  became 
identified  with  pioneer  development  and  im- 
provement here,  being  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  the  frontier.  He  shared  with  the 
family  in  all  the  hardships  and  trials  inci- 
dent to  establishing  a  home  in  the  wild  west- 
ern district.  When  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account  he  had  no  capital  save 
strong  determination  and  a  pair  of  willing 
hands.  Steadily,  however,  be  removed  all 
difficulties  and  obstacles,  gradually  working 
his  way  upward  until  his  landed  possessions 
were  extensive,  comprising  about  one  thou- 
sand acres.  Much  of  his  land  was  highly 
cultivated  and  splendidly  improved,  and  be 
became  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers 
of  Vermilion  county.  His  home  was  sit- 
uated about  five  miles  northeast  of  Danville, 
and  there  he  remained  until  1873,  when  he 
left  the  farm  and  purchased  residence  prop- 
erty in  the  city,  spending  his  remaining 
days  in  retirement  from  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  enjoyed  a  hale  and  hearty  old 
age  and  passed  away  in  Danville  in  1898  at 
the  age  of  eighty-seven.  His  wife  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  in  May,  1889.  and  after  her 
death  the  father  of  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried again.  Thomas  Watson  is  the  young- 
est living  son  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


673 


one  daughter  lliat  reached  mature  years. 
Four  of  the  number  are  yet  surviving.  One 
l)r(itiier,  John  Watson,  is  now  a  resident  of 
W'illiamspori.  huliruia,  and  tieorg-e  Wat- 
son makes  his  liome  at  Xo.  it  11  Gilbert 
street,  Danville,  a  retired  farmer.  There 
is  one  sister,  Minerva,  who  is  the  widow 
of  Ira  M.  Henry,  of  \'ermilion  county,  her 
husband  hax'ing  died  July  22,   1895. 

Thomas  Watson  was  reared  to  manhood 
on  the  old  f;imily  homestead  and  early  be- 
came familiar  with  the  active  work  of  the 
farm,  assisting  in  the  plowing,  planting  and 
har\'esting  from  early  spring  until  the  crops 
were  garnered  in  the  autumn.  The  country 
schools  afforded  him  bis  educational  ])rivi- 
leges  and  he  remained  with  his  father  until 
after  he  attained  bis  majority,  being  an  act- 
ive factor  in  the  cultivation  of  the  old  home 
])lacc.  At  length  he  desired  to  engage  in 
business  for  himself  and  he  made  prepara- 
tions for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  bis 
marriage,  which  occurred  in  this  county 
Se])tember  21,  1865,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
Ijeing  ]\riss  Sarah  E.  Adams,  a  native  of 
\'ermilion  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Adams,  who  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers in  this  portion  of  the  state,  having 
come  here  in  1825,  from  Harrison  county, 
Kentucky,  where  be  was  reared.  He  aided 
in  erecting  the  first  house  in  Danville,  a 
l<ig  structure,  wdiich  was  built  after  the 
primitive  manner  of  the  times.  Before  com- 
ing to  Illinois  he  had  married  Nancy  Mar- 
tin, a  native  of  Kentucky.  In  Vermilion 
county  be  secured  a  tract  of  land  wdiicb  he 
at  once  began  to  cultivate  and  improve  and 
gradually  lie  extended  the  boimdaries  of 
bis  farm  until  it  became  a  large  one.  The 
rich  prairie  land  of  Illinois  also  returned  to 
him  a  good  income  for  bis  labor.  Seldom 
if  ever  are  crops  a  perfect  failure  in   this 


state,  and  year  by  year,  by  the  sale  of  his 
products  he  was  enabled  to  add  to  bis  cap- 
ital. He  died  May  17.  1881,  and  the  mother 
of  Airs.  Watson  passed  away  during  the 
early  girlhood  of  her  daughter,  after  which 
Mr.  .'\(lams  was  again  married.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  Ijegan  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  near  Danville,  the  place  com- 
prising one  hundred  si.xty  acres,  the  greater 
part  of  which  was  not  yet  ready  for  culti- 
vation, but  he  began  to  clear  it  and  after 
plowing  the  fields  he  planted  bis  grain  and 
in  course  of  time  gathered  rich  harvests. 
For  seven  years  be  resided  upon  bis  first 
place  and  then  .sold  that  property,  removing 
to  the  city.  He  be  purchased  a  harness 
store,  carrying  on  business  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  sold  the  enterprise  and 
l)ought  a  farm  east  of  Bismarck,  in  Newel! 
township,  cotuprising  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  On  this  be  took  up  bis  abode 
and  at  once  began  its  further  improvement. 
Later  be  purchased  more  land  in  Ross  town- 
ship, becoming  the  owner  of  five  hundred 
sixty  acres  in  one  body.  He  built  a  large 
and  attractive  residence,  also  barns  and  nec- 
essary outlmildings,  and  carried  on  the  work 
of  improvement  in  accordance  with  the  ad- 
vanced' ideas  of  bis  time  and  state.  He 
planted  an  orchard,  set  out  a  grove  of  ma- 
ple and  ornamental  trees,  tiled  his  fields, 
fenced  his  property  and  added  the  latest 
improved  machinery  for  facilitating  his 
farm  work.  He  also  bought  another  place 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Ross 
township  and  carried  on  farming  there  until 
1888.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Califor- 
nia, where  be  spent  several  months,  but  not 
liking  the  country  he  returned  to  liis  farm 
in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  making  it  his 
place  of  residence  until  1893,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  lot  in  Danville  and  erected  a  neat 


6/4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  substantial  home  here.  He  has  since 
purchased  land  and  built  other  houses,  in- 
cluding the  block  at  the  corner  of  \'an  Bur- 
en  and  Jackson  streets.  This  is  a  valuable 
two-story  brick  business  block.  Since  lo- 
cating in  Danville  he  has  practically  lived 
retired,  for  his  activity  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits has  brought  to  him  a  sufficient  capital 
to  enable  him  to  put  aside  the  more  arduous 
cares  of  business  life. 

Unto  Air.  and  Mrs.  Watson  have  l:)een 
born  five  children,  all  of  whom  reached  ma- 
ture years :  Dora  E.  is  the  wife  of  George 
S.  Johnson,  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Clarence  Scott ;  Samuel 
R.,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  is 
married  and  has  four  children.  Pearl.  Ruth. 
Haldon  and  Leon;  Bertha  .\.  is  the  wife  of 
W''.  H.  Ogden,  of  Hoopeston,  Illinois,  and 
has  two  children,  Grace  and  Alice;  Ernest 
M.,  who  owns  and  operates  a  part  of  the 
old  home  place,  is  married,  and  had  one  son, 
Lowell  W.,  who,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
months,  died  September  ii,  1902;  Will- 
iam W.,  the  youngest,  is  married  and  is 
now  living  in  Hoopeston. 

Eor  a  number  of  years  Air.  Watson 
served  on  the  school  board,  and  the  cause  of 
education  ever  found  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
He  and  iiis  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
First  Christian  church  of  Danville,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  does  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  success  of  the 
party,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired  office 
for  himself.  With  the  exception  of  the 
short  period  of  time  which  he  spent  in  Cali- 
fornia he  has  always  resided  in  Vermilion 
county,  and  is  justly  proud  of  what  has  been 
accomplished  here  in  the  line  of  material 
progress,  intellectual  advancement  and  mor- 
al culture.  He  has  seen  much  of  the  land 
cleared,  the  prairies  broken,  the  fences  built 


and  the  roads  constructed.  He  lias  wit- 
nessed the  de\-elopmcnt  of  fine  farms  and  the 
growth  of  thriving  towns  and  cities,  matii- 
f esting  a  deep  and  active  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  general  good. 
Throughout  all  the  years  he  has  maintained 
an  upright  character  and  he  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  have  a  very  large  circle  of  friends 
in  this  cnuntv. 


J.  J.  HOWARD. 


J.  J.  Howard,  a  farmer  and  supervisor 
of  Vance  township,  was  born  in  Spottsyl- 
vania  county,  Virginia,  December  17,  1846, 
and  is  descended  from  good  old  Revolu- 
tionary stock,  his  great-grandfather  having 
been  one  of  the  heroes  who  fought  for  the 
independence  of  the  nation.  James  W. 
Howard,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  also 
a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  and  in  Fred- 
ericksburg, Virginia,  he  wedded  Sarah  Ad- 
ams, a  native  of  New  Jersey.  They  located 
in  Spottsylvania  county,  where  they  lived 
for  twenty  years,  and  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject engaged  in  farming  there.  He  pur- 
chased land  which  he  cultivated  for  some 
time,  but  subsequently  he  disposed  of  his 
business  interests  in  the  east  and  in  1858 
brought  his  family  to  \'ermilion  county, 
Illinois,  locating  in  Vance  township.  Here 
he  bough*"  eighty  acres  of  land  south  of 
Fairmount,  and  made  his  home  thereon  for 
twelve  years.  Subsequenth-  he  purchased 
another  farm  which  he  later  sold,  and  in 
1870  he  removed  to  Davis  county.  Iowa, 
where  he  became  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  which  he 
owned  and  cultivated  for  twehx  years.  He 
was  then  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1882.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  had  died  in  Septem- 


or  r.,E 

UNIVERSirV  OF  ILLINOIS 


DANIEL  GUNDER. 


JAMES  W.  HOWARD, 


OF   TriE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


679 


ber,  1858.  The  father  had  afterward  mar- 
ried ^Nlrs.  Hettie  (Redman)  Davis,  who 
died  in  Davis  county,  Iowa,  in  1885.  ^^i'- 
Howard  was  a  Democrat  in  his  pohticai 
vie\vs  and  was  an  exemplary  member  of  the 
JMasonic  fraternity.  He  also  belonged  to 
the  Baptist  church  in  which  he  served  as 
a  trustee  for  a  number  of  years.  In  the 
family  of  this  \\-orthy  couple  were  four  chil- 
dren:  J.  J.;  Belle,  the  wife  of  Allen  Baer, 
a  resident  of  Cass  county,  Iowa;  Thomas 
A.,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Fairmount,  who 
is  now  serving  as  mayor;  and  Ellis,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years. 

J.  J.  Howard  began  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Spottsylvania  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  afterward  continued  his  studies 
at  Pleasant  \^alley,  having  come  with  his 
parents  to  ^'ermilion  county  when  only 
twelve  years  of  age.  Later  he  was  a  stu- 
dent in  Fairmount  and  then  in  the  Battle 
Ground  school  of  Indiana.  He  considered 
his  school  training  completed  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  after  which  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  his  farm 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated 
the  4th  of  January,  1872,  in  Vance  town- 
ship, the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Alice  A. 
Gunder.  She  was  born  in  Madison  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  near  Anderson,  January  21, 
1852,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  German 
lineage.  Her  father,  Daniel  Gunder,  was 
a  native  of  Lancaster,  Ohio,  and  wedded 
Elizabeth  Hugel,  who  was  born  in  Madi- 
son county,  Indiana,  w'here  their  marriage 
occurred.  There  they  located  upon  a  farm, 
making  it  tlieir  home  until  1868.  when  they 
came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Vance  town- 
ship, \'ermihon  county.  In  1893  the  father 
retired  from  active  business  life  and  re- 
moved to  Fairmount.  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  there 
in  August,  1898.     His  wife  passed  away  in 


October,  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Gunder 
was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  afiiliations 
and  his  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  frequently  called  him  to 
public  office.  He  served  for  three  terms  as 
supervisor  and  held  all  of  the  township 
offices,  including  that  of  road  commission- 
er, in  which  capacity  he  served  for  many 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church 
and  a  man  of  exemplary  life,  honored  and 
respected  for  his  genuine  worth  and  fidel- 
ity to  principle.  In  the  Gunder  family  were 
the  following  ciiildren :  Jasper,  who  mar- 
ried Gertrude  Maderius,  a  resident  of  In- 
dianapolis; Alice,  the' wife  of  our  subject; 
Susie,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charles  Bal<l- 
win  and  resided  near  Catlin,  luit  both  are 
now  deceased;  J.  H.,  who  married  Nora 
Ewing,  and  is  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness in  Decatur,  Illinois;  S.  II.,  who  mar- 
ried Nettie  V\'eaver,  and  is  living  in  Chi- 
cago; Jennie,  who  died  in  1885,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-three  years;  Mary,  who  mar- 
rietl  Peter  Beyers,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1896,  the  widow  being  now  a  resident  of 
Fairmount;  and  Julia,  the  wife  of  h'rank 
Godwin,  a  resident  of  Decatur. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children :  Belle,  the 
wife  of  Charles  Crow,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  at  Fairmount ;  Stella,  at 
home;  and  Robert,  who  died  in  infancy. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Howard  located 
upon  a  farm  in  Vance  township,  purchas- 
ing eighty  acres  which  he  continued  to  oper- 
ate for  twelve  years.  He  then  sold  that 
pro])erty  and  bought  the  farm  on  which  he 
is  now  living,  having  two  hundred  and  sev- 
enty acres  on  section  5,  Vance  township. 
Upon  his  place  he  has  made  many  excellent 
im])rovements  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
country    seats    of    Vermilion    county.      His 


680 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


haiulstune  home  is  nicely  furnished  and  ev- 
erything about  the  farm  is  neat  in  appear- 
ance and  inihcates  the  labor  and  direction 
of  the  progressive  owner.  yiv.  Howard 
votes  v.ith  the  Democracy,  and  in  1902  he 
was  elected  supervisor  of  his  township,  in 
which  position  he  is  now  creditably  serving. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Court 
of  Honor,  the  Knights  of  the  Globe,  antl  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his  religoius  faith 
is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  Bap- 
tist church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  a 
deacon.  Energy  and  perseverance  have 
been  the  means  of  bringing  to  him  success 
and  he  is  now  numbered  among  the  sub- 
stantial and  leading  farmers  of  \'ance  town- 
ship. 


W.  X.  REVEAL. 


\\'.  X.  Reveal  is  a  leading  representa- 
tive of  the  business  interests  of  Hoopeston, 
Illinois,  being  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
real  estate  dealings.  He  was  born  in  War- 
ren, Indiana,  January  14,  1854,  a  son  of 
George  P.  and  Rebecca  (Terrell)  Reveal, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
Throughout  his  active  business  life  the  fath- 
er was  engaged  in  farming  but  is  now  re- 
tired in  Glenwood,  Iowa,  enjoying  a  well 
earned  rest  and  the  fruits  of  his  former 
toil.  He  was  in  the  service  of  his  country 
for  three  years  during  the  Civil  war  but  for- 
tunately was  never  wounded.  From  pri- 
vate he  ^\as  promoted  to  post  forage  mas- 
ter and  later  to  wagonmaster,  holding  the 
latter  rank  while  with  General  Sherman  on 
the  march  to  the  sea,  having  charge  of  team- 
ing. His  parents  came  to  this  country  from 
Spain,  where  the  family  name  was  spelled 
Re  Veal.     Thev  settled  in  Ohio,  where  our 


subject's  grandfather  followed  farming  as 
a  means  of  livelihood.  Our  subject  has  two 
sisters  living:  Fedora,  wife  of  James  F. 
\'an  Pelt  of  Glenwood.  Iowa;  and  Hattie, 
wife  of  CJeorge  Tracy,  of  the  same  state. 

After  completing  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  near  his  boyhood  home  W. 
X'.  Reveal  taught  school  for  fourteen  years 
or  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  thirty- 
one,  five  years  of  that  time  being  principal 
of  the  schools  of  Mackinaw,  Tazewell  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  From  that  place  he  came  to 
Hoopeston  in  December.  1892,  and  has 
since  been  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business 
here.  Besides  his  own  home  on  East  ^Slain 
street  he  owns  eight  other  houses  which  he 
rents  and  from  these  derives  a  good  income, 
while  his  wife  has  a  good  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  in  Tazewell  county.  On  the 
8th  of  December,  1901,  his  office  in  the  IMc- 
Ferren  block  was  destroyed  by  fire,  together 
\\ith  all  furniture,  fixtures,  etc..  but  he  now 
has  a  nice  suite  of  rooms  in  the  new  Mc- 
Ferren  building.  He  confines  his  attention 
to  the  sale  and  transfer  of  city  and  town 
property  and  is  meeting  with  good  success 
in  his  business  ventures,  being  a  man  of 
known  integrity  and  strictly  reliable. 

In  1880  Mr.  Reveal  married  ^kliss  Em- 
ma \'iemont,  who  died  on  the  2d  of  August. 
1 886.  lea\ing  one  child,  Vernon,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Hoopeston,  who  was  born  in  Taze- 
well county.  Illinois,  and  married  Pearl 
Lewis.  Our  subject  \\as  again  married  at 
Lilly,  Illinois,  in  1892,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Miss  Mary  Lindsey,  who  was  bom 
near  that  place  and  engaged  in  teaching 
school  for  about  eight  years  prior  to  her 
marriage.  By  this  marriage  there  is  also 
one  son,  Ivan  L.  L. 

Mr.  Reveal  holds  membership  in  the 
Christian  church,  and  is  also  connected  with 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


68 1 


the  blue  lodge  chapter  and  council  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Camp  of  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  His  political 
support  is  given  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party  and  he  takes  quite  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs.  During  his 
residence  in  Hoopeston,  he  served  two  years 
as  tax  collector,  and  is  now  serving  his  si.xth 
year  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  thor- 
oughly impartial  in  meting  out  justice,  his 
opinions  being  unliiased  by  either  fear  or 
favor,  and  his  fidelity  to  the  trust  reposed  in 
him  is  above  question.  He  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  and  most  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Hoopeston. 


AUGUST  FAULSTICK. 

August  Faulstick,  one  of  the  leading 
grocery  merchants  on  East  Main  street  in 
Danville,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city 
since  1872  and  his  continuous  activity  in 
mercantile  life  has  been  the  means  of  gain- 
ing for  him  the  creditable  position  which 
he  now  occupies  in  trade  circles.  He  was 
born  in  Germany.  A])ril  21,  1S53,  and  is  a 
son  of  Peter  Faulstick,  who  spent  his  entire 
life  in  Germany  and  throughout  his  business 
career  carried  on  agricultural  purstiits.  In 
the  family  were  four  children  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Danville,  namely: 
Augiist ;  Anton,  who  is  engaged  in  the  shoe 
business  on  North  street;  Frank,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bott  &  Faulstick : 
and  Grace,  the  deceased  wife  of  Josej)!! 
Fares,  of  Danville. 

In  his  native  country  August  Faulstick 
acquired  the  greater  part  of  his  education, 
but  attended  school  to  a  limited  extent  after 
coming  to  .\merica.     It  was  in  an  carlv  day 


that  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the 
new  world  and  as  soon  as  he  landed  he 
started  across  the  country  to  X'ermilion 
county,  where  he  began  work  as  a  laborer 
for  the  Wabash  Railroad  Company.  After 
being  in  that  service  for  a  short  time  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
Illinois  Railroad  Company  as  foreman  of 
the  lumberyard  and  was  afterward  trans- 
ferred to  the  freight  department  as  foreman 
of  the  repair  work  there.  For  nineteen 
years  he  contiiuied  in  that  position  and  his 
fidelity  and  close  application  won  him  the 
entire  confidence  and  regard  of  those  whom 
he  served.  Throughout  the  nineteen  years 
he  lost  only  one  week.  At  length  with 
money  he  had  acquired  through  his  own  in- 
dustry and  economy  he  emliarked  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account  and  established  a 
grocery  store  at  No.  621  East  INIain  street. 
There  he  has  a  large  and  well  selected  stock 
of  staple  and  fancy  groceries  and  country 
produce  and  enjoys  a  good  trade.  He  has 
the  faculty  of  retaining  the  patronage  of 
those  whose  custom  he  once  secures,  this 
being  due  to  his  honorable  business  methods 
and  earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers. 

In  Danville  Mr.  Faulstick  was  united  in 
marriage  to  IMiss  Mary  Foher,  a  native  of 
Germany,  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
ten  children:  Joseph,  now  deceased:  Toney; 
Annie,  who  assists  her  father  in  the  store; 
Mary.  August,  Jr.,  Clara,  Helen,  Celia,  Ger- 
trude and  Victoria. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  I'aulstick  is 
indejiendent,  voting  for  the  men  wdiom  he 
thinks  best  adapted  and  qualified  for  office 
regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  belongs 
to  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  to  the 
German  Aid  Society,  to  the  ]\Iechanics'  La- 
bor Society,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  com- 
municants of  the  German  Catholic  church  of 


68a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Danville.  Such  in  brief  is  his  life  history 
and  those  who  read  between  the  lines  will 
gain  recognition  of  the  work  of  a  self-made 
man,  for  when  he  arrived  in  Danville  he  not 
only  possessed  no  capital,  but  had  incurred 
an  indebtedness  of  forty-five  dollors.  This, 
however,  was  soon  paid  up,  because  he 
Avorked  untiringly,  his  life  having  been  one 
of  earnest  labor.  As  soon  as  possible  he 
engaged  in  business  for  himself  and  to-day 
he  is  enjoying  a  large  and  well  merited  trade 
Avhile  in  addition  to  his  business  he  owns 
property  here,  his  store  and  real  estate  being 
the  visible  evidence  of  his  life  of  industr}' 
and  thrift. 


S.   A.   WATSOX. 


S.  A.  Watson. has  gained  a  foremost 
position  as  a  representative  of  the  photog- 
rapher's art,  .his  ability  being  recognized 
throughout  the  state  on  account  of  the  ex- 
hibits which  he  has  made.  He  is  located 
in  Danville,  \Ahere  he  conducts  an  art  studio. 

Mr.  Watson  was  born  in  LaSalle  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  October  9,  1853.  His  father, 
Ira  \\'atson,  was  a  native  of  New  York  and 
with  his  parents. took  up  his  abode  in  La- 
Salle comity.  At  the  time  of  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  California  he  went  to  the  Pacific 
slope  in  1849  to  seek  for  the  precious  metal 
in  the  mines  of  the  far  west.  Subsequent!}- 
he  resided  in  Ottawa,  Illinois,  for  several 
years  and  in  1863  became  a  i^esident  of  Dan- 
ville, where  he  entered  into  business  as  a 
coal  merchant.  For  some  time  he  conducted 
his  efforts  along  that  line  and  eventually 
sold  to  A.  C.  Daniels.  He  then  entered 
into  the  live  stock  business,  buying  and 
shipping  horses,  mules  and  cattle.  His 
death  occurred  in  Cairo,  Illinois,  in  1872. 
and  his  w-idow.  ]Mrs.  Nancv  A.  Watson,  a 


nati\e  of  Parke  county,  Indiana,  is  still  liv- 
ing and  makes  her  home  with  her  son,  S.  A. 
Watson. 

In  the  schools  of  Ottawa,  Illinois,  S.  A. 
Watson  began  his  education  in  1859,  and 
for  three  years  was  a  student  in  the  old  Red 
Seminary  of  Danville.  He  completed  his 
common-school  course  in  Cairo,  Illinois,  in 
1 87 1  and  the  following  year  was  graduated 
in  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College, 
Removing  from  Cairo,  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  LaSalle  count}-  with  his  mother  and  two 
younger  brothers  in  the  spring  of  1873  and 
was  there  employed  as  a  stationan-  engineer 
and  also  at  carpenter  work  for  two  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  began 
the  study  of  his  present  profession,  first 
working  at  portraiture,  crayons,  water  col- 
ors and  India  ink  portraits.  This  was  the 
initial  step  toward  his  connection  with  pho- 
tography. H^  entered  into  the  latter  busi- 
ness in  1875,  following  it  continuously  un- 
til 1878,  at  which  time  he  embarked  in  an 
entirely  new  'line,  that  of  sketching  for 
county  histor}-  work  and  directory  publish- 
ing. He  followed  the  new  pursuit,  how- 
ever, for  only  two  years,  and  then  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  buying  a  tract  of 
land  in  LaSalle  county.  To  its  further  de- 
velopment and  improvement  he  devoted  his 
energies  for  three  years  and  then  selling  out 
he  again  entered  the  business  of  photog- 
raphy, wdiich  has  since  been  his  life  work. 
He  has  remained  in  it  almost  continuously, 
Jiaving  operated  in  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  New 
York,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Cincinnati, 
Baltimore  and  many  other  large  cities.  He 
worked  in  these  various  places  with  a  \-\e\v 
of  perfecting  himself  in  his  chosen  calling 
and  in  July,  1889,  he  settled  in  Danville, 
where  he  has  enjoyed  an  excellent  patron- 
age, bviilding  up  for  himself  a  reputation 
that  classes  him  with  the  leading  artists  of 


S.  A.  WATSON. 


L  Y 

(:,     ...I 
UNIVERSITY  Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


G85 


ihe  cuiiinv}'.  lie  is  a  sUulenl  ui  his  pro- 
fession, always  keeping  informed  concern- 
ing the  advancement  which  is  contiunallv 
being  made  in  the  photographic  art.  He 
is  not  only  a  follower,  but  is  also  a  leader, 
for  he  has  improved  upon  methods  already 
instituted  ;uul  has  done  creditable  wiirk  that 
has  attracted  to  him  the  attention  of  the 
entire  profession  in  the  country.  He  did  all 
of  the  photographic  work  from  which  the 
portraits  of  this  volume  have  been  made 
and  the  high  character  of  the  work  has 
given  universal  satisfaction. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1878,  in  Dan- 
ville, Illinois,  Mr.  Watson  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  !Mattie  D.  Rupert  and 
they  have  two  datighters  and  a  son,  Edna 
Alice,  Flossy  May  and  Walter  J.  Mr.  Wat- 
son is  a  charier  member  of  the  Tribe  of 
Ben  Her  of  Danville  and  for  fifteen  years 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias fraternity.  He  was  one  of  the  organiz- 
ers and  is  the  present  secretary  of  the  Ver- 
milion County  Mutual  Aid  Society  and  he 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Jeffer- 
sonian  Club  of  Washington,  D.  C.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat  and  bi-metalist.  His 
attention,  however,  is  chiefly-  given  to  his 
profession  and  he  is  the  official  photog- 
rapher of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  Company  of  the  Frisco  system. 
He  is  likewise  a  contributor  to  many  of  the 
leading  ])hotographic  journals  of  the  coun- 
try ami  is  connected  with  the  leading  pho- 
tographic societies  of  the  United  States.  He 
has  frequently  been  an  exhibitor  to  the  na- 
tional con\-cntions  and  has  secured  diplomas 
for  excellence  of  work  on  six  different  ex- 
hibits. He  has  artistic  taste  and  talent  and 
while  perfecting  himself  in  the  mechanical 
side  of  photography  he  has  advanced  far 
beyonil  this  to  a  recognition  of  the  possi- 


bilities of  light  and  shadow  which  form  the 
basic  element  of  all  beautv  and  excellence 


ui  Ins  art. 


STEPHEN  BROTHERS. 

Stephen  Brothers,  whose  home  is  located 
on  section  i,  Oakwood  township,  was  born 
in  Carroll  county,  Ohio,  September  25, 
1829.  His  fallTer.  Le\-i  Brothers,  was  born 
in  the  east,  and  after  arri\ing  at  years  of 
maturity  married  Lydia  Clark,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent.  They,  became  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  si.xth  in  order  of  birth.  Of  the  five  now 
li\-ing  Stephen  is  the  eldest.  The  others 
are:  Lydia  Carson,  of  Ohio;  Austin,  Rich- 
ard and  Fanny,  all  of  whom  are  living  ir 
Carroll  count}',  where  our  subject  \vas  born 
and  reared.  Flaving  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  state  Steph- 
en Brothers  came  to  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  a  covered  wagon  in  the  '50s,  arriv- 
ing here  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  having 
tra\ele(l  through  the  black  swamps  of  In- 
diana. His  wagon  was  drawn  by  a  team  of 
horses,  and  it  required  about  four  weeks  to 
make  the  trip.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother  Joseph,  who  is  now  deceased,  and  he 
settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  which  his  father 
had  entered,  his  first  home  being  a  log  cabin. 
At  once  he  began  the  cultivation  of  the  land, 
making  it  a  rich  and  productive  tract.  There 
were  no  fences  for  miles  and  the  homes  of 
the  early  settlers  were  widely  scattered, 
nnich  of  the  land  being  still  in  its  primitive 
condition.  There  were  many  prairie  wolves 
and  deer  were  to  be  seen  in  large  numbers. 
By  trade  Mr.  Brothers  is  a  blacksmith  and 
in  his  early  residence  in  this  county  he  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  to  some  extent. 


686 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In  May,  1858,  occurred  tlic  marriage  of 
our  subject  and  Miss  Mary  liali,  who  was 
born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana.  April  21, 
1840,  a  daughter  of  Marvin  C.  and  Sa- 
phronia  (Spear)  Hall,  who  were  natives  of 
Vermont  and  became  early  settlers  of  In- 
diana. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brothers  were  mar- 
ried in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  after 
living  there  for  a  year  removed  to  the  old 
homestead  in  \'ermiIion  county,  two  miles 
■west  of  their  present  farm.  After  several 
years  were  there  passed  they  took  up  their 
abode  at  the  edge  of  the  timber  where  Mr. 
Brothers  conducted  a  blacksmith  shop  for 
a  number  of  years.  Later  he  spent  four  years 
in  Nebraska,  but  it  was  during  the  grass- 
hopper rage,  and,  thinking  it  not  a  gooc. 
place  to  earn  a  living  he  returned  to  Ver- 
milion county  and  took  up  his  abode  on  sec- 
tion I,  Oakwood  township,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  His  business  career  was  inter- 
rupted Ijy  his  military  service  when  in  1862 
he  responded  to  his  country's  call  for  aid, 
enlisting  in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantr}-,  entering  the 
service  as  a  second  lieutenant  under  the 
command  of  Captian  Levin  Vinson,  Adju- 
tant A\^il]iam  Mann.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
.Stanley  and  Colonel  Harmon.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Perryville.  Kentucky, 
and  in  April,  1863.  he  resigned.  Through- 
out the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  has  car- 
ried on  both  blacksmithing  and  farming  and 
his  labors  have  been  attended  with  a  well 
merited  degree  of  success.  He  now  owns 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  valuable 
land  and  from  his  farm  derives  a  good  in- 
come. 

Mrs.  Brothers  was  one  of  a  family  of 
nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living: 
AVilliam  Hall,  a  retired  farmer  of  Nebraska; 
i\rr<j    Harriet   Demmick.    of   Terre   Haute. 


Indiana;  Joan,  wife  of  John  Edgington,  of 
Edgar  county,  Illinois;  and  ^Irs.  Brothers. 
The  last  named  by  her  marriage  has  become 
the  mother  of  two  children.  Levi,  who 
married  Emeline  Smith,  was  born  in  Ed- 
gar county,  Illinois,  and  resides  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Vermilion  county.  Edwin 
married  ^Martha  Olihy.  and  they  ha\e  three 
children  :  Gertie.  Dean  and  [Mabel.  Mr. 
Brothers  votes  with  the  Republican  party, 
and  he  belongs  to  ]\Iorrison  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Glenburn,  while  both  he  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  in  the  Pleasant  Grove 
Methodist  Episcopal  chmxh. 


BENJAMIN  F.   STITES. 

The  name  of  Benjamin  F.  Stites  is  en- 
rolled among  those  who  have  been  active  in 
business  affairs  in  Vermilion  county  and 
who,  through  energy  and  industry,  have 
contributed  to  public  progress  and  impro\-e- 
ment.  Called  to  his  final  rest  in  1880.  his 
memory  is  still  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  knew  him.  He  was  born  in  Cin- 
cinnati. Ohio,  July  20.  1833,  a  son  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Susan  (Stewart)  Stites,  who  in 
tlie  spring  of  1S37  came  to  A'ermilion  coun- 
tv,  Illinois,  settling  in  Blount  township,  at 
Rickard  Corners.  The  next  year  they  re- 
moved to  a  place  two  miles  south  of  Myers- 
ville,  there  living  until  1857,  when  they 
went  to  Paxton,  Ford  county,  on  the  6th 
of  December,  i860.  In  the  winter  of  1853-4 
Benjamin  F.  Stites  had  left  home,  going 
to  Paxton,  where  for  one  year  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  the  second  year.  1855.  he 
established  a  .store  on  the  prairie,  selling 
goods  there  for  eighteen  months.  In  the 
fall  of  1856  he  disposed  of  his  stock  and  re- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


687 


moved  to  Benton  county,  Arkansas,  where 
he  followed  carpentering,  milling  and  also 
farming,  investing  in  six  hundred  acres  o. 
land.  Immediately  after  the  presidential 
election  of  i860  he  was  forced  to  flee  with 
his  family  to  the  north,  escaping  from  the 
toils  of  the  fire-eaters  by  strategy.  He  was 
forced,  however,  to  abandon  his  property- 
and  lost  all  that  he  had  invested  while  in  the 
south.  In  1 86 1  he  embarked  in  the  furni 
ture  business  in  Paxton  on  a  \-ery  small 
scale.  After  his  return  from  Arkansas  he 
went  to  Chicago  and  purchased  the  neces- 
sary equipments  for  again  keeping  house 
and  found  that  he  had  about  fifty  dollars  re- 
maining. This  he  invested  in  a  small  line 
of  furniture.  At  that  time  there  was  no 
furniture  store  nearer  than  Kankakee,  and 
he  began  business  in  Paxton,  his  trade 
steadily  increasing  and  making  it  necessary 
for  him  to  add  more  and  more  to  his  stock. 
Being  a  cabinet-maker  he  also  manufactured 
coffins  for  the  neighborhood  and  he  brought 
the  first  ready-made  casket  into  Ford  coun- 
ty. In  the  fall  of  1871  he  removed  from 
Paxton  to  Hoopeston,  where  he  followed 
carpentering  for  two  years  and  then  estab- 
lished a  furniture  and  undertaking  store, 
which  he  carried  on  continuously  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

On  June  15,  1859,  Mr.  Stites  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Dunn,  who 
was  born  in  Clifton  Springs,  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  George  and  Angeline  (Foster) 
Dunn.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ireland  and 
when  but  a  child  came  to  America.  Here 
he  married  Miss  Foster,  a  native  of  Roch- 
ester, Xew  York.  He  was  a  cooper  by 
trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  at  Clifton 
Springs  and  Scottsvillc,  Xew  York.  In  the 
winter  of  1S56-7  he  came  to  the  west  look- 
ing for  a  location.     While  residing  in  Rock 


Island,  Illinois,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the 
Civil  war,  becoming  a  member  of  the  Fifty- 
first  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  taken  pris'- 
oncr  at  the  battle  of  Corinth  and  was  ill  at 
the  time.  He  was  then  sent  to  Jeft'erson 
Barracks  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  died  in 
September,  1862.  Plis  wife  died  in  Chicago, 
w  bile  \isiting  a  d.'uigliter  there  and  attending 
the  World's  Fair.  Mrs.  Stites  had  four 
brothers  who  were  also  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  one  of  these,  who  was  a  member  of 
Company  F.  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
was  also  killed  in  battle.  Mrs.  Stites  was 
eleven  years  of  age  when  she  removed  from 
Clifton  Springs  to  Scottsvillc.  New  York. 
She  pursued  her  education  in  the  LeRoy 
Seminary  and  the  Collegiate  Institute,  a 
Baptist  school,  of  Rochester,  New  York. 
She  engaged  in  teaching  in  Monroe  county, 
that  state,  for  several  terms  and  in  1857 
came  to  the  west,  taking  uj)  her  abode  in  St. 
Louis,  Miss'ouri.  where  she  remained 
throughout  the  winter  with  relatives.  She 
then  went  to  Arkansas  in  March,  1858,  and 
while  there  became  acquainted  with  and 
married  Mr.  .Stites.  She  was  one  of  a  fam- 
of  twelve  children,  of  whom  ten  are  still 
living,  namely :  Charles,  of  Winona,  Min- 
nesota; Margaret,  who  is  living  in  Detroit, 
Michigan;  Henry,  of  Tuscola,  Michigan; 
Frank,  of  Eldorado,  Kansas ;  Minerva,  of 
El  Paso,  Texas;  Minnie,  of  St.  Louis; 
Maria,  whose  home  is  in  Santa  Cruz,  Cali- 
fortiia:  Delos,  who  is  a  resident  of  Escon- 
dido,  California;  Mary,  of  Chicago;  and 
Mrs.  Stites. 

Fourteen  children  were  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  and  of  the.sc  ten  are  yet 
living:  Frances  E.,  the  wife  of  John  Simp- 
son, of  Rake,  Iowa;  Charles,  who  is  living 
in  Hoopeston ;  Benjamin,  who  wedded  May 
Missen,    of    Omaha,  •  Nebraska ;    William, 


688 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


who  is  a  machinist  now  hving  in  Xicara- 
gua.  Central  America;  Carrie  Louise,  the 
wife  of  W'iUiam  McKeever,  of  Ambia,  In- 
diana; Samuel,  who  married  ]\Iaude  Men- 
agh,  of  Hoopeston;  Susan,  the  wife  of  John 
Wagner,  of  Hoopeston;  Kate,  who  has 
served  as  city  librarian  of  Hoopeston  for 
four  years;  Martha  A.,  the  wife  of  Frank 
Wallace,  a  machinist  of  Hoopeston;  and 
Clara  !v[aria,  who  is  teaching  school.  Mrs. 
Stites  also  has  eleven  grandchildren. 

In  his  political  affiliations  ilr.  Stites  was 
a  Democrat  and  Greenbacker.  For  thirty 
years  he  held  membership  in  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,- was  one  of  its 
exemplary  representatives.  He  also  be- 
longed to  the  Universalist  church  and  was 
a  man  of  upright  life,  loyal  to  every  trust 
reposed  in  him.  He  continued  his  furniture 
business  in  Hoopeston  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  October  21,  1889.  At  that 
time  Mrs.  Stites  assumed  the-  management 
of  the  business,  which  she  conducted  for 
thirteen  years.  She  paid  off  the  seven 
hundred  dollars  indebtedness  upon  the  store 
and  successfully  carried  on  the  enterprise, 
enlarging  her  stock  to  meet  the  growing 
demands  of  the  trade  until  1901,  when  she 
sold  out  to  the  firm  of  Parker  &  Scott.  She 
took  a  course  in  embalming  and  conducted 
an  undertaking  business,  carrying  a  stock 
worth  about  twenty-five  hundred  dollars. 
She  also  purchased  a  hearse  and  her  under- 
taking estaljlishment  received  a  liberal  and 
w-ell  merited  patronage.  Mrs.  Stites  en- 
gaged in  teaching  a  select  school  in  Hoope- 
ston before  a  public  school  was  organized 
here.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Re- 
bekahs,  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and 
of  the  W'omens'  Relief  Corps.  She  now 
owns  several  tenement  houses  which  she 
rents,  and  her  own  beautiful  home  on  North 


^larkct  street,  which  was  built  in  1902.  A 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement  she  also  pos- 
sesses marked  executive  force  and  business 
ability  and  deserves  great  credit  for  what 
he  has  accomplished,  since  her  huband's  de- 
mise. In  social  circles  she  occupies  an  en- 
viable position  and  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
in  Floopeston  and  throughout  Vermilion 
county. 


JAilES   G.  PAYTOX. 

James  G.  Payton,  who  is  filling  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Danville  and  is 
a  conscientious  and  careful  officer,  was  born 
in  Clinton  .county,  Ohio,  September  30, 
1832,  his  parents  being  Valentine  and  Mary 
(Morgan)  Payton.  Both  the  Payton  and 
Morgan  families  came  originally  from  Vir- 
ginia, having  lived  in  the  locality  known  as 
Apple  Pie  Ridge.  In  the  maternal  line  the 
family  was  related  to  General  John  Mor- 
gan, the  noted  Rebel  leader.  Mrs.  Martha 
Morgan,  the  grandmother  of  Mrs.  Payton, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  is  the  only  one 
of  the  family  that  Judge  Pa}ton  has  known, 
and  she  died  in  Wilmington,  Ohio,  at  an 
advanced  age.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
on  coming  to  Illinois,  settled  first  near  Mun- 
cie,  in  1840.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade 
and  in  connection  with  that  pursuit  he  gave 
considerable  time  to  farming,  making  a 
specialty  of  the  rasing  of  corn.  When  the 
farm  work  was  o\-er  for  the  season  he  and 
his  sons  would  spend  their  time  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  boots  and  shoes  in  the  little  shop 
which  the)'  conducted.  For  se\-eral  years 
during  the  early  development  of  the  state, 
when  there  was  little  market  for  farm  pro- 
ducts, they  sold  their  corn  at  eight  and  ten 
cents  per  bushel.     When  a  boy  Mr.  Payton 


MRS.  JAMES  G.  PAYTON. 


JAMES   G.  PAYTON. 


LISPAHY 

OF  r;;E 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


693- 


hail  been  bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to 
learn  the  shoemaker's  trade  and  whatever 
success  he  achieved  in  life  was  due  entirely 
to  his  own  efforts.  In  his  political  views 
he  was  a  Whig".  His  wife  died  in  1850 
and  he  passed  away  in  1873.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  ten  children,  of  whom  tiiose  li\ing" 
are:  John  M..  Zephaniah  C,  James  G.  and 
.Asa  H.  Those  who  have^passed  away  are: 
Martha,  who  was  the  wife  of  Allen  Cass; 
Deborah,  the  wife  of  Isaac  V.  Shepherd; 
Robert;  William  M.;  Joseph  M. ;  and 
Isaac  M. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
James  G.  Payton  we  record  the  life  work 
of  one  wdio  is  actively  and  favorably  known 
in  Danville  and  the- surrounding  districts. 
He  gained  his  education  in  the  schools  near 
his  boyhood  home,  for  he  had  come  to  I!h- 
nois  with  his  parents  when  about  seven 
years  of  age.  Later  he  continued  his  stud- 
ies in  the  schools  of  Danville  and  through 
the  period  of  his  youth  he  worked  in  his 
father's  shoeshop  and  also  in  the  cornfields, 
turning"  the  furrows  in  many  a  field  in  the 
early  spring-time.  When  twenty-five  years 
of  age  he  started  ovit  in  life  for  himself, 
leaving  the  parental  roof  at  that  time.  For 
three  years  he  worked  in  teaching  school 
and  then  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
couin. 

Mr.  Pa\ton  completed  his  arrange- 
ments for  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage about  this  time.  On  the  27th  of  No- 
Acmber,  1855,  he  wedded  Catherine  Dea- 
kin,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Dea- 
kin,  of  IMuncie,  Illinois.  Her  father  was 
a  farmer  who  had  come  to  this  state  from 
Ohio.  Her  brothers  and  sisters  are:  Will- 
iam, who  died  in  Nashville,  Tennessee; 
Elizabeth  and  Emeline,  also  deceased.  The 
latter  was  the  wife  of  Zephaniah  C.  Payton 
and  died  in  tlie  Indian  Territory,  in  1901. 


Unto  the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  have  been  born  four  children :  Theo- 
dore T.  is  the  only  one  who  survives.  Those 
who  have  departed  this  life  are  Emma,  who 
was  the  wife  of  P.  L.  Zarbo;  John;  and 
Alwilda.  Theodore  T.  married  Kitty  Hall, 
and  liiey  ha\e  four  children :  James  Ray- 
mond, Royce  .Archer,  Robert  B.  and 
Ruth  S. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Payton  carried 
on  farming  until  the  3d  of  September,  1862, 
when,  intluencetl  by  a  patriotic  spirit  he 
offered  his  services  to  the  Union  and  en- 
listed as  a  member  of  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  of 
Illinois  Infantry,  serving  as  a  private  for 
three  3-ears  or  until  after  the  close  of  the 
war  in  1S65.  lie  participated  in  numerous 
engagements,  among  the  most  important 
being  at  Perryville,  Murfreesboro,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro.  At  Ben- 
tonvillc,  North  Carolina,  he  was  wounded 
by  a  thorn  which  was  thrust  into  his  leg 
and  for  six  weeks  he  lay  in  the  hospital. 
He  returned  to  Illinois,  and  coming  to  Fair- 
mount  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  un- 
der his  brother,  Joseph  M.  Payton,  serving 
in  that  office  for  two  years.  He  next  went 
to  Springfield,  Missouri,  where  he  engaged 
in  working  in  a  lumber  yard  for  eight  years 
and  subsequently  spent  a  short  time  in  Kan- 
sas. On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
returned  to  Danville,  where  he  conducted  a 
farm  for  two  years.  His  next  place  of  resi- 
dence was  at  Hamilton,  Ohio,  but  within 
a  short  period  he  removed  from  there  to 
h'ort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  then  again  came 
to  Danville,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  firm  of  Payton,  Palmer  &  Company, 
wholesale  grocers.  In  1893,  however,  he 
was  called  from  business  life  to  political 
oftice,  being  elected  constable,  and  in  1897 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  his  present 


694 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


term  continuing  until  May,  1905.  He  is 
tlie  president  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Reunion  and  is  commander 
of  Kenesaw  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  being  thus 
honored  by  bis  fellow  comrades  of  the  Civil 
war.  The  fulfillment  of  his  duty  to  his 
country  in  times  of  peril  and  to  his  com- 
munity in  times  of  peace  and  prosperity  has 
been  the  chief  and  high  aim  permeating  the 
life  of  James  G.  Pay  ton,  and  to  this  class 
of  honored  citizens  is  due  the  substantial 
development  and  growth  of  this  great  coun- 
trv,  making  it  to-day  foremost  among  na- 
tions. 

♦  »  » 

DAXIEL    BREWER. 

The  prosi)erity  of  Vermilion  county  has 
been  assured  and  continuous  from  the  time 
of  its  early  settlement  by  the  brave  and  sturdy 
pioneers  who  have  here  made  their  homes, 
down  to  the  present,  when  its  well  tilled 
fields  and  fine  grades  of  stock  may  be  seen 
on  e\ery  side.  From  the  early  development  of 
this  count)-  Daniel  Brewer  has  taken  an  im- 
portant part,  as  did  also  his  father,  Richard 
Brewer,  who  came  here  from  Ohio,  locating 
in  \"ermilion  county  when  all  was  wild  and 
unimproved,  awaiting  the  work  of  the  white 
man  to  develop  its  rich  and  productive  soil. 
Daniel  Brewer  w-as  born  on  the  5th  of  De- 
cember, 1832,  four  miles  northeast  of  Dan- 
ville, in  Vermilion  county.  He  is  a  son  of 
Richard  and  Christina  (Roderick)  Brewer, 
both  of  whom  were  natixes  of  Pennsylvania, 
but  were  reared  and  married  in  Ohio,  having 
been  taken  by  their  parents  to  the  Buckeye 
state  when  they  were  children.  Richard 
Brewer  was  a  son  of  John  Brewer,  who 
came  from  Holland  to  Pennsylvania  and 
later  to  Ohio.     The  Roderick  family  came 


from  Germany  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
and  later,  as  has  been  stated,  in  Ohio. 
Richard  Brewer  was  a  man  six  feet  tall  anil 
weighed  two  hundred  and  five  pounds.  His 
brothers  were  all  large  men,  weighing  over 
two  hundred  pounds.  During  his  active 
business  career  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
also  worked  at  the  shoemaker's  trade.  Af- 
ter his  marriage  he  removed  to  Lafayette, 
Indiana,  and  later  to  Danville,  Illinois,  lo- 
cating on  a  farm  where  he  and  his  good 
wife  spent  their  remaining  days.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  clnuxh, 
taking  an  active  interest  in  its  welfare  and 
holding  several  offices  therein.  He  served 
as  class  leader  for  many  years  and  was  a 
good,  consistent  Christian  man.  In  politics 
he  was  an  old  line  Whig.  Although  a  man  of 
influence  in  his  community  he.  refused  oftice. 
He  died  February  21,  1849,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-eight  years  and  six  months,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1871,  at  the  age  of 
seventv-nine  years.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  six  boys  and  three  girls, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 
Millie  became  the  wife  of  Simeon  Lamb  and 
thev  resided  near  Danville,  but  both  are 
now  deceased.  Mashec,  now  deceased,  re- 
sided in  Marion  county,  Illinois.  Charles 
was  a  resident  of  Douglas  county,  but  is  now 
deceased.  Benjamin,  also  deceased,  resided 
on  the  old  homestead  farm.  John  resided 
in  Onarga,  Illinois,  but  has  now  passed 
away.  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Elder  and  resided  near  Danville,  Illinois,  but 
both  are  now  deceased.  Rev.  David  resided 
at  Woodland,  Illinois,  and  has  also  passed 
away.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Henry  INIartin 
and  resides  in  Saline  county,  Kansas.  Dan- 
iel is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  spent 
his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm  attending 
school  near  Danville  in  what  was  known  as 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


695 


the  Lamb  district  school,  a  hewed  log  school- 
house,  with  slab  seats  and  table,  and  an  old 
fashioned  fireplace.  He  had  but  limited  op- 
portunities of  acquiring  an  education,  yet 
he  managed  to  become  well  informed  and 
taught  school  at  an  early  age.  He  then 
worked  on  the  home  farm,  assisting  his 
mother.     She  died  in  187 1. 

On  ]\Iay  4,  1851,  Mr.  Brewer  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mariah  Cunningham, 
who  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Indiana. 
October  22,  1832,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Matilda  (Lackey)  Cunning- 
ham, both  of  whom  were  born  in  (Jhio  and 
\\'ere  there  married.  Later  they  removed  to 
Vermilion  count)',  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1848.  ilrs.  Cunningham  then  l)ecame  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Roderick,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, who  came  to  Ohio  when  he  was 
about  nine  years  of  age.  He  had  been  pre- 
\-iously  married  and  had  six  children  by  his 
first  wife.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  and  in  politics  was  an 
old  line  Whig.  His  death  occurred  in 
1872.  Mrs.  Brewer  was  the  oldest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children  by  the  first  marriage 
of  her  mother.  Five  of  these  children  still 
survive.  The  others  living  are :  James,  a 
resident  of  Danville;  Eliza,  a  resident  of 
Nebraska  and  the  widow  of  Rev.  Joshua 
Wooley;  Ann,  a  resident  of  Vermilion 
county  and  the  widow  of  Martin  Watson ; 
and  Nicholas,  who  resides  in  Danville.  By 
the  second  marriage  of  Mrs.  Brewer's 
mother  there  were  born  two  children,  but 
only  one,  George,  of  Vermilion  county,  sur- 
vives. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brewer 
was  blessed  with  eight  children,  but  only 
three  are  now  living.  Jennie  is  the  wife  of 
James  Villiars  and  resides  twenty-five  miles 


east  of  Lafayette,  Indiana.  Martha,  the 
the  willow  of  George  Villiars,  has  five  chil- 
dren and  resides  with  her  father.  Cyrus 
Rinaldo  resides  twenty-five  miles  east  of 
Lafa)'ette,  Indiana,  and  has  one  child. 

Mr.  Brewer  sold  the  farm  he  had  pre- 
viously owned  and  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  li\-es,  consisting  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  30,  in  Jamaica  town- 
ship. He  also  bought  an  additional  ninety- 
seven  acres  which  he  gave  to  his  son  Cyrus 
R.  He  has  always  been  an  active  and  en- 
ergetic man,  and  has  carried  on  general 
farming  with  good  success.  He  raises  high 
grades  of  stock  and  selling  them  in  the  mar- 
ket receives  a  good  annual  income  there- 
from. His  short-horn  and  Jersey  cattle  are 
well  kn(n\n  in  the  county  and  bring  a  high 
price.  His  horses  are  very  line  in  breed  and 
he  raises  quite  a  number  of  these.  He  is  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
l)al  church  and  taught  in  the  Sunday-school 
for  twenty  years.  Lor  twenty  years  also 
he  has  acted  as  school  director,  although 
he  did  not  desire  the  office.  A  Republican 
in  his  political  views  he  has  positively  re- 
fused to  accept  office,  although  he  strongly 
endorses  the  principles  of  the  party  and 
gives  it  his  support.  He  is  a  genial,  kindly 
old  gentleman,  whom  it  is  a  privilege  as 
well  as  a  pleasure  to  meet  and  converse  with. 
During  his  residence  in  this  county  he  has 
witnessed  a  great  transformation.  He  at 
one  time  cradled  wheat  upon  the  land  where 
Danville  now  stands  and  tlie  settlers  lived 
in  round  poled  cabins  whose  logs  were 
daubed  with  nuid.  His  sister  Mary  was 
born  in  a  house  of  this  description  in  Dan- 
ville township.  There  were  no  railroads 
and  the  land  on  the  site  of  the  present  city 
of  Danville  was  worth  fifteen  dollars  per 
acre.    The  town  was  at  that  time  about  the 


696 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


size  of  Fairmount.  Illinois.     Their  iiadiii"- 
was  clone  partly  at  Covington,  Indiana,  but 
mainly    at    Chicago,    Illinois.      His    tather 
boiight  leather  in  Chicago  and  hauled  it  in 
wagons.      Calico    was    a    precious    article, 
worth    twenty-five    cents    per    yard.      The 
women  \vore  dresses  to  church  made  of  this 
fabric  and  were  delighted  to  get  them.    They 
also  had  hand  looms  with  which  they  spun 
flax    and    wove    flannels    and    fancy    dress 
goods.      \Mieat  was  worth  fifty  cents  per 
bushel  and  corn  was  worth  from  ten  to  twen- 
ty cents  per  bushel.  When  the  canal  was  built 
at  Covington  the  price  of  corn  went  up  to 
twenty-five  cents  per  bushel.     Mr.  Brewer 
has  bought  and  sold  good  cows  for  ten  dol- 
lars each.     The  courthouse  of  Danville  was 
built  over  seventy  years  ago,  about  the  time 
Mr.    Brewer  was  born.     Mr.   Brewer   has 
been   an   interested   spectator   in    the   great 
changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the  coun- 
ty during  the  past  half  century.     He  has 
seen  the  towns  and  villages  spring  up  and 
develop  into  thriving  and  progressive  cities, 
and  in  all  the  improvement  he  has  borne  his 
full   share.     To  such  men  as   JNIr.   Brewer 
Vermilion  county  is  to-day  indeljted  for  her 
present  i>rosperitv. 


TOTHAM  LYON. 


The  agricultural  interests  of  Vermilion 
county  are  well  represented  by  Jotham 
Lyon,  who  follows  farming  in  Georgetown 
township,  his  home  being  on  section  25. 
He  is  also  well  known  as  a  raiser  of  fine 
shorthorn  cattle,  and  in  this  regard  he  has 
done  much  for  the  community,  for  he  who 
introduces  fine  stock  into  a  locality  is  in- 
strumental   in    bringing   up   the   prices   for 


stock  and   thus  all   are  indirectly  aided  by 
his  efi^orts. 

j\[r.  Lyon  is  numbered  among  the  na- 
tive sons  of  this  township,  for  here  he  was 
born  September  25,  1832.     He  comes  of  an 
old    New    England    family.       His    father 
Jotham   Lyon,   was  born   either   in   ]\Iassa- 
chusetts   or   Connecticut   and   in   early   life 
went  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared.    In  that 
state   he   \\as   united   in   marriage  to   ^liss 
Mary  Harrington,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Hamilton   county,   Ohio.        They  left   that 
state,    emigrating    westward    and    cast    in 
their  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Vermilion 
county,    Illinois.       From    the    government 
Mr.  Lyon  entered  a  tract  of  land  in  George- 
town township  near  wdiere  the  subject  of 
this  review  is  now  living  and  was  the  first 
settler  in  that  locality.     From  that  time  for- 
ward he  took  an  active  and  helpful  part  in 
the  work  oi  general  progress  and  improve- 
ment and  at  the  same  time  carefully  con- 
ducted  his   private  business   interests.      He 
was  made  highway  commissioner  soon  af- 
ter  his   arri\-al   and   assisted    in    laving   out 
the  various  roads  in  the  township.  In  other 
ways,  too.  he  carried  forward  the  work  of 
improvement  in  pioneer  days,  helping  lav  the 
foundation    for    the    present    prosperity    of 
this  section  of  Illinois.  He  carried  on  farm- 
ing upon   the  home  place  until  his   death, 
which  occurred  in  1841,  when  he  was  yet 
in  the  prime  of  life.     His  widow,' however, 
long  survived  him,  passing  away  in   1888. 
Of  their  family  of  seven  children  only  our 
subject  is  now  living.     Of  the  first  marriage 
Masse,  who  is  the  widow  of  Stephen  Looni- 
er, resides  with  her  children  in  ^Minnesota. 
Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
Jotham  Lyon  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  such  as  were  found  upon  the  prai- 
ries of  Illinois  in  pioneer  times.     His  train- 


LI  :;"'.:iY 

Of    Fi-IE 

uitiiVLRsrrv  of  Illinois 


/v.<v« 


^ 


JOTHAM   LYON. 


MRS.  JOTHAM  LYON. 


LIBRARY 

OF   TriE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


701 


ing  at  farm  lalwr  was  not  meager  for  as 
soon  as  old  enough  to  handle  the  plow  he 
began  work  in  the  fields  and  assisted  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  place  until  his  mar- 
riage. That  important  event  in  his  life  oc- 
curred in  1838,  when  ]Miss  Sarah  Worth, 
a  native  of  Wisconsin,  became  his  wife. 
She  was  the  third  white  child  born  in  the 
vicinity  of  ^lilwaukee,  \\'isconsin.  Her 
father,  William  Worth,  had  settled  in  that 
state  at  a  very  early  day,  taking  a  claim 
near  Milwaukee,  where  he  developed  a  good 
farm.  He  is  now  deceased.  ]\lr.  and  Mrs. 
Lyon  became  the  parents  of  six  children : 
Mary,  the  wife  of  John  Boggess,  a  promi- 
nent fanner  of  Georgetown  township;  Will- 
iam, who  is  living  with  his  father  and  as- 
sists in  carrying  on  the  home  farm ;  Datus, 
who  is  also  residing  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship ;  Emma,  who  was  a  twin  of  Datus, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  two  years;  Noah,  an 
agriculturist  of  the  same  township:  Elmer, 
who  married  Ada  Ward  and  resides  upon 
the  old  homestead. 

.\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Lyon  removed 
to  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  for  one 
year  and  then  returned  to  \>rmilion  coun- 
ty, settling  on  his  present  farm  on  section 
25,  Georgetown  township,  where  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  of 
valuable  land,  splendidly  adapted  to  the 
cultivation  of  grain.  All  of  the  improve- 
ments upon  his  place  stand  as  monuments 
to  his  thrift  and  industry.  He  and  his  sons 
cut  the  timber,  hauled  it  to  the  sawmill, 
where  it  was  converted  into  lumber  and 
then  erecteil  the  barn.  ^Ir.  Lyon  here  also 
owns  another  farm  of  seventy  acres  in  the 
same  township,  and  in  coimection  with  his 
two  sons  he  is  successfully  carrying  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising, 
making  a  scpecialty  of  the  raising  of  short- 
horn cattle.      He   has   also  gained   a   wide 

28 


reputation  as  a  horticulturist  and  very  fine 
fruit  is  found  upon  his  place.  Whatever 
he  undertakes  he  carries  forward  to  suc- 
cessful completion  and  in  the  various 
branches  of  his  business  he  has  met  with 
success,  being  progressive  in  his  methods 
and  indefatigable  in  his  work.  Mr.  Lyon 
has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  several  lo- 
cal official  positions  and  in  his  political 
\iews  he  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He 
represents  one  of  the  old  and  prominent 
families  of  the  county  and  has  many  relics 
of  pioneer  days,  among  which  is  a  deed 
given  to  his  father  when  he  secured  gov- 
ernment land  in  this  township,  the  paper 
bearing  the  date  of  July  27,  1824,  and 
signed  by  President  James  Monroe.  In  his 
later  years  Mr.  Lyon  has  been  largely  re- 
lieved of  the  more  arduous  work  of  the  farm 
by  his  two  sons  and  he  well  deserves  rest 
from  labor.  For  seventy  years  he  has  lived 
in  \'erniilion  count\'  with  the  exception  of 
.'I  lirief  interxal  spent  in  Wisconsin  and 
therefore  the  history  of  pioneer  develop- 
ment and  of  later-day  progress  is  a  story 
well  known  to  the  subject  of  this  review. 


MILTON  M.  McNeill. 

Prominent  among  the  successful  busi- 
ness men  of  Danville  is  numbered  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  who  is  a  dealer  in  hard 
wood  lumber,  lie  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
born  in  Perrysville,  December  24,  1845,  and 
is  a  son  of  George  H.  and  Rebecca  K. 
(Beers)  McNeill,  who  were  natives  of 
Maryland  and  Ohio,  respectively.  In  early 
life  the  father  followed  surveying  for  many 
years,  and  later  opened  a  drug  store  in  Per- 
rysville, Indiana,  which  he  carried  on  imtil 
his  death,  which  occurred  September  9, 
1892.     He  was  a  well  read  man  and  very 


702 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pupufar,  his  advice  being  often  sought. 
Since  his  death  the  business  which  lie  estab- 
lislied  has  been  carried  on  by  his  son,  W. 
K.  McNeill,  it  being  now  sixty  years  since 
the  store  was  opened. 

During  his  boyhood  Miltim  M.  McXeill 
attended  the  graded  schools  of  his  native 
place  and  subsequently  was  a  student  at 
Asbury  University,  Greencastle,  Indiana, 
for  two  years.  With  the  intention  of  be- 
coming a  druggist,  he  made  a  special  study 
of  pharmacy  and  chemistry,  and  after  leav- 
ing school  entered  upon  his  business  career 
along  that  line  in  his  father's  store  at  Per- 
ry'sville,  but  on  his  removal  to  Danville. 
Illinois,  in  1880,  he  embarked  in  the  lumber 
business,  making  a  specialty  of  house  furn- 
ishing and  cabinet  lumber,  such  as  walnut, 
ash,  etc.,  handling  hard  woods  exclusively. 
He  enjoys  a  good  trade  and  is  accounted 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  his 
adopted  city,  with  wdiose  interests  he  has 
now  been  identified  twenty-three  years. 

Mr.  McXeill  married  Miss  Ruhamah  R. 
Bell,  a  daughter  of  William  'SI.  Bell,  of  Per- 
rysville,  Indiana,  who  was  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  the  Wabash  valley.  By  this 
union  the  following  children  have  been 
born:  George  W..  who  is  now  a  member 
of  the  Danville  Wholesale  Grocery  Com- 
pany; Mary  L.,  the  wife  of  James  R.  Mar- 
tin, of  Attica,  Indiana;  Rebecca  B.,  the  wife 
of  Frank  Hannum,  of  Danville;  Ruhamah 
R.,  wife  of  Frank  D.  Bushnell,  of  Sidell. 
Illinois ;  and  Helen  M.  and  Xadyne  \'era. 
at  home.  The  family  residence  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  homes  on  North  \^'alnut 
street,  being  tastefully  furnished  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  beautiful  lawn,  but  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McNeill  now  spend  a  great  portion  of 
their  time  in  Texas  on  account  of  the  Lit- 
ter's health. 


]\lr.  McXeiil  is  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow 
antl  has  passed  through  all  the  chairs  in 
that  lodge.  Of  excellent  business  ability 
and  broad  resources  he  has  attained  to  an 
enviable  jjosition  among  the  substantial 
men  of  Danville  and  is  recognized  as  a 
leader  in  commercial  circles.  He  has  won 
success  by  his  well  directed,  energetic  ef- 
forts, and  the  prosperity  that  has  come  to 
him  is  certainlv  well  deserved. 


THOMAS  OAKWOOD. 

Thomas  Oakwood  is  a  prominent  farmer 
and  a  native  son  of  Vermilion  county,  hav- 
ing been  born  April  2^.  1858.  on  the  fami 
he  now  occupies.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry 
J.  Oakwood,  for  whom  the  township  of 
Oakwood  was  named.  His  mother  was 
Priscilla  (Sailor)  Oakwood,  a  native  of 
Logan  county.  They  were  married  in  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois.  Henry  J.  Oakwood 
was  born  in  Brown  county.  Ohio,  March  7, 
1 8 19,  and  came  overland  to  this  cotmty  in 
1833  and  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  the 
township  which  was  named  for  him.  His 
father,  too,  had  settled  in  ^'ermilion  county 
at  an  early  date,  and  thus  the  Oakwood 
family  has  become  associated  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  county.  Henry  J-  Oakwood 
was  supervisor  of  the  county  for  several 
years  and  during  his  time  the  courthouse  at 
Danville  was  built.  His  name  is  engraved 
on  the  corner-stone  of  that  building  and 
when  he  first  came  to  the  township  five  hun- 
dred Indians  were  encamped  here.  He 
died  January  5,  1901.  His  widow  is  living 
on  the  old  home  place  with  her  son  Charles 
in  Oakwood  township.  Mr.  Oakwood  was 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


703 


Fellows.  To  Henry  J.  Oakwood  and  liis  wife 
were  born  eight  children,  of  whom  the  fol- 
lowing are  living:  William,  a  farmer  of 
Oakwood  township;  Thomas;  Harvey  and 
Charles,  who  follow  farming  in  Oakwood 
township. 

Thomas  Oakwood  received  liis  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  and  was  early 
trained  to  farm  work  by  his  father.  During 
the  seasons  of  vacation  he  helped  to  till  the 
fields  and  they  in  turn  brought  forth  abund- 
ant harvests.  He  has  seen  the  prairies  all 
around  converted  into  productive  farms 
which  are  now  the  possessions  of  a  happy 
and  contented  people.  When  his  father  set- 
tled in  Oakwood  township  it  gave  little 
promise  of  the  brilliant  future  which  was 
before  it,  but  he,  with  other  public-spirited 
men.  united  in  their  efforts  to  develop  and 
improve  the  township  and  that  their  efforts 
were  highly  successful  is  indicated  by  the 
prosperity  \vhich  is  seen  on  every  hand.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  Thomas  Oakwood  left 
school.  After  this  he  continued  to  work  on 
the  home  farm  which  was  the  place  of  his 
birth.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  land  on  section  19,  Oakwood  town- 
ship. Here  he  raises  a  high  grade  of  stock 
in  connection  with  his  other  farming  inter- 
ests. He  has  acquired  a  comfortable  com- 
petence through  his  energy  and  thrift  and 
to-day  is  one  of  the  substantial  business  men 
of  his   community. 

Mr.  Oakwood  was  united  in  marriage  on 
the  9tli  of  September,  1882.  to  Miss  Mariet- 
ta I-ongstreet,  who  was  born  in  Vermilion 
county.  May  11,  1861.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Longstreet,  whose  first  wife 
was  Jane  (Lee)  Longstreet,  a  native  of 
Champaign  county,  Illinois.  They  were 
luarried  in  Champaign  county,  where  she  af- 
terward died.     Benjamin  Longstreet  was  a 


native  of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a 
son  of  George  F.  Longstreet,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  of  English  origin.  After  the 
death  of  his  wife  Mr.  Benjamin  Longstreet 
removed  to  Veriuilion  county,  Illinois,  and 
here  entered  one-half  a  section  of  land. 
About  this  time  he  w-as  married  to  Elizabeth 
(Board)  Foland,  of  Fountain  county,  In- 
diana. By  a  previous  marriage  she  had  one 
child,  Mrs.  Rena  Fulton,  who  now  resides 
in  Danville.  After  residing  in  another  por- 
tion of  Vermilion  county  for  nine  years  Mr. 
Longstreet  removed  to  Oakwood  township, 
where  he  resided  for  ten  years.  About  the 
year  1847  '^^  removed  to  the  village  of  Oak- 
wood  and  there  lived  retired  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  April  5,  1889.  His  second 
wife  died  June  30,  1883.  He  had  held  all 
of  the  township  offices,  including  that  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  for  a  number  of  years.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  Republican.  By 
his  first  union  one  child  was  born,  but  is  now 
deceased.  By  the  second  marriage  were 
born  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Anna  is  the  wife  of  William  Oak- 
wood,  a  brother  of  Thomas,  and  resides 
north  of  Oakwood.  Illinois.  They  have  six 
children.  Marietta  is  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. P.elle  is  the  wife  of  Richard  Seymour. 
She  has  two  children  and  resides  near 
Oakwood.  Newton,  the  fourth  member  of 
the  family,  married  Maggie  Sampson.  He 
has  two  children  and  resides  near  Oakwood. 
Dora  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Clark.  They 
have  two  children  and  reside  in  West 
Lebanon,  Indiana.  Katie  is  the  wife  of 
Otis  P.  Hayworth,  has  three  children  and 
resides  in  Fairmount.  Illinois.  S.  B.  re- 
sides in  Oakwood.  Illinois,  and  is  a  pro- 
fessor in  the  public  schools  of  Indiana. 
Unto  I\Ir.  aufl  Mrs.  Oakwood  have  been 


704 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


born  six  children :  Oscar  L.,  born  March 
2-j,  1883;  Edgar  V.,  born  July  16,  1887; 
Henry  \'.,  bom  October  4,  1889;  Nina 
Belle,  born  March  20,  1892;  Ruby  Edith, 
born  February  18,  1897;  and  Hubert,  born 
August  12,  1894,  and  who  died  March  14, 
1895.  Mr.  Oakwood  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  which  he  is 
trustee  and  steward.  He  takes  a  deep  inter- 
est in  church  work.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and 
in  politics  is  a  stanch  Republican,  but  has 
never  sought  office.  He  is  a  man  of  sterl- 
ing character  who  enjoys  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  friends  and  acquaintances  by 
reason  of  his  genuine  worth. 


GEORGE  WHEELER  JONES. 

George  W'heeler  Jones  was  born  at 
Bath,  Steuben  county.  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 4,  1839,  the  oldest  son  of  Dr.  John 
Sproson  Jones  and  Charlotte  Wheeler,  his 
wife.  The  family  removed  to  Covington, 
Indiana,  in  1846.  His  early  life  was  spent 
in  laying  the  foundation  of  a  good  educa- 
tion, as  he  was  a  most  ambitious  student. 
He  was  a  devoted  son  and  the  tie  between 
him  and  his  mother  was  unusually  close. 
He  attended  Wabash  College  and  later 
made  a  choice  of  the  medical  profession, 
studying  for  a  while  under  his  father.  La- 
ter he  studied  in  Chicago  under  Dr.  \\\\\- 
iam  H.  By  ford,  graduating  from  what  was 
then  the  medical  department  of  Lind  Uni- 
versity, now  the  Chicago  Medical  College 
of   the   Northwestern   L'niversity. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  but  soon  enlisted 
as  a  Nolunteer  surgeon  for  three  months, 
later  re-enlisting  for  three  years,  serving  as 


assistant  surgeon  of  the  Sixty-third  Indi- 
ana \'oIuntcers.  In  1865  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Emelyn  K.  Enos  of  Indianapolis 
and  located  at  Danville,  Illinois.  Here  he 
commenced  again  the  practice  of  medicine 
also,  being  associated  with  his  brother, 
James  Sanger  Jones,  in  a  ilrug  store  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Hazel  streets, 
under  the  name  of  Jones  Borthers.  The 
brother,  James,  a  gay-hearted,  fun-loving 
young  fellow,  endeared  to  e\'ery  one  who 
fell  under  the  influence  of  his  mern,-  ways 
and  kind  heart,  died  suddenly  October  26, 
1872,  and  after  three  years  the  drug  store 
was  sold,  leaving  Dr.  Jones  to  devote  his 
entire  time  to  the  practice  of  his  beloved 
profession.  For  twenty-nine  years  his  busy 
life  continued  in  Danville  and  his  labor  was 
unremitting  in  the  cause  of  healing.  One 
of  his  friends  bore  testimony  to  his  faith- 
fulness when  he  said : 

"His  parents  gave  him  pure  blood,  and 
nature  gave  him  a  Grant-like  frame,  four 
square  and  solid  as  a  tower,  an  iron  con- 
stitution, a  large,  clear,  active  brain,  a 
warm,  loving,  hopeful  heart.  He  was  my 
family  physician  and  very  intimate  friend 
for  over  twenty  years.  I  knew  him  from 
the  heart  out.  Often  has  he  carried  my  sick 
children  on  his  bosom  about  the  rooms,  say- 
ing. 'I  can  do  more  for  a  child  when  it 
knows  me  and  is  not  afraid.'  He  has  done 
the  same  with  your  children.  How  ten- 
derly he  watched  and  nursed  our  sick.  How 
he  toiled  to  know  what  was  best  for  them. 
For  almost  twenty  years  I  passed  his  office 
late  at  night  from  my  own  work.  Yet, 
however  late,  his  lamp  was  burning:  his 
patients  were  in  his  heart ;  no  day  of  toil 
was  so  hard  as  to  keep  him  from  studying; 
for  their  healing  he  must  know  the  best 
and  latest  wisdom  of  the  medical  world.  It 
seems  that  he  never  slept,  that  he  was  al- 


Licn;.:iY 

OF   Y.IE 
UK1VER3'.TY  OF  I'- 


UKIVG 


LI? 

or 


O;-  ILL!.\'0!S 


MRS  CHARLOTTE   JONES 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


709 


ways  at  work  with  his  patients,  his  medi- 
cines and  books."  In  the  autumn  of  1894 
prostration  from  overwork  compelled  him 
to  take  the  first  vacation  he  had  ever  known. 
In  company  with  a  friend  he  went  to  the 
Bernuulas  in  December,  intending  to  return 
in  the  spring  and  resume  the  practice  of 
meilicine  in  Danville.  The  trip  was  a  de- 
lightful one  and  for  three  weeks  he  enjoyed 
the  change  with  every  appearance  of  re- 
turning health,  but  on  Sunday.  January  6, 
1895.  he  died  suddenly  at  the  Princess 
Hotel.  Hamilton.  Bermuda,  of  collapse  of 
the  heart.  His  body  was  brought  to  Dan- 
ville two  weeks  later  and  buried  in  Spring 
Hill  cemetery,  followed  by  a  long  line  of 
weeping  mourners,  for  he  had  many  loving 
friends. 

In  his  profession  he  was  held  in  high 
esteem,  receiving  many  honors  at  the  hands 
of  his  professional  brethren.  He  was  a 
prolific  writer,  contributing  many  articles 
to  the  current  medical  magazines,  and  to 
the  various  medical  socities.  He  was  a 
the  various  medical  societies.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber and  regular  attendant  of  the  American 
Medical  Association,  the  Tri-State  Medical 
Society  and  was  at  one  time  president  of 
the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society.  He  was 
also  honored  by  an  invitation  to  contribute 
a  paper  to  the  Ninth  International  Medical 
Congress,  which  convened  in  Washington, 
D.  C,  in  1887.  Politically  he  was  a  stanch 
Republican.  He  led  a  life  of  purity  anil 
strict  integrity,  with  brain  and  hands  busy 
with  incessant  cares,  loyal  to  friends,  grate- 
ful for  friendship,  true  to  the  principles  of 
his  religion.  He  was  a  man  of  literary 
taste  and  knowledge,  taking  time  in  his  busy 
life,  to  investigate  the  best  the  world 
brought  him.  He  was  a  man  of  great  cour- 
age, unyielding  convictions,  and  tireless 
energy,  in  his  beloved  profession  of  medi- 


cine. To  the  cry  of  the  afflicted  his  ear  was 
ever  open,  his  skillful  eye  and  hand  e\er 
ready  to  relieve;  and  the  poor  and  needy 
found  in  him  a  helper.  No  labor  was  too 
arduous,  no  detail  too  trivial,  no  sacrifice 
too  great  for  him  when  life  and  death  hung 
in  the  balance,  and  iiis  rewartl  was  suft'icient 
in  the  consciousness  of  tlulv  done. 


:mrs.  charlotte  jones. 

i\Irs.  Charliitte  Jones  was  born  March 
29.  in  the  jear  1814,  in  the  town  of  Bath, 
Steuben  county,  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
In  the  year  1805,  her  grandfather,  Jeremiah 
Wheeler,  left  New  Hampshire  witli  his  wife, 
his  four  sons,  his  daughters  and  his  neigh- 
bors, and  journeyed  westward  in  the  old 
patriarchal  fashion,  the  women  and  children 
riding,  the  men  tlrixing  flocks  and  herds, 
looking  for  a  got)d  well-watered  country, 
which  thev  fountl  on  the  banks  of  the  beau- 
tiful Cohocton  river.  There  he  entered 
land  ceded  a  few  years  before  by  the  Sen- 
eca Indians  and  settled  his  children  about 
him.  The  storj'  of  that  journey,  the  dread 
of  passing  through  "the  Narrows."  the  safe 
accomplishment,  the  choice  of  location  and 
the  final  settlement  has  been  told  and  retold 
to  the  children  for  a  hundred  years;  and 
to  some  of  them  it  is  as  \i\-id  today  as  on 
its  first  recital. 

In  this  group  of  pioneers,  George 
Wheeler,  the  oldest  son,  was  a  strong  fig- 
ure. He  had  married  Gratia  Stearns  back 
in  \'ermont,  and  with  her  and  their  two  chil- 
dren had  accompanied  his  father,  and  in 
that  new  country  the  sturdy,  industrious, 
Gocl-fearing  man  and  his  wife  set  uj)  their 
altar,  and  went  to  work  to  make  a  home  and 
rear  a  familv.     How  well  they  succeeded  is 


710 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


established  by  the  testimony  of  this  dear 
daugliter,  Charlotte,  who,  all  through  the 
long  years  of  her  life,  kept  bright  to  her 
children  the  happy  childhood  and  maiden- 
hood spent  under  that  roof,  in  the  compan- 
ionship of  a  large  family  and  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  uncles,  aunts  and  cousins,  dwell- 
ing in  the  community  of  interests  and  the 
interdependence  that  stamp  the  pioneer 
life  .  Here  the  little  maid  learned  the 
thrift,  the  industry,  the  carefulness,  the 
love  of  order,  the  self-reliance,  that 
molded  her  character.  In  the  little  school- 
house  across  the  road  from  home  was 
laid,  by  the  painstaking,  conscientious 
teacher  of  those  early  days,  the  foundation 
of  the  education  that  broadened  and 
witlened  with  her  life:  from  the  Old  English 
Reader  her  mind  was  stored  with  never- 
forgotten,  high,  noble  thoughts  and  there 
she  learned  the  clean,  pure  English  that  al- 
ways distinguished  her  conversation  from 
the  careless  talk  of  the  day.  With  this 
training  came  the  eager  thirst  for  knowl- 
edge that  never  left  her  and  that  inspired 
her  to  the  constant  reading  of  the  best  books 
and  the  keen  interest  in  the  world's  move- 
ments in  exploration  and  advancement.  In 
this  little  school,  she  was  the  best  speller, 
the  most  ambitious  scholar  and  the  leader 
in  the  games  and  excitements  of  childhood. 
With  brothers  and  cousins  she  hunted  for 
goosequills  for  pens,  gathered  eggs,  picked 
berries,  helped  with  the  "sugaring  off"  and 
played  in  the  nex'er  failing  clear  waters  of 
the  little  creek  that  ran  at  the  foot  of  the 
slope  behind  the  house.  The  father's  house 
was  always  the  home  and  haven  of  the  min- 
isters riding  their  wide,  lonely  circuits ;  and, 
in  ministering  to  their  wants  and  listening 
to  the  conversation,  taking  part  in  the 
hymns  and  devotions,  the  child's  soul  was 
early  led  in  ways  of  peace  and  thanksgiv- 


ing. Here  she  learned  to  "look  well  to  the 
ways  of  the  household,"  helping  in  all  kinds 
of  womanly  work — cooking,  spinning, 
weaving,  dyeing,  picking  geese,  making 
butter  and  cheese — taking  wholesome  pride 
in  work  well  done,  in  being  the  best  worker, 
doing  the  day's  "stent"  in  the  shortest  time, 
producing  the  l>est  results,  loving  the  work 
for  the  work's  sake.  And  the  singing 
schools,  the  sleigh  rides,  the  active,  gay 
young  company,  the  enduring  friendships, 
the  father's  tender  love,  the  quiet  mother's 
example — what  a  rich  furnishing  they  made 
for  her  after  life,  her  children  know. 

When  she  was  twenty-three  years  old 
she  married  John  Sproson  Jones,  a  young 
physician  and  began  with  him  the  life  of 
self-denial  ami  hardship  that  falls  to  the  lot 
of  a  country  doctor  struggling  for  a  foot- 
hold. After  a  nimiber  of  changes,  with 
A-arying  fortunes,  in  1846,  she  moved  with 
him  ami  her  three  little  boys  to  Covington, 
Indiana,  then  a  new  country,  differing  in 
climate,  jieople  and  ways  of  living  from 
New  York  and  her  beloxed  home.  She  be- 
gan the  new  life  in  homesickness  and  weari- 
ness of  spirit,  under  circumstances  that 
called  out  all  the  strength  of  her  character, 
tried  her  soul  and  purified  her  nature.  Her 
sweetness  of  heart,  her  courage,  her  lofty 
endeavor  won  her  faithful  friends.  Suc- 
cess came,  and  a  new  home  was  established 
where  she  trained  her  children  in  the  ways 
she  knew  and  loved.  She  was  the  mother 
of  eight  children,  ancl  raised  five  to  be  men 
and  women.  She  sent  her  two  sons  to  the 
Civil  war  and  received  them  again  unhurt. 
The  sons  settled  in  Danville,  Illinois,  and 
in  1 87 1  the  family  left  Covington  and  fol- 
lowed them.  Before  they  had  lived  in  Dan- 
ville a  year  the  father.  Dr.  J.  S.  Jones,  died 
and  in  less  than  a  year  later  the  younger 
unmarried  son,  James   S.  Jones,  died  sud- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


711 


denly.  With  bowed  spirit,  but  brave  cour- 
age, slie  UM?k  her  place  as  head  of  the  fam- 
ily, ami  tluring  the  thirty-one  years  that 
she  held  that  place,  moving  in  and  out  he- 
fore  the  people,  not  once  did  she  fail  in  her 
duty  to  her  family,  her  friends  and  the 
community — always  the  same  sweet  pa- 
tience, ahvaxs  the  same  high  courage,  al- 
ways the  "saving  grace  of  humor"  carry- 
ing her  over  the  many  hard  places.  Her 
nobility  of  character  won  all  hearts,  her 
loyalty  and  interest  kept  them.  Everybody 
loved  her  and  when,  after  she  was  eighty 
years  old.  she  received  the  unexpected  tid- 
ings of  the  death  of  her  oldest  chikl  and 
only  son  in  a  foreign  land,  she  was  borne 
up  by  the  deep,  loving  sympathy  of  the  en- 
tire community,  and  while  she  "wept  like 
a  child,  she  had  the  faith  of  a  saint."  She 
showed  the  strength  of  her  nature  by  her 
continued  interest  in  the  welfare  of  others, 
the  work  of  the  world  and  the  every  day 
concerns  of  life.  In  her  later  life  she  was 
cherished  and  guarded  and  petted,  and  her 
sweet  presence  was  a  blessing  and  a  com- 
fort to  all  who  had  a  sight  of  her.  Her 
wisdom,  her  purity,  her  nobleness,  were  so 
evident  that  strangers  knew  and  wondered, 
and  every  nature  grew  finer  and  sweeter 
by  even  a  passing  intercourse.  Her 
strength  of  mind  and  heart  remained  stead- 
fast and  when,  on  the  nth  of  November. 
1902,  after  a  three  weeks'  illness  from 
bronchial  pneumonia,  she  slipped  away 
from  the  precious  body,  ending  a  long  life 
of  nearly  eighty-nine  years,  her  "eye  was 
not  dim  nor  her  natural  force  abated."  In 
every  house  there  was  sorrow  and  mourn- 
ing for  the  loss  of  the  life  that  in  passing 
left  a  benediction  of  love.  She  gave  to  her 
children  the  priceless  heritage  of  an  honored 
name,  made  so  by  a  long  life  filled  with 
kind  and  noble  deeds. 


"A  sweeter  wmuan  ne'er  drew  breath." 
As  daughter,  child,  wife,  mother,  compan- 
ion, friend.  neighi)or.  there  is  no  tiaw.  Her 
loving  heart,  that  made  a  pet  of  every  liv- 
ing thing:  her  bright  intellect,  that  appre- 
ciated the  best  in  exery  department  of  the 
world's  work ;  her  c^uick  and  kindly  sym- 
path}-.  that  made  friends  of  the  lowly  and 
those  of  high  estate  alike:  her  courage,  that 
faced  e\ery  obstacle  and  danger;  her  faith, 
that  saw  the  good  in  all  things ;  her  love  of 
this  beautiful  WDrld.  that  made  every  morn- 
ing a  delight  and  the  works  of  the  Almighty 
a  constant  niar\ el ;  her  enjoyment  of  the  fine 
and  good  things  of  life:  her  keen  wit.  her 
serene  self-i)oise.  her  brightness  of  sjjeech, 
her  contented  spirit  made  her  the  charming 
companion,  the  sweet  friend,  while  her  in- 
spirational insight  and  generous  hand  made 
her  tile  dear  comforter  in  any  grief  or 
trouble.  Hers  was  "the  humility  that  sets 
a  seal  upon  her  lips  and  forgets  what  she 
has  d()ne,  the  patience  that  endureth  all 
things,  the  guilelessness  that  thinketh  no 
evil,  sincerity  that  rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity, 
the  kindness  that  makes  hands  and  feet  ac- 
tive, the  chastity  of  temper  that  purifies 
every  impulse  and  the  spirit  of  forgiveness 
that  makes  the  soul  (lodlike." 


WILLIAM  STRATMAN.  Jr. 

William  Stratman.  Jr..  who  for  ten 
years  has  engaged  in  business  in  Danville 
as  a  horseshoer  at  Xo.  16  South  Hazel 
street,  was  born  near  Madison,  Indiana,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Katy  (Ricken)  Stratman,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Germany  and  alxiut 
1 87 1  came  to  America,  settling  in  Danville, 
Illinois,   where   they  remained   for  a  short 


'12 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


time  prior  to  their  removal  to  Indiana.  In 
the  latter  state,  lio\ve\er,  their  residence 
was  but  brief  and  they  returned  to  Danville, 
where  the  father  established  a  blacksmith 
shop.  Here  he  still  works  at  his  trade  at 
No.  422  South  Bowman  avenue.  In  the 
family  are  five  children  :  Annie,  the  wife 
of  August  Lindebaum,  a  blacksmith  in  the 
coal  mines  of  Danville;  Josephine,  the  wife 
of  Andrew  Hagen,  who  is  employed  as  a 
boiler  maker  b\-  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad  Company,  at  Danville.  Illi- 
nois; William;  Joseph,  who  married  Tilda 
Burrows  and  is  also  a  blacksmith  of  Dan- 
ville; and  John,  who  follows  blacksmithing 
in  the  coal  mines.  The  children  were  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Indiana  and 
of  this  city. 

Upon  leaving  school  ^\'illiam  Stratman, 
Jr.,  began  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade, 
which  he  followed  in  the  employ  of  others 
for  five  years  and  then  started  in  business 
on  his  own  account.  He  purchased  prop- 
erty at  805  Main  street  and  there  worked  at 
his  trade  for  nine  years,  when  he  sold  his 
shop  to  the  city  of  Danville  for  a  fire  engine 
house  and  purchased  his  present  property  at 
No.  16,  South  Hazel  street.  He  now  owns 
a  fine  brick  shop  and  has  discontinued  gen- 
eral blacksmithing  work,  devoting  his  atten- 
tion to  horseshoeing.  He  employs  two  men 
during  the  winter  season  and  five  men  in 
the  summer.  He  is  the  leading  horseshoer 
of  Danville,  doing  a  very  large  business  in 
this  line.  He  has  become  an  expert  work- 
man and  his  practical  understanding  of  the 
business  enables  him  to  capably  direct  the 
labors  of  his  men. 

In  1896  Mr.  Stratman  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Nettie  Culbert,  a  native  of 
St.  Louis,  and  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Nettie    (Johnson)    Culbert,  lioth   of  whom 


are  residents  of  Rossville,  \>rmilion  coun- 
ty, the  father  being  the  owner  of  a  green- 
house in  that  city  and  successfully  conduct- 
ing a  florist's  business.  Two  children  were 
born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  but  the 
first  child  died  in  infancy.  The  other, 
Gretia,  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Stratman  gives  his  political  support 
to  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  office.  Socially  he  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Modern  Woodmen,  of  Dan- 
ville, with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  and  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters,  while  both  he  ami  his  wife  are 
comnnmicants  of  the  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
church  of  this  city.  They  have  a  pleasant 
home  at  No.  831  East  Main  street  and  Mr. 
Stratman  is  regarded  as  a  successful  busi- 
ness man  in  the  community.  The  greater 
part  of  his  life  has  been  here  passed  and  his 
acquaintance  is  a  wide  one.  Yet  a  young 
man,  he  has  achieved  a  jwosperity  which 
many  an  older  person  might  \\ell  envy,  and 
arguing  from  the  past  one  may  well 
prophesy  for  him  a  still  more  prosperous 
future. 


FRANCIS  M.  FAIRCHILD. 

Among  the  progressive  agriculturists 
and  representati\e  citizens  of  Blount  town- 
ship is  classed  Mr.  Fairchild.  whose  landed 
possessions  aggregate  five  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  sections  3,  4,  10,  and  ^^, 
Blount  township.  He  was  born  here.  April 
20,  1848.  within  one  hundred  rods  of  where 
he  now  li\es.  His  father,  Daniel  Fairchild, 
was  commonly  known  as  Preacher  Fair- 
child  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  count}'.  He  married  Lucy  Hemingway, 
who  like  her  husband  was  a  native  of  Xew 


■tiiXlVcK 


LI-BRARY 

0!^    r;-!E 

ilTY  Of  II 


UNO! 


MRS.  DANIEL  FAIRCHILD. 


FRANCIS   M.  FAIRCHILD. 


LIBRARY 

OF   T.iE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  I'-'-INOlS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


717 


York.  Our  subject  was  the  eighth  son  in 
their  family.  His  education  ^\•as  acquired 
in  the  district  schools  and  in  this  county  he 
was  reared  to  manhood.  He  assisted  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  and  during  the 
winter  months  he  pursued  his  education  in 
the  tlistrict  schools,  being  thus  engaged  until 
he  reachetl  his  majority,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account. 

On  the  3d  of  JNIarch,  1870,  in  his  twen- 
ty-second year,  he  married  Ina  B.  Fitzger- 
ald, a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza  Fitz- 
gerald. She  was  born  in  1852,  only  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  her  husband's  l)irth  place 
and  she  died  December  5,  1894,  at  the  age 
of  forty-two  years  and  twenty-five  days, 
her  death  occurring  in  Colorado,  where  she 
had  gmie  for  the  benefit  of  her  health.  P)V 
this  union  there  had  been  fourteen  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living;  Daisy,  now  the 
wife  of  G.  E.  Albert,  of  Danville,  by  whom 
she  has  one  daughter,  Ina  H.;  Galen  G., 
who  married  Carrie  Starr,  a  daughter  of  J. 
R'.  Starr,  and  they  ha\e  one  son :  A.  R..  who 
was  formerly  a  student  in  the  L'niversity  of 
Illinois  at  Bloomington  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed to  the  University  at  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois; Maude  E..  who  in  her  eighteenth  year 
is  attending  school ;  R.  B.  and  Daniel  Hazel, 
who  are  at  home.  The  deceased  of  the  fam- 
ily are:  Arthur,  who  died  January  7,  1875, 
at  the  age  of  eleven  months  and  twenty- 
one  days ;  Clara  and  Clarence,  twins,  the 
former  dying  August  2}^,  1892,  and  the  lat- 
ter August  18,  of  the  same  year;  Loto  W.. 
who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year,  six  months 
and  nineteen  days;  Charles  \V..  who  was 
bom  December  4,  1870,  and  died  January 
28,  1896,  at  F'alcoln,  Colorado;  Lola  M., 
who  became  the  wife  of  John  Snyder  and 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years ;  01i\cr 
Lincoln,  who  was  born  June  28.  T877,  and 
died  January  28,    1897;  and  one  that  died 


in  infancy.  On  the  ist  of  December,  1897, 
Mr.  Fairchild  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Annie  White,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  White. 
Three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter, 
were  bom  of  this  marriage  but  all  dietl  in 
infanc\'. 

In  less  than  a  month  after  the  death  of 
his  lirst  wife  Mr,  Fairchild  lost  his  home, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  he  has 
since  relniilt  a  gooil  residence  upon  his 
farm.  He  can  well  rememlier  the  period  of 
his  l)o_\hood  days  when  everything  was  new 
and  untleselopcd  in  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  has  engaged  in  feeding  cattle,  making 
a  specialt}-  of  shorthorns  and  he  always 
keeps  good  grades.  His  land  is  rich  and 
well  improved.  Jt  was  largely  cultivated 
originally  b\'  our  subject  and  his  brother, 
Harrison,  who  were  among  the  first  to  tile 
their  land.  Mr.  Fairchild  has  done  con- 
siderable tiling  and  the  fields  are  miw  well 
tlrained.  When  he  began  farming  his  trad- 
ing  was  done  at  Danville  and  (jn  one  oc- 
casion he  made  a  trip  to  J<iliet,  lllincjis,  with 
apples.  He  has  plowed  with  a  single  shovel 
plow  and  cut  grain  with  a  cradle.  He  re- 
members clearly  the  way  his  mother  used 
to  spin  and  wea\e.  all  the  clothing  of  the 
family  being  home-made.  Xot  an  improve- 
ment had  been  placed  upon  his  land  when 
he  tO(jk  ]iossession.  but  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  its  development  and  owing 
to  his  excellent  management  and  enterprise 
he  in  course  of  time  transformed  his  land 
into  a  verv  producti\e  and  valua1)le  tract. 
In  this  work  he  was  assisted  by  his  wife, 
who  proved  to  him  a  faithful  companion 
and  helpmate  on  life's  journey.  She  was 
an  excellent  manager  and  was  revered  and 
lo\ed  bv  all  who  knew  her,  not  only  in  her 
immeiliate  h.ousehold  but  also  by  her  many 
friends.      She    was    also    an    acti\-e   church 


7i8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


worker  and  when  she  passed  away  she  4eft 
a  luisband  and  nine  chiklren  to  mourn  lier 
loss,  but  three  of  tlie  children  soon  after- 
ward followed  her. 

Mr.  Fairchild  held  the  office  of  town 
clerk  for  two  terms  and  was  collector  of 
taxes  for  a  nnmljer  of  years  and  supervisor 
for  two  years.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century 
or  more  he  has  been  a  memlier  of  the 
school  board,  is  still  in  tliat  position, 
and  has  assisted  largely  in  building 
schools  and  churches.  For  thirty-four  years 
he  has  been  a  meniljer  of  the  Methcxl- 
ist  Episcopal  church,  in  wliich  he  has  served 
as  a  class-leader,  steward  for  a  number  of 
years  and  as  a  Sunday-school  teacher.  He 
has  frequently  been  a  delegate  from  this 
place  to  conventions.  In  his  political  affairs 
he  is  an  earnest  Republican.  Although  he 
has  had  many  hardships  and  difficulties  to 
overcome  he  has  progressed  in  his  work 
and  to-day  he  stands  among  the  prominent 
and  influential  agriculturists  of  his  com- 
munity, occupying  a  very  enviable  position 
because  of  liis  splendid  success  as  well  as 
by  reason  of  his  upright  life. 


BENJAMIX  F.  LEACH. 

Benjamin  F.  Leach  is  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Humrick,  and  is  also  serving 
as  postmaster  there.  He  was  born  in  Pick- 
away county,  Ohio.  September  2Ti.  1846, 
and  is  of  Irish  lineage,  his  paternal  grand- 
father having  been  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
isle  and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the 
new  world.  William  M.  Leach,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Frederick  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  in  1796,  and  was  the  youngest 
of  a  large  family  who  devoted  their  energies 


to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1832  he  re- 
moved to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  for  twenty  years,  coming  to  \'er- 
milion  county,  Illinois,  in  1852.  He  was 
not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home, 
however,  for  he  died  the  following  year  on 
a  farm  about  three  miles  north  of  Indianola. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  Monroe,  was  born  in  Culpq)er  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  in  1800,  and  also  belonged  to 
a  large  family  of  farming  people.  She  came 
of  an  aristocratic  family  of  the  south  and  a 
number  of  her  ancestors  were  valiant  sol- 
diers in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Mon- 
roe family  was  of  Scotch  lineage  and  thus 
the  subject  of  this  review  comes  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  When  seventeen  years  of 
age  Mary  Monroe  ga\e  lier  hand  in  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Leach,  the  wedding  ceremony 
being  performed  in  \"irginia.  and  subse- 
quently they  lived  for  twenty  years  upon 
a  farm  in  Ohio.  The\-  became  the  parents 
of  the  following  children :  Edgar  B..  now 
deceased:  \\'illiam  M..  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas ;  John  and  George,  who  have  also  passed 
away:  Henry  C,  of  Arkansas;  Benjamin 
F. ;  Mrs.  Sarah  Parker,  also  deceased :  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Carney,  of  Arkansas.  Four 
of  the  sons  were  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war, 
valiantly  aiding  in  the  preservation  of  the 
Union. 

Benjamin  F.  Leach  sj^ent  the  first  six 
years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity, and  then  accompanied  his  parents  to 
\"ermilion  county.  Illinois,  where  he  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  reared 
in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  of  the 
period.  On  the  30th  of  March.  1875,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  I\Iiss  Alma  J. 
Baldwin,  who  was  born  in  this  county,  in 
1856.  a  daughter  of  Darius  and  Mary  Bald- 
win,   in    wliose    familv    were    six    children: 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


719 


James  and  William  A.,  both  deceased ;  B. 
F.,  who  is  living  in  Pueblo,  Colorado;  L. 
P.,  a  resident  of  \'ermilion  county;  and 
Mrs.  Mary  Rutherford,  of  Wichita,  Kan- 
sas, besides  the  wife  of  our  subject.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Leach  was  blessed 
with  the  following  children :  Altert  W., 
now  twenty-six  years  of  age,  is  employed  at 
the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
at  Kankakee,  Illinois.  Richard  B.,  a  young 
man  of  twenty-four  years,  is  in  the  govern- 
ment employ  at  A\'ashington,  D.  C.  Mary 
E.,  Xellie  C.  and  Daisy  G.  are  yet  under 
the  jjarental  roof.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  1891,  her  loss  being  deeply  mourned 
not  only  liy  her  immediate  fann'ly  but  also 
by  many  friends  throughout  the  community. 
Richard,  the  son  of  our  subject,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Spanish-American  war,  serving 
with  the  Third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry. 
Mr.  Leach  continued  his  connection  with 
agricultural  pursuits  in  the  county  until 
1885.  when  he  took  up  his  alx)de  in  Hum- 
rick.  He  first  worked  on  a  farm  and  then 
was  employed  by  a  grain  company  until 
1901.  when  he  established  his  general  store 
in  this  town.  He  has  since  conducted  the 
enterprise  with  good  success  and  is  to-day 
enjoying  a  constantly  growing  trade.  He 
is  also  the  postmaster  of  the  town,  having 
served  in  that  capacity  for  three  terms  dur- 
ing the  administrations  of  President  Harri- 
son and  McKinley.  In  politics  he  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican,  earnest  and  unfaltering  in 
his  support  of  the  party.  He  served  as  col- 
lector of  Elwood  township  for  three  terms 
and  was  road  commissioner  for  one  term, 
and  was  the  first  supervisor  of  Love  town- 
ship. He  has  also  been  justice  of  the  peace 
for  two  terms  and  that  he  is  strictly  fair 
and  impartial  in  his  rulings  is  shown  l)y 
the  fact  that  he  has  ne\er  had  a  case  ap- 


pealed from  his  court.  Mr.  Leach  never 
had  a  lawsuit  of  his  own  in  his  life,  but  has 
always  lived  i)eaceably  with  his  fellow  men. 
His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  mem- 
bership with  the  Baptist  church  and  fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Tribe  of 
Ben  Hur.  He  has  a  ])leasant,  comfortable 
h(ime  in  llumrick  and  is  a  i)nl)!ic-spirited, 
progressixe  citizen  who  enjoys  the  confi- 
dence of  his  neighlK)rs  and  the  esteem  of 
many  warm  friends. 


J.  F.  BAIRD. 

The  name  of  Baird  has  through  long 
years  been  closely  associated  with  agricul- 
tural interests  in  X'erniilion  county  and  he 
of  whom  we  write  is  a  representative  farm- 
er and  sticcessful  business  man,  ])ossessing 
excellent  executive  al)ility.  keen  discrimina- 
tion and  marked  enterprise.  He  w;is  Ijorn 
in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  Sep- 
tember. 1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  (Baldwin)  Baird,  the  former  a 
nati\e  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
They  were  married  in  the  Buckeye  slate  and 
are  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
The  father  had  learned  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  earlv  life  .•md  followed  that  pur- 
suit in  Ohio  until  i8()5,  when  with  his  fam- 
ily he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  \'ermilion 
county.  Here  abandoning  his  trade  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  is  now  living  upon  a  farm  in  Catlin 
township.  He  has  been  three  times  married 
and  with  him  resides  his  third  wife.  In- 
(le|)endent  in  politics  he  has  never  sought 
or  desired  the  honors  and  emoluments  of 
office  for  himself,  but  has  ever  been  earnest 
in    sup])iirt   of   political    measures   which   he 


720 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


deemed  would  advance  local  welfare  or  na- 
tional progress. 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  county  J- 
Frank  Baird  of  this  review  obtained  his 
education,  pursuing  his  studies  there  through 
the  winter  months  until  he  was  ten  years  of 
age,  while  in  the  summer  seasons  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  work  upon  the  farm.  Af- 
ter putting  aside  his  text  books  he  gave  his 
entire  attention  to  farm  work,  first  in  the 
employ  of  others  and  then  in  operation  of 
rented  land.  With  the  family  he  came  to 
\'ermilion  county  and  on  Christmas  day  of 
1877,  in  Fairmount.  was  celebrated  the  niar- 
riaee  of  T-  Frank  Baird  and  ^kliss  Jessie 
Freemont  Browning,  who  was  born  in 
Danville  on  the  4th  of  May.  1857,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  George  Browning,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Derbyshire,  England.  After 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  and  in  the 
meantime  becoming  a  resident  of  America, 
he  was  married  in  Georgetown,  \'ermilion 
county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Emily  D.  Booker, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Ann  ( Throckmorton  ~)  Booker, 
the  former  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
A  brother  of  Airs.  Baird's  great-grandfa- 
ther served  as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war.  At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  ]\Irs.  Browning  became  residents  of 
Danville,  where  the  former  engaged  in 
merchandising  for  two  years.  They  then 
removed  to  Fairmount,  which  was  their 
home  until  January,  1859.  Mrs.  Browning 
then  went  to  Ohio  for  her  health,  but  in  that 
month  died  and  was  buried  at  Plattsburg 
near  Springfield,  Ohio.  In  i860  Mr. 
Browning  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Mary  Reiley,  of 
New  Albany,  Indiana,  a  native  of  Posey 
county,  that  state,  born  February  23,  1838. 
Her  parents.  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Dalby) 


Reiley,  were  both  nati\es  of  England,  were 
married  in  that  country  and  afterward  came 
to  the  new  world,  locating  first  in  Illinois. 
Subse(]uent!y  they  removed  to  Ohio  and 
some  years  later  returned  to  \'ermilion 
county,  where  Mr.  Reiley  died  July  9,  1897. 
His  widow  still  survives  him  and  is  living 
in  \^ance  township.  By  his  first  marriage 
Mr.  George  Browning  had  three  children : 
Evangeline.  E\-a  and  Jessie  F..  the  last 
named  the  wife  of  our  subject.  By  the  sec- 
ond marriage  there  were  ten  children : 
Harriett  Angeline,  the  wife  of  Smiley  Baird. 
a  resident  of  Homer,  Illinois,  and  thev  have 
five  children :  Fannie  B.,  the  wife  of 
Joshua  W'ragg,  of  Springfield,  Ohio; 
George  Harrison,  who  wedded  Alice  Clux- 
ton,  who  with  their  one  child  reside  in  Ur- 
bana,  Illinois;  Albert  B.,  of  Gibson  City, 
Illinois,  who  wedded  Lucy  \\'ilson,  by 
whom  he  has  one  child :  Walter,  Ixirn  in 
1872  and  died  June  9,  1899;  ]\Iary  B.,  the 
wife  of  J.  R.  T.  Barton,  of  Jamaica,  Illi- 
nois, by  whom  she  has  one  child ;  Xevina, 
who  is  at  home;  Ruth,  who  died  in  1897, 
a  twin  sister  of  Xevina ;  J.  Oscar, 
a  resident  of  the  state  of  Washington ;  and 
Ethel  B..  still  with  her  parents. 

After  his  marriage  J.  F.  Baird  of  this 
review  rented  a  tract  of  land  which  he  con- 
tinued to  cultivate  for  six  years.  He  then 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  re- 
sides, becoming  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  acres,  a  valuable  tract  on 
sections  6  and  7,  ^"ance  township.  Here 
he  has  a  splendid  residence,  good  barns,  and 
all  the  equipments  and  accessories  of  a 
model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century.  He 
has  placed  his  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  everything  about  his  place 
is  neat  and  thrifty  in  appearance,  indicating 
the  careful  supervision  of  the  owner.     The 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


721 


improvements  upon  his  farm  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  enterprise  and  are  substan- 
tial evidences  of  his  life  of  well  direcletl 
labor. 

The  home  of  ^Ir.  and  IMrs.  Baird  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children :  Earl 
Ray,  who  was  born  October  28,  1878,  and 
assists  his  father  on  the  farm ;  Emily  Ethel, 
who  was  born  August  31,  1882,  and  died 
August  20,  1884,  and  Pearl  B.,  who  was 
born  November  14,  1885,  and  is  now  an 
accomplished  music  teacher.  The  family 
attend  the  services  of  the  Baptist  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Baird  is  a  member  and  fratern- 
ally he  is  connected  with  the  Court  of 
Honor  and  the  Knights  of  the  (ilobe.  while 
in  his  political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  un- 
faltering in  support  of  the  principles  of  the 
party.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  has  been 
passed  in  \'ermilion  county,  where  he  has 
gained  a  wide  acquaintance  among  the  Ijest 
classes  of  citizens.  In  his  business  inter- 
ests he  has  prospered  and  although  he 
starteil  out  in  life  for  himself  empty  handed 
he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward, 
brooking  no  obstacles  that  could  be  oxer- 
come  by  honest  and  earnest  purpose.  Thus 
he  has  gained  the  place  of  affluence,  being 
to-day  classed  among  the  substantial  ag- 
riculturists lit   his  community. 


JOHN  L.  CHESLEY. 

John  L.  Chesley  is  one  of  the  owners  of 
the  Chesley  Brothers  Boiler  \\'orks  of  Dan- 
yille,  a  btisiness  which  has  become  of  con- 
siderable importance  in  industrial  circles  of 
the  city.  The  men  who  stand  at  its  head 
owe  their  success  to  their  own  labors  and 
capable  control  of  their  trade,  and  undoubt- 


edly the  future  holds  in  store  for  them 
further  prosperity.  John  L.  Chesley  was 
born  in  this  city  May  25,  i860,  his  parents 
l)eing  Robert  \'.  and  Helen  Chesley.  He 
attended  the  public  schools,  but  after  his 
father's  death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  he 
began  learning  the  trade  of  boiler-making 
in  the  enii)loy  of  William  F.  Button,  serv- 
ing an  ap]M-enticeship  which  covered  three 
or  four  )ears.  He  afterward  entered  the 
employ  of  William  Stei)hens,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  a  year  and  then  went  to 
Paris.  Illinois,  and  afterward  to  Decatur. 
In  the  latter  city  he  entered  the  shops  of  the 
\\'al)ash  Railroad  Company,  remaining  for 
a  year  and  then  returned  to  Danville,  where 
he  embarked  in  business  for  himself  on 
\\'est  Main  street.  He  had  been  established 
in  trade  there  for  three  years  when  his 
brother  Charles  E.  abandoned  railroading 
and  entered  into  partnership  with  him. 
Later  they  purchased  the  Stqjhens  plant 
at  the  junction  and  established  their  present 
business,  which  is  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  the  Chesley  Brothers  Boiler  W'orks. 
They  manufacture  all  kinds  of  boilers,  in 
fact,  do  everything  in  the  line  of  iron  work, 
including  the  construction  of  wagons  and 
cars  for  mines,  tanks  and  stacks.  The 
plant  is  composed  of  three  buildings  cover- 
ing an  area  of  one  hundred  by  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet,  and  it  is  supplied  with  all 
modern  ec[uipments,  including  the  latest 
iiu])ro\"ed  machinery  for  facilitating  the 
work  and  making  their  products  durable. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  1885.  in  Dan- 
\  ille.  Mr.  Chesley  wedded  Miss  Eliza  Ham- 
nett,  who  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jer- 
sey, August  21,  1864,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Vaughan)  Hamnett,  the  for- 
mer a  nati\e  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  and 
the  latter  of   County  Fermanagh,    Ireland. 


722 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


They  were  married,  however,  in  Trenton, 
New  Jersey.  Two  sisters  of  the  father  sur- 
vive liim  and  hve  in  England,  while  the 
mother's  relatives  are  residents  of  the 
Emerald  isle.  Mr.  Hamnett  followed  the 
trade  of  spiiniing  in  England  and  worked  in 
the  woolen  mills  for  a  time  after  his  arrival 
in  America.  Later,  however,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed  for 
a  few  years  prior  to  his  marriage  and  subse- 
quently he  became  a  stationary  engineer.  In 
the  year  1866  he  came  with  his  family  to 
the  west,  locating  in  Danville,  where  he 
was  employed  as  an  engineer  by  the  Dan- 
ville Foundry  &  Machine  Company  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  i6th  of 
August,  1869.  The  mother  died  the  same 
day,  five  hours  after  her  husband  passed 
away.  He  was  a  Republican  in  his  politi- 
cal views  and  while  he  Ijelieved  firmly  in  the 
principles  of  the  party  he  always  refused  to 
hold  office.  He  held  membership  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Foresters  and  he 
belonged  to  the  Episcopal  church.  At  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  he  served  for  fifteen 
months  as  a  defender  of  the  Union.  He 
enlisted  for  three  years'  service  in  a  New 
Jersey  regiment  but  the  war  closed  before 
that  time  expired.  In  his  early  manhood 
he  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  English  army 
and  as  such  had  traveled  over  the  greater 
part  of  Europe,  taking  part  in  several  Eng- 
lish wars.  In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hamnett  were  five  children,  of  whom  tw'O 
are  living:  Mrs.  Chesley,  and  Jennie  E., 
the  wife  of  W.  J.  Withner.  a  resident  of 
Vermilion  Heights. 

Mr.  Chesley  of  this  review  is  an  earnest 
Republican  and  while  he  is  able  to  support 
his  position  by  intelligent  argument  because 
of  his  thorough  understanding  of  the  ques- 
tions  and  issues  of  the  day,  he,  too,  has 


always  declined  to  become  a  candidate  for 
office.  He  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp  of  Dan\ille.  but  his  attention  is 
chierty  gi\en  to  his  business  interests,  which 
make  hea\y  demands  upon  his  time.  The 
Chesley  Brothers  have  gained  a  creditable 
standing  in  business  circles  in  their  city  and 
deserve  much  credit  for  what  they  have  ac- 
complished, because  at  an  early  day  they 
started  out  in  life  for  themselves,  working 
their  way  upward  through  fidelity  to  duty, 
earnest   purpose   and    indefatigable   energy. 


G.  M.  ^IcCRAY. 


G.  M.  McCray  is  one  of  the  practical 
and  progressive  young  farmers  of  Pilot 
township,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  1876, 
upon  the  farm  which  is  yet  his  home.  Here 
he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  he  pursued  his  education.  His 
parents  are  still  living  in  Fithian  and  the  fa- 
ther is  a  stock  dealer  and  shipper,  which 
business  he  has  followed  for  many  years. 
In  the  family  are  three  living  children : 
William,  a  resident  of  Oakwood  township; 
G.  M. ;  and  \'erla.  who  is  still  with  her 
parents. 

After  acquiring  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  near  his  boyhood  home 
G.  M.  McCray  entered  a  business  college 
in  Di.xon,  Illinois,  wherein  he  was  graduated 
and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  the  practical 
duties  of  a  business  career.  Upon  the  re- 
moval of  his  parents  to  Fithian  in  the  year 
1896  he  assumed  the  management  of  the 
old  farm  which  he  is  now  operating.  It 
belongs  to  his  mother  and  comprises  four 
hundred  acres  of  rich  and  arable  land  which, 
under  his  control,  is  highly  cultivated,  while 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


723 


everything  about  the  place  is  neat  anil  thrif- 
ty, intlicating  his  careful  supervision.  He 
is  a  wide-awake  young  business  man  and 
is  meeting  with  creditable  success  in  his 
work. 

In  the  year  1896  Air.  McCray  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Julia  Ludwig,  a  daugh- 
ter of  J.  V.  Ludwig  and  unto  them  have 
been  bom  two  children,  of  whom  one  is 
now  li\ing.  Marian,  an  interesting  little 
daughter.  In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr. 
McCray  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  the  lodge 
at  Hope,  of  which  he  is  now  serving  as 
secretary.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a 
Republican  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
question  and  issues  of  the  day  but  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  office,  preferring  to 
devote  his  energies  to  his  business  interests. 


GEORGE  WILSON  TILTON. 

George  Wilson  Tilton.  whose  connec- 
tion with  mercantile  interests  in  \'ennilion 
county  covers  a  period  longer  than  that  of 
any  other  merchant  within  its  Ixirders.  is 
carrying  on  business  in  Catlin.  He  was 
born  in  Beaver  county.  Pennsylvania.  Jan- 
uary 8,  1836,  and  comes  of  a  family  of 
English  ancestry  that  was  established  in 
America  during  the  colonial  epoch  of  our 
nation's  history.  Most  of  those,  if  not  all, 
in  the  United  States  bearing  the  name  of 
Tilton  are  descended  from  the  three  broth- 
ers who  left  their  English  home  to  become 
colonial  settlers  of  this  country.  Enoch 
Tilton.  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Fayette  county.  Pennsylvania.  July  22, 
181 1,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Wilson,  whose  birth  occurred  on 
the  I2th  of  Tanuarv,  181 1.  and  who  was  of 


Irish  lineage.  A  blacksmith  by  trade  the 
father  carried  on  business  along  that  line  in 
early  life,  but  during  the  last  forty  years 
of  his  life  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
the  work  of  the  ministrv  as  a  preacher  of 
the  Baptist  church  in  Ripley  cijunty,  Indi- 
ana. He  located  in  that  county  in  1844, 
when  everything  was  new.  the  land  unbro- 
ken, the  forest  uncut,  and  the  timber  full 
of  various  kinds  of  wild  game  as  well  as 
of  wolves  and  other  wild  animals.  The 
family  endured  many  of  the  hardships  in- 
cident to  frontier  life.  The  father  served 
as  minister  of  four  congregations  in  that 
county  and  died  in  1885.  while  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  for  some  years;  passed 
away  in  Potomac,  Vermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1887,  leaving  a  family  of  nine  sons, 
of  whom  the  subject  of  this  review  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth. 

George  Wilson  Tilton  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  early  schools  of  Ripley  county, 
Intliana,  and  in  jNIoorshill  College  of  that 
state.  He  afterward  engaged  in  teaching, 
a  profession  which  he  followed  for  thirteen 
years,  nine  of  which  were  spent  in  Ripley 
county,  one  in  Missouri  and  four  years  in 
Catlin.  He  arrived  in  \'ermilion  county  in 
i86_'  when  twenty-six  years  of  age,  taking 
charge  of  the  Catlin  school,  of  which  he 
was  a  capable  and  successful  teacher  until 
1866.  He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Rich- 
ard Jones  in  the  capacity  of  bookkeeper  and 
salesman  and  afterward  entered  into  part- 
nership with  Jacob  Sandusky  under  the 
firm  name  of  Sandusk\-  &  Tilton.  a  relation 
that  was  maintained  with  mutual  pleasure 
and  profit  for  seven  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  Mr.  Sandusky  sold  his 
interest  to  L.  C.  Kiger.  and  the  business 
was  then  continued  under  the  firm  style  of 
Tilton  &  Kiger,  for  five  years.     Our  sub- 


724 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ject  then  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
and  has  since  remained  alone  in  tlie  hiisi- 
ness.  He  lias  carried  on  his  mercantile  en- 
terprises at  his  present  location  since  the 
1st  of  January,  1868,  covering  a  period  of 
more  than  thirty-four  consecutive  years. 
Here  he  deals  in  general  merchandise  and 
the  fact  that  many  of  his  patrons  have  con 
tinned  with  him  throughout  this  entire  per- 
iod is  unmistakable  proof  of  his  honorable 
business  methods  and  reliable  dealing.  He 
also  owns  considerable  real  estate  and  does 
not  a  little  business  in  handling  property. 
He  has  town  property  in  Catlin  and  also  in 
Danville  and  owns  a  half  interest  in  the 
business  "of  the  firm  of  Tilton  &  Son,  gen- 
eral merchaiits  of  Fairmuunt.  His  farm  land 
is  all  leased  to  good  tenants  and  the  rental 
therefrom  supplies  a  gratifying  income. 

;Mr.  Tilton  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Ripley  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Allbright,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1837. 
They  have  three  children:  Charles  Virgil, 
of  Fairmount,  is  the  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Tilton  &  Son,  general  merchants 
there.  He  married  Nettie  Reese  of  that 
place,  and  they  have  four  children :  Claude, 
Xina,  Walter,  and  Julia.  Elsie  \"enus  is 
the  wife  of  A.  R.  McGregor,  a  clerk  in 
Jier  father's  store.  Bertie  Victor  is  the  wife 
of  George  Catlett,  a  farmer  of  Fairmount 
and  they  have  two  children,  Shirley  and 
Kent. 

In  1863  Mr.  Tilton  became  a  member  of 
the  \'ermilion  County  Agricultural  and  Me- 
chanical Association,  in  which  he  took  a 
very  active  part  for  several  years,  serxing 
as  secretary,  as  vice  president,  and  for  three 
years  as  its  president.  He  has  been  active 
and  influential  in  public  affairs,  and  for  one 
term  served  on  the  county  board  of  super- 
visors,  representing   Catlin   township.      He 


has  tilled  all  of  the  township  offices  and 
for  two  terms  ser\ed  under  President 
Cleveland  as  postmaster.  This  fact  indi- 
cates his  atifiliation  with  the  Democratic 
party,  of  which  he  has  long  been  an  earnest 
advocate.  He  served  on  the  building  com- 
mittee of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church 
at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  its  house  of 
worship  in  Catlin  and  well  may  he  be  classed 
aniiing  the  substantial  residents  of  Cat- 
lin and  of  \'ermilion  countv  for  he 
has  been  closely  identified  with  its 
growth  along  material,  social,  intellectual 
and  moral  lines.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  he  belongs  to  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285, 
F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  the  honored 
master  for  nine  years.  He  also  belongs  to 
the  chapter  at  Danville  and  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has  filled 
all  of  the  chairs,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
are  connected  with  the  Rebekah  degree.  'Mv. 
Tilton  possesses  considerable  literary  abil- 
ity and  for  thirty  years  has  been  a  corres- 
pondent for  the  Danville  News.  His  con- 
tributions are  furnished  to  the  paper  under 
the  nom  de  plume  of  "Hannah  !Mariah," 
and  he  treats  of  many  subjects,  often  in  a 
humorous  way.  He  is  the  author  of  a  num- 
ber of  comic  productions  and  is  considered 
a  fluent  and  able  writer  as  well  as  a  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  a  loyal  citizen. 


ALONZO  A.  LOUTZENHISER. 

Through  almost  a  half  century  Alonzo 
A.  Loutzenhiser  has  resided  in  Danville  and 
although  now  nearly  eighty  years  of  age, 
he  is  yet  concerned  with  business  interests 
to  some  extent,  following  his  trade  of  shoe- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


727 


niaking'.  He  was  born  in  iMercer  count}-, 
PennSjIvania,  February  29,  1824,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  antl  Elizabeth  (Trindle) 
Loutzt'nhiser,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Cumberland  county.  Pennsylvania.  The 
f.'Uher  was  a  miller  by  trade  and  removed  to 
Mercer  count}',  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
followed  that  pursuit  until  he  reached  old 
ag-e,  after  which  he  and  his  wife  lived  among 
their  children  until  called  to  their  final  rest. 
The  father  died  in  Missouri.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  nine  children:  Da\id,  Mary  and 
Catherine,  all  deceased;  Jacob,  who  is  a 
blacksmith  by  trade  but  is  now  living  retired 
in  Mercer  county,  ^lissouri;  Alonzo  A.; 
Catherine  and  Daniel,  both  deceased;  John, 
who  was  assistant  quartermaster  in  the  Civil 
war  and  was  killed  in  the  service;  ,  and 
Helen,  who  has  passed  away. 

Alonzo  A.  Loutzenhiser  acquired  a  good 
education  in  the  schools  of  Mercer  count}', 
Pennsylvani;i.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  he 
began  to  learn  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he 
followeil  in  his  native  county  until  he  came 
west  in  1853.  Since  that  time  he  has  resided 
continuously  in  Danville  and  here  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  until  1S60.  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  position  of  constable,  lilling 
that  office  until  after  the  Civil  war  began. 
In  July,  1 861,  he  entered  another  depart- 
ment of  his  country's  service — the  military, 
lie  joined  Coiu]iany  F.  of  the  Fourtli  llh- 
nois  Cavalry  under  Captain  Search  and 
Colonel  Dickey.  He  was  made  a  first  lieu- 
tenant after  having  served  for  a  time  as 
second  lieutenant.  He  participated  in  many 
important  engagements,  including  the  bat- 
tles of   Forts   Henry  and  Donelson.   Pitts- 


burg    Landing,      \'icksburg 


llollv 


Springs.  While  at  Corinth,  Mississippi, 
our  suliject  resigned  and  was  there  dis- 
charged after  thirteen  uionths'  service. 

For  a  short  time  after  his  return  Irom 

29 


the  \\;u-  Mr.  l.out/enhiser  remained  in 
Danville  and  then  went  to  Champaign,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  for  a  brief  period. 
He  next  went  to  Pausing.  Iowa,  where 
he  began  working  in  the  forests,  cutting" 
cord  wood  for  steamboats.  He  was  thus 
engaged  until  1868,  when  he  again  came  to 
Danville  and  in  1870  he  was  elected  consta- 
ble lie  also  served  as  bailiff  under  J. 
Probst  one  year,  and  under  Colonel  Search, 
John  W.  Myers  and  Ed  Gregory  for  four 
years  each.  On  his  retirement  from  office 
he  liegan  shoemaking  in  13anville,  which 
he  followed  for  three  years,  when  he  was 
appointed  to  a  position  on  the  police  force 
and  acted  in  that  capacity  for  four  years. 
In  October,  1886.  he  ])uilt  his  present  shoe 
shop  and  has  since  engaged  in  shoemaking. 

Mr.  Loutzenhiser  has  been  three  times 
married.  He  first  wedded  Miss  Mary  Lohr, 
of  Kentucky,  who  died  in  1849,  of  cholera. 
He  afterward  wedded  Miss  Sophia  Day,  of 
Ohio,  who  died  in  Homer.  Illinois,  in  1853. 
I'^jr  his  third  wife  he  ch(.)se  Miss  Eliza  W. 
Weir,  of  ^lassachusetts.  She  is  of  Scotch 
descent  and  now  resides  with  our  subject 
in  Danville.  By  the  first  marriage  there 
were  two  children  :  Sru'ali.  now  the  wife  of 
C.  C.  Bates,  a  resident  of  Decorah,  Iowa; 
and  Xettie,  now  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Clements, 
of  San  I'rancisco,  California.  There  was 
one  child  b}-  the  second  marriage:  Retta, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Bcnjannn  Kirtly,  and 
(lied  in  1901.  The  cliiklren  born  of  the 
third  marriage  are:  Charles,  a  paper 
hanger  now  living  in  Chicago;  and  Lott  A., 
a  conductor  on  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, living  in  Xew  Orleans. 

Mr.  L(jutzenhiser  voted  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  u.ntil  i()Oo.  but  is  now  a  stanch 
Republican.  Besides  holding  the  offices 
mentioned  above,  he  served  as  police  magis- 
trate in  Xew  W'estville,  Ohio,  for  four  years, 


728 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  was  also  township  clerk  for  four  years, 
while  for  a  similar  period  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  school  board  of  Danville. 
He  owns  a  nice  residence  at  Xo.  306  Chand- 
ler street  and  his  shoe  shop  is  on  the  same  lot. 
He  is  also  the  owner  of  other  property  in 
this  city,  having  made  judicious  invest- 
ments in  real  estate.  He  is  largely  living 
retired  from  active  business,  but  indolence 
is  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature  and  he  keeps 
his  shop  in  order  "to  have  something  to  do." 
He  is  now  nearly  eighty  years  of  age,  a  hale 
and  hearty  old  man,  having  ne\-er  been  con- 
fined to  his  bed  by  sickness  throughout  his 
entire  life.  Nature  is  kind  to  those  who 
oppose  not  her  laws  and  Mr.  Loutzenhiser 
has  alwa^'s  lived  in  harmony  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  health  and  of  right  living.  W'hile 
in  Ohio  he  served  as  superintendent  of  a 
Methodist  Sunday-school  and  addressed 
many  meetings. 


ISAAC  A.  LOVE. 


Undaunted  by  obstacles  that  would  have 
discouraged  many  a  man  of  less  resolute 
spirit,  from  a  humble  position  Isaac  A.  Love 
has  arisen  to  prominence.  When  opportun- 
ities have  presented  themselves  he  has 
quickly  utilized  them,  when  there  has  seemed 
to  be  no  opportunity  he  has  made  one.  He 
realized  fully  that  there  is  no  royal  road 
to  wealth  or  learning,  but  with  stout  heart 
he  started  upon  the  upward  path  and  though 
the  road  has  offtimes  been  a  rugged  one,  he 
has  now  reached  the  plane  of  affluence  and 
is  accorded  recognition  as  one  of  the  most 
capable  members  of  the  Danville  bar,  where 
he  has  practiced  for  eight  years. 

Mr.  Love  was  bom  in  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, May  16,  1855  and  is  of  Scotch-Irish 


parentage.  His  father,  Washingtoit  Lo\e, 
was  a  farmer  and  fisherman  who  came  to 
America  when  our  subject  was  but  five 
vears  of  age,  locating  in  Brooklvn.  Xew 
York,  where  he  remained  for  three  years. 
He  then  remo\ed  to  Columbiana  cotinty, 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
and  his  wife  are  still  living  in  that  state, 
the  former  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  the 
latter  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  In  their 
family  were  nine  children,  Isaac  being  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth. 

Isaac  A.  Love  first  attended  school  in 
Brooklyn  and  later  resumed  his  studies  in 
Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  but  when  only 
ten  years  of  age  he  began  working  in  the 
coal  mines.  His  father  having  suffered 
financial  reverses  in  Brooklyn,  the  sons  all 
secured  employment  in  the  mines  after  the 
removal  to  Ohio  and  though  our  subject 
was  but  a  youth  of  ten  years  he  began  bail- 
ing water  with  a  bucket  that  was  higher 
than  his  head.  Later  he  became  a  mule 
driver  and  finally  engaged  in  mining  the 
coal.  Although  thus  prevented  from  at- 
tending school  he  was  anxious  to  improve 
his  education  and  as  he  found  opportunity 
he  studied  and  recited  to  a  lady  at  night. 
A  laudable  ambition  to  attain  something 
better  has  ever  beai  one  of  his  strong  char- 
acteristics and  setting  his  mark  high  he  has 
eagerly  embraced  e^-er^•  opportunity  for 
raising  himself  to  its  level.  When  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  chanced  to  see  one 
of  Dr.  Chase's  recipe  books  in  which  was 
a  cut  of  Ann  .^rbor  University,  showing  the 
law  department.  At  that  moment  he  de- 
termineil  to  become  a  lawyer  and  never  for 
a  momen.t  did  he  waver  in  his  purpose. 

^Vhen  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age 
and  a  resident  of  Washingtonville,  Ohio, 
J.  C.  Ryan  of  that  place  invited  Mr.  Love 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


729 


to  study  law  with  him.  In  order  to  accept 
this  offer  he  attended  the  pubhc  school  in 
the  mornings,  worked  in  the  mines  in  tlie 
afternoon,  doing  a  full  day's  work,  and  af- 
ter supper  he  studied  until  nine  o'clock.  At 
the  end  of  a  year  INIr.  Ryan  concluded  that 
Mr.  Love  was  taxing  his  strength  too  se- 
verely and  persuaded  his  father  to  let  Isaac 
live  with  him,  which  consent  was  granted 
and  Mr.  Love  then  lived  with  his  preceptor 
for  two  years.  When  he  was  twenty  years 
of  age  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Dur- 
ing the  two  years  just  passed  he  had  also 
attended  the  public  schools  and  had  com- 
pleted the  high  school  course.  After  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar,  realizing  that  he  was 
deficient  in  literary  knowledge,  he  engaged 
in  teaching  school  for  two  years  and  th> 
money  thus  earned  was  used  to  defray  his 
expenses  as  a  student  in  Mount  Union  Col- 
lege, near  Alliance,  Ohio.  He  was  after- 
ward elected  principal  of  the  Lafayette 
school,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  although 
but  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  remained 
there  for  a  year  and  then  opened  a  law  of- 
fice in  La  Porte,  Indiana,  where  he  practiced 
for  six  years  with  success,  being  a  part  of 
that  time  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Lo\-e 
&  Thomas.  Shortly  after  his  admission  to 
the  bar  he  and  his  brother  had  fdrmed  a 
partnership,  but  soon  agreed  that  they  were 
too  young  to  begin  business  together. 
While  in  La  Porte  Mr.  Love  was  twice  the 
candidate  of  the  Repulilican  party  for  the 
position  of  states  attorney,  but  the  Democ- 
racy had  an  overwhelming  majority  in  that 
district.  During  his  second  candidacy  he 
made  speeches  for  the  congressional  candi- 
date, who  had  no  oratorical  ability,  deliver- 
ing altogether  fifty-seven  addresses,  many 
times  speaking  twice  a  day. 

About  that  time  many  people  were  re- 


moving to  Kansas  and  Mr.  Love  decided  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  west,  locating  in  An- 
thony, Har]5er  county,  Kansas,  where  he 
became  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Love  &  Snelling.  There  he  remained  for 
ten  years  and  during  the'  first  six  years  he 
never  lost  a  jury  trial.  In  1890  he  was 
nominated  by  the  Republicans  for  district 
judge,  but  the  Populistic  wave  swept  over 
the  state  and  not  a  Republican  candidate 
was  elected  in  Kansas.  In  1894  he  came  to 
Danville  and  shortly  afterward  entered  into 
partnership  with  W.  R.  Jewell,  Jr.,  a  re- 
lationship that  has  since  been  continued. 
In  1 89 1  he  was  admitted  to  practice  before 
the  United  States  supreme  court.  He  is 
well  versed  in  the  principles  of  jurispru- 
dence and  reading  is  continually  broaden- 
ing his  knowledge.  His  preparation  of 
cases  is  thorough  and  exhaustive,  and  he 
has  an  ambition  which  nothing  short  of 
success  will  satisfy  if  it  can  be  won  through 
open,  honorable  methods.  He  has,  how- 
ever, great  respect  for  the  digiiity  of  his 
calling,  and  will  never  win  a  case  if  it  must 
be  done  by  debasing  himself,  lowering  the 
standard  of  public  morality  or  degrading 
the  dignity  of  the  profession. 

Mr.  Love  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss 
Hattie  Boggs,  a  daughter  of  B.  F.  Boggs. 
of  Urbana,  a  lady  of  superior  culture  and 
innate  refinement,  who  has  won  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  University  of 
Illinois.  In  their  family  there  are  six  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  five  daughters.  Fraternally 
Mr.  Love  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
order,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge  and  chap- 
ter. In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stal- 
wart Republican  and  in  1888  was  a  delegate 
to  the  national  convention  which  nominat- 
ed Benjamin  Harrison  for  the  presidency. 
For  a  lou"'  time  he  has  been  an  interested 


730 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


wxirker  ami  zealous  memljer  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  has  been  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-schoool  of  the  First  jMethodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  Danville,  and  in  1900 
was  sent  liy  the  Illinois  conference  to  the 
general  conference  of  the  church  in  Chica- 
go. Love  township,  this  county,  was  named 
in  his  honor.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  his 
de\-elopment  has  not  been  along  one  line, 
producing  abnormal  growth,  but  has  been 
that  of  natural  advancement,  that  the  phv- 
sical,  intellectual  and  moral  have  been  given 
due  attention  and  that  his  strong  manhood 
is  the  outcome  of  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound 
body  and  action  added  by  high  mora!  pur- 
pose. 


JOSEPH  BAILEY. 


The  ancestral  history  of  Joseph  Bailev 
is  one  which  traces  back  to  a  very  earlv 
epoch  in  the  annals  of  this  country.  Among 
the  first  families  to  establish  homes  in  Essex 
county,  Massachusetts,  were  the  Baileys, 
and  for  many  years  representatives  of  the 
name  have  there  resided,  being  connected 
with  agricultural  pursuits.  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Bailey,  the  great-great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  received  a  commission  from 
King  George  the  Second,  of  England,  in 
1732,  and  this  commission,  now  framed. 
hangs  on  a  wall  in  the  home  of  our  subject. 
Many  other  cherished  heirlooms  handed 
down  through  generations  are  also  pos- 
sessed by  Mr.  Bailey,  a  number  of  these 
being  more  than  two  hundred  years  old, 
Jeremiah  Bailev,  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
and  liis  son,  Benjamin  Bailey,  was  born  in 
Esse.x  county,  that  state  and  became  the 
grandfather  of  our  suljject.     Cai)tain  John 


Bailey,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Essex  ctnmty  and  throughout  his  entire 
life  carried  on  farming  there.  The  old  fam- 
ily homestead  upon  which  he  lived  came  into 
possession  of  his  son  Joseph  but  has  since 
been  sold.  The  father  was  a  captain  in  the 
militia  and  expected  to  go  to  the  war  in 
181 2  but  was  never  called  out  to  active  ser- 
vice. He  died  upon  the  old  homestead  af- 
ter which  his  widow  came  to  Georgetown, 
Illinois,  with  our  suljject  and  there  spent  her 
last  days.  She  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Abigail  Cross  and  was  also  a  native  of  Es- 
sex county.  In  the  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren ;  Daniel,  John,  Mehitabel,  William, 
Joseph,  Abigail,  Charles  Wesley,  Lois  Ann 
and  Emil}-.  The  three  now  living  are  Jo- 
seph, of  this  review^;  j\.bigail,  .who  resides 
in  Salem,  Xew  Hampshire;  and  Emily,  the 
widow  of  John  B.  Alexander,  who  was  a 
prominent  resident  of  Danville.  She  now 
resides  in  Salem,  Oregon.  The  children  all 
enjoyed  educational  privileges  in  the  schools 
of  Massachusetts. 

Joseph  Bailey,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Essex  county,  Au- 
gust 16,  1820,  and  throughout  the  period 
of  his  }-outh  remained  upon  the  home  farm 
assisting  in  the  labor  of  field  and  meadow. 
When  he  left  the  east  about  1845  '""^  made 
his  way  direct  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
settling  in  Georgetown,  wdiere  his  Ijrother 
was  serving  as  postmaster,  and  here  began 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  a  small 
store,  receiving  six  dollars  per  munth  in 
compensation  for  his  services.  He  followed 
clerking  for  three  years  or  until  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  Alay  4,  1852,  the  lady 
of  his  ch(.iice  being  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Brac- 
hall.  who  was  l)orn  in  Georgetown.  Deceiu- 
l)er  4,  1833.  a  daughter  of  Martin  and  Eliza- 
beth (  Smith  )  Brachall.  Her  father  was  a 
nati\e  of  Pennsvlvania.  became  one  of  the 


Of  "T:k 
UNlVLRi>iry  OF  ILLINOIS 


JOSEPH   BAILEY. 


MRS.    JOSEPH    BAILEY. 


imp  A  nyj 

OF   T.!E 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


735 


first  settlers  of  \'ermili(jn  Cduuty  ami  at  tlic 
time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  joined  the 
troops  that  were  engaged  in  suppressing  the 
Jnilian  uprising.  By  trade  he  was  a  tailor 
and  folk)wed  that  pursuit  in  Cieorgetown 
from  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  the  west 
until  his  life's  lahc.irs  were  ended  in  death. 
He  died  at  Danville. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Bailey  entered 
into  partnership  with  a  hrother  and  em- 
barked in  general  merchandising  in  George- 
town under  the  firm  name  of  W".  B.  and  J. 
Bailey.  He  continued  in  that  enterprise  for 
several  years  and  then  went  to  Indianola, 
this  countv,  entering  into  partnershi])  with 
Mr.  Sconce,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bailey 
&  Sconce,  dealers  in  merchandise.  For 
three  years  the  business  was  there  carried 
on,  after  which  Mr.  Bailey  ])urchased  a 
farm  near  Georgetown,  where  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising  for 
five  years,  but  there  he  suffered  heavy  losses 
by  fire  which  destroyed  his  home  and  other 
buildings  around  the  place.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Georgetown,  wishing  to  give  his 
children  the  benefit  of  the  educational  prixi- 
leges  afforded  Ijy  the  schools  there,  and  for 
several  years  remained  a  resident  of  that 
place.  During  that  period  he  owned  an  in- 
terest with  John  Hall  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Tuscola,  Illinois,  and  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  where  I\lr.  Hall  remo\'ed.  He 
was  also  a  partner  with  Mr.  Brachall,  the 
merciiant  tailor  of  Danville,  for  years.  .\t 
the  same  lime  he  engaged  in  dealing  in  land, 
owning  realty  in  Kansas,  .\rkansas,  Mis- 
souri, Iowa,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Mr.  Bai- 
ley has  displayed  marked  foresight  in  mak- 
ing his  investments  and  ui>on  many  of  his 
farms  he  has  realized  handsomely.  In  1870 
he  became  one  of  a  company  that  was  or- 
ganized to  build  the  Paris  &  Danville 
railroad,  Hiram  Sanford,  of  Paris,  Illinois, 


becoming  the  president,  while  Mr.  Bailey 
was  one  of  the  directors.  But  the  company 
failed  and  through  this  disaster  Air.  Bailey 
met  with  great  loss.  '  The  road  is  now 
owned  li\  the  Big  Four  Company.  Until 
18S8  nur  subject  lived  retired  in  George- 
town and  then  renio\'ed  to  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  but  remained  for  only  four 
months  in  that  place,  returning  to  \'er- 
milion  county  on  account  of  his  wife's 
health.  Fie  then  settled  in  Dan\il]e.  where 
he  has  since  lived  retired. 

On  the  loth  of  May,  1888,  Mr.  Bailey 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
wife  who  (in  that  date  departed  this  life 
leaving  four  children.  Edward  Everett, 
the  eldest,  is  now  serxing  as  United  .States 
consul  at  luisenada,  Mexico.  Sarah  Eliza- 
beth, bi>rn  June  2,  1S35,  is  the  wife  of  Jesse 
C.  Moore,  who  for  several  years  was  con- 
nected with  Rand,  IMcXally  &  Company  of 
Chicago,  and  is  now  Indian  agent  of  Parker, 
Arizon;i.  but  continues  to  make  his  home 
in  Danville  and  with  them  Mr.  Bailey  is 
living.  Martin  1'..,  a  i)rominent  citizen, 
born  janu;iry  jj,  1857,  married  Lucie 
Pavne  and  is  a  leading  attorney  and  the 
present  mayor  of  Danville,  as  well  as  state 
senator  from  his  district.  Josephine,  born 
August  31,  1875,  now  resides  in  Boston. 
Mrs.  Bailey,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  was  a 
woman  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and 
at  the  age  of  four  years  Cduld  read  with 
accuracy.  She  graduated  in  the  Cieorgetown 
Seminary  and  attended  a  Quaker  institution 
at  Bloomingdale,  Indiana,  and  there  com- 
pleted her  education.  She  was  an  earnest 
Christian  woman,  attending  the  ^Methodist 
church  .after  marriage,  although  reared  a 
Quaker.  Mr.  Bailey  served  as  township  su- 
pervisor of  Georgetown  township  for  three 
years,  but  has  never  been  an  active  politi- 
cian   in   the   sense  of   office   .seeking.      His 


71^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


political  support  has  been  given  to  the  Re- 
publican party  since  its  organization  and  he 
has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing singers  in  the  church  of  Georgetown  at 
an  early  day.  Throughout  Vermilion  coun- 
ty he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  he  is 
numbered  among  the  early  settlers,  for 
through  fifty-eight  years  he  has  resided 
here.  In  his  business  affairs,  owing  to  his 
keen  sagacity  and  his  enterprise  he  has  pros- 
pered. Some  reverses  have  come  to  him. 
but  with  determined  energy  he  has  largely 
overcome  the  obstacles  and  difficulties  in  his 
path  and  to-day  he  is  the  possessor  of  a 
handsome  competence. 


ALONZO   B.   BENJAMIN. 

Alonzo  B.  Benjamin  lias  teen  connected 
with  the  music  trade  of  Danville  since  1876 
and  "is  now  the  president  of  the  Benjamin 
Temple  of  ^lusic,  the  largest  store  of  its 
kind  in  the  state  outside  of  Chicago.  He 
has  been  the  builder  and  promoter  of  this 
enterprise  and  is  classed  among  the  leading 
representatives  of  commercial  interests  in 
eastern  Illinois,  earnest  labor,  persistency 
of  purpose  and  sound  judgment  being  the 
sure  foundation  upon  which  he  has  bnilded 
his  success. 

Mr.  Benjamin  was  born  in  Peoria  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  July  3,  1849,  a  son  of  John  and 
Le\-ira  (Hitchcock)  Benjamin,  both  born 
in  New  York.  John  Benjamin  was  a  farm- 
er and  followed  that  occupation  throughout 
his  entire  life.  In  1832  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, casting  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  of 
the  state.  He  settled  in  Peoria  county, 
where  he  began  the  development  of  a  new 


farm,  which  he  transformed  into  a  valu- 
able property,  being  very  successful  in  his 
chosen  work.  He  kept  buying  and  improv- 
ing land  until  he  owned  a  fine  property  of 
sixteen  hundred  acres.  He  was  also  an  in- 
ventor of  considerable  merit,  inventing  the 
first  cultivator  plowing  a  row  of  corn.  It 
was  then  called  the  Shanghai  plow.  He 
also  invented  a  corn  planter  which  dropped 
a  double  row.  This  was  a  decided  improve- 
ment over  the  machinery  of  that  time,  bur 
unfortunately  he  ne\er  patented  it.  He  was 
a  very  enterprising  and  progressive  man 
and  he  did  much  for  the  improvement  of 
his  section  of  the  state.  He  built  the  first 
brick  house  in  his  locality  and  for  many 
years  it  was  considered  a  land-mark  by 
travelers.  He  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Baptist  church  and  were  prominent 
pioneer  people,  J\Ir.  Benjamin  leaving  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  upon  many  lines 
of  public  progress  and  improvement.  He 
died  in  1863,  at  about  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years,  and  his  widow,  surviving  him  until 
18S3,  passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four  years.  Unto  them  were  born  seven 
children :  R.  J,,  an  old  resident  and  retired 
merchant,  who  is  now  an  attorney  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  Princeville;  Truman 
and  Edwin,  who  died  in  infancy;  J.  H.,  a 
retired  farmer  of  Winfield,  Kansas;  ]\I.  W., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  music  business  in 
Boone,  Iowa;  Harriet  L.,  the  widow  of  J. 
S.  Barnum,  and  a  resident  of  Chicago;  and 
Alonzo  Bushnell  Benjamin. 

In  the  schools  of  the  city  and  county  of 
Peoria  Mr,  Benjamin  of  this  review  pur- 
sued his  early  education  and  afterward  pre- 
pared for  commercial  life  in  a  business  col- 
lege, continuing  his  studies  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  On  putting  aside  his 
text-books    he    became    a    music    dealer    of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAI,    RECORD 


739 


Princexille,  whence  he  removed  to  Danville 
in  1876.  He  then  opened  his  present  estab- 
Hshment  as  a  branch  house  for  Lyon  & 
Healy,  of  Cliicago,  whom  lie  thus  repre- 
sented for  seventeen  years,  under  the  name 
of  the  Benjamin  Temple  of  jNIusic.  He  Ijc- 
gan  business  on  West  Main  street,  in  the 
old  Hubb  block,  and  in  1882  removed  to  the 
Palmer    block,    where    he    remained    until 

1901,  when  he  secured  the  fine  building  at 
Nos.  30  and  32  North  Vermilion  street. 
It  is  a  three-story  structure,  twenty-seven 
by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and  each 
floor  is  occupied  by  the  Benjamin  Temple 
of  Music,  being  well  equipped  and  splendid- 
ly stocked  with  musical  instruments  of  all 
descriptions.  Mr.  Benjamin  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  the  Everett  piano  but  carries  alto- 
gether fourteen  dift'erent  makes  and  fi\e 
different  makes  of  organs,  together  with 
piano  players — the  angulus  and  appollo — 
and  musical  mci'cliandise  of  every  descrip- 
tion. Tlie  store  is  now  the  largest  of  the 
kind  in  the  state  outside  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Benjamin,  in  partnership  with  C.  E.  Swift, 
became  the  o\\ner  of  the  store  in  1893,  and 
this  relation  was  maintained  until  October, 

1902,  when  yiv.  Swift  sold  his  interest  to 
F.  J-  Lovell.  the  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin, and  formerly  of  the  Lyon  &  Healy 
house  of  Chicago,  with  which  he  had  been 
identified  for  twenty  years.  The  other 
partner  in  the  enter]irise  is  F.  A.  Benjamin, 
a  nephew.  On  the  2d  of  November,  1902. 
the  business  was  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  Benjamin  Temple  of  iMusic 
and  ca]iitalized  for  twenty  thuus.-md  dnllars 
The  officers  are  A.  B.  Benjamin,  president; 
F.  A.  Benjamin,  vice  presiilent ;  and  F.  J. 
Lovell,  secretary  and  treasurer. 

On  the   loih  oi  June.   1872,  Alonzo  B. 
Benjamin  was  married  to  ]\Iiss  Angle  Cook. 


a  daughter  of  T.  G.  Cook,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  early  settler  of  Kno.x  county, 
Illinois,  now  living  retired  in  Galesburg. 
He  wedded  Miss  Susan  E.  Wilder,  who  be- 
longed to  one  of  the  leading  families  of  that 
locality.  L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin 
have  been  born  four  children:  .Susan  L., 
the  wife  of  ]\  J.  Lovell.  and  the  mother  of 
one  son,  Ralph  B.  Lovell;  Roy  A.,  who 
wedded  Miss  Bessie,  daughter  of  W.  M. 
Jeremy,  a  grocer  of  Danville;  Ruby  .\de- 
ona,  a  student  in  the  Dainillc  schools;  and 
Horace  A'ictm'. 

In  Peoria  cr)unty,  when  Iwcnty-one 
years  of  age,  Mr.  Benjamin  joincil  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  has 
filled  all  the  chairs  in  the  local  organiza- 
tion and  encampment.  He  has  been  patri- 
arch militant,  ;in(l  adjutant  and  is  now  hold- 
ing the  rank  of  captain.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
lienevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
.Ancient  Order  of  L^nited  Workmen,  the 
Court  of  Honor,  the  National  Union  and 
Red  Men.  For  two  years  he  has  served  as 
alderman  of  Danville  and  anything  cdcn- 
lated  to  benefit  the  city  elicits  his  attention 
and  co-operation.  In  business  circles  he 
ranks  high  and  is  notable  for  his  prompt- 
ness in  meeting  oliligations  and  for  his  re 
lial)iltt\'  in  all  trade  tr.ansactions. 


G.  W.  BAIRD. 

G.  W.  Baird  is  a  substantial  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  Vance  township,  owning 
therein  three  hundred  and  fifty-nine  acres 
of  Land,  besides  valuable  property  in  Fair- 
mount.  Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  He  was 
born   in   Browm  county,  Ohio,  October   18, 


740 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1851.  and  is  a  son  of  Josej)!!  and  Elizalietli 
(Baldwin)  ]3aird,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  hitter  l)orn  in  Kentucky.  Tliey 
were  married  in  Kentucky  and  located  in 
Ohio,  where  Joseph  Baird  followed  black 
smithing,  in  Brown  county.  They  came  to 
A'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1889  and  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  \'ance  township.  In 
1897  the\'  removed  to  Catlin  township.  The 
mother  died  in  1857  and  two  years  later 
Mr.  Baird  married  again,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Wyckolif.  She  died  in  i860 
and  in  1863  J\Ir.  Baird  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Neal.  who  is  now  living  with 
her  husband  in  Catlin  township.  He  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  views.  G.  W. 
Baird  of  this  review  has  two  brothers  and 
one  half  brother  living.  Frank  resides  on 
a  farm  in  \'ance  township.  John  S.  re- 
sides on  a  farm  in  Homer  township.  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois.  ]Mr.  Baird's  half- 
brother.  Samuel,  resides  with  his  father  in 
Catlin  township. 

Mr.  Baird  of  this  review  attended  the 
district  schools  of  Brown  county,  Ohio,  but 
his  educational  privileges  were  quite  lim- 
ited. However,  by  reading,  experience  and 
observation  he  has  since  broadened  his 
knowledge  and  is  now  a  well  informed 
man.  He  came  to  Vance  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  in  1869,  afterward 
purchased  land  for  himself  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
in  which  occupation  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. This  is  because  he  never  neglects 
a  duty  and  is  energetic  and  progressive. 
Besides  his  large  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  he  owns  city  property  and 
a  splendid  home  in  Fairmount.  In  that  city, 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1871,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Lydia  E.  Davis,  who 
was    born    in    ^"crmilion    countv,    Illinois, 


-May  22,,  1852,  She  is  a  daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  (Hays)  Davis.  Will- 
iam Davis  was  born  in  Guernsey  county, 
Ohio,  January  25.  181 1.  His  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  September  20,  1781, 
and  died  in  1855,  while  his  wife  was  born 
June  .3,  1785,  and  died  in  Xovemuer,  1848, 
The\-  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  having  come  from 
Ohio  in  1834.  The  father  of  William  Davis 
took  part  in  the  war  of  181 2  and  his  grand- 
father was  a  soldier  in  the  Re\-olutionary 
war.  William  Davis  came  from  Guernsey 
county,  Ohio,  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois, 
in  1834  and  located  on  a  farm.  He  was 
twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with 
Elizabeth  Hays,  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Baird. 
This  marriage  took  place  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1834.  She  was  a  native  of 
W  ashington  county,  Pennsylvania,  was 
born  in  181 1  and  departed  this  life  in  1861. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Davis  chose  Mary 
Catlett,  the  marriage  ceremony  being  per- 
formed in  1863.  She  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, born  August  23.  182 1.  She  died  in 
i8<)0  and  Air.  Da\-is  passed  away  on  his 
eighty-fourth  birthday,  January  23.  1895. 
He  Mas  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and 
in  politics  was  a  Democrat.  He  was  the 
father  of  seven  children:  Rachel  is  the  wid- 
ow of  D.  Roudybush,  and  resides  in  Port 
land,  Oregon:  Eilith,  now  deceased,  be- 
came the  wife  of  B.  Browning,  and  resided 
in  Los  Angeles,  California;  David  C.  resides 
in  Fancher,  Shelby  county,  Illinois:  Henry 
resides  in  Fairmount,  Illinois;  Jemima  is 
the  wife  of  S.  Cox,  and  resides  in  Bement. 
Illinois;  William  F.  is  deceased;  and  Lydia 
is  the  wife  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baird  have  three  living 
children:  Harry  D.,  born  August  3,  1873; 
Jennie   G.,    born    September   2.    1884:   and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


741 


Opal  S.,  born  May  28.  18S8.  all  with  their 
parents.  They  have  two  children  deceased, 
one  who  died  in  intanc)-  and  Xellie  M.  .Mr. 
Baird  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  clun-ch, 
and  fraternally  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Globe  and  the  Conrt  of 
Honor.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a 
Democrat.  He  and  his  wife  are  valued  cit- 
izens of  Fairmount,  where  they  are  honored 
and  respected  liy  all  who  know  them. 


CAPTAIX   G.   \V.   HOLLOW  AV. 

Captain  G,  W.  Holloway  is  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  whose  title  was 
won  by  meritorious  conduct:  on  the  field  of 
battle  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  has  been 
a  resident  of  \^ermilion  county  since  No- 
vember 7.  1835.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Berkeley  county.  West  A'irginia,  February 
22,  T823,  his  ])arents  being  Jesse  and  Susan 
(Roach)  Holloway.  The  father  was  born 
in  Stafi'ord  county,  Virginia,  and  in  Balti- 
more wedded  Miss  Roach.  He  then  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Berkeley  county.  West 
\'irginia,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
1835,  when  he  remo\-ed  with  his  f.imilv  \>> 
Vermilion  county.  Illinois.  Fie  entered  laud 
in  the  McKindree  neighborhood.  seciu"ing 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  j  1 . 
Georgetown  township,  where  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  tliroughout  his  re- 
maining days.  This  quarter  was  the  last 
government  land  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  Hol- 
low-ay was  a  Whig  in  politics  and  in  religi- 
ous faith  his  wife  was  a  ^lethodist.  His 
death  occurred  July  2.  1854.  Of  their  six- 
children  one  died  in  infancy  and  Isabella 
died  in  1845.  The  others  are  G.  W. :  John, 
who  died  October  23,  1844:  and  Eliza,  who 


resides  with  her  br(.)ther,  Jesse,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Oklahoma. 

Captain  Holloway  was  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
this  county  ;uid  here  he  was  reared  upon  the 
home  farm.  Jn  the  spring  of  1853  he  en- 
tered into  partnership  in  a  general  mercan- 
tile business  with  I'lLam  Henderson  and  af- 
ter about  one  year  his  brother,  Jesse,  also 
became  a  member  of  the  iirm.  whicli  was 
known  ;is  Henderson  &  Ib)llowav.  This 
partnershi])  was  maintained  for  twenty 
years,  when  they  sold  out  and  soon  after- 
ward Mr.  Henderson  died.  From  1874 
uixtil  1889  Captain  Holloway  carried  on 
general  merchandising  alone  and  since  that 
time  has  lived  retired.  He  was  known  as 
one  of  the  reliable,  enterprising  merchants 
oi  his  locality  and  in  the  c<iuduct  of  his 
business  affairs  he  met  with  honorable  and 
gratifying  success. 

On  the  17th  of  January.  1833,  the  Cap- 
tion married  Aliss  Sophia  M..  a  daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Sophia  (McCullough)  Lyons, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts. Her  father  was  maiTied  three  times, 
and  died  in  the  Ray  state,  after  whicli  the 
mother  of  ^^Irs.  Holloway  came  to  Clinton, 
Indiana,  and  soon  removed  to  Url)ana,  Illi- 
nois. Mrs.  Hollciway  is  the  youngest  of 
twenty  children.  ;ind  by  her  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  six  children.  The 
fourth  child  died  in  1864  at  the  age  of  sev- 
_enteen  months.  Jesse  L.  died  August  21, 
iQor.  He  had  been  a  railroad  conductor 
for  several  years  and  was  stricken  with  apo- 
plexy while  on  duty.  Belle,  the  eldest,  is 
the  wife  of  David  Webb,  a  real-estate  deal- 
er at  Danx'ille.  George  was  for  fifteen  years 
a  railway  mail  clerk  and  w'as  then  promoted 
to  the  position  of  postoffice  inspector,  in 
w-hich   capacity  he  has   served   for  se\era! 


742 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


years,  with  headquarters  in  Chicago.  Rose 
is  the  wife  of  Jolm  R.  Thompson,  a  promi 
nent   business   man    in    Chicago.      Abby   is 
now  at  home. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  Captain 
Holloway  was  aroused  by  patriotic  impulses 
to  enter  the  government  service,  enlisting 
August  6,  1862.  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry  under  Col- 
onel Harmon.  He  was  mustered  into  ser- 
vice on  the  3d  of  September  and  liecame 
captain  of  Company  D.  On  the  13th  of 
September  the  company  proceeded  by  rail  to 
Cincinnati,  thence  to  Louisville  by  boat  and 
from  that  point  started  after  Bragg,  meet- 
ing the  enemy  in  battle  at  Perryville.  Later 
the  regiment  went  to  Nashville,  where  it 
remained  through  the  winter,  doing  post 
duty.  Later  it  was  sent  to  Chattanooga 
and  with  his  command  Captain  Holloway 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
Missionary  Ridge,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Jonesboro.  The  fol- 
lowing winter  was  spent  at  Chattanooga, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1864  he  started  on  the 
Sherman  campaign.  He  marched  into  At- 
lanta on  the  4th  of  September,  there  re- 
maining until  Xovember.  With  Sherman's 
command  he  then  started  for  Savannah,  the 
troops  arriving  on  the  nth  of  December, 
1864.  In  the  following  January  they  went 
to  Goldsboro.  North  Carolina,  .\veraslx>ro 
and  Benton\ille.  where  there  was  a  battle? 
in  which  the  L'nion  forces  lost  twelve  hun- 
dred men.  They  then  proceeded  to  Raleigh. 
North  Carolina,  and  on  the  way  learned  of 
Lee's  surrender.  They  were  then  encamped 
at  Raleigh  until  Johnston's  surrender,  after 
which  they  marched  to  Richmond  and  on  to 
Washington,  participating  in  the  grand  re- 
view at  that  city  on  the  25th  of  May.  1865. 
With  his  regiment  Captain  Holloway  was 


mustered  out  and  sent  to  Chicago  to  be 
paid  off,  having  received  no  pay  since  the 
15th  of  the  previous  November. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1865,  Captain  Hol- 
loway returned  home.  During  his  absence 
his  brother  Jesse  and  Mr.  Henderson  had 
conducted  the  mercantile  business  and  after 
his  return  the  firm  purchased  the  flourmill 
in  Georgetown,  which  our  subject  conduct- 
ed for  six  years.  He  is  a  Republican,  hav- 
ing supported  the  party  from  its  organiza- 
tion and  in  1844  he  voted  for  Henry  Clay. 
He  takes  much  interest  in  securing  good 
government  and  is  a  friend  of  all  public 
measures  tending  to  promote  the  general 
good.  Several  times  lie  has  served  as  town- 
ship collector.  He  is  a  member  of  th(? 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  wife, 
who  also  belonged  and  was  active  in  all 
lines  of  church  work,  died  July  7,  1901. 
The  Captain  belongs  to  Keyger  Post.  No. 
204,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Georgetown.  The  regi- 
ment to  which  he  belonged  held  a  re-union 
on  the  3d  of  September,  1902,  the  anniver- 
sary of  its  muster  into  ser\-ice.  In  his  busi- 
ness affairs  Captain  Plolloway  has  been  quite 
successful,  and  to-dav  he  owns  a  pleasant 
home  and  valuable  farming  land  which  he 
rents. 


LE  ROY  JONI?5,  M.  D. 

In  March,  1895,  Dr.  LeRoy  Jones,  lo- 
cated in  Hoopeston,  where  he  has  since  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
excellent  success,  having  already  gained  a 
reputation  which  many  an  older  physician 
might  well  envy.  He  was  born  in  Milford. 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  in  1863,  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  E.  (Jones)  Jones.  His 
parents  removed  to  Pettis  county.  IMissouri, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


74? 


when  the  subject  of  this  review  was  but 
four  years  of  age,  and  the  father  has  since 
carried  on  farming  there.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  still  living  in  JMissouri  and  they 
reared  a  family  of  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  yet  living. 

Dr.  Jones  of  this  review  spent  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  nld 
family  homestead  in  Pettis  county,  anil  pur- 
sued his  literary  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  Westminster  College  at  Ful- 
ton, Missouri,  where  he  pursued  a  collegi- 
ate course.  Determining  to  make  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  his  life  work  he  began 
preparation  for  this  calling  as  a  student  in 
the  medical  college  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
in  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1888.  He  entered  upon  practice  in 
Greenbridge,  Missimri.  where  he  remained 
for  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Indiana, 
settling  at  Pine  \'illage,  where  he  practiced 
for  four  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  came  to  Hoopeston  in  March, 
1895,  and  has  remained  here  continuously 
since. 

In    July,    190J,    in   Ann   Arbor,    Michi 
gan.  Dr.  Jones  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  Van  Ness  Phelps,  a  native 
of  Michigan,  and  they  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Hoopeston.  A\hile  the  hospitality  of  many 
of   the  best   residents   here   is   extended   to 
them.     They  hold  membership  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  church,  taking  an  active  inter- 
est in  this  work  and  the  Doctor  is  serving 
as  chorister  and  as  a  teacher  and  assistan 
superintendent    in    the    Sunday-school.      In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  is  now  serv 
ing  as  a  member  of  tire  board  of  iiealth  of 
Hoopeston.     In  the  line  of  his  professi(^n 
he  is  connected  with  the  Tri-County  Medi 
cal   Society  and  the  Illinois   State  Medical 
Society  and  his  reading  in  the  line  of  his 


chosen  work  has  been  broad  and  compre- 
hensive, making  him  well  informed.  His 
office  located  in  the  McFerreu's  Block  was 
destroyed  by  hre  when  that  building  was 
swept  away  and  now  he  has  new  and  mod- 
ern furnishings  of  the  latest  approved  pat- 
terns in  his  office.  He  has  won  the  public 
ciinfidence  through  the  display  of  his  skill 
and  ability  in  handling  many  impdrtant 
cases,  and  now  has  a  liberal  and  well  mer- 
ited patronage. 


MRS.  FRANCES  RUSLING. 

Mrs.  Frances  Rusling.  who  resides  at 
No.  405  Clierry  street,  in  Danville,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Benton  and 
Frances  Smith,  both  of  whom  are  natives 
of  Ohio,  although  they  resided  during  the 
greater  part  of  their  lives  in  Spencer  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  where  both  passey  away.  Their 
daughter,  Frances  Smith,  gave  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  John  Oliver,  an  agriculturist, 
who  carried  on  farming  near  Danxille  and 
died  in  this  county.  Later  she  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  Henry  Payne,  who  was 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  city. 
He  was  born  in  \'ermont  and  came  to  Dan- 
ville about  1875,  having  in  the  meantime, 
however,  resided  in  Lafayette,  Indiana. 
There  he  was  first  married,  his  wife  I)eing 
Miss  Gillen,  who  died  in  Danville,  .\fter 
removing  to  this  city  Mr.  Payne  was  em- 
ployed as  a  brakeman  on  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road and  subsequently  he  followed  garden- 
ing until  his  marriage  to  Mrs.  Ru.sling.  He 
then  lived  retired  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  6th  of  March,  1901.  In  July, 
1902,  Mrs.  Rusling  married  her  present 
husband.  George  R.  Rusling,  who  is  a  na- 


744 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tive  of  England,  and  was  a  sailor  on  the 
Atlantic  ocean  for  several  years.  In  i860 
he  took  up  his  ahocle  in  America  and  when 
the  Civil  war  hroke  out  he  enlisted  for  ser- 
vice in  Company  I,  Twentieth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, in  i86t.  He  participated  in  the  fol- 
lowing engagements :  Hatteras  Island, 
battle  of  the  Wilderness,  Yorktown,  Vir- 
ginia: Petersburg,  A'irginia,  and  all  through 
the  eastern  campaign.  He  was  wounded 
in  the  Wilderness,  losing  two  fingers,  and 
after  the  war  he  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  which  he  followed  in  the  south  for 
a  few  years.  He  then  came  to  Danville, 
where  he  has  since  lived  retired.  He  owns, 
howe\'er,  a  large  farm  in  Alabama  and  was 
very  successful  in  his  agricultural  pursuits, 
acquiring  a  richly  merited  competence 
through  his  successful  control  of  his  farm- 
ing interests.  Mrs.  Rusling  is  a  meml)er 
of  the  First  Church  of  Christ  of  Danville 
She  owns  a  nice  little  home  at  No.  405 
Cherry  street  and  is  well  known  in  this 
city,  where  she  has  resided  for  many  years, 
her  many  womanly  qualities  and  kindliness 
of  heart  gaining  for  her  the  friendship  of  a 
large  number  of  those  with  whom  she  has 
come  in  contact. 


LEWIS  M.  THQMPSON. 

From  the  days  of  his  infancy  down  to 
the  present  Lewis  M.  Thompson  has  been 
a  resident  of  Vermilion  county.  This 
covers  the  period  of  a  boyhood  spent  amid 
frontier  conditions,  the  period  of  mature 
manhood  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits 
when  the  county  had  become  possessed  of 
modern  improvements  and  the  comforts  of 
civilization,  and  the  period  of  the  later-day 
progress  in  which  he  is  now  lix'ing  retired 


from  further  labor — a  man  of  seventy-four 
years,  respected  and  honored  because  of  a 
life  of  industry,  integrity  and  uprightness, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  in  1829,  a  son  of  John  and 
Esther  (Payne)  Thompson.  The  father 
was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsvlvania,  in 
1797,  and  was  of  Irish  descent.  In  his 
early  life  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
and  was  a  well  informed  man,  but  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  business  career  he 
made  farming  his  principal  occupation,  al- 
though to  some  extent  he  dealt  in  real  es- 
tate. About  1S23,  in  Dearborn  county,  In- 
diana, he  married  Esther  Payne,  and  in 
1830  they  came  to  this  county,  settling  near 
Danville,  where  Mr.  Thompson  became  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  a 
part  of  which  he  secured  from  the  go\-ern- 
ment.  This  was  all  unbroken,  not  a  furrow 
having  Ijeen  turned  upon  the  tract,  autl  his 
labors  brought  the  place  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  transforming  it  into  a  valu- 
able farm.  The  first  house  on  the  ])lace  was 
a  log  cabin,  which  was  occupied  1)\-  the  fam- 
ily until  1844,  when  a  two  storv  frame 
structure  was  erected.  It  stood  until  1902, 
when  a  handsome  residence  was  built  bv  a 
son  of  our  subject.  This  land  has  been  in 
possession  of  the  family  continuously  since 
1830.  John  Thompson  was  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  capability  and  he  took  an  ac- 
ti\e  part  in  the  early  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  the  county.  He  also  acquired  con- 
siderable pro]3erty.  his  labors  lieing  re- 
warded with  success.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig  and  at  one  time  served  as  county 
commissioner.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  the  Danville  Lodge  of 
Masons  and  filled  nianv  offices  therein. 
Botli  he  and  his  wife  attended  the  Method- 
ist church.     He  died  in  1861,  at  the  age  of 


L.   M.  THOMPSON. 


OF  v,:e 

UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


747 


sixty-five  years,  and  lier  death  occurred  in 
Dain'ille,  in  J 899.  at  the  adxanced  age  of 
ninety-three  years.  Both  were  laid  to  rest 
in  the  Danville  cemetery.  They  were  the 
parents  of  t\ve!\e  cliikhxn,  of  whom  four 
died  in  infancy,  while  eight  reached  years  of 
niaturit}'.  namely:  Melissa.  Martha,  Lewis, 
S.  D..  Philander,  Mary,  Harriet  and  John, 
and  of  these  four  are  now  living. 

In  the  district  schools  of  \'erniilion 
county  Lewis  M.  Thompson  was  educated 
and  amid  the  scenes  of  pioneer  life  he  was 
reared.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage, which  occurred  August  17,  1848, 
Miss  Judith  Ann  Burroughs  becoming  his 
wife.  She  was  a  native  of  Ripley  county, 
Indiana,  anil  liy  her  marriage  became  the 
mother  of  eight  children.  \'iola,  the  eldest, 
is  the  wife  of  \\'.  H.  Chamberlain,  who  is 
a  professor  in  the  schools  of  Chicago;  Mary 
A.  is  the  wife  of  Hon.  Charles  A.  Allen. 
J.  G.  Thompson,  who  was  graduated  in  the 
law  department  of  the  State  L'niversity  of 
Michigan,  in  the  class  of  1881,  became  iden- 
tified in  practice  with  W.  R.  Lawrence.  He 
was  appointed  and  sen-ed  for  one  term  as 
prosecuting  attorney  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  service  was  elected  county  judge, 
when  only  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
Later  he  was  appointed  assistant  United 
States  attorney  general  by  President  Mc- 
Kinley  and  has  since  remained  in  that  posi- 
tion, which  his  legal  learning  and  marked 
ability  well  c|ualifiy  him  to  fill.  Esther  is 
the  wife  of  A.  I*.  Green,  a  leading"  Inisiness 
man  of  Attica.  Lena  is  the  wife  of  A.  E. 
Ray,  a  prominent  sIidc  dealer  of  Attica. 
Harriet  is  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Morrow,  a 
prominent  druggist  of  Danville.  The 
other  two  children  have  passed  away,  and 
the  mother  is  also  deceased.  In  1891  Mr. 
Thompson   was  again   married,   his  second 


union  being  with  Mrs.  Belle  Bales,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Xewlin,  a  pioneer  of  this  coun- 
ty, who  resided  near  Georgetown,  lie  was 
a  saddler  and  followed  his  trade  for  many 
years.  He  also  served  as  postmaster  and 
justice, of  the  peace  througli  a  long  period 
and  was  an  inllucntial  citizen  of  his  locality. 
A  native  of  North  Carolina,  born  in  1813, 
he  came  to  Danville  in  1830  and  was  there- 
fore one  of  the  early  settlers.  For  his  first 
wife  he  married  Asenath  Henderson  and 
his  secontl  wife  was  \'erona  Newlin,  who 
became  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Thompson.  He 
was  also  married  a  third  time.  The  parents 
of  Mrs.  Thompson  were  earnest  Christian 
people  and  the  father  belonged  to  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends  or  Quakers  and  the  mother 
to  the  Methodist  church.  His  tleatb  t)c- 
curred  in  Danville,  in  1879,  when  he  was 
se\'enty-five  }ears  of  age.  The  daughter. 
Belle,  was  first  married  to  C.  P.  Bales,  and 
they  bad  two  children :  LeRoy,  who  is 
head  nurse  in  the  Insane  Hospital  at  Kan- 
kakee, Jllinnis;  and  Elwood,  an  operator  on 
the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad. 

Mr.  Thompson  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land  in  1848,  becoming  owner  of  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Ross- 
\ille.  This  was  all  raw  and  nnim])ro\ed, 
Init  he  placed  it  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
\'ation,  erected  excellent  luiildings  and 
reared  his  children  upon  the  farm  which 
he  there  developed.  At  one  time  he  owned 
seven  hundred  acres,  constituting  a  very 
valuable  pro])erty.  but  during  the  financial 
panic  of  1873.  because  of  his  endorsement 
of  paper  for  others,  he  sufl:'ered  a  li«s  of 
ten  thousand  dollars.  He  now  has  about 
one  hundred  acres  in  Vermilion  county  and 
a  half  section  in  l"\iIton  county.  Indiana, 
and  he  likewise  owns  projjerty  in  Rossville, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son is  a  charter  member  of  Rossville  [.odge. 


748 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I.  O.  O.  F.,  which  was  organized  in  1858. 
Ill  liis  political  views  he  is  a  Republican 
and  in  religions  faith  his  wife  is  a  Method- 
ist. He  lias  served  as  assessor,  collector 
and  in  other  township  offices,  and  has  ever 
been  observant  of  his  duties  of  citizenship, 
fully  meeting  eveiy  obligation  which  thus 
devolves  upon  him  and  putting  forth  effect- 
ive eft'ort  for  the  welfare  and  progress  of 
the  county  which  has  been  his  home  through 
more  than  three  score  years  and  ten.  He 
is  to-day  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  this 
locality  and  his  mind  carries  the  impress  of 
the  early  annals  of  this  section  of  the  state 
as  well  as  the  history  of  its  later-day  prog- 
ress and  improvement. 


D.   C.   BRANDON. 


D.  C.  Brandon  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  one  \\ell  and  favorably  known  in  Ver- 
milion county.  In  the  years  of  an  active 
business  career  his  course  has  ever  been 
honorable  and  upright  and  his  energy  and 
indefatigable  industry  have  brought  to  him 
creditable  and  gratifying  success.  He  was 
born  in  Jefferson,  Indiana,  February  16, 
1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  Brandon,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather, 
John  Brandon,  was  born  in  Virginia  and 
came  of  a  family  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
By  his  marriage  he  had  two  sons  and  four 
daughters,  and  three  of  the  daughters  are 
now  living,  nanieh' :  Henrietta,  the  wife 
of  Nicholas  Manville,  of  Indianapolis;  Eliz- 
abeth, the  wife  of  Cahill  Monroe,  of  Oak- 
wood  township ;  and  Susan,  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Bair  of  Madison,  Indiana.  After  ar- 
riving at  years  of  maturity  Robert  Brandon 
wedded  Marv  Gordon,  a  relative  of  the  fa- 


mous General  Gordon,  and  a  native  of  the 
Hoosier  state.  Her  father  was  James  Gor- 
don, a  representative  of  a  family  promi- 
nently and  honorably  identified  with  im- 
portant affairs  throughout  the  history  of 
America.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brandon  were 
married  in  Indiana  and  there  the  father  of 
our  subject  engaged  in  farming.  He  pur- 
chased and  operated  a  tract  of  land  in  Jef- 
ferson county  and  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Madison,  Indiana,  having  in  the 
years  of  his  former  toil  acquired  a  com- 
petence which  enables  him  to  rest  from  fur- 
ther labor.  In  his  political  affiliatians  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  has  held  a  number  of 
county  and  township  offices.  He  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  his  life 
has  ever  been  in  consistent  harmony  with 
its  principles.  In  1899  he  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  w'ife.  One  of  their 
sons,  George  Brandon,  enlisted  in  the  Thir- 
ty-sixth Indiana  Infantry  during  the  Civil 
war  and  served  for  three  years  and  three 
months.  He  then  entered  the  regular  army, 
serving  for  three  years,  and  later  he  was 
killed  in  a  railroad  accident.  John  Bran- 
don, another  brother  of  our  subject,  went 
to  the  Civil  war  as  a  substitute  for  his  father 
and  served  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  In 
the  family  were  nine  children:  John,  who 
wedded  Mary  Taylor,  by  whom  he  has  two 
children,  resides  in  Madison,  Indiana. 
George  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years.  Eb,  who  wedded  Emma  Smith  and 
has  one  child,  is  living  in  Sidell  township. 
Lee  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years. 
Nancy  is  the  wife  of  William  Driggs,  of 
IMadison,  Indiana,  and  has  six  children.  D. 
C.  is  the  next  younger.  Maria  is  the  wife 
of  Arch  Fagg,  of  Madison,  Indiana,  and 
has  one  son  and  five  daughters.  Louvania 
is  the  wife  of  William  Kestler  of  Madison, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


749 


Indiana,  and  they  have  two  children.  Ida 
the  wife  of  James  McCance,  of  Madison, 
Indiana,  has  one  child. 

D.  C.  Brandon  pursned  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Jefferson  county,  Indiana, 
working  upon  the  home  farm  through  the 
summer  months  while  in  the  winter  season 
he  was  a  student.  He  left  school,  however, 
at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  and  after  that 
ga\-e  his  entire  attention  to  the  task  of  cul- 
tivating his  father's  land.  In  1872  he  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Westville,  Vermilion 
county,  where  he  first  worked  by  the  month 
as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  rented  the  Tur- 
ner Momen  farm  in  \'ance  township  and 
about  this  time  he  was  married  and  estab- 
lished a  home  of  his  own.  It  was  on  the 
20th  of  September,  1876,  in  Danville,  that 
Mr.  Brandon  wedded  Wary  Jane  Forein, 
who  was  born  in  Vermilion  county,  July 
20,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Dennis  Forein, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  county  Cork,  Ire- 
land. His  father  also  bore  the  name 
of  Dennis  Forein,  and  was  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Brandon 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Margaret  Clif- 
ton, a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Clifton,  who  was  likewise  born  in 
the  Buckeye  state  and  whose  family  num- 
i^ered  seven  children.  Mr.  Forein  was  a 
farmer  bj-  occupation  and  in  the  year  i86j 
came  to  Vermilion  county,  where  for  three 
years  he  rented  land.  He  then  iiurchased 
a  farm  in  Catlin  township,  making  it  his 
home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Aug- 
ust 2,  1895.  He  was  a  communicant  of  the 
Catholic  church,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Catholic  cemetery  at  Danville.  His  widow 
is  now  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Cat- 
lin town.ship.  In  the  family  were  five  chil- 
dren:  Mrs.  Brandon;  Elizabeth,  the  wife 
of  William   Mann  of  Blue  ^Monnd,   Catlin 


township,  by  whom  she  has  five  children ; 
Katie,  the  wife  of  Edward  Boyle,  of  Catlin 
township,  by  whom  she  has  nine  children ; 
Dennis,  whci  married  Miss  M.  Soevers,  by 
whom  she  has  three  sons,  and  also  li\'es  in 
Catlin  township;  and  llaimah,  the  wife  of 
Elijah  Sowers,  of  the  same  township,  by 
whom  she  has  one  child, 

-After  his  marriage  Mr.  Brandon  located 
on  the  Turner  Momen  farm,  where  he  liveil 
for  a  year  and  then  removed  to  the  Pratt 
farm  of  forty  acres,  on  which  he  lived  for 
two  years.  His  next  home  was  on  the  Will- 
iam Davis  farm,  where  he  resided  for  ten 
years.  In  1887  he  purchased  the  Douglas 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  on 
section  17  in  \'ance  township,  and  three 
years  later  he  bought  forty  acres  on  section 
19.  This  property  he  has  inii)ri_i\ed  and 
to-day  it  is  a  \ery  valuable  farm.  In  1901 
he  built  a  .splendid  residence,  in  Queen  Aime 
style,  at  a  cost  of  thirt_v-fi\-e  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  he  now  has  one  of  the  best 
e<iuii)ped  farms  in  Vermilion  county. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brandon 
has  Iieen  blessed  with  nine  children,  all  of 
wIkjui  are  still  under  the  parental  roof, 
namely  :  Robert  E.,  who  was  born  June 
I,  1877;  Albert,  born  September  ji,  1881 ; 
Edward,  born  October  25.  1882;  Stella, 
born  J;muary  6,  1886;  Herman,  born  Jan- 
uary 17,  1888;  Ralph,  born  b'ebruary  i, 
1890;  Mary,  born  February  5,  1893;  Dav- 
id, born  June  30,  1897:  ;ind  Mildred,  who 
\vas  born  April  8,  1901. 

In  his  i)olitical  views  ]Mr.  Brandon  is 
a  Democrat  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day.  He  has 
served  as  road  commissioner  and  school  di- 
rector, and  fraternally  he  is  coimected  with 
the  Court  of  Honor  and  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.     He  also  belongs  to  the 


750 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Methodist  Episcopal  ciiurch.  in  which  lie 
is  now  serving  as  stewartl.  Having  long- 
resided  in  this  county  ^Ir.  Brandon  has  be- 
come widely  known  and  the  qualities  of  an 
upright  manhood  have  gained  for  him  the 
luiqualified  confidence  of  those  widi  whom 
he  has  been  associated.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  unremitting  diligence  and  his  busi- 
ness capability  and  executive  force  have 
brought  to  him  creditable  and  gratifying 
success.  His  farm  with  its  splendid  im- 
provements is  the  visible  evidence  of  his 
life  of  enterprise  and  his  attractive  home 
stands  as  a  monument  to  his  earnest  toil. 


SAMUEL  A.  HU-MPHREY.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Sanuiel  A.  Humphrey,  deceased, 
was  one  of  the  prominent  physicans  and 
druggists  of  Danville  who  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  city  in  1844,  when  it  was  but 
a  small  town  giving  little  promise  of  its 
future  development  and  progress.  The 
Doctor  was  a  native  of  Xelson  county.  Ken- 
tucky, born  ^lay  3,  18^3,  his  parents  being- 
Samuel  and  ^largaret  Humphrey,  who  al- 
ways lived  in  Xelson  county,  where  the  fa- 
ther carried  on  farming.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  passed  away  there. 

Dr.  Humphrey  spent  the  years  of  his 
minority  in  the  Blue  Grass  state  and  ac- 
quired his  education  in  its  public  schools. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age.  howe\er, 
he  left  his  old  home  and  came  to  Illinois, 
having  an  un^le  living  in  Vermilion  county. 
This  causetl  him  to  make  his  way  to  Dan- 
ville and  at  once  he  purchased  a  farm  on 
what  is  known  as  Blue  Grass  prairie.  There 
he  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  a  year,  after  w-hich  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Danville,  for  he  had  determined  to 


abandon  the  plow  in  order  to  enter  profes- 
sional life,  believing  that  the  practice  of 
medicine  would  prove  a  congenial  occupa- 
tion and  at  the  same  time  yield  him  a  good 
living.  He  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Courtney,  who 
directed  his  reading  for  some  time.  He  af- 
terward entered  the  Medical  School  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  and  was  there  graduated  on 
the  26th  of  Eebruary,  1848,  receiving  a 
certificate  to  practice,  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  his  widow. 

Dr.  Humphrey  then  returned  to  Dan- 
ville and  not  only  began  the  work  of 
alleviating  himian  suffering,  but  also  estab- 
lished a  drug  store  on  Main  street  and  con- 
tinued in  the  conipounding  of  medicines 
and  the  sale  of  drugs  in  connection  with 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  He 
also  established  a  dr}^  goods  store  in  the 
city,  devoting  his  time  and  energies  to  the 
successful  conduct  of  his  three  fold  business 
throughout  his  remaining  days.  The  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  however,  was  his  chief 
pursuit  and  he  always  kept  thoroughly  in- 
formed concernii-ig  the  advanced  thought 
made  by  the  profession  and  utilized  his  in- 
creased knowledge  for  the  benefit  of  his  fel- 
low men.  He  became  the  trusted  and  loved 
physician  in  many  a  household  and  his  work 
was  attended  with  excellent  results. 

The  Doctor  was  married  in  Vermilion 
county  to  Miss  Mar}'  ililton,  also  a  native 
of  Xelson  county,  Kentucky,  bom  July  29, 
1824.  a  daughter  of  William  and  Ellen  Mil- 
ton. Her  father  died  in  Kentucky  and  her 
mother  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  James 
Partlow,  who  remo\-ed  to  Vermilion  county 
at  a  very  early  day,  settling  on  a  farm  at 
Blue  Grass,  where  he  and  his  wife  lived 
throtigh.out  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
Mr.  Partlow-  devoting  his  energies  to  the 
pmduction  of  g-rain  with  excellent  success. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


753 


The  marriage  of  Dr.  Humphrey  and  liis 
wife  was  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Mar- 
garet Ellen,  who  became  the  wife  of  John 
Banta,  a  resident  of  Danville,  but  Mrs.  Banta 
died  July  12,  1865. 

In  his  political  views  Dr.  Humphrey 
was  an  earnest  Republican  and  neither  fear 
nor  favor  could  swerve  him  from  a  cause 
which  he  believed  to  be  right.  He  died  Au- 
gust !2.  1864,  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  had  long  been 
a  consistent  and  zealous  member.  His  life 
was  ever  upright,  his  strong  characteristics 
being  those  which  commended  him  to  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellowmen.  In 
the  practice  of  his  profession  he  had  oppor- 
tunity to  do  much  good  and  he  did  it  when- 
ever the  opportunity  came,  for  he  was  a 
man  of  broad  humanitarian  principles.  Airs. 
Humphrey,  who  still  survives  her  husband, 
resides  with,  her  step-sister,  Mrs.  Partlow 
at  Xo.  713  North  Hazel  street.  She,  too, 
has  long  l>een  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  anil  her  many 
excellent  traits  of  heart  and  muid  have 
gained  for  her  the  warm  friendship  of  those 
with  whom  she  has  been  brought  in  con- 
tact. 

♦-.-♦ 

WILLIAM  C.  HAWKLXS. 

William  C.  LLawkins  is  a  well  known 
farmer  of  \'ermilion  county,  residing  on 
section  20.  in  Jamaica  township.  He  was 
born  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  March  21, 
1865,  and  is  a  son  of  Edmond  L.  and  Ma- 
linda  (James)  Hawkins,  both  natives  of 
Edgar  county,  where  they  were  reared  and 
married,  Edmond  L.  Hawkins  was  the  son 
of  William,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
Charlotte  (Drake)  Hawkins,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  William  Hawkins,  the  father  of 
30 


Edmund  L.,  was  a  son  of  Crosby  Hawkins, 
who  came  to  America  from  Ireland.  After 
the  death  nf  his  lirst  wife  William  Hawkins 
married  Xancy  Philips,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
He  was  the  father  of  six  children,  four  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Henry,  of  Nebraska; 
Sarah,  tlie  wife  of  John  McCrowe,  of  Dan- 
ville, Illinois;  Edmund  L.,  the  father  of 
our  subject;  and  Abraham,  of  Mctcalf, 
Edgar  county.  Illinois.  Edmond  L.  Haw- 
kins follow  ed  carpentering  and  worked  at 
his  trade  near  Bloomfield,  Illinois.  He 
built  many  residences  of  that  place,  which 
still  stand  as  monuments  to  his  handiwork 
and  skill.  He  removed  to  Danville  in  1866 
and  engaged  in  contracting  and  carpenter- 
ing. On  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  north  of  I-'ithian,  Illinois. 
There  he  lived  for  four  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Fairmount,  Illinois.  The  mother 
died  in  June,  1901,  and  the  father  is  now 
making  his  home  with  his  son  William  C. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  and 
is  a  stanch  Democrat.  His  life  has  been 
actively  and  usefully  spent  and  he  has  done 
much  toward  the  material  improvement 
and  development  of  the  comnuinities  in 
which  he  has  lived,  besides  taking  a  deep 
interest  in  the  moral  and  intellectual  grow'th 
thereof.  He  and  his  wife  were  the  parents 
of  six  ch-ildren,  four  girls  and  two  boys. 
Minnie  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Boggers  and 
resides  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  They  have 
five  children.  The  subject  of  this  review  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Edmond  S., 
born  December  25,  1866,  was  a  clerk  and 
resided  in  Fairmount,  Illinois.  He  was- 
married  to  Arab  Jakeway,  of  Sidney,  Illinois, 
and  died  on  the  21st  of  April,  1898.  He 
commenced  clerking  for  C.  V.  Tilton,  of 
Fairmount,  and  remained  with  him  for 
eight  years.  Fie  then  worked  for  J.  M.  Mc- 
Cabe.  for  one  vear  and  next  went  to  Cham- 


754 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


paign.  Illinois,  entering  tlie  employ  of  Jos- 
eph Kulm  &  Son.  Here  he  remained  for 
four  years,  when  on  account  of  faihng 
health  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  posi- 
tion. He  went  to  Colorado  in  April,  1897. 
and  returned  to  Sidney,  Illinois,  in  Octo- 
l^er.  There  his  death  occurred.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  Christian  church  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1894.  He  was  a  member  of  Cham- 
paign Lodge,  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica. The  funeral  services  were  held  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Friday,  April 
22,  1898.  the  services  being  conducted  bv 
the  Rev.  S.  S.  Jones.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Greenview  cemetery  at  Fair- 
mount.  Etta  M.  married  Edward  Pope. 
They  have  three  children  and  reside  near 
Guthrie,  Oklahoma.  Lilly  married  H.  A. 
.Stearns,  has  two  children  and  resides  in 
Guthrie,  Oklahoma.  Gertrude,  born  July 
6,  1873,  was  married  at  Fairmount,  Illinois, 
to  William  Baughman.  The  ceremony  took 
place  June  2,  1895,  ^^^'^  ^^'is  performed  by 
Rev.  S.  S.  Jones,  of  Danville.  They  re- 
sided at  216  East  Madison  street,  in  Dan- 
ville, Illinois,  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
which  occurred  at  5 :30  Alonday  evening, 
March  8,  1897.  Mrs.  Baughman  was  a 
most  efficient  worker  in  the  Christian 
church,  was  president  of  the  Endeavor  So- 
ciety, was  Sunday-school  teacher  and  leader 
of  the  choir.  Her  funeral  services  were 
held  from  the  Baptist  church.  Rev.  S.  S. 
Jones  officiating.  Her  remains  \vere  In- 
terred in  Greenview  cemeter}-.  When  she 
died  the  community  lost  an  exemplary 
Christian  woman,  whose  death  was  deeply 
mourned  by  many  friends  as  well  as  her 
immediate  family. 

In  the  common  schools  of  Fairmount, 
Illinois,  William  C.  Hawkins  received  his 
education,  continuing  therein  until  he  was 


seventeen  years  of  age.  He  then  began 
farming,  renting  forty  acres  of  land  and 
thus  getting  a  start  in  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried September  7,  1886,  in  \"ance  township. 
to  Miss  Mabel  Witherspoon,  who  was  born 
in  \'ance  townshii).  May  19.  1866.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  William  P.  Wither- 
spoon, whose  family  history  is  given  else- 
where on  the  pages  of  this  work.  L'nto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  have  been  born  two 
children,  Xina  Pearl,  born  January  10, 
1892,  and  Emma  W.,  born  ^March  23,  1894. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hawkins  locat- 
ed in  Edgar  county,  where  he  remained  for 
six  months.  He  then  removed  to  Fair- 
mount,  remaining  there  for  two  months, 
after  which  time  he  removed  to  the  farm  he 
now  occupies.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  very  \aluable 
farming  land,  the  fields  of  which  are  well 
cultivated,  it  being  one  of  the  best  farms  iit 
Jamaica  township.  He  raises  a  high  grade 
of  stock,  which  he  sells  on  the  market  at  a 
good  price.  He  is  a  very  industrious  man 
and  has  Ijeen  active  in  public  afifairs.  He 
ser\ed  as  assessor  of  the  township  for  two 
years  and  is  now  acting  as  supervisor.  His 
religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  member- 
ship in  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church, 
where  he  is  acting  as  trustee.  Fraternally 
he  is  connected  with  the  Court  of  Honor 
and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat.  A  public- 
spirited  man  he  is  well  known  and  highly 
respected  throughout  this  part  of  \^ermilion 

county. 

*  »  » 

ROBERT  TERRELL. 

Robert  Terrell  is  a  pioneer  settler  of 
\*ermilion  county,  of  1858,  and  is  a  witness 
of  the  changes  which  have  occurred  here. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


755 


He  has  seen  the  developnient  whicli  has 
made  this  portion  of  the  state  a  rich  agri- 
cultural district  and  the  center  of  extensive 
and  important  industrial  and  commercial 
concerns.  Through  many  years  he  actively 
carried  on  farm  work,  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired and  the  comi>etence  which  enables  liim 
to  enjoy  this  rest  was  acquired  entirely  from 
his  own  efforts. 

i\Ir.  Terrell  was  born  in  county  Kings, 
Ireland,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1844,  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Shouldice)  Terrell, 
who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  Emerald 
Isle.  The  father  died  about  three  months 
before  the  birth  of  our  subject  and  the 
mother,  long  surviving  him,  passed  away 
in  1894,  in  Grant  township,  Vermilion 
county.  Our  subject  now  has  one  living 
brother,  James,  who  resides  near  Rochester, 
Indiana.  Originally  there  were  five  boys 
in  the  family. 

Robert  Terrell  spent  the  first  fourteeti 
years  of  his  life  in  the  country  of  his  na- 
tivity, and  then  bade  adieu  to  friends  in  his 
native  land.  He  sailed  for  the  new  world, 
landing  at  New  York  in  1858.  From  there 
he  made  his  way  to  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farm  work  for  six  months. 
In  the  fall  of  1858  he  arrived  in  \'ermilion 
county,  finding  here  broad  stretches  of 
prairie  over  which  the  plow  had  nexer  made 
its  way.  \Volves  were  killed  in  great  num- 
bers during  the  winter  and  there  were  many 
deer,  so  that  the  tables  of  the  early  settlers 
were  largely  supplied  with  venison.  Mr. 
Terrell  settled  in  Ross  township,  a  mile  east 
of  the  town  of  Rossville.  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  for  which  he  paid  twenty  dollars  per 
acre.  His  purchase,  liowever.  was  not 
made  until  1882,  and  prior  to  that  time  he 
had  operated  rented  land.     .\s  early  as  1867 


he  bought  lantl  in  Grant  township,  fur 
which  he  paid  ten  dollars  per  acre,  after- 
ward selling  it  at  an  ;ul\ance  of  six  dollars 
per  acre.  He  lived  upon  that  place  for  two 
years  and  the  money  with  which  he  paid  for 
his  property  he  earned  by  herding  cattle  at 
fifty  dollars  per  month.  In  those  days  there 
were  few  fences  over  the  prairie,  and  the 
women  of  the  household  oftentimes  had  to 
leave  their  indoor  labor  in  order  to  drive 
the  stock  from  the  fields.  Dogs  were  also 
efficient  in  this  way  and  in  a  measure  did 
away  with  the  necessity  of  fences.  When 
Mr.  Terrell  purchased  his  Ross  township 
property  he  found  it  partially  improved, 
but  since  that  time  he  has  laid  many  rods 
of  tiling  and  has  developed  a  model  farm 
b}-  the  erection  of  good  buildings  and  Ijy 
the  planting  of  fruit  trees,  the  digging  of  a 
well  and  the  cultivation  of  the  fields.  His 
property  is  to-day  one  of  the  best  improved 
farms  nf  like  size  in  X'ermilion  cuunt\'.  On 
the  i8th  of  April,  1899,  however,  he  left 
the  farm  and  came  to  Hoopeston,  where 
he  erected  his  present  home  at  a  cost  of 
sixteen  hundred  dollars,  one  of  his  sons 
now  living  upon  the  home  place. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1866,  in  Williams- 
port.  Warren  county,  Indiana,  Mr.  Terrell 
was  united  in  marriage  to  IMiss  Ellen  Ross, 
who  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  in 
1849,  'I  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Emily 
(Ferguson)  Ross.  Her  father  died  in  1885, 
but  her  mother  is  still  living  in  Hoopeston 
at  the  a<l\anced  age  of  eighty-five  years, 
her  l)irtli  having  occurred  in  1817.  Mr. 
Ross  carried  on  merchandising  until  about 
1862.  when  he  took  up  his  abode  u]Jon  a 
farm  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  Williamsport.  Indiana, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death.  In  his  fani- 
ilv  were  five  children  who  are  still  living: 


756 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Shedrick,  of  W'illiamsport,  Indiana;  Ellis, 
of  ilarion,  that  state;  Mrs.  Malinda  Har- 
ris, whose  home  is  south  of  Rossville;  and 
Mrs.  Anna  Cocking,  of  Hoopeston.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terrell  has  been 
blessed  with  seven  children,  of  whom  five 
are  yet  living:  James;  Maude,  the  wife  of 
Peter  Redmond,  of  Attica,  Indiana;  Jo- 
siah.  who  wedded  Mary  Miller  and  is  liv- 
ing on  the  old  home  place;  Robert,  who 
married  .\ddie  Cory  and  resides  in  Hoope- 
ston; and  Dessie,  the  wife  of  Lemuel 
Streets,  of  Hoopeston,  who  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Spanish-American  war,  serving  in 
Battery  A,  of  "  Danville,  in  Porto  Rico. 
Since  his  return  he  has  wedded  the  young- 
est daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Terrell.  The 
members  of  the  family  who  have  passed 
away  are :  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years,  and  Herbert,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 

Mr.  Terrell  has  ever  been  a  loyal  citi- 
zen of  his  adopted  land  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  he  manifested  his  patriotic 
spirit  by  enlisting  in  1863  as  a  member  of 
Company  E.  Third  Indiana  Cavalry,  with 
which  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Thompson,  Colonel  Chapman  and  General 
Custer,  and  was  in  the  Cavalry  Corps  of  the 
Eastern  Department  along  the  Potomac. 
He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Cedar  Creek.  \'ir- 
ginia.  October  15,  1864,  and  was  in  Libby 
prison  at  Richmond,  until  March,  1865.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Winchester. 
Antietam.  the  Wilderness,  Lookout  ?^loun- 
tain,  Rappahannock  Courthouse,  Yellow 
Tavern,  Cedar  Creek  and  a  number  of  skir- 
mishes. He  was  wounded  in  the  engage- 
ment at  Cedar  Creek,  where  his  horse  was 
shot  from  \mder  him  and  broke  his  arm 
by    falling    upon    him,    thus    injuring    his 


spinal  curd,  but  he  was  carried  to  prison 
without  surgical  aid  being  rendered  him, 
and  the  injuries  which  he  thus  received  left 
him  a  cripple,  .\fter  l:>eing  liberated  from 
the  southern  prison  he  was  granted  a  fur- 
lough and  returned  home,  but  rejoined  the 
army  in  1865,  although  he  was  never  agin 
in  active  field  duty.  At  Indianapolis  he 
was  mustered  out  and  honorably  dis- 
charged. The  injuries  which  he  sustained 
ha\-e  incapacitated  him  for  farm  labor  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  years,  and  as  his  sons 
grew  up  they  relieved  him  froin  the  active 
work  of  the  fields,  although  he  has  since 
successfully  superintended  the  cultivation 
of  his  farm.  [Many  a  time  has  his  wife  gone 
out  in  the  winter  to  feed  the  stock  and  do 
other  hard  work  because  of  Mr.  Terrell's 
disability,  even  following  the  plow  in  the 
spring  before  her  sons  were  old  enough  to 
do  the  work.  This  worthy  couple  have 
seen  all  of  the  hardships  and  trials  of  pio- 
neer life  but  are  now  living  in  comfortable 
and  honorable  retirement  in  enjoyment  of 
the  rest  which  thev  have  indeed  well  earned. 
In  politics  Mr.  Terrell  has  always  been  a 
Republican,  and  he  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  and  his  wife 
attend  services  in  the  Christian  church  but 
are  not  members  of  the  denomination.  Their 
manv  friends  throughout  \'ermilion  county 
would  consider  this  work  incomplete  with- 
out mention  of  these  highly  esteemed  peo- 
ple, and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
to  our  readers  the  record  of  their  lives. 


JOHN  PARTLOW. 

John  Partlow  was  well  known  to  the 
early  settlers  of  Danville  for  his  family  was 
founded  here  at  an  earlv  dav.  and  he  was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


761 


one  of  the  native  sons  of  tlie  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  at  Bhie  Grass.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Ellen  (Milton) 
Partluw,  who  are  nientieincil  in  connection 
with  the  sketch  uf  Samuel  A.  Humphrey, 
given  above.  To  the  work  of  farm  life 
John  Partlow  of  this  review  was  reared  and 
his  labors  in  early  youth  well  jjrepareil  him 
to  carry  on  business  on  his  own  account 
when  he  reached  manhood.  After  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  chose  as  a  companion 
and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  Miss 
Frances  Giddings,  a  native  of  England  and 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Caroline  Gid- 
dings, who  came  to  America  in  184J.  They 
settled  in  Danville  and  the  father  was 
among  the  first  business  men  of  the  city. 
He  was  a  wagon  and  carriage  manufacturer 
and  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
farming  implements,  conducting  his  indus- 
try with  success  for  many  years.  The  prod- 
ucts of  his  factory  found  a  ready  sale 
among  the  citizens  of  this  portion  of  the 
state  and  he  resided  in  Danville  until  his 
death.  Members  of  the  Giddings  family 
still  live  in  Danville  and  the  family  has  long 
been  regarded  as  one  of  prominence  in  Ver- 
milion county  worthy  of  all  respect.  Unto 
Mr.  and  I\Irs.  Partlow  were  born  two  chil- 
dren :  Elmer,  who  is  now  employed  in  the 
Wright  ]Mill  of  Danville;  and  Charles,  who 
died  Alay  28,  1902. 

In  early  life  John  Partlow  was  engaged 
in  clerking  in  the  dry-goods  and  drug  store 
owned  by  Dr.  Humphrey.  He  acceptably 
served  in  that  capacity  and  later  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  at  the  north  edge  of  Dan- 
ville, taking  up  his  abode  on  that  property. 
There  he  successfully  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  many  years  and  placed 
his  laud  under  a  very  high  state  of  culti- 
vation, so  that  the  rich  fields  returned  to 
him   golden  harvests.      He  died   December 


8,  1896,  and  the  community  mourned  the 
loss  of  a  valued  citizen,  for  he  was  always 
trustworthy  and  faithful  in  the  performance 
of  the  \arious  duties  and  obligations  of  life. 
After  her  husband's  death  Mrs.  Partlow 
removed  to  Danville  and  purchased  her 
present  property,  whereon  she  is  now  living 
with  Mrs.  Humphrey  at  Xo.  7J3  North 
Hazel  street.  She  still  owns  the  farm  of 
twenty-si.K  acres  bordering  on  X'orhees 
street  at  the  north  edge  of  Danville  and  it 
is  now  \erv  valuable  land. 


PARK  T.  :\L\RTTX. 


Park  r.  Martin,  nnw  deceased,  was  well 
known  in  Dan\ille  where  for  man)-  years  he 
was  associated  with  journalistic  interests 
and  also  capably  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  for  a  considerable  period.  A  native 
of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  he  was  born 
March  i,  1838,  his  parents  being  Alark  D. 
and  Julia  (Ward)  Alarlin,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  and  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  the  greater  part  of  his 
life,  and  came  to  Illinois  and  farmed  there 
for  years  and  also  conducted  a  hotel  in  Shel- 
byville.  On  leaving  the  Buckeye  state  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death,  whicli 
occurred  ]\fa)-  13,  i<>oi,  and  his  wife 
is  li\ing  in  that  city. 

Park  T.  Martin,  whose  name  begins 
this  record,  was  indebted  to  the  common- 
school  system  of  his  native  county  for  the 
educational  privileges  which  prepared  him 
for  life's  practical  and  responsible  duties. 
He  resided  at  various  times  in  towns  in 
Ohio  and  Illinois,  and  eventually  he  took 
up    his    residence    in    Shelbyville,    Illinois, 


762 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Avhere  he  remained  for  some  time,  teaching 
school  and  editing  papers  for  several  years. 
While  li\ing  there  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riag;e  to  ]\[iss  Ellen  Huber,  a  native  of 
Fairfield.  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Huber.  who  was  a  farmer  of  that  state, 
whence  he  removed  to  Illinois,  taking  up  his 
abode  in  Shelby\ille.  There  he  enjoyed  a 
Avell  merited  rest  until  called  to  the  home 
beyond.  I'nto  ]Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Martin  wei;e 
born  five  children  :  Clarence,  who  died  in 
childhood:  Robert  \\'..  who  is  an  enterpris- 
ing and  progressi\'e  citizen  of  Danville,  now 
serving  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Second 
National  Bank :  Walter,  who  is  city  engi- 
neer of  Danville;  Fred  S.,  who  is  employed 
by  the  Bradstreet  Company  of  Chicago; 
and  Herbert  L..  who  was  employed  in  the 
office  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  Omaha,  Nebraska,  but  now  l)y  the 
electric  light  company. 

In  1873  ^Ir.  r^Iartin  removed  from 
Shelbyville  to  Dan\-ille,  where  he  continued 
his  residence  until  his  death.  He  at  once 
took  charge  of  The  Commercial,  of  which 
he  was  the  editor  for  several  years,  and  un- 
der his  administration  this  became  a  popu- 
lar and  well  patronized  journal.  He  after- 
ward established  a  newspaper  of  his  own, 
called  the  Saturday  Opinion,  \\hich  he  con- 
ducted for  a  few  years.  Later  he  served  as 
bookkeeper  in  several  business  houses  of 
the  city  and  was  then  made  justice  of  the 
peace,  serving  in  that  position  until  his 
health  failed,  after  which  he  lived  retired 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  June  30. 
1900.  In  political  affairs  he  was  prominent 
and  for  several  years  he  represented  his 
ward  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  aldermen 
of  Danville.  He  always  voted  with  the  Re- 
publican party  and  manifested  the  interest 
of  a  loyal  citizen  in  questions  pertaining  to 
the  general  good.     He  held  memliership  in 


the  First  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  his 
wife  belongs,  and  in  all  life's  relations  he 
was  known  as  a  man  of  sterling  honor  and 
integrity,  possessing  commendable  traits  of 
character,  which  drew  to  him  the  regard 
and  good  will  of  his  fellow  men.  Mrs.  Alar- 
tin,  who  is  an  estimable  lady  and  has  many 
friends  in  Danxille,  owns  and  occupies  a 
beautiful  home  at  Xo.  516  West  Harrison 

street. 

«  ■  » 

:^IART1X  H.  WATSON. 

When  death  claimed  Alartin  H.  Watson 
on  the  13th  of  September.  1888.  the  com- 
munity lost  a  valued  citizen,  the  family  a 
devoted  husband  and  father,  and  his  friends 
a  companion  whose  loyaltv  was  never  cjues- 
tioned.  He  was  born  in  \'ermilion  county 
in  1840  and  always  lived  within  its  borders. 
He  had  three  brothers  and  a  sister;  John, 
George.  Thomas  and  ]\Irs.  Minerva  FIenr\'. 

In  his  early  life  ^Nlr.  ^\'atson  resided 
east  of  Dan\-ille  and  after  his  marriage  came 
to  the  farm  in  Pilot  township,  upon  v.hich 
his  widow  yet  resides.  He  was  married  in 
the  city  of  Danville  in  1859  to  iSIiss  ]Mar- 
tha  A.  Cunningham,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Fountain  county.  Indiana,  in  1842.  her 
parents  removing  to  Illinois  when  she  was 
but  four  years  of  age.  Both  her  father  and 
mother  are  now  deceased.  She  had  two 
brothers  and  two  sisters ;  Mrs.  Eliza  \\^or- 
ley,  a  resident  of  Nebraska ;  Mrs.  Mari 
Brewer,  whose  home  is  near  Fairmount ; 
and  James  and  Nicholas  Cunningham,  both 
of  whom  are  residents  of  Danville. 

When  !Mr.  Watson  was  married  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
liut  as  time  passed  and  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  as  the  result  of  his  dili- 
gence and  enterprise  he  added  to  his  prop- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


763 


erty  until  he  was  the  possessor  of  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  vahiable  land.  His 
life  was  one  of  earnest  labor.  The  place 
was  all  wild  when  he  took  up  his  abode 
thereon  and  his  first  purchase  was  made 
four  dollars  and  seventy-fi\e  cents  per  acre. 
W'nh  characteristic  energ)-  he  began  the  de- 
velopment lit  his  farm  ancl  in  course  ol 
time  transtorn.ied  the  raw  tract  into  a  high- 
ly cultivatetl  farm.  He  thoroughly  under- 
stood farming  in  every  department,  ami  his 
work,  directed  by  good  judgment,  brought 
to  him  a  comfortable  competence.  In  his 
religious  faith  Mr.  Watson  was  a  Baptis; 
and  ill  ])olitics  he  was  a  Democrat.  He 
served  as  a  road  commissioner  of  his  dis- 
trict and  also  as  a  school  director  and  took 
a  deep  and  active  interest  in  everything  jier- 
taining  to  public  progress  and  athancc- 
nient.  He  was  trustworthy  and  reliable  in 
his  business  affairs  and  all  who  knew  him 
entertained  for  him  high  regard  because  his 
life  was  hi  harmony  with  missionary  prin- 
ciples. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Watson  were  horn 
eleven  children,  of  whom  ten  arc  now  liv- 
ing: Mrs.  Nannie  Yeoman,  Clement  S., 
Mrs.  Rosa  Frederick,  Owen  G.,  Mrs.  Cora 
McCoy,  P'rank,  Mrs.  Inez  Jenkins.  ?\lrs. 
Estella  Brush.  Willey  and  Martin  who  is 
living  with  his  widowed  mother  upon  the 
home  farm  and  operates  the  land.  When 
death  claimed  jNlr.  Watson  he  was  laid  to 
rest  ill  Spring  Hill  cemetery  at  Danville. 
but  though  fourteen  years  have  since  come 
and  gone  his  memory  is  still  cherished  b\- 
those  who  knew  him.  But  three  of  the  chil- 
dren of  the  family  were  married  at  the  time 
of  the  father's  death  and  Mrs.  Watson  care- 
fully and  tenderly  reared  the  others,  pro- 
viding them  with  good  educational  privi- 
leges and  caring  for  them  until  they  went 


to  homes  of  their  own.  She  has  displayed 
good  business  abilitv  in  the  management  of 
the  home  property,  adding  some  to  her 
original  estate,  and  she  now  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  lift}'  acres  of  rich  land,  which  is 
very  productive  and  returns  to  her  a  good 
income.  Possessing  many  excellent  traits 
of  heart  and  mitid  she,  like  her  husband, 
has  a  large  circle  of  warm  I'rieuds. 


GEORGE  W.  D.\RK. 

Ge<M'ge  W  .  Darr  was  lioru  in  I'arke 
county,  Indiana,  .\ugust  6,  1853,  and  is  a 
son  of  John  H.  and  Rebecca  (Collings) 
Darr,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Car- 
olina and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  John  H. 
Darr  was  a  son  of  Da\id  Darr,  who  also 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  and  removed 
to  Indiana,  where  he  spent  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life.  In  his  ])olitical  views  he 
was  a  Democrat.  John  H.  Darr  removed 
with  his  parents  from  North  Carolina  to 
Parke  coiint}',  Indiana,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Rebecca  Collings,  who  had  come 
to  Indiana  from  Kentucky  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  but  three  years  of  age.  They 
made  the  ionnuw  on  horseliack  and  she 
njcle  behind  her  mother  the  entire  distance. 
John  H.  Darr  followed  farming  throughout 
the  acti\'e  years  of  his  life  and  spent  his 
remaining  da\'s  in  I'arke  county,  Indiana, 
where  his  death  occurred  May  19.  1859. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  (ierman  Lutheran 
church  and  politically  gave  his  sujiport  to 
the  Democratic  party,  but  always  refused 
to  hold  office.  His  wife  is  still  living  with 
the  subject  of  this  review,  at  llie  age  of 
seventy  years.  Besides  her  son  George  W. 
she   has   one  daughter,    Sarah,   the   wife  of 


764 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


John  R.  Mater,  a  resident  ut  Danville,  Illi- 
nois.    The)'  have  one  child,  Grace. 

George  \\'.  Darr  spent  his  boyhood  days 
xi])on  the  home  farm  in  Parke  county,  In- 
diana. In  tlie  winter  months  he  attended 
district  school  Xo.  4,  and  in  the  summer 
seasons  he  worked  upon  the  farm.  His 
mother  remo\ed  with  lier  children  to  \'er- 
niilion  county  when  he  was  thirteen  years 
of  age,  going  to  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  about 
one  mile  northeast  of  their  present  home, 
^vhich  they  purchased  in  1869.  Here  he 
also  attended  the  Dougherty  school,  assist- 
ing his  mother  on  the  farm  at  the  same 
time.  He  remained  with  his  mother,  as- 
sisting her  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  he  purchased  his 
mother's  and  sister's  interest  in  the  forty 
acres  of  land.  December  10,   1874. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  1878,  in  what 
is  now  Jamaica  township,  Mr.  Darr  was 
united  in  marriage  to  ^liss  Susannah  Hop- 
per, a  daughter  of  Louis  and  Margaret 
(Kinsey)  Hopper.  She  was  born  in  \^er- 
milion  county.  Illinois.  January  20,  1857. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  born 
February  13,  1826,  and  her  mother  was 
born  in  Oliio,  Septemljer  19,  1829.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio,  June  27,  1847.  He 
was  a  farmer  1iy  occupation  and  removed 
to  Vermilion  county.  He  is  now  living 
at  Fairmount.  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-six. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  His 
wife  died  in  1876,  and  in  March,  1879,  he 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  (Stanberry') 
Olmsted,  a  native  of  Illinois.  She  is  now 
living  with  her  husband  at  Fairmount,  Illi- 
nois. By  his  first  marriage  there  were  born 
seven  children,  four  girls  and  three  boys, 
all  of  whom  with  the  exception  of  one,  are 
still  living.  John,  born  January  8,  1849, 
married    Jennie   Carrington   and   resides   in 


Jamaica  township.  They  ha\-e  three  chil- 
dren. Sarah  E.,  born  September  15,  185 1, 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  English,  of  Peru, 
]\Iiami  county,  Indiana,  who  follows  farm- 
ing as  an  occupation.  They  have  one  child. 
Susannah  is  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  was  born  January  20,  1857. 
Martha,  born  April  14,  1859,  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Pemberton,  of  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana, and  has  five  children.  Frank,  who 
was  born  October  5,  1861,  married  Cora 
Hall.  They  ha\e  four  children  and  reside 
near  Dana,  Indiana.  Mary  M.,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1864,  is  the  wife  of  James  Smith 
and  resides  in  Cass  county,  Indiana,  near 
Peru,  on  a  farm.  They  have  six  children. 
\\'illiam,  born  October  4,  1853,  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  and  Airs.  Darr 
has  been  blessed  with  eight  children. 
Henry  W..  born  November  25,  1878,  is  a 
teacher  in  penmanship  at  Storm  Lake,  Iowa. 
The  others  are:  Edgar  L..  born  Februarv 
10.  1880;  Walter  L..  born  June  28.  1883; 
Delia  ]\l.,  born  February  19,  1888:  Xellie 
B..  born  May  9,  1889;  Howard  C.  born 
June  6,  1893;  George  B.,  born  May  16, 
1896;  and  Seth  W.,  born  Januarv-  28,  1898. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Darr  located 
upon  the  farm  which  is  yet  his  home.  This 
is  situated  on  section  20,  Jamaica  township. 
In  1882  he  purchased  an  additional  forty 
acres,  and  in  Afarch.  1901.  he  purchased 
forty  acres  more.  In  1879  he  erected  a 
substantial  residence  tipon  the  farm,  which 
he.  has  placed  under  an  excellent  state  of 
cultivation.  In  addition  to  his  own  farm  he 
also  rents  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
Therefore  his  farming  interests  are  quite 
e.xtensive  and  he  is  engaged  in  stock-raising. 
Stock,  consisting  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs 
of  a  good  grade,  are  raised  in  his  pastures 


Of  r.i£ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


MRS.  N.  R.  FAIRCHILD. 


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N.  R.  FAIRCHILD. 


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UNIVERSITY   OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


769 


and  he  sells  these  in  the  markets,  deriving 
a  good  income  thereby.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat  where  national  issues  of  im- 
portance are  at  stake,  but  at  local  elections 
he  votes  tor  the  men  whom  he  thinks  best 
calculated  to  fill  the  offices.  A  substantial 
and  representatixe  farmer  of  \"ermilion 
county,  where  he  has  been  a  resilient  for 
over  a  tjuarter  of  a  century,  in  its  progress 
and  upbuilding  he  is  deeply  interested  and 
is  e\'er_\'  ready  to  support  any  movement  or 
measure  which  will  be  of  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity. He  is  highh'  regarded  by  his 
friends  and  acquaintances,  who  know  him 
to  be  a  man  of  integritv  and  honestv. 


NATHANIEL  R.   FAIRCHILD. 

The  b^airchild  family  is  a  [trominent  one 
in  \'enniliun  couiUv  and  the  life  record  of 
the  subject  oi  this  re\iew  is  one  that  re- 
flects credit  upon  an  honored  name.  He 
was  born  August  15,  1843,  :ibout  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  southwest  of  his  preseiit 
home,  his  parents  being  the  Rev.  Daniel 
and  Lucy  (Hemingway)  Fairchild,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  New  York.  His 
father  was  known  for  miles  around  because 
of  his  zealous  work  in  behalf  of  Christian- 
ity, and  his  noble  life  has  been  a  potent 
element  for  good  throughout  the  comnuni- 
ity.  He  started  out  in  the  world  empty- 
handed  and  in  order  to  earn  a  livelihood  he 
made  rails  for  thirty-seven  and  one-half 
cents  per  hundred.  In  this  wav  he  obtained 
his  license  to  preach  and  he  has  delivered 
more  funeral  sermons  and  married  more 
couples  than  any  man  of  his  day.  He  came 
to  this  county  in  1829.  when  it  was  a  wild 
imbroken  district,  and  here  aided  in  cutting 
away  the  trees  and  preparing  the  land  for 


cultivation.  He  endured  all  of  the  hard- 
ships incident  to  pioneer  life  al;  a  time  when 
the  Indians  were  numerous.  The  rivers  and 
the  woods  were  also  the  haunts  of  many 
kinds  of  wild  game  and  there  were  large 
numbers  of  prairie  wolves  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Fairchild  in  the  exercise  of  his  business 
affairs  acquired  a  large  competence  and  be- 
fore he  passed  away  he  dixided  his  property 
aiuong  his  children. 

Nathaniel  R.  Fairchild  was  the  twin 
Ijrother  of  Daniel  C.  Fairchild.  who  died 
fighting  for  his  coiuitry.  He  and  a  com- 
panion were  mortally  wounded  just  as  they 
had  cut  down  a  tree  for  breast  works  at 
IMission  Ridge,  Daniel  Fairchild  being 
picked  off  by  a  sharpshooter,  dying  on  the 
6th  of  July.  1864.  The  subject  of  this  re- 
view pursued  his  early  eilucation  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  with  its  primitive  furnishings 
such  as  were  common  at  that  day,  greased 
paper  wintlows,  slab  seats,  and  an  immense 
fireplace  being  among  the  accessories  of 
this  building.  Later  he  was  for  a  few  years 
a  student  in  the  Danville  high  school  and 
then  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and 
stock-raising,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
As  the  years  have  passed  he  has  seen  the 
work  of  transformation  carried  on.  He 
can  well  reiueiuber  the  open  prairie  upon 
which  cattle  were  herded,  over  which  one 
could  drive  for  miles,  his  progress  unim- 
peded by  house  or  fence.  The  land  was 
unbroken,  having  never  been  placed  under 
the  plow.  Mv.  Fairchild  cleared  and  broke 
most  of  the  land  upon  his  own  place  and 
has  made  it  a  splendidlx-  improved  propertv. 
The  wet  condition  of  the  fields  has  been 
done  away  with  through  tiling  and  all  mod- 
ern equipments  have  been  added,  including 
the  latest -improved  machinery  for  facilitat- 
ing farm  work.  His  property  is  now 
one  of  the  best   improved   farms  on  Eight 


770 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mile  Prairie.  Mr.  Fairchild  also  remem- 
bers well  the  first  cookstove  his  father 
brought  into  the  neighborhood,  many  peo- 
ple coming  for  miles  to  see  it  and  looking 
upon  it  with  much  curiosity.  The  old  dip 
candles  were  used  in  those  days,  for  not 
even  candle  molds  had  been  introduced. 
Long  before  his  marriage  ^Ir.  Fairchild 
and  his  brother  Eli  made  a  trip  to  Joliet, 
Illinois,  taking  with  them  a  load  of  apples. 
They  forded  the  Kankakee  river,  camped 
out  at  night  and  were  upon  the  road  for  an 
entire  week.  The  father  did  his  milling 
by  placing  a  sack  of  corn  upon  a  horse  and 
then  sending  it  with  the  boys  to  the  mill. 
Our  subject  has  attended  camp  meeting 
when  church  services  were  held  in  the  grove, 
tallow  candles  being  placed  on  the  bushes 
in  order  to  afford  light.  He  has  seen  the 
yovmg  girls  go  to  church  barefooted  and  be- 
fore reaching  their  destination  they  would 
sit  down  upon  a  log  ancl  put  on  their  shoes. 
and  these  were  removed  as  soon  as  the  ser- 
vice was  over  and  they  returned  home  bare- 
footed as  thev  had  come.  They  would  ride  to 
church  sitting  upon  a  sheepskin  thrown  over 
the  horse's  back  behind  the  man  who  acted 
as  a  driver. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey.  ^Ir.  Fairchild  chose  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Fitzgerald,  to  whom  he  was  married 
April  21,  1869.  She  was  born  November 
8,  1844.  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza 
Fitzgerald,  and  she  died  August  19,  1874. 
She  had  three  children,  of  whom  two  sur- 
\ivetl  the  mother.  ^Marshall  C.  and  .\da  \'.. 
but  the  latter  died  October  4,  1893,  in  her 
twenty-second  year.  The  other  child  died 
in  infancy.  On  the  30th  of  March,  1875, 
Mr.  Fairchild  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah 
Dove,  a  widow,  who  was  bom  in  Vermilion 
county  Jime  ii,  1842.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  had  two  children.     J-  Douglas,  a 


popular  school  teacher  living  southwest  of 
Jamesburg;  and  Cynthia  E.,  the  wife  of 
Otis  Wilson,  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Fair- 
child  is  a  daughter  of  Ezekial  and  Eliza- 
beth (Outten)  IMcXamer,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Delaware  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairchild  have  been 
born  four  children :  \\'esley.  who  was  mar- 
ried August  24,  1S97,  to  Stella  Bonnett, 
by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Clayton  Nathan- 
iel;  Jesse,  at  home:  Nettie  A.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Shelby  M.  Starr,  November  10, 
1901  :  and  Nathaniel  R. 

When  fifteen  years  of  age  'Slv.  Fairchild 
became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church, 
with  which  he  has  since  been  identified,  and 
has  ever  been  deeply  interested  in  the  cause 
of  Christianity  and  its  advancement.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He 
to-day  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  well  improved  land  and  is  a  farmer  whose 
persexerance  and  energy  ha\e  brought  to 
him  a  creditable  position  in  agricultural  cir- 
cles. His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  \^er- 
milion  county  and  the  fact  that  many  who 
have  known  him  from  boyhood  are  num- 
bered among  his  stanchest  friends,  is  an  in- 
dication that  his  has  been  an  honorable  and 
upright  career. 


OLIN  A.  McFARLAND. 

Olin  A.  ^IcFarland.  who  for  twenty- 
two  years  has  practiced  at  the  Danville  bar, 
making  a  specialty  of  commercial,  real  es- 
tate and  probate  law.  was  bom  in  Farming- 
ton,  Maine,  November  11,  1856,  and  is  a 
son  of  Dr.  P.  ]\I.  and  Sarah  E.  (^Mace") 
^IcFarland.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Pennsyhania,  the  mother  of  Massachusetts, 
and  thev  were  married  in  Kentucky.     The 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


771 


Doctor  was  a  graduate  of  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, of  Aleadville,  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
the  Ohio  Medical  College  of  Cincinnati,  and 
was  successfully  engaged  in  practice  from 
1863  until  1892.  Throughout  the  Ci\il  war 
he  served  his  countr}-  as  surgeon  of  the 
Fifty-sixth  Ohio  \'olunteer  Infantry,  re- 
maining at  the  front  for  four  years,  during 
which  time  he  did  nuich  to  allav  tlic  sutter- 
ing  caused  hy  war  and  its  hardships.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  resident  of  Centralia. 
Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1892. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  had  passed  away 
in  1879  and  the  Doctor  had  afterward  mar- 
ried Stella  \'.  Casey,  who  is  now  living  in 
Colorado  Springs.  Colorado.  There  were 
three  children  of  the  first  marriage :  Ed- 
ward P.,  Frank  M.  and  Olin  A. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Centralia,  Illi- 
nois. ]\Ir.  ]\IcFarland  of  this  review  i>ur- 
sued  his  elementary  education,  which  was 
supplemented  by  a  full  course  of  study  in 
the  Asbury  University,  at  Greencastle.  In- 
diana. After  spending  four  years  in  that 
institution  he  was  graduated  with  the  de- 
gree of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  thus  having 
acquired  l)road  literary  knowledge  to  serve 
as  a  foundation  for  professional  training, 
he  entered  the  Union  Law  College 
of  Chicago — the  law  department  of 
the  Northwestern  University — and  was 
graduated  in  1880  with  the  degree 
of  L.L.  B.  In  August  of  the  same 
year  he  opened  an  office  in  Danville.  From 
1885  until  1888  he  was  associated  in  prac- 
tice with  .\lbert  Emerson,  but  with  the  ey- 
ception  of  that  period  has  been  alone  during 
the  twenty-two  years  of  his  connection  with 
the  Danville  bar.  where  he  has  continually 
advanced  until  he  has  long  since  gained  a 
place  among  the  lawyers  of  distinction  and 
ability  in  this  part  of  the  state.     Althotigh 


he  has  followed  general  practice  he  is  now 
making  a  specialty  of  commercial,  probate 
and  real-estate  law,  and  has  informed  him- 
self thoroughly  concerning  these  branches, 
with  the  result  that  he  handles  with  skill 
such  cases  as  are  entrusted  to  him  and  sel- 
dom fails  to  win  a  verdict  favorable  to  his 
clients.  Much  important  litigation  has  been 
conducted  by  him.  He  prepares  his  cases 
with  great  thoroughness  and  precision  and 
his  devotion  to  his  clients'  interests  is  pro- 
\-erl)ial. 

In  1 88 1,  in  Greencastle.  Indiana.  Mr. 
IMcFarland  was  married  to  Mary  B.  Fletch- 
er, who  was  born  in  Indianapolis,  that  state, 
in  1856.  a  daughter  of  ]\Iilo  J.  Fletcher, 
who  was  professor  of  literature  in  Asbury 
University  at  Greencastle.  and  state  super- 
intendent of  instruction  in  Indiana.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Brown  L^niversity  and  of 
Harvard  Law  School,  and  throughout  liis 
life  was  coimected  with  educational  work. 
At  the  time  of  the  Ci\-il  war  he  was  a])- 
pointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  Indi- 
ana to  look  after  the  wounded  Indiana  sol- 
diers injured  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  and 
shortly  after  he  was  killed  in  a  railroad 
accident  at  Spencer,  that  state.  Flis  wife, 
Avho  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jennie  M. 
Hoar,  and  was  a  nati\'e  of  Providence.  Rhode 
Island,  died  about  1890.  Unto  i\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  McFarland  have  lieen  born  three  chil- 
dren :  Elizabeth,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Danville  high  school  and  now  attends  the 
Chicago  University;  Fletcher  and  Allen  P.. 
both  of  whom  are  students  in  the  high 
school  here. 

In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  McFarland 
is  a  Republican.  For  eight  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  library  board  of  the 
city  and  at  the  present  time  is  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  cit\-  board  of  education.  So- 


772 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


cially  lie  is  connectetl  with  tlie  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  He  has  passed  all 
the  chairs  in  the  former  and  has  served  as 
a  representative  to  both  the  grand  lodge 
and  grand  encampmait.  He  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  is  inter- 
ested in  every  measure  of  progress  and  im- 
pro\-ement  for  the  general  good  of  the  city. 
In  a  profession  where  distinction  and  suc- 
cess depentls  upon  individual  merit,  compre- 
hensive knowledge  and  a  readiness  in  cor- 
rectly applying  such  knowledge,  he  has  at- 
tained hieh  rank. 


FRANK  LIXDLEY. 

l-'rank  Lindley  is  a  member  of  what  is 
now  the  oldest  law  firm  of  Dan\-ille  as  re- 
gards years  of  continued  connection  with 
the  bar  of  this  city.  The  profession  of  the 
law  when  clijthed  with  its  true  dignit\',  pur- 
ity and  strength  must  rank  first  among  the 
callings  of  man,  for  law  rules  the  universe. 
The  work  of  the  legal  profession  is  to  form- 
ulate, to  harmonize,  to  regulate,  to  adjust, 
to  administer  those  rules  and  princi]iles  that 
underlie  and  permeate  all  government  and 
society  and  control  the  \aried  relations  of 
men.  As  thus  reviewed  there  is  attached  to 
the  legal  profession  nobleness  that  can  not 
but  be  reflected  in  the  life  of  the  true  lawyer, 
who.  rising  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  pro- 
fession, and  honest  in  the  pursuit  of  his  pur- 
pose, embraces  the  richness  of  learning,  the 
firmness  of  integrity  and  the  purity  of  mor- 
als, together  with  the  graces  and  modesty 
and  the  general  amenities  of  life.  Of  such 
a  type  Frank  Lindley  is  a  representative. 

Mr.  Lindley  was  born  ]\Larch  lo.  1858. 
in  W'avne  counts'.  Indiana,  and  is  a  son  of 


Osmond  and  Archie  W.  (Wilson)  Lindley, 
who  were  orthodox  Quakers  and  were  na- 
tives of  North  Carolina.  James  Lindley  and 
John  W.  Wilson,  the  paternal  and  maternal 
grandfathers,  respecti\ely,  of  our  subject, 
were  slave  owners  in  North  Carolina,  but 
many  years  prior  to  the  Ci\-il  war  they  lib- 
erated all  of  their  slaves  and  both  were 
strong  advocates  of  freedom.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  are  graduates  of  Earlham 
College,  a  school  of  Indiana,  conducted  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 
The  father  was  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, of  whom  the  only  survivor  is  Jona- 
than Lindley.  The  others  were  Hiram,  Cal- 
\-in  and  John,  and  the  family  was  of  Scotch 
and  English  lineage.  Osmond  Lindley,  af- 
ter completing  his  education,  engaged  in 
teaching  to  some  extent  and  in  his  later 
years  followed  farming,  stock-raising  and 
pork-packing.  He  successfully  conducted 
his  business  affairs  until  his  life's  labors 
were  ended  in  death  in  1877.  wlien  he  was 
forty-five  years  of  age.  His  widow  still 
survives  him  and  'now  resides  at  Fair- 
mount,  Indiana. 

In  the  public  schools  Frank  Lindlev  be- 
gan his  education,  w  hich  was  afterward  con- 
tinued in  Hopewell  Academy  in  Henry 
county,  Indiana.  He  came  to  Shelbvville, 
Illinois,  with  his  parents  in  1872,  and  for 
a  time  eng'aged  in  teaching  school,  when  de- 
siring to  still  further  perfect  his  own  educa- 
tion he  became  a  student  in  the  State  Normal. 
Soon  afterward  he  liegan  reading  law  in 
the  oftice  of  the  firm  of  Thornton,  Wend- 
ling  &  Hamlin,  at  Shelbyville,  Illinois,  and 
when  he  had  largely  mastered  the  principles 
of  jurisprudence  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  May,  1881,  and  came  to  Danville.  Here 
he  entered  into  partnership  relations  with 
Frank  \\'.  Penwell.  under  the  firm  name  of 
Penwell  &  Lindlev.  a  relation  that  has  since 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


775 


been  maintained,  so  tiiat  tliis  is  now  the  old- 
est law  firm  in  Danville.  They  have  en- 
joyed a  very  large  share  of  the  most  im- 
portant clientage  in  their  district  and  have 
been  found  as  council  for  the  plaintiff  or  de- 
fendant in  almost  every  imiwrtant  case  in 
the  history  of  this  locality  throughout  the 
years  of  their  connection  with  the  bar. 

While  active  in  any  movement  pertain- 
ing to  the  best  form  of  government,  Mr. 
Lindley  has  never  sought  or  desired  politi- 
cal office,  yet  does  his  duty  as  a  private  citi- 
zen to  the  best  of  his  ability  and  his  influ- 
ence and  efforts  in  this  direction  have  been 
effectixe  and  far-reaching.  He  believes 
firmly  in  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  has  been  a  delegate  to  state  conven- 
tions and  chairman  of  the  congressional 
committee  (jf  his  district  in  Illinois,  succeed- 
ing the  late  William  P.  Cannon.  He  has 
been  identified  with  many  local  enteiprises 
in  his  home  town,  co-operating  in  every 
measure  and  movement  for  the  public  wel- 
fare. He  is  one  of  the  promoters  and  build- 
ers of  the  Stahl  Urban  factory,  a  director 
of  the  Equitable  Building  &  Loan  Associa- 
tion and  one  of  the  appraising  board.  The 
firm  of  Penwell  &  Lindley  are  attorneys  for 
the  Second  National  Bank,  ha\ing  served 
thus  for  fifteen  years,  while  for  twenty  years 
they  have  also  been  attorneys  for  the  Brad- 
street  Company. 

In  1885  Mr.  Lindley  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Jennie  Gregg,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  Gregg,  one  of  the  early  citizens  and 
leading  manufacturers  of  Danville.  Mrs. 
Lindley  is  a  leader  in  social  circles  and  took 
a  very  prominent  part  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Chautauqua  movement  in  Danville 
and  is  nnw  the  president  of  this  organiza- 
tion, which  is  known  as  the  Clover  Club. 
l\Ir.  Lindley  is  likewise  popular  in  social  life, 
being  a  member  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 


tective Order  of  ]*;iks,  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias fraternity.  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Lor  more  than  twenty  years  he 
has  stood  as  a  leading  representative  of  the 
Vermilion  county  bar,  having  that  mental 
grasp  which  enables  him  to  readily  discover 
the  points  in  a  case.  A  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment he  manages  his  cases  with  masterly 
skill  and  tact,  is  a  logical  reasoner  and  has 
a  ready  command  of  English.  The  success 
of  his  life  is  due  to  no  inherited  fortune 
or  to  any  luqjpy  succession  of  advantageous 
circumstances,  but  to  his  own  sturdv  will, 
steady  application,  studious  habits,  tireless 
industry  and  sterling  integrity. 


REV.  JOHN  J.  COSAT. 

Rev.  John  J .  Cosat,  who  for  many  years 
has  de\oted  his  time  and  labors  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  church  and 
will  I  is  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  real 
estate  dealing,  was  born  six  miles  northwest 
of  Danville  in  what  is  now  Bloimt  township, 
March  31,  J  844,  and  at  the  present  time  he 
makes  his  h<ime  in  the  C(iunt\'  seat,  heroin 
Scotland  at  an  early  day  came  his  ancestors 
in  the  Cosat  line  and  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  members  of  the  family 
served  with  the  continental  army.  General 
Macoml),  one  of  the  great-grandfathers  of 
our  subject,  served  in  the  war  of  tSij  with 
the  rank  indicated  \>\  his  title.  I)a\id  Ci)sat. 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  burn  in  Har- 
rodsburg.  Kentucky,  and  was  married  in 
\''ermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  to 
Nancy  Truax,  whose  birth  occurred  near 
Lexington,  Kentucky.  He  had  come  to 
Vermilion  county  in  1832.  while  the  vear 
1826,    witnessed    her    arrival.      The    father 


776 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


engaged  in  scIkxiI  tf^aching  and  in  larniing 
and  continned  to  live  in  Blount  township 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1886, 
while  his  wife  had  passed  away  thirty  years 
before,  in  1856.  In  early  life  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  Whig  party  and  upon  its  dis- 
solution he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  remaining  one  of  its  active  sup- 
porters until  his  demise,  while  of  the  Christ- 
ian chtuxh  both  lie  and  his  wife  were  prom- 
nent  members.  In  their  family  were  thir- 
teen children,  of  whom  five  are  now  living : 
Margaret,  the  widow  of  Thomas  Myrick 
and  a  resident  of  Annstrong,  Illinois;  John 
J.;  David,  of  Parsons,  Kansas;  Mrs.  John 
S.  Leave,  who  is  residing  near  Danville ;  and 
Emma,  the  wife  of  John  Williams,  whose 
home  is  near  Snyder,  Illinois. 

Rev.  John  J.  Cosat  began  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Blount  township  and  after 
attending  the  public  schools  of  the  county 
for  a  number  of  years  he  took  up  educa- 
tional work  and  for  twenty-nine  terms, 
covering  a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  he 
was  classed  among  the  successful  school 
teachers  of  ^'ermilion  county. 

On  the  nth  of  September,  1864.  in 
Janesville.  "\\  isconsin,  he  wedded  Miss 
Frances  II.  Rosebaum,  who  died  February  8. 
1868.  leaving  one  child.  Eldora.  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  J.  H.  Poulter,  of  \"ermil- 
ion  county,  and  died  August  2.  1889,  leav- 
ing two  children :  Amanda,  who  is  a  school 
teacher  of  Armstrong.  Illinois;  and  Frank, 
who  follows  farming  in  this  county.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  Elder  Cosat  was 
married  July  15.  1869,  in  Danville,  to  Miss 
Emma  Clinc,  whose  birth  occurred  in  this 
city.  Novem))er  30.  1851.  a  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Cynthia  (Sanders)  Cline.  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter 
of  Kentucky.  The  Cline  family  comes  of 
German  ancestr\-  and  the  name  was  orig- 


in.'dly  spelled  Klein.  The  parents  of  Mrs. 
Cosat  were  married  in  \'ermilion  county, 
where  I^lr.  Cline  had  located  in  1826,  doing 
gunsmith  work  for  the  Indians  in  early  pio- 
neer times.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and 
luade  his  home  in  this  county  until  his  de- 
mise, owning  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Coal 
Hollow,  which  he  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment. He  ser\ed  as  a  fifer  during  the  Civil 
war.  being  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Harmon,  and  he  died 
near  Nashville  while  in  the  service.  In  his 
family  were  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are 
now  living:  IMary,  the  wife  of  John  Bar- 
nett,  who  resides  near  Blount.  Illinois;  Ben- 
jamin, of  Danville;  Mrs.  Cosat:  Lewketty, 
the  wife  of  Lafayette  Saltz.  of  Danville; 
John  \'..  and  Charles,  who  are  residents  of 
this  city.  Unto  ]\Ir.  Cosat  and  his  second 
wife  have  been  born  thirteen  children,  of 
whom  eigh.t  are  living :  Professor  E.  H. 
Cosat,  who  married  Aliss  Tessie  Martin  and 
is  principal  of  the  Collett  school  of  Dan- 
^•ille:  Theodore  W..  who  is  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  this  city;  Everett, 
who  is  agent  ftir  the  New  York  Nursery 
Company  in  Danville  and  married  Miss  Ella 
Grition.  b\'  whom  he  has  one  son,  Olaf; 
Effie.  the  wife  of  Pearl  Hastings,  re- 
siding on  l'"airchil(l  street  of  Danville, 
bv  whom  she  has  two  children.  Floyd  and 
Aletha:  Charles  L..  a  carriage  painter  of 
Danxille:  Nellie.  Marion  and  Lowell,  all  at- 
tending school. 

Elder  Cosat  \\as  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Christian  church  October  10.  1871.  and 
his  first  ch.'irge  embraced  L'nion  and  Prairie 
Chaiiels  of  Vermilion  count}-.  He  has  suc- 
cessivelv  been  pastor  of  church  No.  10  near 
Armstrong,  Illinois,  the  church  at  Bismarck, 
at  Stateline.  at  W'alnut  Corners,  Church  No. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


m 


8  and  also  the  cliurcli  of  his  denomination 
at  Fitl-iian,  Oakwood.  Maple  Grove  and  oth- 
er points.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Union,  Illinois,  where  he  has  preached  for 
the  past  twenty-one  years  and  he  is  now 
pastor  of  tlie  churches  at  Georgetown  and  at 
Janeshuri^-.  llliuuis.  Throughout  the  great- 
er part  of  his  life  his  attention  has  to  some 
extent  heen  given  to  business  interests  and 
he  has  likewise  been  active  in  official  serv- 
ice. For  eleven  )-ears  he  was  town  clerk, 
was  justice  of  the  peace  for  nine  years,  was 
assessor  for  six  years,  supervisor  for  one 
year  and  overseer  of  the  poor  for  one  year, 
holding  all  of  these  offices  in  Blount  town- 
ship. In  T892  he  removed  to  Danville  and 
later  spent  a  short  time  in  Kansas,  but  re- 
turned to  this  city  in  1895  ^""^^  ^^''"^^  '^^''^  *^'''' 
gaged  in  merchandising.  He  is  now  con- 
nected with  his  son  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. 

Prior  to  1881  ^Ir.  Cosat  voted  with 
the  Rcpui)lican  party  and  since  that  time  he 
has  been  a  Prohiliitionist.  In  matters  of 
citizenship  he  is  interested  and  also  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  general  good  and  ac- 
tively co-operates  in  every  measure  for  the 
promotion  of  progress,  reform  and  improve- 
ment. He  belongs  to  the  United  Order  of 
the  Golden  Cross  and  was  an  active  member 
of  tlie  Farmers  Grange.  At  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  he  was  an  earnest  adx^ocate  of  the 
Union  cause  and  on  the  t4th  of  July,  1864. 
he  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Fifth  Wisconsin 
\'ohinteer  Infantry,  under  Ca])tain  Thomas 
Flint  and  Colonel  E.  A.  .Mien,  joining  the 
army  at  Broadhead.  Wisconsin.  He  was 
then  ordered  to  the  front  and  under  Sher- 
idan participated  in  the  Shenando.ib  cam- 
paign and  was  present  when  Sheridan  made 
his  famous  ride  from  Winchester  to  Cedar 
Creek.  In  the  fall  of  1864  the  regiment 
was  transferred  to  the  Armv  of  the  Poto- 


mac and  operated  with  that  great  military 
division  until  18O5.  Mr.  Cosat  participated 
in  the  bailie  of  Petersburg  and  in  the  san- 
guinary engagement  at  Sailors  Run.  Be- 
cause of  meritorious  conduct  and  marked 
braverv  he  was  recommended  by  General 
Grant  for  a  commission.  Willi  his  com- 
mand he  pursued  General  Lee  to  Appomat- 
tox, and  was  afterward  at  Burksville  Junc- 
tion, guarding  stores  until  the  following 
June,  .after  which  the  troops  marched  to 
Danville  on  the  North  Carolina  line.  In 
the  meantime  General  Johnston  had  sur- 
rendered to  General  Sherman  and  Mr.  Cosat 
with  his  regiment  returned  to  Burksville 
and  afterward  to  Richmond,  later  going  to 
W^ashington.  while  on  Hall's  Hill,  on  Ridge 
Point,  he  was  mustered  out.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Madison.  \\'isconsin.  where  in 
Tulv  he  received  an  honorable  discharge 
with  tlie  rank  of  corporal.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
His  military  service  was  in  keeping  with 
the  familv  record  for  loyalty,  patriotism 
and  bravery.  His  influence  has  ever  been 
found  on  the  side  of  progress,  the  truth  and 
the  right,  for  he  believes  that  Christian  faith 
sh.ould  find  its  exemplification  in  the  daily 
walks  of  life. 


TOHN    DEAL. 


Jolin  Deal  was  born  in  Reading.  Penn- 
sylvania, on  Christmas  day  of  1844.  His 
father.  Jon.'illian  Deal,  was  a  natix'e  of  Ire- 
land, while  the  mother  of  our  subject,  wl'.o 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca  Fleming, 
was  I)orn  in  Scotland,  their  marriage  being 
celebrated  in  I'.oston.  The  father  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade  and  si)ent  his  last  years  in 
Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  where  he  died 
in   i8sT  on  the  seventh  liirlhda\-  of  his  son 


778 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


John.  Tlie  motlier  survived  about  two 
years  and  also  passed  away  in  Fayetteville. 
They  were  the  parents  of  three  cliildren,  of 
whom  Jo'nn  Deal  is  the  youngest. 

At  the  time  of  his  parents'  death  our 
subject  went  to  Ii\e  with  his  sister  in  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  making  liis  home  with  his  rel- 
atives. ^Ir.  and  .Mrs.  Samuel  Young,  untd 
1864.  His  educational  privileges  were  quite 
iimitetl  and  his  youth  was  largely  a  period 
of  toil.  When  twenty  years  of  age  he  left 
the  Buckeye  state  and  removed  to  Benton, 
county,  Indiana.  Three  years  later  he  l)e- 
came  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county,  Illinois, 
and  there  he  began  farming  for  himself 
upon  rented  land  in  Lovejoy  township.  The 
year  1X75  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Hoopes- 
ton  and  here  he  began  work  on  a  section  of 
the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  oc- 
cupying that  position  continuously  untd 
1889,  when  he  was  appointed  janitor  of  the 
Honeywell  school  of  Hoopeston.  In  this 
capacity  he  has  since  served  with  marked 
abilitv  and  fidelity,  and  no  sooner  is  school 
out  in  the  summer  time  than  he  obtains  an- 
other position  which  he  occupies  until  his 
duties'  again  call  him  to  the  school.  Never, 
e.xcept  for  one-half  day  has  he  been  detained 
from  work  l)y  illness,  and  his  life  has  been 
characterized  by  unremitting  diligence  and 
perseverance. 

In  1868.  in  Sheldon,  Illinois,  I\Ir.  Deal 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Henrietta  Wise, 
who  was  born  in  Reading,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  28th  of  October.  1850.  Her  father,  Cy- 
rus Wise,  is  now  living  with  her,  but  her 
mother  passed  away  near  Wellington.  Illi- 
nois. 'Hiree  children  have  gracetl  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  William  Cy- 
rus, who  is  clerking  in  the  freight  ofifice  of 
the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad 
Company,  in  the  city  of  Chicago;  Georgi- 
ana.  the  wife  of  W.  B.  Myers,  of  Austin, 


Illinois;  and  Vernon,  who  makes  his  home 
with  his  parents  and  is  still  attending 
school. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
give  considerable  time  and  attention  to 
ciiurch  work.  He  was  formerly  identified 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican  in  his  political 
views.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Bank  and  Front  streets,  which  was 
erected  in  1899  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hundred 
dollars,  and  he  likewise  has  five  lots  on  block 
22.  He  keqjs  a  horse  and  buggv  and  also 
has  two  cows.  Everything  about  his  place  is 
neat  and  well  equipped  and  the  home  is 
tastefully  furnished.  All  that  he  has  he  has 
made  through  his  own  efforts  and  he  cer- 
tainly deserves  commendation  for  what  he 
has  accomplished. 


LEMUEL  D.  LANE. 

Lemuel  D.  Lane,  one  of  the  extensive 
landowners  of  Vermilion  county,  was  born 
in  Blount  township,  this  county,  in  1855,  a 
son  of  Wyram  V.  and  Sarah  J.  (Crawford) 
Lane,  in  whose  family  were  five  children,  all 
oi  whom  are  yet  living,  Mr.  Lane  of  this  re- 
\iew  being  the  eldest.  His  early  education 
was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
native  township,  which  he  attended  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  He  was  also  a 
student  in  the  U^nited  Brethren  schools  of 
Greenhill.  Indiana,  and  on  putting  aside  his 
text  books  he  began  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count and  also  raising  stock.  His  father 
gave  him  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  which  was  under  cultivation  and  im-' 
proved  to  some  extent.  Later  he  purchased 
forty  acres  and  afterward  eighty  acres,  and 


L.  D.  LANE. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


781 


from  time  to  time  lie  has  still  further  added 
to  his  possessions,  which  now  aggregate 
twel\e  hundred  acres  of  weir  improved  and 
valualjle  land.  This  is  located  ui  \'ermilion 
county  and  in  Indiana,  but  the  greater  por- 
tion is  in  this  county.  Mr.  Lane  has  placed 
his  land  under  a  \er_\-  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  the  productive  fields  yield  splen- 
did crops  and  in  the  pastures  are  also  seen 
high  grades  of  stock  and  both  branches  of 
his  business  bring  to  him  a  good  financial 
return. 

Air.  Lane  was  first  married  in  1878  to 
Maria  Wilson,  a  sister  of  S.  G.  Wilson,  of 
this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Wilson, 
one  of  the  pioneers  of 'eastern  Illinois.  A 
daughter  was  born  of  this  marriage.  Edna, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  E.  D.  Wyman,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Ross  township.  li\ing 
upon  land  belonging  to  her  father.  In  1890 
Mr.  Lane  was  again  married,  his  second 
vmion  being  with  Anna  Gootlwine,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Alary  (Alexander)  Good- 
wine.  This  marriage  has  been  blessed  with 
a  son.  Wyram  \'inton.  now  ten  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Lane's  study  of  the  political  issues 
has  led  him  to  give  his  support  to  the  Re- 
publican party  and  he  has  held  the  office  of 
road  commissioner,  but  has  never  been  an 
active  politician  in  tiie  sense  of  office  seek- 
ing. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Masons,  the  Woodmen,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  has 
held  offices  in  all  of  these  with  the  e.xcep- 
tion  of  the  first  named.  He  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  public  affairs,  desiring  that  Ver- 
milion county's  advancemnt  shall  be  ecpial 
to  that  of  any  section  of  the  L'nion,  and  he 
has  co-operated  in  many  measures  toward 
tliis  end.     He  takes  no  active  part  in  politics. 

In  business  affairs  Mr.  Lane  has  pros- 
pered and  has  accumulated  a  handsome 
property  in  connection  with  his  agricultural 

31 


interests.  He  owns  a  heavy  interest  in  Hen- 
ning  Bank,  a  private  banking  institution,  in 
which  he  is  associated  with  L.  C.  Messmer 
of  Potomac.  This  establishment  was  or- 
ganized in  1892  and  capitalized  at  one  hun- 
dred antl  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Lane 
has  clear  insight  into  business  affairs  and 
his  judgment  is  rarely  if  ever  at  fault.  This 
is  because  he  forms  his  plans  after  due  de- 
liberation and  then  he  puts  forth  every  ef- 
fort to  carry  forward  the  plans  which  he  has 
made.  A  creditable  and  very  desirable  de- 
gree of  success  has  been  won  by  him  and, 
moreo\er,  he  enjoys  the  confidence  and  good 
will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated. 


OLEN    HENDERSON. 

Olen  Henderson,  who  is  now  living  on 
sectit)n  27,  Elwood  township,  where  he  de- 
votes his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
was  born  January  31,  1870,  in  the  township 
where  he  yet  makes  his  home.  His  parents 
were  AIi)ert  and  Jane  (Brown)  Henderson. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Elwood 
township,  born  August  21,  1844,  his  par- 
ents renioxing  from  South  Carolina  to 
\\'hitewater,  Indiana,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried. The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born 
August  16.  1844,  and  came  with  her  par- 
ents to  Illinois  at  the  time  nf  tJie  Quaker 
emigration  to  this  state.  Her  father  was  a 
wealthy  farmer  and  slie  was  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
AJljerl  Henderson  had  one  brother,  Austin, 
who  is  now  living  in  Homer.  Illinois,  ;uid 
is  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted 
f<ir  three  years  in  the  Seventy-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  was  wounded  at  Mission  Ridge, 
Tennessee,  and  being  captured  he  was  held 
as  ri  prisoner  of  war  in  Andersonville  for 


782 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


fourteen  months,  and  for  two  months  in 
I.ihby  prison.  He  is  now  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising. There  were  also  two  lialf- 
brotliers  and  four  half-sisters,  and  the  fam- 
ily circle  yet  remains  unbroken  by  the  hand 
of  death.  In  1862  Albert  Henderson  at- 
tempted to  enter  the  army  and  take  part  in 
the  war,  but  was  sent  back  home  because 
he  was  too  young  for  service.  In  1864, 
however,  he  ran  away  and  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois  A^olunteer 
Infantry,  with  which  he  remained  until  after 
the  cessation  of  hostilities,  participating  in 
a  number  of  important  battles  and  engage- 
ments. He  has  every  reason  to  be  proud  of 
his  war  record  because,  although  he  was  but 
a  soldier  boy,  he  was  as  true  and  loyal  to 
the  old  flag  as  many  a  man  who  wore  the 
blue  and  was  twice  his  years.  He  is  now 
living  quietly  in  Ridgefarm.  a  respected  res- 
ident of  his  community.  For  sixteen  years 
he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Vermil- 
ion county,  Indiana.  His  political  support 
is  given  to  the  Republican  party  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He 
and  his  wife  were  overseers  for  sixteen  years 
in  tliat  church.  It  was  on  the  9th  of  Sep- 
tember. 1866.  that  he  married  Jane  Brown, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Brown, 
of  this  county.  Their  children  are,  Lucetta, 
now  deceased ;  Juletta,  a  twin  sister  of  Lu- 
cetta and  now  at  home;  Mrs.  Elva  Perk- 
ins Crapt,  who  had  three  children  and  died 
leaving  two  of  them ;  Olen.  of  this  review : 
Owen,  v.dio  is  a  twin  brother  of  Olen  and 
resides  in  Eugene,  Indiana,  with  his  wife 
and  one  child:  Austin,  of  Vermilion  Grove, 
who  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are 
living;  Lucy  Alice  Henderson,  deceased: 
and  George  W.,  at  home. 

Olen  Henderson  obtained  a  common- 
school  education  and  was  reared  to  farm 
work.     On  the  24th  of  December,  1896,  he 


wedded  Arminta  Sanders,  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  B.  and  Alary  E.  (Shiers)  Sanders, 
of  Ridgefarm.  Mrs.  Henderson  was  born 
on  the  old  homestead  where  she  is  now  liv- 
ing, September  4,  1869.  She  had  two  half- 
sisters.  Mrs.  Sarah  Henderson,  who  resides 
in  Ridgefarm,  and  Mrs.  Laura  M.  Payne, 
who  is  now  deceased.  Both  of  her  sisters 
had  two  sons.  Mrs.  Henderson's  people 
came  from  \'irginia  and  were  of  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  family  of  that  state  in 
modest  financial  circumstances.  For  six 
months  after  their  marriage  our  subject  and 
his  wife  lived  in  \'ermilion  county,  Indiana, 
and  then  came  to  their  present  home  which 
was  formerly  the  old  Sanders  homestead, 
the  childhood  residence  of  the  wife,  and  here 
they  have  a  commodious  and  beautiful  home 
in  which  they  are  rearing  their  two  chil- 
dren, Daniel  A.  and  Frances.  ]\Irs.  Hen- 
derson also  had  a  daughter  by  her  former 
marriage — Nettie  B.  Duff. 

Mr.  Henderson  belongs  to  the  Society 
of  Friends  and  is  a  stanch  Republican  in 
his  political  views.  He  also  has  member- 
ship relatii:ins  with  the  Modern  \\'oodmen 
of  America.  His  time  and  attention,  how- 
exer.  are  largely  given  to  his  business  af- 
fairs, and  in  the  control  of  his  farm  he  dis- 
plays an  excellent  understanding  of  agri- 
cultural interests  and  a  knowledge  of  the 
best  methods  of  cultivating  his  land  and 
raising  stock. 


ALEXANDER    S.  GREGORY. 

Alexander  5.  Gregory,  a  retired  contrac- 
tor and  undertaker,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Danville  for  ten  years.  He  is  a  native  oi 
Martinsbnrg.  Berkeley  county,  \'irginia, 
born  on  the  13111  of  July,  1829.  and  his  par- 
ents   were    Robert    and    Ann     (Stephens) 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


783 


Gregory.  His  maternal  grandfather  was 
General  Robert  Stephens  who  won  his  titb 
by  service  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  In 
that  long-  and  sanguinary  struggle  he  was 
connected  with  General  Green,  General  Sul- 
livan and  other  distinguished  military  lead- 
ers and  became  a  prominent  man  in  the 
south.  Robert  Gregory,  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  bom  in  Martinsburg,  Virginia, 
and  made  his  home  there  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  rendered  ef- 
fective service  to  his  country  as  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  181 2  and  he  was  a  devoted  mem- 
ber and  great  worker  in  the  Episcopalian 
church  at  Martinsburg.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  died  in  Virginia. 

Alexander  S.  Gregory  is  the  only  one 
of  their  family  now  living.  He  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native  state  and  began  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade  in  Martinsburg,  following 
that  pursuit  there  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  when  he  left  home  and  went  to  New 
Orleans,  where  he  worked  at  carpentering 
for  two  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  returned  northward  and  for  a 
short  time  was  a  resident  of  Lafayette,  In- 
diana. Again  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
being  thus  engaged  in  Lafayette  until  the 
time  of  his  removal  to  Hutsonville,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business. 

\\'hile  living  there  in  1864  Mr.  Gregory 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  \Vat- 
ers,  a  native  of  Clark  county,  Illinois,  born 
January  23,  1839,  her  parents  being  James 
and  Sarah  (McClure)  \\'aters.  Her  father 
was  a  merchant,  grain  buyer  and  commis- 
sion man  of  Darwin,  Illinois,  where  he  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  active  business  ca- 
reer, 1)ut  his  last  days  were  passed  in  New 
Orleans,  where  he  died  in  1847.  Mrs. 
Gregory  obtained  a  good  education  and  at 


the  age  of  eight  years  entered  St.  Marys 
school  in  Terre  Haute,  her  native  town,  be- 
ing the  youngest  pupil  there.  She  after- 
ward entered  the  Nazareth  Academy  of 
Bardstown,  Kentucky,  in  which  she  was 
graduated.  By  her  marriage  she  has  be- 
come the  mother  of  two  children :  James 
^V.,  who  married  Ida  Mann,  who  died  on 
the  17th  of  April,  1890.  He  now  makes  his 
home  with  his  parents  in  Danville  and  occu- 
pies the  position  of  car  inspector  for  the 
Wabash  Railroad  Company.  Mary,  the  only 
daughter,  also  resides  with  her  parents. 

For  several  years  following  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Gregory  engaged  in  the  under- 
taking and  furniture  business  in  Hutson- 
\ille,  Illinois.  He  was  there  living  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  and  in  February,  1865, 
he  enlisted  for  service  in  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Regiment  of  Illi- 
nois Volunteers,  under  Captain  John  \V. 
Lowber  and  Colonel  Smith.  He  was  de- 
tailed as  an  undertaker  at  Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee,  where  he  had  charge  of  an  un- 
dertaking shop  for  the  government  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  There  he  was  discharged 
in  September,  1865.  He  then  returned  to 
Hutson\ille,  where  he  continued  for  a  few 
years  longer  when  he  sold  out  his  business 
and  removed  to  Robinson,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  undertaking  and  contracting 
for  ten  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Danville, 
where  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life.  He 
has  been  a  very  successful  business  man  and 
as  his  financial  resources  have  increased  he 
has  wisely  invested  his  capital  in  property 
in  Illinois  and  Indiana.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  Democrat,  having  always  supported 
the  party.  He  lielongs  to  the  Grand  Army 
Post  of  Danville  and  to  the  Masonic  Lodge 
at  Hutsonville.  of  which  he  became  a  charter 
member  a  half  century  ago.    He  is  also  con- 


784 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


iiected  with  the  Kniglits  of  Honor  of  Hut- 
sonville.  He  and  his  family  reside  at  No.  S 
East  Seminary  street  in  Danville  and  dnring 
the  years  of  their  residence  here  they  have 
won  many  friends.  The  prosperous  career 
of  Mr.  Gregory  well  serves  as  an  illustration 
of  the  fact  that  business  advancement  may 
be  won  through  honorable  methods,  close 
application  and  unfaltering  perseverance. 


WTLLIAM  F.  BAUM. 

William  F.  Baum  was  born  in  Coving- 
ton, Indiana,  February  5,  1848,  a  son  of 
Abner  and  Louisa  (Hull)  Baum,  both  of 
whom  are  natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
the  mother  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years, 
and  their  home  is  in  Nebraska.  Through- 
out his  active  business  career  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits.  When  he  was  but  six 
years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  parents 
from  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  to  Covington. 
Indiana,  and  saw  the  latter  place  in  the  days 
of  its  infanc}',  his  father  purchasing  a  farm 
near  that  town.  He  witnessed  the  building 
of  the  canal  there  and  saw  many  other  im- 
pro\-ements  made  that  led  to  the  substantial 
development  and  progress  of  the  city.  His 
father.  Jonas  Baum.  was  a  Revolutionary 
soldier,  who  \aliantly  aided  in  the  struggle 
for  American  independence  and  died  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years.  As  the  name  in- 
dicates the  Baum  family  is  of  German  lin- 
eage and  the  first  representative  in  America 
was  John  Baum.  the  grandfather  of  Will- 
iam F.  Baum.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Abner 
Baum  were  born  six  children,  nf  whom 
William  F.  is  the  eldest.  The  members  of 
the  family  still  living  are  Rev.  O.  S.  Baum, 
a    Presbvterian    minister    located    in    Colo- 


rado: James  A.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  in  Lee,  Nebraska ;  and  Emma,  the 
wife  of  Frank  Scott,  a  druggist  of  Rising 
City.  Nebraska. 

After  completing  his  literary  education 
in  his  native  county  William  F".  Baum  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school,  but  ambitious  to 
make  a  start  \\'hich  would  promise  better 
results  he  began  working  at  the  drug  busi- 
ness, receiving  fifteen  dollars  per  month  for 
the  first  year.  This  was  in  1870.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  was  given  thirty  dollars  per 
month  and  the  third  year  forty  dollars.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  the  firm  in  Covington 
by  whom  he  was  employed,  established  a 
branch  store  at  ^larshfield,  that  state,  and 
made  Mr.  Baum  its  manager.  He  continued 
in  charge  there  for  a  year  and  then  pur- 
chased the  store,  while  later  he  established 
a  drug  store  in  Gibson  City,  Illinois.  On 
the  1st  of  November.  1874,  he  came  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  opened  a  drug  store,  remov- 
ing his  stock  from  Gibson  City.  His  Marsh- 
field  store  he  had  previously  sold  and  on 
coming  to  Vermilion  county  he  first  located 
near  the  .\etna  House  in  Danville,  where  he 
continued  for  more  than  four  years,  when 
he  removed  to  the  Public  Square.  There 
he  remained  until  1889,  when  he  established 
his  store  at  No.  41  North  \"ermilion  street. 
He  owns  that  store  building,  which  is  a  fine 
business  structure  of  modern  design.  It  has 
a  tile  floor  with  plate-glass  front  and  e\'ery 
convenience  for  carrying  on  the  trade  in  an 
improved  manner.  Mr.  Baum  has  thirty- 
two  years'  experience  in  the  drug  business 
and  during  twenty-eight  years  of  this  time 
has  been  in  Danville.  Few  merchants  are 
mure  widely  known  in  the  city  and  the  cir- 
cle of  his  friends  is  very  extensive.  When 
he  arrived  in  Danville  in  1874  there  was  a 
population  of  about  five  thousand  and  in 
pnint  of  vears  of  connection  with  the  citv's 


W.  F.  BAUM. 


LIBRARY 

OF    TriE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


787 


mercantile  interests  Mr.  Baiini  is  to-ilay  the 
oldest  druggist  of  Danville. 

On  the  lOth  of  September,  1874.  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  William  V.  Baum 
and  Miss  Louisa  A.  Johnson,  who  was  born 
in  New  Marshlield,  Warren  county.  Indiana, 
in  November,  1851.  She  sui^plemented 
her  early  school  privileges  by  study  in  St. 
Mary's  Seminary  in  Terre  Haute.  Indiana. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Amanda 
(Davis)  Johnson,  who  were  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Warren  countv  and  bv  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  one  son, 
Clarence  H.  Baum,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1875,  in  Danville  and  is  a  graduate  of 
the  high  school  here.  In  1894  he  entered 
the  L'niversity  of  Michigan  at  .\nn  Arbor 
and  completed  a  course  in  pharmacy  and 
chemistry  by  graduation  in  the  class  of 
1896.  while  in  1898  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Science  was  confirmed  upon  him.  In 
July.  1900.  he  started  on  a  trif)  around  the 
world,  visiting  every  country  of  any  import- 
ance and  while  sojourning  in  Europe  he  was 
entertained  by  the  sultan  of  Turkey.  He 
traveled  throughout  the  Holy  Land,  seeing 
evervthing  of  note  and  interest  in  that  his- 
toric district.  He  has  seen  all  classes  of 
people  in  their  native  attire  and  in  their 
systems  of  worship  and  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Danville  with  a  valuable  collection 
of  all  kinds  of  currency  used  in  Europe.  He 
also  has  a  diarv  of  his  tra\els  which  would 
contain  many  points  of  interest  to  the  gen- 
eral reader.  He  is  able  to  converse  fluently 
in  the  German.  French  and  Spanish  lan- 
guages as  well  as  in  English,  and  in  this 
regard  as  in  others,  his  aid  will  l)e  n\  much 
value  to  his  father  in  conducting  the  drug 
business  which  he  now  controls.  Many  were 
his  experiences  of  an  unusual  nature.  Wliile 
traxeling  abroad  on  the  island  of  Ceylon  he 
went  on  a  hunt   for  elephants.     The  part}- 


captured  one  hundred  of  these  immense 
beasts  but  sixty  got  away,  and  for  a  few 
moments  it  seemed  that  the  life  of  Mr.  Baum 
was  in  great  danger. 

In  his  political  views  William  V.  Baum 
is  an  earnest  Republican,  being  recognized 
as  one  of  the  standard  bearers  of  his  party 
in  this  locality.  He  was  recently  elected 
alderman  from  the  fifth  ward  in  the  face  of 
strong  opposition  which  fact  indicates 
his  popularit}'.  He  and  his  familv  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He 
also  belongs  to  Vermilion  county  and  the 
Illinois  Pharmaceutical  Association  and  he 
servefl  for  c>ne  years  as  vice  president  and 
for  one  year  as  treasurer  of  the  State  As- 
sociation, and  has  been  state  delegate  to  the 
National  Association  of  Retail  Druggists  a 
number  of  times.  He  owns  one  of  the  best 
business  bU)cks  in  Danville,  on  Main  and 
Jackson  streets.  ha\ing  been  built  in  1882, 
and  has  other  valuable  property  in  the  city, 
including  a  handsome  home  on  North  Ver- 
milion street.  He  has  been  identified  with 
the  growth  and  pnigress  of  the  town 
through  almost  thirty  years  and  Dan\ille 
recognizes  him  as  one  of  its  foremost  and 
l)rogressive  men. 


MANGUS    YE  ACER. 

.\  clear  understanding  of  business  possi- 
bilities, familiarity  with  his  chosen  pursuit 
in  all  of  its  departments  and  unfaltering 
energy  and  perse\erance.  these  have  been 
the  concomitants  in  the  successful  career  of 
Mr.  ^'eager.  one  of  the  old  contractors  and 
builders  of  Danville,  who  is  engaged  in 
business  as  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Yeager  &  Son.  Since  1864  he  has  made 
his  home  in  this  citv.  arriving  here  when  a 


788 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


young  man  of  twenty-two  years.  He  was 
born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  January  30, 
1840,  a  son  of  Nicholas  and  Amelia  Yeager, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same 
country,  whence  they  removed  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  1850.  Reaching  New  York- 
city  after  a  voyage  of  eight  weeks,  they  pro- 
ceeded westward  to  Ft.  Wayne,  Indiana, 
where  the  father  died. 

Mangus  Yeager  obtained  only  a  com- 
mon-school education  in  Fort  Wayne  and 
there  remained  with  his  parents  until  tlie 
country  became  involved  in  war  over  the 
spirit  of  rebellion  in  the  south.  He  was  but 
nineteen  years  of  age,  yet  with  patriotic  im- 
pulse he  offered  liis  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, enlisting  in  October,  1861,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  K,  Third  Indiana  Cavalry, 
under  Captain  Cline.  He  participated  in 
fourteen  important  battles,  including  the  en- 
gagements of  Shiloh,  Murfreesboro  and  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  .Vt  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin, Tennessee,  he  was  shot  in  the  knee  and 
remained  in  the  hospital  there  for  several 
weeks.  He  was  also  again  injured  in  the 
shoulder,  this  being  caused  by  a  fall. 

In  December,  1864,  after  three  years' 
service  ]\Ir.  Yeager  was  mustered  out  and 
came  direct  to  Danville,  where  he  entered 
upon  his  business  career  as  a  grocer's  clerk 
on  South  street.  Later  he  conducted  a  liv- 
ery stable  on  his  own  account  for  two  years 
and  then  spent  sometime  as  a  dealer  in 
threshing  machines.  Before  going  into  the 
army  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
worked  in  that  capacity  for  the  Chicago  & 
Ea.stern  Illinois  Railroad,  being  employed  at 
various  points  along  their  line,  his  connec- 
tion with  the  corporation  continuing  for 
thirteen  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  began  contracting  and  building 
on  his  own  account  and  his  business  career 
has  been  a  prosperous  one  as  is  evidenced 


by  the  liberal  patronage  accorded  him  and 
the  splendid  character  of  the  buildings 
which  he  has  erected.  He  has  taken  and  ex- 
ecuted the  contracts  for  many  of  the  tine 
structures  of  this  city,  including  the  Dan- 
ville Postoffice,  the  Plaza  Hotel,  many  of 
tlie  fine  residences  here  and  also  several  of 
the  buildings  in  connection  with  the  Sol- 
diers Home.  He  also  built  the  houses  and 
shafts  and  did  other  carpenter  work  in  con- 
nection with  the  Kelly  mines.  He  is  now 
associated  in  business  with  his  son  and  they 
eiriploy  from  fifteen  to  twenty  men.  It  is 
their  endeavor  to  retain  in  their  service  only 
workmen  of  superior  ability  and  thus  in  the 
execution  of  their  contracts  they  give  the 
most  satisfactory  results.  During  the  year 
IQ02  Mr.  Yeager  has  spent  a  portion  of  his 
time  in  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  where  he 
has  also  carried  on  business  to  some  extent 
as  a  contractor  and  builder. 

In  1865  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Yeager  and  Miss  Hannah  Campbell,  a  na- 
tive of  \'ermilion  county,  born  April  29, 
1847,  ^"d  'I  representative  of  one  of  the 
early  families  of  the  county,  her  parents  be- 
ing Harper  and  Elizabeth  (Butterfield) 
Campbell,  who  resided  in  Newell  townshi]), 
where  the  father  followed  farming  for  many 
years  and  there  on  the  old  homestead  both 
he  and  his  wife  died.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Yeager  have  been  lx)rn  four  children :  O. 
Phillip,  who  married  Grace  Dillon  and 
served  as  cajitain  of  Battery  A,  in  the  Span- 
ish-American war,  now  major,  is  now  in 
partnership  with  his  father :  Lizzie  is  em- 
ployed as  head  trimmer  in  a  large  wholesale 
millinery  house  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana; 
and  Amelia  and  Edna  are  at  home. 

For  almost  forty  years  IMr.  Yeager  has 
resided  in  Dan\ille  and  has  been  active  in 
the  improvement  of  the  city  not  only  in 
business  lines  but  also  through  the  earnest 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


789 


co-operation  iie  has  given  to  many  measures 
for  tlie  general  good.  He  was  the  first 
memljer  of  tlie  first  fire  department  of  Dan- 
ville. He  has  never  been  an  office  seeker  but 
served  as  go\ernment  inspector  in  the  post- 
office  here,  his  appointment  coming 
through  Congressman  Joseph  Cannon.  A 
stanch  Repul)lican.  he  formerly  took  a  very 
active  interest  in  pcilitical  work.  Botli  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  First  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  and  he  belongs  to 
the  Grand  Army  Post  of  tliis  city.  He  also 
established  Battery  A  here  ami  he  now  owns 
the  controlling  stock  in  the  Armory  of  Dan- 
ville, together  with  business  blocks  on  Main 
street  and  residence  property  on  Hazel  street 
in  addition  to  his  pleasant  home  at  No.  439 
Main  street.  He  likewise  has  other  realty 
in  Danville  and  his  wife  is  the  owner  of  the 
old  Campbell  homestead  in  Xewell  tnwn- 
ship.  To  his  earnest  purpose,  laudable  am- 
bition and  well  directed  efforts  may  be  at- 
tributed his  success,  which  is  the  legitimate 
outcome  of  his  own  eft'orts.  He  is  to-day 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  prominent  men 
of  Danville  and  a  leading  representati\e  of 
the  building  interests  of  \'ermiIion  county. 
He  has  been  on  the  Building  Association 
appraising  comnuttee  for  the  last  ten  years. 
His  social  tpialities.  too,  have  endeared  him 
to  man\'  friends  and  his  life  of  honor  and 
integrity  has  commanded  the  respect  antl 
good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated. 

♦-•-• 

A.   H.  FLEMING. 

.\.  H.  Fleming,  whose  fanning  interests 
are  extensive  and  valualjle  and  who  is  nmn- 
bered  among  the  well  known  and  respected 
residents  of  Hoopeston.  was  Ixirn  near 
Hamilton    in    Hamilton    county    of    Ujjper 


Canada  in  1S34.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  Ijorn  in  Newark,  of  Irish 
lineage,  and  in  early  life  he  was  a  distiller, 
but  within  our  subject's  recollection  he 
never  followed  other  pursuits  than  that  of 
farming.  He  weilded  Daziah  Hibler,  also 
a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  of  German  line- 
age. When  A.  H.  Fleming  was  about  three 
years  of  age,  at  the  time  of  the  incipient  re- 
bellion in  Canada,  the  parents  left  that 
country  and  with  their  family  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  remained  until  1839, 
when  they  became  residents  of  Seneca  coun- 
ty. Net\-  York.  In  1845  ^^i^)'  located  in 
New  Jersey,  which  was  the  place  of  their 
abode  until  185 1.  That  year  witnessed 
their  arri\al  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois.  In 
1857  they  went  to  Stark  county,  this  state, 
where  the  father  died  in  1874. 

Mr.  Fleming  of  this  review  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  various  removals  until 
the}'  arrived  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois. 
There  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account 
in  1853.  Two  years  later,  in  1859,  he  was 
married  in  Brimfield,  Peoria  county,  to 
Catherine  Mcintosh,  who  died  in  1890, 
leaving  five  children:  James  A.,  William 
A.,  Enoch  W'.,  Allen  T.  and  Charles  W. 
There  were  also  two  daughters  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  mother's  death  occurred 
while  they  were  living  upon  a  farm  eight 
nfiles  southeast  of  Hoopeston. 

On  the  28th  of  September,  189J,  in  Elli- 
ott, Iowa,  Mr.  Fleming  was  again  married 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
Young,  who  was  born  in  Sussex  county, 
New  Jersey,  in  1836.  Her  parents  came  to 
Stark  countv.  Illinois,  in  1865,  but  both  are 
now  deceased,  the  father  having  passed 
away  on  the  30th  of  October,  1868,  while 
the  mother  died  on  the  15th  of  Novenilxr 
of  the  same  year.  .Mr.  b'leming  has  three 
brothers  and  one  sister:      I'larncv,  of  Wash- 


790 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ington ;  \\"illiam,  who  is  li\ing  in  Kansas: 
Josepli.  a  resident  of  Milford,  Illinois; -ami 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  X'liet,  of  Woodland,  Illinois. 
Mrs.  Fleming  was  first  married  to  Mr. 
Young,  and  they  lived  in  Clark  county  until 
after  the  death  of  her  husband.  Later  she 
gave  her  lianil  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Fleming. 
She  had  one  child  by  her  first  marriage, 
Clinton  A.  Young,  who  is  now  living  in 
Murray,  Clark  county,  Iowa.  Of  Mr. 
Fleming's  sons.  James  A.  is  now  living  in 
Danville,  l)eing  connected  with  the  manu- 
facturing firm  of  Farrwright  &  Scott:  Will- 
iam A.  is  a  farmer  of  Milford,  Illinois; 
Enoch  W.  is  living  in  Hoopeston ;  Allen  f. 
is  a  mail  clerk  on  the  Rock  Island  &  Peoria 
Railroad  and  lives  in  Peoria :  and  Charles 
W.  is  also  a  railway  mail  clerk. 

In  the  year  1893  Mr.  Fleming  came  to 
Hoopeston  and  erected  a  home  at  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Fifth  street.  In  the  fall  of 
iSgi  he  had  purchased  land  in  \ermilion 
county,  liecoming  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  f(_irtv  acres,  for  which  he  paid  thirty- 
three  and  one-third  dollars  per  acre.  When 
this  had  increased  in  value  in  1884  to  fifty 
dollars  per  acre,  he  sold  it.  He  is  now  an 
equal  partner  with  his  brother  in  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Minnesota. 
For  three  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  ice 
business  in  Hoopeston  and  to  some  extent 
has  dealt  in  real  estate  here.  He  now  owns 
a  house  which  he  rents  on  the  north  side, 
but  for  the  past  ten  years  he  has  largely 
lived  retired,  his  lal)or  in  former  days  hav- 
ing brought  to  him  a  competence  sufficient 
to  provide  him  with  all  the  comforts  of  life 
without  recourse  to  further  work.  A  prom- 
inent memljer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  he  is  now  serving  as  one  of  its  stew- 
ards, and  in  the  work  of  the  church  takes 
an  active  interest.  In  politics  he  has  al- 
ways been  an  earnest  ive])ublican.     He  keeps 


well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  thus 
being  enabled  to  su])port  his  position  by  in- 


telligent argument. 


SAMUEL  A.  BRISTOW. 

Samuel  A.  Bristow,  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful and  prominent  young  lawyers  of 
Danville,  was  born  in  Fithian,  \'ermilion 
county.  May  9,  1871.  On  the  paternal  side 
his  ancestors  were  among  the  French  Hu- 
geimots,  who  came  to  America  in  search  of 
religious  freedom  and  settled  in  \'irginia, 
but  the  branch  of  the  family  to  whom  our 
subjects  belongs  subsequently  removed  to 
Kentucky.  Among  the  most  prominent  and 
illustrious  members  of  this  family  was  his 
great-uncle.  Benjamin  Bristow.  who  served 
as  secretary  of  the  treasury  in  President 
Grant's  cabinet.  For  years  he  was  also  at- 
torney general  for  the  New  York  &  Hudson 
River  Railroad  Company,  and  it  was 
through  his  influence  that  Samuel  A.  Bris- 
tow took  up  the  study  of  law,  being  offered 
a  position  in  his  otfice,  but  shortly  before  our 
subject's  admission  to  the  bar  his  uncle  died. 
Pearson  Bristow.  his  father's  brother,  is 
now  second  assistant  postmaster  general  and 
was  one  of  the  number  that  unearthed  the 
Xeely-Rathhone  frauds  in  Cuba. 

Aha  C.  Bristow.  the  father  of  Samuel 
A.,  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  a  son 
of  X\'illiam  Bristow,  one  of  the  ■49ers, 
wlio  accu.mulated  considerable  wealth  in 
California,  but  was  killed  and  robbed  on  his 
way  home.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Abigail  Smith,  belonged  to  an  old 
and  prominent  family  of  Kentucky.  Being 
left  an  orphan  when  young.  Alva  C.  Bris- 
tow spent  his  early  life  with  relatives,  and 
with  an  micle.  George  Smith,  he  came  to 


S.  A.  BRISTOW. 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


793 


Vermilion  county.  Illinois,  in  1858.  another 
uncle.  Dr.  S.  S.  Smith,  having  previously 
located  here.  The  latter  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  physicians  of  the  county.  Here  Mr. 
Bristow  started  a  newspaper  called  the  In- 
dependent, which  he  published  until  i860, 
when  he  returned  to  Kentucky  and  made  his 
home  w  ith  his  grandniotlier  until  the  country 
became  inxolved  in  civil  war.  He  then  ran 
away  and  enlisted  at  blazon.  Illinois,  in 
Company  F.  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Infantry.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  his 
campaign  and  during  the  battle  of  Atlanta 
was  shot  in  the  arm.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  joineil  the  regular  army  as  a  ser- 
geant and  was  stationed  at  Cairo.  Illinois, 
for  some  time,  remaining  in  the  service  until 
1869.  when  he  returned  to  X'ermilion  coun- 
ty and  located  at  I'ithian,  where  he  engaged 
in  merchandising  until  1872.  During  that 
year  he  became  a  resident  of  Danville  and 
was  ciinnected  with,  the  Beethoven  Organ 
Company  until  1879,  when  he  embarked  in 
business  on  his  own  account  as  a  dealer  in 
wall  paper  and  paints,  continuing  in  that 
line  for  twenty  years.  Later  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business  in  Danville 
until  1901,  wlien  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  usher  at  the  Illinois  state  peniten- 
tiary at  Joliet  and  is  now  holding  that  posi- 
tion. In  1866  he  was  married  at  Mt.  \'er- 
non,  Illinois,  to  jNIiss  America  IMcLean,  a 
native  of  Adams  county,  Kentucky.  By 
this  union  were  born  three  children,  two 
sons  and  one  daughter,  but  our  suliject  is 
the  only  one  now  living.  Religiously  the 
father  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  fraternally  is  connected  with  the  Bank- 
ers' Union  and  the  Grand  .\rmy  of  the  Re- 
public. The  Republican  party  always  finds 
in  him  a  stanch  sup])orter  of  its  principles 
and  as  a  jniblic-spiriteil  and  enterprising 
citizen  he  has  never  withheld  his  aid  from 


any  object  which  he  believed  would  advance 
the  moral,  social  or  material  welfare  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives. 

Samuel  .\.  Bristow  of  this  review  began 
his  education  in  the  ward  schools  of  Dan- 
ville and  for  two  years  attended  the  high 
school  of  this  city.  Later  he  was  a  student 
at  Garfield  L'niversity  of  Wichita,  Kansas, 
for  the  same  length  of  time  and  also  attend- 
ed the  State  University  of  .\rkansas  for  two 
years.  His  law  studies  were  ])rosecuted  in 
the  law  department  of  the  Northwestern 
University,  where  he  was  graduated  in  June. 
1896.  After  leaving  that  institution  he  held 
a  position  in  the  circuit  clerk's  office  at  Dan- 
ville until  the  following  December.  In  .\o- 
vember  prexious  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  on  the  1st  of  Decemlier  opened  an  office 
at  Xo.  16  East  Main  street,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  Subsequently  he  had  an 
office  in  the  courthouse  and  from  there  re- 
mox'etl  to  his  present  locatit)n  at  Xo.  14  East 
i\Iain  street.  Success  has  attended  his  ef- 
forts and  he  has  been  connected  with  some 
of  the  most  important  litigation  tried  in  this 
count\-,  including  the  Watson  case,  which 
was  carried  through  the  a)>i)ellate  and  su- 
preme courts,  the  decision  of  the  lower  court 
being  affirmed  in  each. 

On  the  15th  of  December.  1897.  at  La- 
fayette. Indiana.  Mr.  Bristow  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Emma  Ruth  Humbert, 
who  was  l.)orn  near  that  city,  at  West  I'oint. 
in  August.  187,^  Her  parents,  George  and 
Laura  (  McXeill )  Idumbert,  were  nati\es  of 
Ohio  and  Illinois,  respectively,  and  were 
married  in  Lafayette.  Indiana.  Xear  that 
city  the  father  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  retirement  from  active  life  in  1900.  since 
which  time  he  has  nia<le  Ins  home  in  La- 
fayette, being  one  of  the  wealthy  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  that  place.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  a  number  of 


794 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


township  and  county  offices.  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  society,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  has  two  children :  Emma 
R..  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Harry,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lafayette. 

Since  boyhood  ]\lr.  Bristow  has  been 
practically  identified  with  political  afifairs 
and  has  taken  a  very  influential  and  promi- 
nent part  in  local  elections,  his  support  be- 
ing given  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  is  still  actively  connect- 
ed with  political  work  in  \'ermilion  county, 
and  is  now  serx'ing  as  city  collector  of  Dan- 
ville. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Danville  Club  and  of  Danville  Lodge,  Xo. 
332,  B.  P.  O.  E..  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  young  men  of  the  city,  a  recognized 
leader  in  both  social  and  political  circles. 


CHARLES    E.  JOXES. 

Charles  E.  Jones  is  the  proprietor  of 
Groxedale  Farm,  situated  on  section  28,  in 
\'ance  township.  \'ermilion  county.  This 
farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  \'ermilion  county, 
and  the  owner  is  classed  among  the  substan- 
tial and  representative  agriculturists  of  this 
part  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  November  9, 
1853,  near  Dubuque.  Iowa,  and  is  a  son  of 
^^^illiam  H.  R.  and  Peninnah  (Coon)  Jones, 
the  former  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  the  latter  also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  M"here  they  were  married.  In  this 
connection  it  will  be  interesting  to  know 
something  of  the  genealogA"  of  the  Jones 
family.  Elisha  Jones,  the  great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  born  April  15, 
1770,  and  was  married  to  Persia  Taylor, 
who  was  born  July  15,  1770.  Eight  chil- 
dren   were   lx)rn   of   this   union,   their   son, 


Elisha  Jones,  Jr.,  being  the  second  in  order 
of  birth.  He  was  born  January  28,  1796. 
and  married  Kalinda  Watkins,  w-ho  was 
born  i\Iay  20,  1800.  and  died  January  13, 
1872.  Twelve  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  of  whom  William  H.  Raper  Jones, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth.  He  was  born  June  11,  1828, 
and  married  Peninnah  Coon,  October  4, 
1848.  Seven  children  were  born  unto  them  : 
James  K..  born  September  20,  1849,  mar- 
ried Carrie  Harrison.  They  have  one  child 
and  reside  in  Norwood,  Kansas.  ^lary  An- 
gelina, now  deceased,  became  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Rudolphus  Copeland,  a  resident  of 
Oakwood  township.  She  was  born  August 
9.  1 85 1,  and  his  birth  occurred  May  16, 
1850.  Charles  E.  is  the  third  child  of  this 
tmion.  Lydia  Ann,  born  ^^larch  20,  1856, 
died  July  15,  1857.  George  T.  is  the  fifth 
in  order  of  birth.  Marguerite  Louise,  born 
July  5.  1862.  is  also  represented  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  Willie,  the  seventh 
child,  was  born  August  10,  1865,  and  died 
January  30.  1866. 

William  H.  R.  Jones,  the  father  of 
Charles  E.,  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and 
also  followed  farming  to  some  extent.  In 
the  '40s  he  removed  from  Ohio  to  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  wliere  he  engaged  in  coal  mining,  op- 
erating one  of  the  mines  there.  He  also 
worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  there.  In 
a  few  vears  he  sold  his  farm  there  and  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  another 
farm.  Later  he  sold  this  and  removed  to 
Richland  county,  Illinois,  settling  near  Ol- 
ney.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm  and  re- 
mained thereon  for  two  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  a  farm  which  he  purchased  six 
miles  south  of  Fairmount.  Illinois.  Later 
he  sold  this  and  bought  the  John  Daugh- 
erty  farm.  He  sold  this  and  bought  a  farm 
of  the  heirs  of  Dr.  Fellows.    There  he  lived 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


■95 


?  de:;!;:.  %vh:ch   '.•cciirrel  I.larch   57. 
He  had  lived  k 


:n;riv  ve:,: 


COli- 


t::.»'.Ji-y  r.^'-.-n  thi;  Jatttr  fanr!.  H35  v,-n'e 
had  d:e-i  'jn  the  iar:r.  in  i5-?o  a:id  :r  the  year 
:jii  he  ">v?.5-  "larried  tiie  second  time,  ihe 
isdv  of  )'.:i  choice  ixrir.g  He:rieita  Smi'.'n.  a 
na-y.-e  of  Ili;r;':-:s.  and  now  a  rejident  of 
F::h:ar..  I!;:no:r^.  Mr.  J:-;".ei  was  a  membfr 
o;  :/.e  Mei"i':-ui>t  Episcopal  church,  and  ira- 
ter:-.a!!y  v.as  c-'-nnected  wiihi  !he  Irdepeiid- 
en;  Orv'.cr  oi  C>dd  Feiio'.v?.  In  p:>iiiicj-  he 
vaj  a  Republican.  He  wa^-  a  very  active 
p.vy.  er.ergetic  man  ap.d  did  nsuch;  t'.'v.ard  the 
t,'eT.er?.l  -.iphn-luirig  an<'.  <'eve!opnieTiit  0:  ".he 
coiriUiUnitie;  in  which  i:e  resided. 

Ciiarles    E.    Tones   firsi   aner.de'.    sclio-'j 

r.e:-r  Xenia.  rive  miles  east  of  the  city,  aud 

later  in  I'lini'i-.  le.-i\  intr  sch.-  i  at  liie  ace  of 

f.veiuy.     He  then  assisted  his  lati.er  on  ti"ie 

f:ir:i;  and  ai.~o  engagev!  m  teac]iinsj  sciio'i]. 

.\".  tie  ase  oi  twenty-or'e  he  rentei:  3  farm. 

C':;  :::e  .•4th  ■  f  Dtceniber.  J>,"4.  Mr.  Jonc~ 

w:,-    ;nr:ed    in    innrriai;e    10    N!an-    .\tin 

S".e.inis.  Kirn  in   O.ikv.Ovxl  township.   \'cr- 

niiii-jn  cjinuy.   Septenilier  jo,    1855.  :.:i  1  a 

danchiter    oi     Harrison    and    Hester    .\.i:i 

I  Re.iey  I  Siearns.     The  failier  was  a  son  of 

Meizar  .in<'  .\xie   <  Cranson  >    Steam?.  l>  lii 

r.:.:r.es    •  f     Xew     \'  -rk.    wiiere     Harris* ^n 

^:ea^".s     also     was     V'rr,.       Hester     .Xiin 

'  Rei'ey  ■   Steams  was  a  dai;i:hter  of  Rich- 

■  i  Reiley  aii>i  Iter  nn.  jJter  lK<re  tiie  niaide.i 

te  '  i  Sarah  Macy.     T!tey  were  ntarried 

Xon't   CaroJina   and   w'aen   their  eldest 

'■'.  v.as  e]eveti  inontlis  oU  they  reniove.' 

'-';'"0. — a  distattce  ol  five  Jiundred  Jiiiles. 

— ^'r.   Reiley  walkitig  wliiJe  his  wile  r<>de 

v-elack.  carrvijjg  iSte  baby.     Mrs.  Jones" 

'cr.ts  were  marrie*:  in  Oltio.  where  iMr. 

■^  wirns  engtigei!   in   fanning  until   his   re- 

ntov.ij   to   ]3h]jois    in     i8^^6.  locating  near 

•itcic,    \'erini!ion    crnntv.       He    etitered 


j,-.;ui  and  hniit  a  icg  house,  jater  addistc  to 
his  lajided  possessiotts  and  building  a  fr.-snie 
Jioiis^.  This  inodest  strvtrtnre  vas  sup- 
planted later  ly  a  iarge  and  ccurjUiOdious 
residence  oi  tnodem  de.sii.~]  and  t.rchitec- 
mre.  Jn  tliis  h:;:]e  he  It'.ed  uiitil  his  death, 
wh;cJi  O'cctirred  on  the  uth  of  Decani«r. 
iSSf,.  His  remains  were  interred  in  Stearns 
cei]ietery  iieax  iMuncie.  Three  }"ears  later 
the  mother  -i^  ,-.s  calie^l  to  her  taal  rest.  iMr. 
Stearns  w7i?  a  Hteij^ber  ai  Ihe  iBapiisl 
c''nrch.  in  v.diich  he  was  a  deacc-tt.  He  ^^•a-5 
a  stanch  Dentcicral  in  his  political  views,  yet 
he  always  refused  to  hold  office,  preferring 
jr.  give  Itis  atteniion  to  his  business  affairs 
and  live  the  yuiet  life  <.'f  the  pn\-aie  riii2eii. 
He  -vas  a  man  oi  ]iromineice  in  his  cc'iiimi:- 
ntty.  highly  res]>ecled  by  .all.  He  and  h-s 
wife  were  the  parents  of  se^tn  dnildreiV. 
four  of  v\h'.'m  are  yet  In-jijg.  Sarah  is  ihe 
wife  C'f  W'dliam  Reams  and  resides  «ii  the 
ol<'i  hcrtniestc-id  ne.ar  iMlwiicie.  Illinois:  iMel- 
7.ar  R  resides  in  iLten'-ille,  Illinois t  AJartha 
L.  IS  the  -vvifeo!  Walter  Reams,  of  Oiicuago, 
lllJni^'is;  and  Mary  .\n;t.  now  iMrs.  Jfines,  is 
the  fonnh  meinlvr  of  the  faniily. 

After  iiis  marri.ige  Mr.  JiMiies  settled  'on 
his  father's  fv;rm.  anci.  there  remaineti  for 
t\v^'  year.s.  He  tlteji  rcn^'ved  t^i  his  wife"< 
!■•  titer's  !;'iraa  amd  tit  ere  rejaiained  foir  a 
peri  >d  oi  three  years,  at  t'-'e  end  of  whtcli 
lime  ite  pnroh.iied  one  htitidred  .aud  iiineiy- 
five  acre<  in  \"ance  lowinship.  on  .^^cik'U  jS. 
There  he  esiabilishe<!  the  beautiful  fairo 
caJled  Grovedale.  On  ihis  fanu  evervihing 
is  done  to  make  il-  the  most  attractive  aitd. 
pr^>d^lcli^c  I'f  its  kind.  Tlie  ricla  fields  of 
graiii  vield  abun^Jant  harvests  and  the  stock 
is  «(f  the  be^t  grade.  The  grounds  Icj  are 
laid  <-n3i  jn  an  artistic  manner  and  the  fann 
as  a  whole  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the  state. 
Mr.  Jone<  erecte*J  mi  liis  place  a  hantJsome 


IWMItl 


796 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I  1 


residence  on  the  Queen  Anne  style  of  archi- 
tecture, and  has  a  splendid  large  barn  and 
every  necessary  equipment. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  has 
been  blessed  with  nine  children.  Nettie  E.. 
born  .August  31,  1875,  is  the  wife  of  Coll 
I\rcPherson,  of  Catlin,  Illinois,  a  farmer  by 
occupation.  They  ha^•e  three .  children, 
Archie,  Earl,  and  Leone.  Herman  P.,  born 
July  14,  1877,  resides  with  his  parents. 
Peninnah,  born  July  19,  1879,  married  Dr. 
J.  W.  O'Haver;  Carrie  Pauline,  born  May 
6,  1882,  Harrison,  lx)rn  March  22,  1884, 
Turner,  born  June  9,  1888,  and  Lennie, 
born  A\)v\\  J5,  1S93,  are  all  at  home.  An 
infant,  horn  August  11.  i8y8,  tlied  the  same 
day.  Nellie  Marguerite,  born  April  25, 
1900,  is  the  bal>v  of  the  family.  Mr.  Jones 
is  a  member  of  tl,ie  Baptist  church,  of  which 
he  is  a  deacon.  A  Republican  in  politics 
he  has  ne\'er  cared  for  and  has  always 
refused  to  accept  office.  He  is  a  uian  of  gen- 
uine worth,  whose  influence  for  good  in  hi.s 
county  is  widely  felt.  His  farm  is  one  of 
the  attractive  places  of  the  county  and  he 
enjovs  a  high  reputation  as  a  represaitative 
citizen  and  agricultiu'ist. 


DA\TD  MEADE. 


David  Meade  was  bom  in  Newtown, 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  October  4,  1845. 
His  great-great-grandfather,  Lewis  Meade, 
emigrated  from  Gloucester,  England,  to  the 
United  States  long  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  His  children  were  Jerry,  Luke, 
Le\i  .ind  Louisa.  Of  this  number  Le\i 
Meade  was  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subiect.  and  his  children  were  Simeon.  Na- 
thaniel. Lewis.  Sanford,  Maria.  Lmiisa  ami 
Amanda.       Nathaniel    Aleade,    the    graml- 


father  of  our  subject,  also  had  seven  cliil 
drcn:  Sarah:  William:  David,  who  h;i 
passed  away;  George  \V.,  a  resident  of  l-'ith 
ian;  James  R..  also  of  I'ithian :  Ann;  au' 
Mary  Jane. 

William  Meade,  the  father  of  mir  suli 
ject,  was  born  near  Hamilton,  Ohio,  Ma 
24,  1822,  and  was  married  to  Margaret  Tan 
ner,  about  the  fall  of  1844.  the  wedding  tal-: 
ing  place  near  .Middlefork.  \'ermilion  coun 
ty.  She  was  born  near  Columbus,  Ohir 
June  2.  US24,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Tanner 
who  was  of  German  birth,  and  ^larv  (  Xich 
ells)  Tanner,  a  nati\e  of  New  York.  He 
father  was  a  colojiel  in  the  Revolutionar' 
war  and  two  of  liis  sons  were  captains  in  tli' 
same  regiment.  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Willian 
]\Ieade  became  the  ])arents  of  the  follow  ini 
named:  Da\id.  Alary  Hannah.  Sanniel 
Sarah  Louisa,  Melissa,  Jacob.  Allie  and  Ef 
fie,  and  Nathaniel,  who  died  when  abou 
three  years  of  age.  There  were  also  tiirei 
half  hrotliers,  Ir\in,  Delbert  anil  Rolier 
Meade. 

Levi  Aleade.  who  wedded  Mary  I'arri^ 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  \'er 
milion  county,  settling  in  the  edge  of  th 
timber  between   Eithian  and   I'"airmount  i 
1835.      He  entered   land   from   the  go\en 
ment  at  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre 
and   engaged    in   the   raising  of  grain   an! 
stock.      Both  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  r 
mainder  of  their  lives  upon  this  farm.  W  i' 
iam  Meade,   the  father  of  our  subject,  n 
ri\-ed   in    this   county   whh   is   parents,    X 
thaniel  and  Hannah  (Crane)   Meade,  wli 
he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  and  he  has  In- 
identified  with  the  upbuilding  and  de\c!' 
ment  of  this  p<irtion  of  the  state  almost  fr 
the  beginning.      He  obtained  his  echicali 
in  this  county  in  the  primitive  subscript' 
schools,  attending  school  in  a  log  lioii-c 
which  was  an  immense  fireplace.     Flic  i" 


'y  Of 


ILLINOIS 


DAVID  MEADE. 


WILLIAM    MEADE. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UMVERsiry  OF  lumis 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


8oi 


m'\  hail  liocn  inailc  in  niie  nf  the  nld  time 
LM\ereil  wagons  and  while  en  rcjute  they 
cmssed  the  black  swamps  uf  Indiana.  After 
arriving  at  xears  of  maturit}'  the  father  uf 
uur  snbiect  engaged  in  farming  in  Oakwuud 
tdwnship  np  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
had  li\ed  there  from  the  age  of  thirteen 
\ears.  and.  in  fact,  from  that  time  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  he  never  resided  more 
than  i'nc  ur  six  miles  from  where  the  early 
settlement  of  the  family  was  made.  He 
died  J^'ebruary  5,  1903.  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  six  months  and  eleven  days,  and  the 
mother  of  our  subject  passed  away  on  the 
4th  of  October,  i8<_/i,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years,  four  months  and  two  days.  After 
her  death  Mr.  .Meade  was  again  married. 
Ill  politics  he  was  originally  a  W  big  and 
subseipiently  l>ecame  a  stanch  Republican. 
F(jr  many  years  he  w;is  officially  connected 
with  the  schools  uf  his  district,  yet  he  was 
never  an  office  seeker  nor  did  he  desire  polit- 
ical ])referment.  When  he  died  he  was  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  choice  land 
all  well  impro\ed  and  upon  this  place  were 
seen  many  e\idences  of  his  life  of  industry, 
actnity  and  capable  Itusiiiess  management. 
He  made  all  of  the  improvements  there  and 
secured  many  modern  accessories  in  order 
to  lacilitate  his  work. 

-Mr.  .Meade,  wiiose  name  introduces  this 
re\ie\v,  w.is  reared  upon  :i  farm  in  Oakwood 
township  ;ind  early  became  familiar  with  the 
Work  in  its  various  departments.  .\t  the 
u.^nal  age  he  Ijegan  his  education,  ;md  the 
*ir>t  two  schools  which  he  ever  attended 
Were  held  in  two  primitive  log  buildings, 
>\liere  school  was  conducted  on  the  suh- 
^-■ri])tion  ])lan.  The  room  was  heated  by  an 
I'l intense  fireplace  at  one  end  .and  light  was 
iniiited  through  greased  paper  windows. 
'  he  children  sat  upon  slal)  benches  and 
aii'und  the  room  was  a  writing  desk  con- 


sisting of  a  lili.ick  suiiported  upon  pins  dri\en 
into  the  logs.  When  twenty-one  years  of 
age  Mr.  Meade  left  the  old  home  farm  and 
began  teaching,  his  desire  and  ainliition  be- 
ing to  become  ;i  successful  educator.  He 
then  taught  for  one  term  in  X'ermilioii  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  and  then  returned  to  \  ermilion 
county,  Jllinois,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  teacher  in  his  hcime  district.  Subsequently 
he  entercil  the  State  Uni\ersity  in  order  to 
further  his  own  education  and  by  hard  study 
during  the  succeeding  three  )ears  he  wa.s 
enabled  to  master  the  branches  of  learning 
therein  taught,  so  that  he  was  qualified  to 
take  charge  of  the  hairmouiit  graded  school 
as  its  principal.  He  acted  in  that  capacity 
for  one  \ear,  and  then  became  a  student  in 
the  National  Normal  at  Lebanon,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  three  terms  at  ditYerent 
times.  Later  he  returned  to  his  native  coun- 
ty and  taught  a  graded  school  in  Oakwood, 
Illinois.  (Jn  account  of  the  small]X)x  epi- 
tlemic,  however,  he  was  forced  to  abandon 
that  school,  where  he  had  remained  only 
from  Sei)tember  until  the  holidays.  He 
then  took  charge  of  the  school  of  Fithian, 
Avhere  he  remained  for  some  time  and  after- 
ward went  to  I'Aigcne,  Indiana,  where  he 
tauglit  for  one  term  and  then  finished  a  term 
for  ;i  teacher  in  Newport,  Indiana,  .\gairi 
he  came  to  X'ermilion  county  and  taught 
another  term  in  Oakwood.  Once  more  he 
went  to  I'lugeiie,  Indiana,  and  was  there 
united  in  marriage  t^w..:.-  of  his  former  pu- 
])ils.  Miss  Lucy  Ilosford.  He  continued  in 
charge  of  the  Eugene  schools  with  three 
teachers  under  his  supervision,  remaining 
at  that  place  for  nine  years,  during  which 
tiine  the  sclxiol  system  was  materially  im- 
pro\x'd  and  excellent  work  done  along  edu- 
cational lines. 

Mr,  Meaile  resigned  his  school  in  order 
to  become  an  active  factor  in  politics  with 


802 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tlie  expectation  of  securing  the  noniinatii)u 
for  sheril'f  of  \'ennilion  county,  Indiana, 
but  he  lost  by  a  fractional  part  of  one  vote, 
although  he  had  two  hundred  plurality  over 
any  one  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  resumed  teaching  at  Perrysville,  Indi- 
ana, and  from  there  came  to  Danville  in 
the  spring  of  1881.  The  succeeding  autumn 
he  went  to  Indianola,  where  he  taught 
for  one  winter  term  and  again  he  returned  to 
Danville  and  was  elected  principal  of  *>'. 
East  Danville  school,  in  which  were  eleven 
teachers.  For  nine  years  he  capably  served 
in  that  capacity  and  tlien  at  his  request  was 
transferred  to  the  Franklin  school,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding year  he  enjoyed  a  period  of  rest  and 
then  took  charge  of  the  township  high 
school  in  Perrj-sville,  Indiana,  the  scholars 
there  having  had  to  pass  the  eighth  grade 
before  entering'  that  school.  Professor 
Meade  continued  as  a  teacher  there  for  over 
two  years.  Wherever  he  has  been  employed 
his  work  as  an  educator  has  given  excellent 
satisfaction  for  his  methods  of  teaching  are 
practical  and  progressive  and  he  is  contin- 
ually alert  to  anything  that  tends  to  advance 
the  cause  of  education.  In  igoo  he  was  one 
of  a  number  who  sought  the  otbce  of  county 
superintendent  of  \'ermilion  county  and 
came  within  two  of  being  elected.  Socially 
he  is  identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pj'thias 
fraternity,  holding  membership  in  White 
Oak  Lodge,  of  Danville.  He  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Royal  Circle  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  stalwart  Republican. 

It  was  on  the  24th  of  September.  1873. 
that  Professor  Meade  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  ^liss  Lucy  Hosford,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Eugene,  Indiana,  and 
is  a  graduate  of  tlie  Eugene  school.  Her 
parents,  Milo  and  Maria  (Holtz)  Ilosford, 
were  also  natives  of  Indiana.     L'nto  Pro- 


fessor Meade  and  his  wife  lia\c  lin:! 
four  children.     Ann.a.  whn  is  nuw  a  ii-, 
in  the  Douglass  school,  where  her  f;uhi-- 
principal  for  nine  years,  is  a  graduate  ^ 
Danville  high  school  and  the  State  .' 
school  of  Michigan  and  is  well  qualili.-.; 
the  task  which  she  is  now  performing.    !<,.;- 
H.,  who  is  also  \\ell  educated,  is  no---:;-, 
the  employ  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  •    ; -, 
pany  as  chief  clerk  in  the  machinerv  de>j..-t- 
ment.    Jessie  and  Margaret  Meade  are  Ix.ili 
students  in  the  high  school. 

Since  abandoning  his  educational  work 
Professor  Meade  has  devoted  his  attention 
to  farming  interests  northwest  of  Daiuille 
and  he  also  owns  a  farm  in  Wayne  countv. 
Illinois,  in  addition  to  his  town  property. 
In  i8y4  he  located  at  Xo.  520  Meade  avenue 
in  a  well  appointed  house  on  the  street  which 
is  named  in  his  honor.  He  is  a  gentleman 
of  strong  intellectuality,  of  marked  strength 
of  character  and  of  sterling  purpose  and 
whatever  he  has  undertaken  he  has  accom- 
plished through  dilig'ence.  untiring  energy 
and  capability.  \\'herever  he  has  labored 
in  the  interest  of  the  schools  it  has  been 
found  that  education  has  made  marked  aJ- 
\"ancement  and  his  influence  along  this  line 
has  lieen  far-reaching  and  Ijeneticial. 


WlLLIA^r    A.  CHURCH. 

To  recount  the  events  of  Mr.  Clnnvh'5 
boyhood  would  be  to  give  a  history  of  pio- 
neer life  and  experiences  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
tv. He  was  born  about  seventy-five  yards 
from  his  present  home  on  section  3,^  Cat- 
lin  township,  his  natal  day  being  July  15. 
1833.  His  parents  were  Alexander  and 
Ruth  (Caraway)  Church,  pioneer  settlers 
of  \'ermiIion  county.  Charles  and  Jo.slnia 
Carawav  entered  the  land  comprised  within 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


803 


the  farnj  of  our  subject.  Alexauder  Church 
acconipauied  by  his  family,  arrived  iu  \'er- 
mihon  county  from  \'irginia  in  1S30  ami 
settled  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west  of  Cat- 
lin.  He  was  of  English  descent  and  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  the  new  world. 
where  he  arrived  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war,  taking  up  his  home,  it  is  thought,  in 
the  Old  Dominion.  It  was  in  that  state,  at 
least,  that  William  Church,  the  grandfather 
made  his  home  and  at  the  time  of  the  war  of 
1812  he  joined  the  army  in  defense  of 
America  and  died  during  the  contest  while 
in  a  hospital  at  Norfolk,  Virginia.  He  left 
a  wife  and  nine  children,  including  Alex- 
ander Church,  who  was  reared,  educated 
anil  married  in  X'irginia  and  as  stated  above 
he  came  to  \'ermilion  county  as  one  of  its 
pioneers.  When  he  arrived  here  the  coun- 
try was  very  wild,  in  fact,  Vermilion  county 
was  situated  on  the  very  border  of  civili- 
zation and  the  Indians  were  more  numerous 
than  the  white  settlers.  The  family  was  es- 
tablished in  a  little  log  cabin  with  puncheon 
floor  made  of  native  timber  and  the  father 
devoted  his  attention  to  general  farming 
and  stock-raising.  He  was  always  very 
fond  of  good  horses  and  kejjt  good  grades 
of  stock.  In  these  early  times  lie  would 
haul  his  farm  products  to  Perrysville,  Eu- 
gene and  Lafayette.  By  his  marriage  to 
Miss  Caraway  ten  children  were  bom.  of 
whom  four  are  living,  \\'illiam  A.  being  the 
fourth.  The  others  are :  Sarah,  who  makes 
her  home  with  her  brothers  in  Catlin  town- 
ship ;  and  Joseph  C.  and  Charles  C,  who  are 
residents  of  that  township.  Those  who 
have  passed  away  are  John,  Charles,  Mary 
Jane.  Ruth,  Isabel  and  Morgan.  The  father 
died  February  7,  1892,  and  had  he  lived  two 
months  longer  he  would  have  reached  the 
age  of  ninety  years.     The  mother  of  our 


subject,   however,   passed  away  during  the 
boyhood  of  her  son  William. 

The  education,!!  i)ri\ileges  which  Will- 
iam .\.  Church  received  were  limited.  He 
attended  a  subscription  school,  the  little 
"teiuple  of  learning"  lieing  a  log  building 
with  a  stick  and  cla\'  chimney,  the  smoke 
making-  its  egress  from  an  immense  fire- 
place that  extended  across  one  end  of  the 
room.  In  those  days  the  scholars  would 
carry  the  fuel  to  school  and  take  turns  in 
lighting  the  fire.  Hickory  rods  always 
hung  upon  the  wall  ready  for  the  chastise- 
ment of  an  unruly  pui)il.  While  Mr.  Church 
had  but  meager  school  advantages  his  train- 
ing at  farm  labor  was  not  limited  and  al- 
most from  the  time  he  could  reach  the  plow^ 
handle  he  worked  in  the  fields.  The  first 
plow  which  he  used  had  a  wooden  mold 
board  and  the  corn  was  cultivated  with  a 
single  shovel,  while  a  single  line  rojje  made 
from  flax  was  used  in  driving  the  horses. 
Grain  was  planted  by  hand  and  covered  with 
a  hoe  and  when  ripe  the  small  grain  was 
cut  with  a  sickle  and  cradle.  The  family 
wore  homemade  clothing,  the  mother  doing 
her  own  s]>inning  and  weaving,  making  her 
thread  from  flax  and  also  manufacturing 
woolen  garments  that  were  used  in  the  win- 
ter months.  The  shoes  were  manufactured 
by  a  traveling  shoemaker,  who  \-isited  one 
house  after  another  in  the  neighborhood,  but 
when  the  weather  was  not  too  inclement  the 
luembers  of  the  househould.  especially  the 
children,  went  barefooted  and  it  was  no  un- 
usual tiling  to  see  the  little  girls  of  the 
neighborhood  carrying  their  shoes  to  church 
anil  sitting  upon  a  log  to  put  them  on  just 
before  the  services.  After  the  meeting  they 
would  remo\e  them  anil  return  home  bare- 
footed. Fires  were  made  with  the  use  of 
flint  and  tow  and  light  was  furnished  by 
grease  lamps  or  by  di[)ped  candles,   for  in 


8o4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


those  clays  not  even  candle  molds  had  come 
into  use  and  kerosene  was  not  known.  At 
ail  early  jiidneer  epoch  camp  meetings  were 
held  in  Mr.  Caraway's  barn,  which  is  now 
over  seventy  years  old,  but  which  has  since 
been  remodeled.  Cooking  was  done  over 
the  fire])lace.  the  hea\y  iron  pots  hanging 
from  the  crane  and  the  corn  bread  was 
baked  n])(m  a  smooth  Ixiard. 

When  William  A.  Church  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  he  rented  land  anil  later  he 
purchased  an  eighty  acre  tract  in  Catlin 
township.  This  was  wild  and  unimproved, 
save  that  fifteen  acres  had  Ijeen  broken,  but 
with  characteristic  energy  Mr.  Church  be- 
gan its  further  culti\ation  and  dexelopment 
and  to-day  his  splendid  farm  is  the  direct 
result  of  his  labors.  Here  he  planted  trees 
and  erected  a  good  building  and  from  time 
to  time  he  has  added  to  his  landed  posses- 
sions until  he  now  owns  several  good  farms, 
in  addition  to  the  home  place,  upon  which 
he  located  about  1892.  Since  that  time  he 
has  built  an  addition  to  the  house  and  has 
remodeled  it  into  a  modern  structure.  He 
has  also  built  fences  and  otherwise  improved 
the  property  and  is  now  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising, 
having  a  number  of  good  horses,  cattle, 
sheen  and  hogs,  including  some  thorough- 
.bred  cattle  of  the  polled  angus  breed,  in  fact, 
the  farm  is  indicative  of  the  supervision  of  a 
progressive,  practical  owner  and  yields  to 
him  a  good  return  f(ir  the  labor  he  bestows 
upon  it. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1852.  William 
A.  Church  was  married  to  Hester  M.  Doug- 
las, who  was  born  in  Catlin  township,  Oc- 
tober 7.  1834,  and  is  also  a  representative 
of  a  pioneer  familv,  her  parents,  Thomas 
W.  and  Delilah  (Payne)  Douglas,  having 
entered  land  where  the  county  poor  farm 
now  stands.     They  too  lived  in  Vermilion 


county  when  Indians  were  numbered  among 
its  inhaliitants.  They  became  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living, 
namely:  \\'illiani  H. ;  John  M. ;  Mrs.  Em- 
ily J.  Campbell :  Mrs.  Clarissa  A.  Douglas, 
who  is  a  widow  and  resides  in  Catlin ;  Mrs. 
Hannah  E.  Songer,  a  widow  living  in  Kan- 
sas: Hester  M..  the  wife  of  our  subject;  and 
I.  E.,  a  resident  of  Jewell  county,  Kansas. 
Those  who  have  passed  away  are  Elizabeth, 
Stewart,  Erastus  and  Angeline,  who  was 
Mrs.  Kingham.  I\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Church  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children :  Mrs. 
Sarah  D.  Acree.  a  widow  of  Danville,  who 
has  eight  children:  W.  J.,  who  married 
Clara  Boggess  and  has  six  children ;  Laura, 
the  wife  of  Alonzo  Busby  and  the  mother 
of  seven  children:  T.  \\'..  who  assists  in  the 
operations  of  the  home  farm  and  married 
Hannah  Shelton,  by  whom  he  has  a  bright 
baby  boy  named  Fay;  and  C.  S.,  a  merchant 
of  Sidell.  who  married  Ella  Wright  and 
has  four  chiklren.  Mr.  and  Airs.  Church 
have  twenty-six  grandchildren  and  one 
great-grandchild.  Jarrett  H.  Acree,  of  Dan- 
ville. On  the  9th  of  December.  1902,  Mr. 
and  INIrs.  Church  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  anniversary.  This  worthy  pioneer 
couple  are  indeed  widelv  known  in  \'ermil- 
ion  county  and  have  many  warm  friends. 
This  history  would  be  incomplete  without 
mention  of  them  so  long  have  they  resided 
here,  witnessing  the  growth  and  progress 
of  the  county  and  bearing  no  insignificant 
part  in  its  work  of  development. 


JAMES  GOODWINE. 

James  Goodwine  is  a  leading  and  well 
known  stock-dealer  of  \"ermilion  county, 
having  conducted  important  business  inter- 
ests of  this  kind.     He  was  born  May   19,. 


vi^v\ 


Mt'^' 


.^0^^ 


JAMES  GOODWINE. 


MRS.  JAMES  GOODWINE. 


LIBRARY 
UmVERS?TV  o'f^  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


809 


1851.  a  iialf  mile  south  of  his  present  home, 
Ills  parents,  Jolin  and  Jane  (Charleton) 
Goodwine.  having  been  \ery  early  settlers 
of  Blount  township.  In  the  district  schools 
he  ac(|uired  his  education,  working  on  a 
farm  in  the  summer  months,  wliile  in  the 
winter  he  pursued  his  studies.  He  continued 
ui)on  the  old  homestead  until  he  had  attaincil 
his  majorit}',  when  he  started  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account,  locating  on  his  present 
place  on  sectit>n  30,  Blount  township.  Here 
he  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  makes  a  specialty  of  shorthorn 
cattle  and  also  has  a  large  number  of  horses, 
mules  and  hogs.  He  has  altogether  over 
two  lumdreil  head  of  stock  on  his  farm  and 
he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  stock 
fanners  of  this  portion  of  the  state.  When 
he  took  possession  of  this  property  it  was 
largely  covered  with  timber,  but  he  cleared 
away  the  trees,  improved  iiis  laud,  drained 
and  tiled  it.  In  the  early  days  he  saw  many 
deer,  and  lesser  game  of  all  kinds  was  to  be 
had  in  abundance.  He  engaged  in  hunting 
;ind  has  shot  man}-  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  geese  and  ducks  on  his  own  place. 
He  remembers  well  liis  early  boyhood  days 
and  the  pioneer  conditions  and  environ- 
ments, and  it  is  with  deep  interest  that  he 
has  witnessed  the  growth  and  progress  of 
the  county,  bearing  his  part  in  its  deveJop- 
nient.  He  has  never  sought  office,  but  lias 
been  identified  with  the  upbuilding  of  the 
county  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  its 
worthy  citizens. 

Mr.  (loodwine  was  married  in  1S79  to 
Minerxa  King,  who  was  Ixjrn  in  New  Jer- 
sey. She  died  September  i,  1901 ,  and  her 
twin  babies  died  about  the  same  time.  All 
were  buried  in  the  same  coffin,  a  little  child 
I)eing  ])laced  on  each  of  the  mother's  arms. 
This  was  one  of  the  saddest  funerals  ever 
held  in  the  neigiiborhood,   for  Mrs.  Good- 

32 


wine  was  deeply  loved  by  all  who  knew  her. 
She  was  a  de\oted  and  tender  wife  and 
mother  and  her  memory  is  still  enshrined  in 
the  hearts  of  those  with  whom  she  had  been 
brought  in  contact.  Five  children  still  sur- 
vive her.  Nellie  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  C. 
Newberry  and  has  two  daughters,  Ruth  and 
Minerva.  Roy,  Cioldie,  tiarry  and  Marie 
are  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Goodwine  gives  his  attention  large- 
ly to  his  farm  work  and  is  a  progressive, 
wide-awake  agriculturist.  His  corn  and 
oats  usually  average  about  fifty  bushels  to 
the  acre.  He  has  all  of  the  latest  improved 
machinery  upon  his  farm,  as  well  as  his 
high  grades  of  stock,  and  each  branch  of  his 
business  is  proving  a  profitable  source  of  in- 
come. Energy  and  determination  have  been 
one  of  the  strong  elements  of  his  success, 
and  his  life  record  should  prove  to  others 
what  may  be  accomplished  through  resolu- 
tion and  energy. 


WILLIAM    J.  MOORE.  M.  D. 

William  J.  Moore,  M.  D.,  who  as  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Ver- 
milion county  has  practiced  long  and  suc- 
cessfully in  Danville,  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign county,  Illinois,  July  14,  1847,  <i  ^'"^ 
of  William  K.  and  Mary  (Hargen)  Moore, 
the  former  a  native  of  Trenton,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  the  latter  of  Oxford,  Ohio.  Locat- 
ing in  Danville,  his  father  carried  on  gen- 
eral merchandising  and  real  estate  business, 
li\ing  in  this  city  until  his  death.  His  po- 
litical suj^port  was  given  the  Whig  party 
until  its  dissolution,  when  he  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  new'  Republican  part}',  support- 
ing it  until  his  demise,  which  occurred  in 
1S75.     His  wife  had  passed  away  in  1847. 


8io 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Dr.  Mocire.  their  only  child,  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  schools  of  Danville  until  litteen 
years  -of  age,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  defender 
of  the  Union  cause,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  L,  Sixteenth  Illinois  \'olunteer 
Cavnlry,  in  1862,  utuler  Captain  Wollcott 
and  Colonel  Theilman,  being  mustered  in  at 
Springfield.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to 
southern  Illinois  and  thence  to  V'irginia,  be- 
ing attached  to  the  command  of  General 
Burnsides.  Dr.  Moore  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Jonesville,  Virginia,  and 
held  as  a  captive  for  seven  weeks,  after 
which  he  succeeded  in  making  his  escape. 
He  was  also  wounded  by  a  rebel  ball  in  the 
left  ankle  and  then  returned  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, following  which  time  he  rejoined  his 
command  in  Georgia  and  entered  the  cam- 
paign under  General  Sherman,  as  a  member 
of  Stiliman's  Cavalry  Corps.  After  the  fall 
of  Atlanta  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  pro- 
ceeded southward  to  the  Tennessee  river 
and.  entering  the  command  of  General 
Thomas,  fell  back  to  Nashville,  participat- 
ing in  the  battle  in  that  place.  Later  he  fol- 
lowed Hood  in  Alabama  and  afterward 
again  went  to  Tennessee,  this  time  being-  or- 
dered to  Franklin,  where  he  was  mustered 
out  in  1865  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the 
war. 

Returning  to  Chicago,  Dr.  ]Moore  \vas 
for  one  year  a  student  in  the  Dearborn  L'ni- 
versity  of  that  city  and  next  entered  Bryant 
&  Stratton's  Commercial  College,  in  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1867.  Returning  t':> 
Danville,  he  was  for  one  year  a  clerk  in 
\\''oodbury's  Pharmacy,  followed  by  a  }ear 
spent  as  a  student  in  a  college  in  Keokuk 
Iowa,  after  which  he  entered  the  Rush  Med- 
ical College  of  Chicago,  in  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1870.  In  Carthage.  Hancock 
county,  Illinois,  he  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of   his   profession,   but   later   came   to 


Damille.  where  he  has  since  reiuained  and 
througii  alm<.>st  a  tliird  of  a  century  he  has 
continued  in  practice  here,  winning  an  envi- 
ab'e  reputation  as  a  physician,  whose  skill 
and.  ability  commended  him  to  the  confi- 
dence of  the  public  and  won  for  him  a  lib- 
eral patronage. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1881,  in  Ross- 
ville.  Illinois.  Dr.  Moore  was  married  to 
Ella  Doretta  Langhans,  who  was  born  in 
\\'ooster.  Ohio.  Mrs.  ^loore's  parents  were 
married  in  W'ooster.  Ohio,  and  subsequently 
Mr.  Langhans  engaged  in  business  in  \'er- 
miliiMi  county,  where  he  arrived  about  1879. 
He  is  now  residing  on  Gilbert  street  in  this 
city.  L'nto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  ha\e 
been  born  two  children,  of  whom  one  is 
li\'ing.  Luciie  D. 

The  Doctor  owns  real  estate  in  Danville 
and  farm  interests  in  Vermilion  county, 
having  made  judicious  investments  of  the 
capital  that  has  come  to  him  through  his 
successful  practice.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
\'ermiIion  County  Aledical  Society  and  the 
American  Medical  Association  and  fratern- 
ally he  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  In  politics  he  votes  independent- 
1\".  not  being  bound  by  party  ties. 


MONROE  PUGH. 


Monroe  Pugh,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral merchandising  in  Humrick,  was  born 
a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  this  village  in 
El  wood  township  on  the  25th  of  May,  1864. 
His  parents  were  Granville  and  Lydia 
(Thompson)  Pugh.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  was  reared  to  fami  life. 
He  had  one  brother  and  one  sister,  blit  both 
are  now  deceased.  His  death  occurred  up- 
on  the  home    farm  in    Elwood    township 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


8i[ 


when  lie  was  seventy-four  years  of  age. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indi- 
ana, and  came  of  a  family  of  Quaker  farm- 
ers. Most  of  the  chiklren  of  the  household 
are  now  deceased,  but  Mrs.  Pugh  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years,  her 
home  being  in  Ridgefarm.  B}-  her  mar- 
riage she  became  the  mother  of  nine  chil- 
dren :  John,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Ridgefann 
and  has  eight  children;  Isaac,  a  widower 
living  in  Eureka  Springs,  Arkansas;  Ezra, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Champaign  county, 
Illinois,  who  has  four  children;  Paris  J., 
an  agriculturist  of  Love  township,  Vermil- 
ion county,  who  has  three  children ;  Mon- 
roe of  this  review;  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy; Howard,  who  is  living  upon  the  old 
homestead  near  Hunu-ick,  and  has  two 
children:  Mrs.  Jane  Banta,  of  Edgar  coun- 
ty, Illinois  who  has  four  children ;  and  Mrs. 
L.  Dolly  Kiger,  who  died  leaving  two  chil- 
dren. 

Monroe  Pugh  was  reared  to  farm  life 
and  continued  to  reside  on  the  home  place 
assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm  until  1891, 
when  he  abandoned  the  plow  and  turnetl 
his  attention  to  commercial  ])ursuits.  open- 
ing a  general  store  in  Humrick  which  he  has 
since  conducted  with  good  success.  He  car- 
ries a  large  and  well  selected  stock  of  goods 
and  his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  patrons 
has  resulted  in  winning  for  him  a  good  trade. 
On  the  29th  of  September,  1892,  Mr. 
Pugh  was  united  in  marriage  to  Minnie 
Tutt.  who  was  born  March  2,  1870,  a 
daughter  of  Albert  and  Jemima  (Eraser) 
Tutt.  iif  Humrick,  who  were  farming  peo- 
ple. Mrs.  Pugh  has  one  lirother,  James  M. 
Tutt,  who  is  an  agriculturist  of  Humrick. 
She  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  reared  under  the  parental  roof.  Her 
father  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war,  en- 
listing   from    Vermilion    county,    Indiana. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pugh  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Humrick  and  their  household  is  justly 
celebrated  for  its  hospitality.  Their  mar- 
riage has  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
Percy,  Dolly  L.,  and  Patrick  H.,  aged  re- 
spectively nine,  seven  and  five  years.  Mr. 
Pugh  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Eriends, 
or  Quakers,  and  in  politics  he  is  an  earnest 
Republican.  He  filled  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  for  several  terms,  is  now  a  no- 
tary public  and  is  also  serving  as  a  school 
director.  He  is  active  in  educational  mat- 
ters, as  well  as  in  business,  and  the  cause  of 
the  schools  has  found' in  him  a  warm  friend. 
Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amer- 
ica and  the  Court  of  Honor.  Devoted  to 
the  welfare  of  his  family,  contributing  in 
every  way  to  their  happiness,  a  good  neigh- 
bor and  a  loyal  citizen,  Mr.  Pugh  ranks 
high  among  the  residents  of  his  village. 


CHARLES    E.  STEVENS. 

The  farming  interests  of  \'ermilion 
county  are  well  represented  by  Charles  E. 
Stevens,  who  owns  a  valuable  farm  on  sec- 
tion 18,  Vance  township.  He  is  a  native 
son  of  the  county,  his  birth  having  occurred 
therein,  on  the  loth  of  June,  1862.  His 
parents.  William  J.  and  Adeline  (Smith) 
Stevens,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio  and 
the  latter  of  Illinois,  were  married  in  \'er- 
n;ilion  county,  near  Georgetown.  The  fa- 
ther ]nu'chased  land  in  Vance  township  and 
thereon  resided  until  about  1887,  when  after 
a  life  sjient  in  active  labor,  he  and  his 
wife  removed  to  Hnmer,  Illinois,  where  they 
are  now  li\ing  retired,  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  their  former  toil.  They  are  meml>ers  of 
the  Christian  church  and  Mr.  Stevens  is  a 


8l2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


standi  Repu1)lican.  They  were  the  parents 
of  live  chil(h"en.  all  of  whom  are  yet  living. 
Mora  is  the  wife  of  John  Hardin,  and  re- 
sides in  Allerton.  Illinois ;  Charles  E.  is  the 
next  in  order  of  birth ;  William  married 
Dora  Lynch  and  resides  in  Champaign 
county,  Illinois:  Bertrand  married  Delia 
Ogden  and  also  resides  in  Champaign  coun- 
ty; and  Lulu  resides  with  her  parents. 

Charles  E.  Stevens  spent  his  toyhood 
and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads  of  the  period,  attending  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  in  the  sea- 
sons of  vacation  working  upon  his  father's 
farm.  Here  he  acquired  habits  of  industry 
and  economy  which  in  later  life  formed  the 
foundation  of  his  successful  business  career. 
He  attended  school  until  nineteen  vears  of 
age,  then  worked  for  his  father  for  a  period, 
after  which  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  14.  1883,  to  Miss  Estella  Cus- 
ter, who  was  born  in  Vermilion  county 
January  7.  TS65.  Her  parents  were  George 
and  ]\largin"ieta  ( McCauley)  Custer,  both 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  father,  George  Cus- 
ter. \\-as  a  distant  relative  of  the  famed  Gen- 
eral Custer,  the  great  Indian  fighter  and 
scout.  The  parents  were  married  in  Vev- 
milion  county.  Illinois,  and  located  on  a 
farm  here.  They  now  reside  in  Homer, 
Illinois,  where  they  are  living  retired  from 
active  life.  INIr.  and  Mrs.  Custer  are  both 
memljers  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  he 
is  a  stanch  Republican.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  se\-en  children,  three  girls  and  four 
boys.  Of  these,  one  son  is  now  deceased. 
Otela.  the  wife  of  David  Winters,  resides 
in  \'ermilion  county.  Estella,  now  Mrs. 
Stevens,  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
Ophelia  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Hunt  and  re- 
sides in  Emporia.  Kansas.  \'incent  mar- 
ried Etta  Waldorf  and  resides  in  Fernwood. 


Chicago,  where  he  is  acting  as  an  agent. 
Ouess  married  Ethel  \"andergriff.  and  re- 
sides in  Homer,  Illinois.  Howard  married 
Minnie  Maddern  and  resides  in  Roseland, 
Chicago. 

After  his  marriage  ]Mr.  Stevens  located 
on  a  farm  in  \'ance  township  where  he  has 
since  lived  continuously,  with  the  exception 
of  nine  months  spent  in  Kansas.  In  the 
latter  place  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land.  He  then  removed  to  his 
present  home  in  1901,  which  was  g'iven  to 
him  b\-  his  father.  This  consists  of  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  well  cultivated  land.  He  has 
a  good  home  on  it  and  substantial  farm 
buildings  of  all  kinds.  He  follows  general 
farming  and  raises  a  high  grade  of  horses, 
cattle  and  hogs  for  the  market.  His  Chris- 
tian belief  is  indicated  by  his  membership 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  and  fraternally 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Ben  Hur  and  Knights 
of  the  Globe  organizations.  A  strong  be- 
liever in  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
partv.  he  gives  his  support  to  its  candidates 
but  he  has  always  refused  to  hold  office. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  man  who  takes  a 
deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  commu- 
nity and  is  not  forgetful  of  his  duties  as  a 
citizen.  He  is  well  known  in  his  communitv 
as  a  man  of  integritv  and  honor. 


ja:^ies  a.  dicksox. 

A  native  son  and  prominent  farmer  of 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  is  James  A.  Dick- 
son, who  was  born  near  Lidianola,  Decem- 
ber 5.  i83_|.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth I  Dovle)  Dickson,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Kentucky,  where  they  were  reared 
and  married.  From  Kentucky  they  removed 
to  Indianola,  \'ermilion  countv,  Illinois,  and 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERDrrV  OF  ILLINOIS 


MRS.  J.  A.  DICKSON. 


JAMES  A.  DICKSON 


LIBRARY 


^^"cMamois 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S17 


here  the  fatlier  entered  land  and  Iniilt  a  log 
house  for  his  family.  At  this  time  the  coun- 
try was  wild  prairie  land  and  sloughs  were 
numerous.  The  Indians,  too,  were  encamped 
near,  along  the  rivers.  With  characteristic 
energy  Mr.  Dickson.  Sr.,  hegan  to  clear  the 
lanil.  and  with  tireless  effort  he  lahored  un- 
til he  had  his  farm  well  under  culti\-ation. 
He  lived  here  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1S37.  He  was  an  honored  pioneer 
settler  of  \'ennilion  county  and  in  politics 
was  a  Democrat.  After  the  death  of  the 
father  the  mother  continuetl  to  remain  upon 
the  farn:  and  here  reared  her  family.  In 
1853  she  had  built  a  ciimmodious  frame 
house  upon  the  place.  Her  death  occurred 
December  28,  1854. 

James  A.  Dickson  was  one  of  a  family 
of  six  children,  only  one  of  wlmm  besides 
himself,  still  survives,'  namely,  Mrs.  Phebe 
Swank,  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Swank,  of  Indian- 
ola,  Illinois.  ]Mr.  Dickson  was  born  in  the 
log  house  liuilt  liy  his  father  and  he  pursued 
his  education  in  a  log  schoolhouse  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  Indianola,  and 
later  a  log  schoolhouse  in  the  town 
of  Indianola.  These  primitix'e  schools 
had  slab  seats  placed  on  wooden  pegs, 
no  windows  except  those  made  of 
greased  ))aper,  and  were  heated  with  an 
old-fashioned  stick  hreplace.  He  left  school 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  remained  after  that 
one  year  on  the  home  farm  assisting  in  the 
work  of  field  and  meadow.  He  then  wi  irked 
with  his  brother,  on  some  swamp  land,  and 
later  purchased  land  in  what  was  then  Car- 
roll township,  but  is  now  called  Jamaica 
township.  This  land  he  improved  and  cul- 
tivated, and  upon  it  he  built  a  frame  house 
of  two  rooms.  He  remained  there  until 
1837.  when  he  \vas  married.  In  taking  up 
the  life  histoiy  of  Mr.  Dickson  it  cannot  fail 
to  be  noted  that  his  taste  and  ability  along 


lines  of  agriculture  are  not  only  acquired, 
but  are  also  inherited.  As  has  been  stated, 
his  father.  John  Dickson,  came  to  Vermilion 
county  from  Kentucky.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  who  was  Robert  Dickson, 
came  to  \'ermilion  county  from  Kentucky 
in  1820,  here  entering  land  and  building  a 
log  house,  west  of  Indianola.  This  land  he 
improved  and  cultivated  and  it  remained  in 
possession  of  the  Dickson  family,  so  tliat 
for  the  past  eighty-iive  years  continuously 
a  Dickson  h;is  owned  land  in  X'ermilion 
county  and  tlie  family  is  therefore  one  of  the 
oldest  if  not  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  county. 
In  1857  James  A.  Dickson  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Frances  Busby.  Later.'  on  the 
1 8th  of  November,  i860,  he  was  married 
to  Amanda  J.  Sheppard,  who  was  born  in 
Vance  township.  \'ermilion  county.  Illinois, 
December  20.  1832,  and  died  July  11,  j888. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Xancy 
Sheppard.  the  former  a  nati\'e  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter  of  Indiana,  she  lieing  his  sec- 
ond wife.  They  were  married  in  A'ermilion 
county  and  Mr.  Sheppard  built  and  owned 
the  farmers"  Sheppard  mills.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  he  was  the  father  of 
a  familv  of  two  girls  and  two  boys,  all  now 
deceased.  ?>_\'  his  first  union  Mr.  Dickson 
had  one  child,  (ieneva.  now  the  wife  of  De- 
loss  Campbell,  of  Winterset,  Iowa,  and  who 
has  one  little  daughter,  Geneva.  L'nto  the 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Dickson  three  chil- 
dren were  biirn.  John  \\'..  born  September 
13.  1861.  married  Miss  Mary  Sowers,  and 
resided  in  \'ance  township.  He  died  April 
13.  1895,  leaving  one  child,  James  R. 
Simon  was  born  December  13.  1863.  and 
married  April  21,  1886.  to  Miss  Cora  Hil- 
ton, who  was  born  July  12.  1865.  They  re- 
side with  the  subject  of  this  review,  and 
have  four  children.  Grace  P..  Ernest  E.. 
Edna  May.  and  Hazel  Ester.     Charles  E., 


Si8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


bom  in  October,  1865,  died  February  3, 
1S99.  In  December,  1890,  he  was  married 
to  Jessie  ^liller,  who  died  February  2,  1898. 
Mr.  Dickson  lived  on  tlie  farm  of  his 
first  purchase  for  eleven  years.  He  then 
sold  it  and  bought  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives.  This  comprises  live  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  situated  on  sections  22 
and  2~  in  Jamaica  township  and  eighty  acres 
in  Georgetown  township.  In  addition  to 
his  agricultural  pursuits  he  was  for  many 
years  extensively  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
but  he  is  now  living  retired  upon  his  farm. 
Here  he  has  a  comfortable  and  attractive 
residence,  which  is  large  and  roomy,  as  well 
as  being  of  a  pleasing  style  of  architecture. 
His  farm  is  equipped  with  the  latest  im- 
.  proved  farming  implements  and  he  has  one 
of  the  largest  and  best  barns  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Dickson  is  also  largely  interested  in  gold 
mining  stock.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  of  Jamaica  in  which 
he  is  acting  as  trustee.  He  is  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat and  is  well  versed  on  the  questions  of 
the  day  which  are  important  to  the  interests 
of  the  country.  A  genial  and  well  informed 
old  gentleman,  his  friends  find  his  compan- 
ionship pleasureable  and  instructive.  He  is 
still  quite  active  and  does  not  look  to  be 
over  forty-five  years  of  age.  He  is  a  man  of 
prominence  in  his  township  and  is  highly  re- 
garded b}-  all. 


HEXRY  S.  BAKER. 

The  family  history  of  all  good  Amer- 
ican citizens  is  of  general  interest,  because 
it  has  been  through  the  efforts  of  these  that 
our  nation  has  thrived  and  prospered  and 
has  becomne  one  of  the  greatest  of  the 
world.     Henry  S.  Baker  comes  of  a  family 


who  have  ably  torn  their  share  in  the  work 
of  improvement  and  development  in  the 
Unitetl  States  which  has  been  carried  for- 
ward to  such  wonderful  accomplishment. 
He  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  12,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of 
Enoch  and  Margaret  (Speers)  Baker,  both 
natives  of  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  former  bom  at  Belle\ille,  near 
Fredericktown,  that  state.  The  mother  was 
born  in  a  brick  house  which  is  now  one  hun- 
dred years  old.  and  was  visited  two  years 
ago  by  the  subject  of  this  review.  Enoch 
Baker  was  the  son  of  David  Baker,  whose 
father  was  Nathan  Baker,  who  settled  in 
Philadelphia.  Pennsylvania,  and  by  his  first 
wife  became  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren :  Aaron.  Xehemiah,  David,  Joseph, 
Enoch,  Xathan,  Mrs.  ]Mary  Linten,  Mrs. 
Lidia  Townsand  and  ^^"illiam.  The  second 
wife  of  Xathan  Baker  was  Mrs.  Jordan,  a 
widow.  By  this  union  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Israel,  Mahlon  and  Han- 
nah. David  Baker,  the  third  son  of  the 
first  marriage  of  Xathan  Baker,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  Decem- 
ber 15,  1 78 1,  and  was  married  February  14, 
1805,  to  Margaret  Robbins,  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  Robbins,  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  February  10,  1780.  David 
Baker  died  .\ugust  27,  1836,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  March  30,  1852.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children.  Elizabeth 
was  lx)rn  Xovember  26,  1805,  and  died  June 
13,  1872.  She  was  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Horton  and  resided  at  Belleville.  Pennsyl- 
vania. Hiram,  born  October  27,  1807,  was 
married  to  Miss  McDuneyhugh  and  died 
May  13,  1891.  He  resided  at  Ridgefarm  in 
Elwood  township,  \'ermilion  county.  Illi- 
nois. Joseph  was  born  X^ovember  20,  1810, 
and  died  February  5,  1813.  Sarah,  born 
Xovember  9,    181 3,  married  Daniel  Dunn, 


L1BRA?!Y 

Of   Ti'.E 

UNIVERSITY  GF  ILLINOIS 


SIMON  A.  DICKSON. 


MRS.  JOHN  DICKSON. 


libra:^y 

OF  TI-iE 
UNIVERSITY  GF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


82^ 


resided  in  West  Union,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  died  June  19,  1902. 
Enoch,  born  December  25.  1815.  died  Jan- 
uary 7,  i88j,  and  was  the  father  of  Henry 
S.  Baker,  of  tliis  review.  Jane,  born  Alay 
10,  1818,  died  March  2.  1878.  She  was 
the  wife  of  Benjamin  White,  and  resided 
in  Belleville,  Pennsylvania,  but  died  in  Jay 
county,  Indiana.  Emeline,  the  seventh 
child,  was  born  September  24,  1823,  and 
died  July  3,  1880.  Enoch  Baker,  the  fifth 
child  of  David  Baker,  was  married  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  alxiut  1839,  to 
Margaret  Speers,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
count)',  September  29,  1822.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Appolis  and  Elizabeth  (Cooper) 
Speers.  Elizateth  Cooper  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  as  follows :  Eliza- 
beth, born  March  22.  1803;  Harriette, 
born  July  5,  1805;  Jackman.  born  De- 
cember 10,  1807;  (jeorge  W.,  born  Sep- 
tember 5,  1810;  Xancy  P>.,  burn  Xdvem- 
ber  16,  181 2:  Xarcissa,  born  May  20, 
1 81 5:  Jehu,  Iwrn  August  10,  1818;  Josiah, 
bom  October  25,  1821  :  and  J.  Ereder- 
ick,  born  October  7,  1824.  Unto  Appolis 
and  Elizabeth  (Cooper)  Speers  were  born 
ten  children,  as  follows  :  Margaret,  the  wife 
of  Enoch  Baker,  born  September  29,  1822; 
Nancy,  deceased,  was  born  July  6,  1825; 
Mary  S.,  who  was  born  October  i,  1827,  is 
the  wife  of  B.  W.  Johnson  and  resides  in 
Nebraska:  Sarah  P..  Lucas,  burn  b'ebruarv 
25,  1830,  is  a  widow  and  resides  in  Iowa; 
Captain  Solomon  C.,  born  Mav  12,  1832, 
was  twice  married  and  resided  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; Xo:!li.  liorn  August  J^^,  1834.  mar- 
ried Amanda  Ward  and  lived  on  the  old 
Speers  homestead,  where  he  died  Xovember 
28,  1898.  Henry  \'.,  born  I'ebrnary  2j. 
1837,  married  and  lived  in  Marshalltown. 
Iowa.  Jacob  B.,  also  a  resident  of  Mar- 
shalltown, was  born  July  8,   1839;  Jasper, 


born  January  17,  1S42,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one;  and  Clara  E,,  who  was  born 
October  2,  1844,  married  James  Walker,  a 
resident  of  Marshalltown  Iowa,  b'or  some 
time  after  his  marriage  Enoch  Baker,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  engaged  in  farming 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  living 
at  his  first  place  for  a  short  period  and  then 
rem(i\-ing  to  Ten  Mile,  in  the  same  county, 
b'rom  there  he  removed  to  Amwell  town- 
ship, in  Washington  county,  and  there  spent 
the  remain<ler  of  his  life.  He  died  January 
7,  1882.  His  widow  is  still  li\ing  there. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  Pleasant  Hill 
cemetery,  in  Washington  county.  For 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  held  office  in  his  township.  In 
politics  he  w.as  a  stanch  Republican. 

Enoch  Baker  and  his  wife  became  the 
I)areuts  of  eight  chililren.  Sarah  Jane,  born 
Decemlier  19,  1839.  married  Albert  \"oor- 
hees,  who  came  to  Vermilion  county  in 
1850,  She  died  in  1893.  Xancy  Maria, 
born  Januar\-  24,  1843,  died  August  24, 
1900.  She  man'ied  J.  X^.  Horn  and  re- 
sided in  W^ashington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
David  B.,  born  December  18,  1845,  niarried 
Sarah  Strauss,  and  resides  in  Washington, 
Peim.sylvania.  Apollo  S.,  born  September 
20,  1850,  married  Clara  Clark,  who  died, 
and  be  afterward  mru"ried  Sarah  V.  Long. 
Tlie\'  reside  one  mile  east  of  Jamaica,  Illi- 
nois. Henry  S.,  the  fifth  member  of  the 
family,  is  the  subject  of  this  review. 
Charles  H.,  a  twin  brother  of  Henry  S.,  wa.s 
born  October  12.  1856,  and  died  on  the  31st 
of  the  same  ninntli.  Clara  B.  was  born 
January  5,  1859,  married  ^^"illiam  Hughes, 
and  resides  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania. 
I'rank  R.,  born  July  12,  1862,  married  Kit- 
tie  Hamilton  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm. 

The  subject  of  this  re\iew  attended  the 


824 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


district  scliools  of  Aniwell  township.  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  During  vacation 
he  assisted  his  father  upon  the  farm.  He 
came  to  Vermihon  county,  Uhnois,  in  1879, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  Silas  Clarke, 
continuing  with  him  for  three  years.  He 
then  retm'ned  to  Pennsylvania,  but  was  not 
satistied  and  returned  again  to  the  west. 
On  the  27th  of  February,  1884,  he  was  mar- 
ried near  Catlin,  Illinois,  to  ]Miss  Nettie  E. 
Boggess,  who  was  born  in  \^ermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  June  10,  1862.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  E.  P.  and  ^lary  (Pightner) 
Boggess,  both  natives  of  \'ermilion  county, 
the  father  born  July  17,  1837,  and  the 
mother  in  Dan\illc,  September  4.  1841. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boggess  were  married  in 
Danville,  Illinois,  anl  located  on  a  farm 
in  \'ermilion  county,  three  miles  northwest 
of  Catlin,  where  Mr.  Boggess  remained 
until  his  retirempit  in  1895,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Catlin.  His  first  wife  died  in 
Augu.st,  1867.  and  in  1868  he  was  again 
married,  leading  to  the  altar  Mary  E.  Aus- 
tin. She  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  very  successful  school  teacher.  ]\Ir. 
Boggess  was  also  a  school  teacher  of  note. 
His  wife  died  December  15,  1880,  and  on 
the  25th  of  December.  1882.  he  was  again 
married,  his  third  union  Ijeing  with  Han- 
nah T-  Elliott,  who  was  born  in  Paxton, 
Ford  county,  Illinois,  in  December,  1846. 
She  and  her  husband  are  now  living  in  Cat- 
lin. She  was  a  successful  school  teacher, 
having  taught  in  the  liigli  school  in  Cham- 
paign, Illinois.  As  has  been  said,  Air.  Bog- 
gess was  also  a  teacher  in  his  early  days. 
He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  its  work,  at  ditYerent  times  holding 
all  the  offices  in  the  clnuxh  for  many  years. 
He  was  formerlv  a  member  of  the  ^Masonic 


fraternity  and  \'oted  with  the  Republican 
party.  Mrs.  Baker  is  the  second  of  three 
children  burn  unto  her  father  bv  his  first 
marriage.  Alice,  the  wife  of  Peter  L. 
Shaver,  resides  at  Latham.  Illinois.  Robert 
L.  died  at  the  age  of  six  months.  By  Mr. 
Boggess"  second  marriage  there  were  six 
children.  Olive  G.  is  the  wife  of  William 
H.  Ray,  a  successful  farmer  of  Homer,  Illi- 
nois. Frank  A.  married  Rose  Bacon,  of 
Danville,  Illinois,  and  now  resides  in  Fow- 
ler. Colorado,  where  he  is  principal  of  a 
school.  His  wife  was  formerly  a  teacher  in 
the  Datn-ille  schools.  Arthur  C.  was  born 
in  Catlin,  Illinois,  March  2,  1874,  is  now 
attending  the  University  of  \\'isconsin  and 
holds  a  state  certificate  in  Illinois.  He  was 
graduated  ivom  the  Illinois  State  Normal  in 
1900  and  from  Illinois  L'niversity  in  1902. 
Aland  L.  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
months.  Agnes  AI.  resides  at  home. 
Ralph  \'.  is  principal  of  schools  at  Cheney- 
ville.  Illinois,  and  is  a  teacher  of  marked 
ability.  By  the  third  marriage  of  Mr.  Bog- 
gess were  born  two  children.  Cliarles.  at 
home,  and  Edith  E..  a  student  of  the  Dan- 
ville high  school. 

In  connection  with  the  genealogical  his- 
tory of  the  Baker  family  it  is  necessary  to 
mention  the  Robbins  familv.  who  were 
noted  and  honored  early  settlers  of  Penn- 
.sylvan.ia.  Jane  Robbins  was  the  great- 
grandmother  of  Mr.  Baker  of  this  review  on 
the  paternal  side  and  was  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Robbins  in  whose  family  were  the  fol- 
lowing children,  twehe  in  luimber ;  Sarah, 
born  December  7,  1768;  Leah,  born  Alarch 
19.  1770;  Mary,  born  January  30,  1772; 
Joseph,  born  May  2~,  1774;  Jane,  born 
May  31,  1776;  Abraham,  born  May  21, 
177S:  Alargaret,  the  grandmother  of  our 
subject,  born  l-"ebruary  10.  1784:  Lyda, 
liorn  No\em!ier  2.  1781  :  .Mice.  Ixirn  Octo- 


s 


m 


WM.  FITHIAN,  M.  D. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


825 


ber  29.  1783;  Betliany.  l)orn  September  17. 
1785:  Abigail.  Ijoni  December  17,  1787; 
and  Esther,  born  Xovember  7,  1789.  Mr. 
Bakers  ancestors  were  a  hardy  family  of 
people,  with  strong  constitutions  and  sterl- 
ing traits  of  character. 

After  their  marriage  Henry  S.  Baker 
and  wife  settled  upon  the  farm  which  they 
now  occupy.  This  farm  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  on  section  24,  in 
Vance  township.  Mr.  Baker  has  cultivated 
his  land  impro\-ing  it  in  e\-ery  way  and 
making  it  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
county.  Here  he  successfully  carries  on 
farming  and  is  extensively  engaged  in  rais- 
ing a  good  grade  of  stock  for  the  markets, 
including  Poland  China  hogs,  horses  and 
cattle.  He  is  authority  in  his  community  on 
this  grade  of  hogs  and  is  considered  a  sub- 
stantial and  representative  business  man  of 
Vermilion  county.  He  has  a  comfortable 
residence  and  large  barns  on  his  place. 

The  home  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children:  Enoch  P., 
born  April  15.  1885,  died  May  11.  1885: 
Ralph  Leslie,  born  Xtnember  11.  1887,  died 
Octolier  26,  1896;  Charles  Virgil,  born 
March  22,  1890,  Froman  C,  born  August  5, 
i?92.  and  Earl  B..  born  September  8,  1894. 
are  at  home  with  their  parents;  Henry  Ray- 
mond, born  Xovember  20,  1897,  died  Au- 
gust 19,  1898. 

Mr.  Baker  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  which  he  is  steward. 
He  is  a  generous  contributor  to  and  an  ac- 
tive worker  in  the  church,  being  devoted 
to  the  cause  of  Christianitv.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  his  political  views,  but  the  honors 
and  emoluments  of  office  have  no  charm 
for  him  and  he  has  refused  to  accept  office. 
He  and  liis  wife  are  valued  residents  of 
Vance  townsli!])  and  are  well  known  through- 
out the  countv. 


WILIJAM    FrrHIAX.  M.  D. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  and  distin- 
guished residents  of  eastern  Illinois  was  Dr. 
William  Fithian,  and  if  man's  place  in  the 
world  is  determined  by  his  usefulness  as- 
suredly the  Doctor's  position  was  a  leading 
one.  For  manv  years  ranking  as  one  of  the 
most  capable  physicians  of  this  part  of  the 
state,  his  labors  were  not  limited  by  his  pro- 
fession. .\long  many  other  lines  he  con- 
tributed to  the  general  jjmgress  and  up- 
Ijuilding,  l)ecame  a  factor  in  Itanking  ami 
mercantile  circles  and  was  instrumental  in 
securing  the  extensi(jn  of  man_\-  railroads 
into  this  county. 

To  Dr.  Fithian  also  belonged  the  dis- 
tinction of  having  been  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  his  natal  day  hav- 
ing been  April  7,  1799.  His  father.  George 
Fithian.  was  a  native  of  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  was, reared  and  mar- 
ried. He  afterward  remo\ed  to  the  X'orlh- 
west  Territor}',  being  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  Cincinnati,  then  a  mere  hamlet  situ- 
ated on  the  \'ery  borders  of  ci\"ilization.  He 
was  also  among  the  tirst  to  engage  in  mer- 
chandising there.  Later  he  removed  to  the 
new  town  of  Springfield.  Ohio,  and  after  a 
few  vears  he  remo\'ed  to  the  jiresent  site  of 
L'rbana.  Ohio,  erecting  the  first  house  there. 
It  was  a  large  double  log  building,  in  which 
he  conducted  a  tavern  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  and  his  wife  afterward  remo\ed 
to  Danville.  Illinois,  and  made  their  home 
with  Dr.  Fithian  until  death. 

The  Doctor  was  hut  thirteen  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
of  1S12,  but  although  too  young  to  join  the 
arniv  he  became  a  member  of  a  company  of 
home  guards  which  was  organized  for  pro- 
tection against  the  Indians,  who  were  prov- 
ing  troublesome.      As    was    the   custom    in 


826 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tliose  days,  at  an  early  age  he  began  learn- 
ing a  trade — that  of  printing — and  later  he 
secured  a  contract  to  print  a  volume  of  leg- 
islative enactments  of  the  state  of  Ohio.  He 
worked  many  times  late  into  the  night,  by 
the  light  of  a  tallow  dip,  in  order  to  com- 
plete the  task  at  the  time  specified.  This 
was  an  act  characteristic  of  his  entire  career. 
With  the  money  thus  earned  in  the  printing 
business  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  un- 
der the  direction  of  Dr.  Joseph  Carter,  an 
eminent  physician  of  Ohio,  then  located  at 
Urbana.  After  three  years'  study  he  re- 
ceived a  diploma  and  soon  afterward  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Mechanics- 
burg.  Ohio,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years,  returning  then  to  Urbana,  where  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  former  pre- 
ceptor. Dr.  Carter,  this  relationship  being 
maintained  until  1830.  While  still  living  in 
Ohio,  according  to  an  old  law  of  that  state, 
he  \ves  made  one  of  the  associate  judges, 
sitting  witli  the  county  judge  and  trying 
cases. 

Prior  to  1830  Dr.  iMthian  had  visited 
Danville  and  in  the  )'ear  mentioned  he  came 
by  wagon  to  this  city,  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  It  was  his  intention  to  here  embark 
in  practice.  The  town  at  that  time  con- 
tained some  two  hundred  inhabitants  and 
was  the  site  of  an  old  Indian  settlement  and 
Indians  still  continued  to  make  it  their  trad- 
ing point.  For  almost  sixty  }-ears  Dr.  Fith- 
ian  practiced  here  and  was  proliably  as 
widely  known  as  any  physician  of  the  state 
during  the  years  of  his  active  connection 
with  the  profession.  Fle  would  sometimes 
ride  for  weeks  at  a  stretch  with  but  a  few 
hours'  sleep  at  night.  He  made  his  trips 
on  horseback,  keeping  from  six  to  eight 
head  of  horses.  His  practice  extended  as 
far  west  as  Bloomington,  McLean  county ; 
south   to  Paris,   Edgar  county;  north   into 


Irocjuois  and  Kankakee  counties,  and  at 
times  even  to  Chicago;  and  east  far  into  the 
state  of  Indiana.  As  accomodations  and 
supplies  were  limited  and  the  country  sparse- 
ly settled  the  Doctor  always  carried  some 
tea  with  him,  which  he  would  steep  if  oppor- 
tunity offered  or  cliew  the  leaves  if  he  found 
it  impossible  to  make  the  drink. 

The  Doctor  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war  and  during  the  Civil  war 
was  appointed  bv  President  Lincoln  to  the 
position  of  provost  marshal  of  what  was  then 
the  seventh  congressional  district  of  Illinois, 
which  trying  and  responsible  office  he  most 
creditably  tilled.  The  friaidship  tetween 
Dr.  Fithian,  the  young  physician,  and  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,  the  young  lawyer,  was  formed 
in  the  early  days  of  the  former's  residence  in 
Illinois  and  continued  up  to  the  time  of  the 
President's  death  in  1865.  What  little  liti- 
gation Dr.  Fithian  had  was  always  in  charge 
of  Lincoln  and  perhaps  no  one  stood  closer 
in  the  early  days  to  the  great  emancipator 
than  did  our  subject.  For  many  years  Dr. 
Fithian  was  the  leader  of  the  \Miig  party  in 
this  section  of  the  two  states  of  Illinois  and 
Indiana  and  was  an  active  factor  in  the  cam- 
paign of  i860,  which  resulted  in  the  election 
of  his  friend  Lincoln.  Fie  served  for  one 
term  as  state  senator  and  two  terms  as  repre- 
sentative. While  in  Springfield  he  profes- 
sionally attended  a  number  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  Illinois  and  there  formed 
friendships  which  continued  a  lifetime. 

Dr.  Fithian  became  a  wealthy  man,  own- 
ing a  number  of  thousand  acres  of  land. 
He  also  established  a  large  mercantile  enter- 
prise and  a  pri\ate  banking  business  in  Dan- 
ville and  these  were  carried  on  by  his  sons 
for  many  years.  He  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  building  of  several 
railroads  through  Danville  and  gave  the 
right  of  way  through  a  large  tract  of  land 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


827 


to  tlie  Indiana.  Bloomington  &  Western, 
now  a  part  of  the  Big  Four  system,  and  the 
town  of  Fitliian  on  this  Hne  was  named  in 
his  honor. 

The  Doctor  was  four  times  married,  liis 
second  wife,  Oieatha  T.  Berry,  of  Urhana, 
becoming  the  mother  of  his  four  children, 
of  whom  George,  the  father  of  Wilham  E. 
P'ithian,  of  Danville,  is  now  deceased,  and 
John  has  also  passed  away.  Henry  and 
Elisha  C.  B.  are  yet  li\ing.  In  his  late  years 
the  Doctor  retired  from  acti\e  practice  and 
died  on  the  5th  of  April,  1890,  lacking  but 
two  days  of  reaching  his  ninety-first  liirtli- 
day.  He  was  a  man  in  the  best  sense  of  tlie 
term.  Successful  himself,  he  was  ever  reatly 
to  aid  a  deserving  friend  and  while  unosten- 
tatious in  his  giving  many  have  cause  to  re- 
member his  kindness  in  time  of  need.  The 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  in  its  report 
of  1890.  said  of  him.  "The  man  matched 
the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  was  a  prod- 
uct of  them;  resolute,  simple,  severe  and 
exact,  something  cf  the  hardiness  of  his 
circumstances  gave  force  to  his  character, 
but  by  the  bedside  he  was  low-voiced,  ten- 
der, precise  and  faithful.  Autocratic  as  be- 
came the  phvsician  in  whose  hands  are  the 
issues  of  life  and  death,  he  was  regardful 
of  the  feelings  of  those  in  whose  presence 
he  stood.  He  was  a  good  man  with  de- 
fects ;  a  strong  man  with  weaknesses ;  and 
he  made  a  large  impression  on  his  time  and 
in  the  country  of  his  choice.  Those  who 
watched  and  witnessed  his  passing,  long, 
painful,  .solitary,  will  realize  as  never  be- 
fore, how  great  a  boon  it  is  to  die  when  the 
springs  of  life  have  ceased  to  sparkle  and 
.shadows  cover  the  whole  wide  world  and  the 
only  light  is  from  the  one  open  gate  through 
wliich  the  lii\ed  ones  liave  gone  before.  He 
has  ushered  in  tiiousands  and  lightened  the 
pains  and   softened   the  departure  of  three 


generations  of  men.  He,  the  great  and 
old  physician,  bowed  before  the  King  of 
Terrors,  to  him  a  Minister  of  Peace." 


DAVID  HIMROD. 


David  Himrod,  sccretar)-  und  treasurer 
of  the  Himrod  Coal  Company  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Danville,  was  born  in  Sterling.  Kan- 
sas. March  10,  1876,  a  son  of  Patten  Him- 
rod. whose  sketch  is  given  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  He  l>egan  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  city,  but  left  school 
in  the  year  of  graduation,  removing"  to  Chi- 
cago with  his  parents  and  in  that  city  Iie- 
came  a  student  in  the  Chicago  Manual 
Training  School.  He  afterward  attended 
the  State  University  of  Kansas,  at  Law- 
rence, and  then  retiu^ned  to  Sterling,  where 
he  accepted  the  position  of  bookkeeper  in  a 
bank.  While  thus  engaged  he  made  ar- 
rangements to  enter  the  service  of  the  Him- 
rod Coal  Company,  in  July,  1S95,  '^^  which 
time  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  and  upon  his  father's  death, 
in  1902,  he  assumed  control  of  the  business 
as  its  secretary  and  treasurer.  He  is  large- 
ly engaged  in  the  de\-elopment  of  the  rich 
coal  deposits  of  this  portion  of  the  state, 
being  secretary  of  the  company  owning  a 
mine  situated  six  miles  south  of  Danville 
and  another  eight  miles  southeast  of  the 
city.  The  jimduct  is  shipped  mostly  to  Chi- 
cago and  other  metropolitan  centers  and  the 
\-olume  of  the  business  is  constantly  growing 
with  the  result  that  the  enterprise  has  re- 
tmiK'il  an  excellent  income  to  the  stockhold- 
ers. The  officers  of  the  company  are  Ber- 
nard Himrod.  president;  Charles  Himrod, 
\-ice  president;  Dax'id  N'imrod,  secretary 
an<l  treasurer;  and  W.  Keefer.  superin- 
tendent. 


823 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


On  the  J8th  of  January,  1898,  in  Dan- 
ville, Mr.  Himrod  of  this  review  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Cornelia  Roberts,  who 
was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Illinois, 
September  i,  1876,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  B.  (West)  Roberts.  Mr.  Him- 
rod votes  witli  tiie  Republican  party  and  in 
June,  1901,  he  was  made  a  Mason,  while 
of  the  ilodem  Woodmen  of  America  he 
is  also  a  represaitative.  A  young  business 
man,  possessed  of  llie  enterprising  spirit  of 
the  west,  he  occupies  a  creditable  position 
in  industrial  circles,  and  arguing  from  the 
past  it  is  not  difficult  to  prophesy  for  him  a 
successful  future. 


W.  R.  ALLDREDGE. 

During  his  residence  in  Danxille  W.  R. 
Alldredge  has  won  due  recognition  of  labor, 
being  now  one  of  the  substantial  residents 
of  this  city,  although  when  he  located  here 
he  had  just  ten  dollars.  He  now  has  ex- 
tensive real  estate  interests,  being  the  owner 
of  much  property  in  the  city  and  the  rental 
from  his  tenement  houses  brings  to  him  an 
excellent  income. 

Mr.  Alldredge  is  a  native  of  the  neigh- 
b(_>ring  state  of  Indiana,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Bartholomew  county,  on  the  6th 
of  December,  i860,  his  parents  being  Isaac 
and  Elizabeth  (Galyean)  Alldredge.  The 
father  was  born  in  Virginia  of  Welsh  and 
Scotch  ancestry  and  the  mother  was  born  in 
Indiana  of  Scotch  and  Irish  parentage.  They 
were  married  in  Muncie,  Indiana,  and  in 
order  to  provide  for  his  family  the  father 
carried  on  farming  and  also  engaged  in  me- 
chiuiical  ])ursuits.  His  death  occurred  in 
Logansport,  Indiana,  in  1878,  and  his  wid- 
ow lived  with  the  subject  of  this  review  at 
the  time  of  her  death  in  1890.     They  were 


the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom  five 
are  yet  living:  Daniel  L.,  John,  Francis, 
}klrs.  Martha  A.  Stanley  and  our  subject. 
W.  R.  Alldredge  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  early  life  in  Logansport.  Indiana,  and  left 
that  city  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  to  be- 
come a  resilient  of  Muncie.  Indiana,  where 
he  worked  at  the  mason's  trade  and  was  en- 
gagetl  in  the  construction  of  cement  side- 
walks and  similar  work  from  1880  until 
1883.  In  the  latter  year  he  came  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  followed  his  trade  for  about 
nine  or  ten  years.  His  attention  was  then 
given  to  the  coal  business  and  gradually  he 
became. extensively  interested  in  real  estate. 
He  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  adjoin- 
ing \'ermilion  Heights  on  the  southwest  and 
has  since  sold  forty  acres  of  this.  On  the  re- 
maining forty  acres  he  opened  a  coal  mine 
about  six  years  ago.  He  had  previously 
leased  coal  lands  to  other  -parties  who  had 
worked  out  the  mines.  Through  eight  or 
ten  years  in  the  winter  seasons  Mr.  All- 
dredge has  engaged  in  operating  his  coal 
mines  to  a  limited  extent,  supplying  the  local 
markets.  As  his  financial  resources  have 
increased,  however,  he  has  made  judicious 
investments  in  real  estate  and  he  now  owns 
twentv-two  tenement  houses  located  in  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  city.  He  built  some 
of  these  at  very  moderate  expense  in  order 
that  they  might  be  rented  at  a  low  rate, 
while  others  are  very  desirable  residences. 
He  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to 
the  management  of  his  property  interests. 
During  the  year  1901  he  did  a  building 
business  to  the  extent  of  eleven  thousand 
dollars,  erecting  a  flat  building  on  Pine 
street  to  the  value  of  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars. He  has  been  quick  to  recognize  op- 
portunities in  real  estate  dealing  and  his  ef- 
forts in  this  direction  have  brought  to  him 
excellent  success. 


W.  R.  ALLDREDGE. 


ViKlMt^S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD  . 


831 


On  the  23(1  of  September,  1891,  Air. 
Alldredge  was  married  in  Danxillo  to 
Frances  Tate,  wlm  was  horn  in  this  city 
in  1S73.  and  is  a  daughter  of  Huston  and 
Margaret  ( Hodge  j  Tate,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Illinois,  respectively,  their 
marriage  heing  celebrated  in  \'erniilion 
county.  The  father  was  one  of  the  hrst 
white  men  in  the  neighborhood,  establishing 
his  home  here  when  Danville  was  a  mere 
village  and  when  no  railroatls  connected  it 
with  the  outside  world.  He  killed  many 
deer  in  the  wootls  near  where  Danville  now 
stands  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  early 
pioneer  development  of  this  region.  He 
was  a  cooper  by  trade,  being  an  expert  work- 
man in  his  line,  and  for  some  time  he  con- 
ducted a  shop  in  this  cit}-.  Later,  however, 
he  purchased  land  and  resided  upon  his 
fann,  devoting  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  Alarch,  1897.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1876.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  eight  are  yet  liv- 
ing: Airs.  Alice  Blakeney,  Mrs.  Flora 
Stump,  Airs.  Lizzie  Best,  Airs.  Anna  True- 
love,  Airs.  Jennie  Bennett,  Airs.  Alattie 
Smart,  Jasper  and  Airs.  Ethel  Lucas. 

Unto  Air.  and  Airs.  Alldredgc  have  been 
born  four  children:  Mary  Lena,  born  Aug- 
ust II,  1892;  Harry,  born  January  26, 
1898;  Huston,  born  August  31,  1899;  and 
Virgil,  born  Alay  25,  1901.  They  also  lost 
their  second  child,  Willie,  born  December 
31,  1894,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
The  parents  hold  membership  in  the  Lincoln 
Alethodist  Episcopal  church  and  take  an 
active  part  in  its  work  and  upbuilding.  Air. 
Alldredge  has  served  as  trustee,  as  steward 
and  as  a  nicmlwr  of  the  liuilding  committee. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart 
Republican,  doing  everything  in  his  power 
to  promote  the  growth  and  to  promote  the 


success  of  his  party.  Socially  he  is  identi- 
tied  with  X'ermilion  Camp,  No.  254.  Al.  \V. 
A.  When  he  came  to  Danville  in  1883  he 
had  less  than  ten  dollars  in  cash,  but  he 
possessed  energy,  ambition  and  fortitude 
and  these  qualities  have  been  salient  features 
in  his  career.  His  successful  life  demon- 
strates that  his  business  instinct  have  been 
well  guided  and  that  his  enterprise  has  been 
exercised  to  a  good  advantage.  His  suc- 
cess has  been  the  result  of  honest,  persistent 
effort  in  the  line  of  honorable  and  manly 
dealing.  His  aims  have  always  lieen  to 
attain  to  the  best  anil  he  has  carried  forward 
to  a  successful  completion  whatever  he  has 
undertaken.  His  life  has  marked  a  steady 
growth,  and  now  he  is  in  possession  of  an 
ample  competence,  and  more  than  all  has 
that  contentment  that  comes  from  a  con- 
sciousness of  having  li\-ed  to  a  good  purpose. 


WILLIAAI  T.  STEVENS. 

An  honored  and  influential  resident  of 
Georgetown  township,  William  T.  Stevens 
has  li\e(l  in  X'ermilion  county  for  more  than 
thrce-(|uarters  of  a  cetury.  He  was  Ijorn  in 
Rush  county,  Indiana,  Alarch  J  8,  1821,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Susanna  (Thomas) 
Stevens.  The  |)arents  of  the  former  were 
natives  of  Indiana,  and  the  latter  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  .\mcrica  in  an  early  day 
and  settled  on  land  in  Rush  county,  Indiana. 
They  lived  and  died  near  Crawfordsville,  In- 
diana. James  and  Su.sanna  (Thomas) 
Stevens  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
but  of  this  ninni)er  two  died  in  infancy. 
James  lived  and  died  in  Vermilion  county 
and  left  a  widow  and  three  children.  H.  P. 
left  a  widow  who  is  also  now  deceased. 
Sanniel  (i.  was  a  resident  of  \'erniilion  coun- 


832 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ty  aiul  died  lea\ing  a  widow  and  two  chil- 
dren. She  married  again  and  is  now  li\ing 
in  Missouri.  Steven  C.  went  to  California 
and  died  there,  leaving  a  widow  and  two 
children  who  are  yet  residents  of  that  state. 
Lavina  became  the  wife  of  John  Calvin 
Cory,  of  California,  and  died  leaving  one 
son,  who  also  resides  there.  Nancy  M.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Joseph  Miller,  of  Vermilion 
county,  but  both  are  now  deceased.  They 
left  seven  children.  All  received  a  common- 
school  education.  H.  P.  and  James  H. 
Stevens  were  both  school  teachers  in  Ver- 
milion county  for  years.  Mr.  Stevens,  Sr., 
followed  farming  as  a  life  occupation  and 
in  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  taking  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  work  of  the  party.  He  was 
a  verj'  talented  orator  and  delighted  many 
an  audience  with  his  eloquence.  He  served 
in  the  war  of  1812  as  a  private  and  received 
a  pension  from  the  government  on  account 
of  injuries  sustained.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Christian  church  and 
were  consistent  workers  therein.  She 
passed  away  in  1870,  while  he  was  called  to 
rest  in  1874,  lx)th  dying  on  the  family  home- 
stead one  mile  east  of  Westville  on  section 
8,  in  Georgetown  township.  They  had 
moved  to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
fall  of  1827,  when  our  subject  was  six  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Ste\'ens  of  this  review  early  beg^an  to 
eani  his  own  living,  starting  out  on  his  own 
account  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  worked 
for  three  years  for  ten  dollars  per  month, 
then  bought  calves  and  raised  the  hay  and 
grain  for  them,  and  fed  them  until  they  were 
three  years  old.  when  he  sold  them  for  money 
enough  to  buy  his  present  fami.  Howexer. 
this  was  not  until  after  he  had  attained  his 
twenty-seventh  year,  for  he  worked  upon 
farms  by  the  month  until  that  time.  He  was 
energetic,  persevering  and   industrious  and 


he  started  out  determined  to  win  his  way  in 
the  world,  lia\'ing  no  influential  friends  or 
capital  to  aid  him.  However,  he  realized 
that  the  opportunities  of  this  great  common- 
wealth were  before  him  and  he  had  the  keen 
discernment  and  the  sound  judgment  which 
enabled  him  to  take  ad\'antage  of  these  and 
win  for  himself  and  family  a  competence. 
Shortly  before  his  marriage  he  bought  eigh- 
ty acres  of  his  present  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty-two  acres  on  section  7,  George- 
town township.  This  land  was  totally  un- 
improved when  he  made  the  purchase,  and 
he  at  once  began  to  prepare  the  fields  for 
the  raising  of  crops.  He  has  made  all  nec- 
essary impro\'ements  on  the  same  and  now 
has  one  of  the  model  farms  of  Vermilion 
county. 

Feliruary  22,  1848,  is  the  date  on  which 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Stevens 
and  j\Iiss  Alartha  Ann  Alexander,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Alexander,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
Her  mother  died  when  Mrs.  Stevens  was 
an  infant.  ^Ir.  Stevens  and  his  first  wife 
raised  a  little  girl  from  the  age  of  a  year  old. 
Her  name  was  ^latilda  Ann  Guest,  and  she 
made  her  home  with  our  subject  until  her 
marriage  with  C.  L.  Downing  and  they  re- 
side in  Georgetown  township.  Mr.  Stevens 
was  again  marrieci,  Februan,'  4,  1872,  to 
Nancy  Blakeney,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Susanna  (Ellis)  Blakeney.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Ripley  county,  Kentucky,  and  her 
mother  in  Ohio.  In  their  family  were 
twehe  children,  of  whom  eight  reached 
years  of  maturity.  Wright  died  in  1872,  in 
Edgar  county,  and  was  buried  in  Brooks 
Point.  Thomas  Westberry  Blakeney  is  now 
a  resident  of  Danville,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  busines.  Sarah  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  McCord.  who  is  li\ing  three 
miles  east  of  Westville,  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation.     Rachel    is    the    wife   of    Jonathan 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


833 


Ellis,  who  lives  in  Ridgefarni,  and  also  oper- 
ates land  there.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  An- 
drew Roys,  a  farmer  residing  near  Foster, 
Indiana.  Martha  is  the  widow  of  Thomas 
F.  Field,  and  lives  near  \\'ellington,  Illinois. 
Susanna  Brooks  is  the  wife  of  Theodore 
Brooks  and  resides  a  half  mile  south  of 
Westville.     He  is  also  a  farmer. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens  are  the  jiarents  of 
three  children;  Ina  J.  hecame  the  wife  of 
Charles  Nease,  of  Vermilion  county  and  died 
February  20,  1894,  leaving  her  husband  to 
mourn  her  loss,  as  well  as  the  father  and 
mother  and  many  friends,  also  two  children, 
William  (Jurtis  and  Gracie.  Her  husband 
has  since  married.  Susanna  is  the  wife  of 
John  S.  Olmstead  and  lives  in  Catlin.  He 
taught  school  for  tweh-e  years  and  is  now- 
mail  agent  on  the  Wabash  Railroad  from 
St.  Louis  to  Detroit,  Michigan.  Savannah 
Elsie  is  at  home.  All  the  children  enjoved 
good  educational  privileges.  Mr.  Stevens 
now  has  four  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres 
of  land ;  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
section  12,  Pilot  township  and  two  liundred 
and  tliirty-two  acres  on  sections  7.  George- 
town township.  He  also  has  an  acre  and  a 
half  just  west  of  his  home  with  a  three-room 
house  on  the  same,  which  he  rents.  He  has 
three  houses  and  barns  on  the  homesteads 
and  has  made  all  the  improvements  found 
thereon.  Mr.  Stevens  is  a  Democrat  of  the 
very  strongest  convictions  in  the  principles 
of  his  party.  He  first  voted  for  Jackson 
for  president.  He  has  never  been  a  ])oliti- 
cian,  however,  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking, 
preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to  iiis 
farming  interests.  He  and  his  wife  as  well 
as  the  other  members  of  the  family  belong 
to  the  Christian  church,  in  Westville.  h"ra- 
ternally  he  is  a  member  of  Catlin  Lodge, 
No.  85,  A.  F.  &  A.  AI.,  of  which  he 
is   a   charter   member.      Trulv   a   self-made 


man,  Air.  Sie\ens'  praiseworthy  career 
would  ser\-e  as  an  example  to  those  who 
are  starting  out  in  life  for  themselves 
with  nothing  but  willing  hands  and  strong 
determination  as  aids  to  their  success.  Hav- 
ing' so  long  resitled  in  the  community 
where  he  makes  his  home,  is  well  known  by 
all,  who  honor  him  as  a  pioneer  settler  and 
a  \alued  citizen. 


MRS.  A.  L.  NEWMAN. 

Mrs.  A.  L.  Newman  well  deserves  men- 
tion in  the  history  of  \'ermilion  county.  She 
was  born  in  Otsego  county,  New  York,  July 
22,  1 83.1.  Her  father,  Potter  Gardner,  was 
a  native  of  V'ermont  and  came  of  a  family 
of  English  origin  that  was  founded  in 
America  l)y  three  brothers  of  the  name  who, 
leaving  the  "mcrrie  isle"  sailed  for  the  new 
world.  These  were.  Squire,  Nicholas  and 
William  Gardner,  and  one  of  the  number 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 

Potter  Gardner,  after  arriving  at  years 
of  maturity,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Tliurston,  a  daughter  of  Amos 
Thurslon,  who  serxed  his  country  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2.  Air.  Gardner  died  August 
Ji.  1845,  at  the  age  of  forty  years,  and  his 
wife,  long  snr\iving  him.  spent  her  last 
years  in  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Newman,  passing  away  in  1891,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three  years.  The  family  is  noted 
for  longevitw  Mrs.  Newman's  grandmoth- 
er lived  to  be  ninety-four  years  of  age,  one 
micle  ninety-three,  another  uncle  eighty- 
seven  years  and  another  grandmother  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age.  She  has  a  living  brother, 
William  H.  Gardner,  who  resides  in  Ren- 
sselaer, Indiana,  while  three  brothers  have 
passed  away. 


834 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mrs.  Xewnian  spent  her  early  girlhood 
(lays  uiuler  the  i)arental  roof  ami  pursued  a 
common  school  education.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  she  began  teaching  and  fol- 
lowed that  profession  with  success  for  a 
number  of  terms.  On  the  ist  of  August, 
1852,  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to 
Harrison  Harrington,  who  died  twelve  years 
later,  on  Christmas  day  of  1864,  leaving 
three  children  :  H.  .\delaide,  the  wife  of  H. 
L.  French,  of  Talbot,  Indiana;  James  H., 
who  has  always  resided  with  his  mother  and 
is  now  li\ing'  with  her  in  Hoopeston ;  and 
Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Booth,  of 
Hoopeston. 

In  ^[arch.  1S67,  in  Otsego  county.  New 
York.  }klrs.  Harrington  was  again  married, 
becoming  the  wife  of  W.  O.  Newman.  The 
same  \ear  the_\-  rcmo\-ed  to  Woodford  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  and  purchased  land  upon  which 
they  lived  for  seven  years.  They  then  came 
to  \"ermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  February, 
1875,  settling  two  miles  south  of  East  Lynn, 
where  they  became  the  owners  of  eighty  acres 
of  land,  afterward  adding  to  this  another 
eighty  acres  so  that  the  farm  now  com- 
prises an  entire  quarter  section.  There 
they  lived  until  Mr.  Xewman's  death 
in  1889,  after  which  ]Mrs.  Xewman  took 
up  her  abode  in  East  Lynn,  which  was 
her  place  of  residence  until  1902.  She 
then  came  to  Hoopeston,  where  she  had  pre- 
viously made  many  friends,  and  here  she 
now  occupies  a  pleasant  home.  She  also 
owns  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Butler  town- 
ship. 

Mrs.  Xewman  has  been  a  devoteil  church 
member  since  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 
She  first  unitetl  with  the  Baptist  church  and 
after  her  first  marriage  she  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church.  Her  second 
husband,  however,  was  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  and  she  again  joined  that  denom- 


ination, with  which  she  is  now  connected. 
She  is  ccinucctcd  through  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Royal  Xeighbors,  to  which  her 
son  James  and  his  wife  also  belong  and  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen, 
Mrs.  X'ewman  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

James  H.  Harrington  is  a  native  of  Ot- 
sego cotmty.  New  York,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
He,  too,  (3wns  eighty  acres  of  land  and  the 
home  property  in  Hoopeston.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  that 
place.  In  his  political  aftiliations  he  is  a 
Democrat  but  has  n.ever  sought  or  desired 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  the  management  of  his  agricul- 
tural interests. 


JAMES  FIOOVER. 

James  Hoover,  who  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Ross  township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  since  i8;8 
and  to-day  he  has  here  a  valuable  farm  of 
one  hunilred  and  sixt}'  acres  of  well  im- 
proved land,  which  is  the  visible  evidence 
of  his  life  of  industry  and  thrift.  He  was 
born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  February  i, 
1837.  His  father,  John  Hoover,  was  of 
Holland  descent.  The  grandfather  settled 
in  Pennsylvania  at  a  very  early  day  and  his 
son  John  was  there  born  and  reared.  He 
wedded  Deborah  Siddons,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  order  to  provide  for 
liis  family  he  followed  the  blacksmith's 
trade  in  the  early  years  of  his  manhood, 
ba\ing  learned  that  pursuit  prior  to  his  mar- 
riage. On  his  removal  to  Ohio  he  took  up 
bis  abode  in  Holmes  county,  where  in  con- 
nection   with    blacksmithing    he    cleared    a 


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C?  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


839 


tract  of  land  and  developed  a  farm,  making" 
his  home  tliereon  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  aflcrwarti  removed  to  Richland  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  last  tlays  of  liis 
life. 

James  Hoover  remained  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity  until  sevnteen  years  of  age  and 
then  went  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Stateline. 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  in  early  life 
and  to  some  extent  followed  blacksniithing 
in  repair  shops.  At  Stateline  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  building  trade  and  in  following 
other  pursuits  that  would  yield  him  an  hon- 
est living.  In  the  winter  he  went  into  a 
blacksmith  shop  and  later  he  owned  a 
smithy,  conducting  work  along  that  line 
and  also  tloing  various  kinds  of  repair  work 
at  that  place  for  fourteen  years.  In  187 1 
he  came  to  Ross  township.  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  He  had  bought  and  traded  for 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  here  and 
at  the  time  of  his  arrival  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming  and  further  improved  his 
])roi)erty.  He  erected  a  large  and  attractive 
farm  residence,  built  good  barns  for  the 
shelter  of  grain  and  stock  and  added  all 
modern  equipments  such  as  are  seen  ui)on  a 
farm  of  the  twentieth  century.  His  home  is 
surrounded  by  beautiful  shade  trees  and  the 
fruit  trees  of  a  fine  orchard  annually  stock 
his  cellar  with  apples.  It  is  also  evident 
from  the  appearance  of  the  productive  fields 
that  his  land  has  been  well  tiled.  He  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  until  the  spring  of  1899 
when  he  removed  to  Alvin.  where  he  pur- 
chased a  residence  which  he  has  since  re- 
built and  remodeled  so  that  now  he  has 
one  of  the  best  homes  in  the  town.  His  per- 
sonal supervision  is  yet  given  to  his  farm 
work,  although  he  resides  in  the  village.  He 
commenced  life  a  poor  man  at  the  bottom 
of  the  ladder  but  .steadily  he  has  climbed  to 

success. 

33 


"Sir.  Hoover  was  married  in  Benton 
county,  Indiana,  in  October,  1857,  to  Eliza- 
beth Logan,  a  native  of  Rush  county,  that 
state.  Se\en  children  reached  adult  age: 
John,  who  is  married  and  follows  black- 
smithing  in  Stateline,  Indiana;  h^rancis 
M..  who  was  married  but  is  now  deceased; 
George  \\'.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in 
Oklahoma,  where  he  follows  farming;  De- 
borah, the  wife  of  William  G.  Copeland,  of 
Danville;  James  M.,  who  is  married  and 
is  operating  the  home  farm;  A.  M.,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  Bismarck,  Illinois; 
and  Jesse  L.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Marshfield.  Indiana.  They  also  lost  four 
children :  Mary  E.,  Gertrude,  E.  M.,  and 
an  infant  son. 

As  every  true  American  citizen  should 
tlo,  Mr.  Hoover  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
political  questions  and  issues  of  the  day  and 
is  therefore  able  to  cast  an  intelligent  ballot 
for  principles  in  which  he  firmly  believes. 
He  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860  and 
has  since  supported  each  presidential  nomi- 
nee of  the  Republican  party  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  year  in  which  he  was  in  the  west. 
He  believes  in  good  schools  and  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  also 
township  trustee.  He  and  his  wife  belong 
to  the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  has 
been  an  elder  for  many  years  and  they  put 
forth  ever}'  effort  in  their  power  to  promote 
the  cause  of  Christianity  and  e.xtend  its  in- 
fluence. While  at  Bismarck  Mr.  Hoover 
joined  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. During  his  residence  in  \'ermilion 
countv  he  has  seen  Rossville  grow  from  a 
crossroads  village  of  two  houses  to  a  thriv- 
ing town,  while  Danville  has  developed 
from  a  small  town  to  one  of  the  leading 
cities  of  this  great  state.  For  forty-four 
years  Mr.  Hoover  has  made  his  home  with- 
in the  borders  of  the  countv  and  is  one  of 


S40 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Wie  few  reniiiining  pioneers  who  can  tell  tiie 
tale  of  development  and  progress.  As  the 
years  liave  passed  he  has  prospered,  owing 
■to  his  unflagging  indnstry,  and  his  life  his- 
tory contains  much  that  is  worthy  of  emu- 
lation. 


ISAAC  ROBERTSON. 

Isaac  Robertson,  of  Hoopeston,  Avas  born 
in  Stateline,  Indiana,  February  20,  1853, 
and  was  there  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm.  He  is  a  son  of  Zachariah 
and  Abigail  (Starr)  Robertson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
They  were  married,  however,  in  Vermilion 
county  and  the  father  followed  farming. 
The  mother  died  in  1878  and  the  father  is 
how  living  upon  land  which  he  entered  from 
the  government,  being  the  only  survivor  of 
the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  his  neighbor- 
hood. In  their  family  were  si.xteen  children, 
of  whom  eight  are  yet  living:  ^Irs.  Jacob 
Deck,  Mrs.  S.  L.  Mesmore,  Jacob,  P.  S., 
William.  Isaac,  Mrs.  William  Cox  and  Mrs. 
John  Smith. 

Isaac  Robertson  acquired  a  common 
school  education  and  put  aside  his  text 
books  early  in  order  to  assist  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  home  farm.  At  the  age  of  twai- 
ty-one  he  left  home  with  a  horse,  saddle  and 
bridle.  For  ten  or  twelve  years  he  cultivated 
rented  land  and  then  with  money  which  he 
had  earned  through  his  earnest  labor  he  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  near  Blue  Grass 
in  Butler  township.  On  selling  that  he 
bought  eighty  acres  near  East  Lynii  and  af- 
terward added  to  it  another  tract  of  eighty 
acres,  living  upon  that  farm  for  sixteen 
years.  In  November,  1899,  he  came  to 
HcK3]>eston  and  purchased  property  on  Penn 
street.     He  has   some  town   lots  here  also 


which  he  is  holding  as  an  investment.  For 
a  time  after  coming  to  Hoopeston  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  and  after  a 
year  acted  as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the 
Fairweight  Scale  Company,  serving  in  tliat 
capacity  for  seven  months.  He  was  after- 
\\ard  employed  in  a  shoe  store  and  now  he 
is  handling  scales,  the  Fairbanks,  the  X'ictor, 
the  Jones  and  the  Hartman  scales,  which 
he  sells  to  farmers  and  elevator  men.  He  is 
also  writing  the  accident  insurance  for  the 
North  American  Accident  Insurance  Com- 
pany. 

In  February,  1876,  near  Bismarck,  in 
Newell  township,  Mr.  Robertson  married 
Laurena  Hortense  Cox.  who  was  born  near 
Oakwood,  Illinois,  February  8,  1857,  a 
daughter  of  James  H.  Cox,  of  this  state, 
who,  when  his  daughter  was  but  six  years 
of  age,  passed  away.  The  mother,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Osborn,  is  still 
living  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Daniel  John- 
son. They  reside  with  our  subject.  !Mrs. 
Robertson  has  but  one  sister,  ^lary  Belle 
Bennett,  and  she  likewise  has  a  half  brother, 
Reverdy  S.  Johnson.  From  the  age  of 
twelve  years  Mrs.  Robertson  resided  upon  a 
farm  and  she  attended  the  district  schools. 

Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  long 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  steward 
and  fi>r  ten  years  as  trustee.  He  is  the  pres- 
ent district  steward  and  has  long  been  iden- 
tified with  Sunday-school  work,  while  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Missionar}-  Aid  So- 
ciety and  of  the  W^oman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance I'liion.  Mr.  Robertson  belongs  to 
the  Modern  Woodnien  of  America  and  she 
to  the  Royal  Neighbors.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  Harry  Emmert,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  months ;  and 
Everett  Floyd,  who  was  married  in  March, 
1902,  to  Miss  Lettie  M.  Hall  and  they  are 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


841 


living  on  our  subject's  farm.  Botii  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robertson  are  people  of  genuine  worth, 
kind  hearted.  loyal  in  friendship  and  honor- 
able in  all  life's  relations. 


JUDGE  S.  MURRAY  CLARK. 

Among-  the  leading  lawyers  of  Danville, 
Illinois,  probably  none  stand  higher  in  tlie 
profession  than  Judge  S.  Murray  Clark,  who 
is  now  serving  as  county  judge  of  Vemiilion 
county.  He  was  born  on  the  15th  of  May, 
1869,  in  Crawfords\-ille,  Indiana,  a  son  of 
John  G.  rind  Mary  (Holiday)  Clark,  who 
are  now  living  in  this  county  and  are  natives 
of  North  Carolina  and  Indiana,  respectively. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Clark,  was 
also  a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  from 
that  state  removed  to  Indiana  with  his  fam- 
ily when  the  father  of  our  subject  was  only 
two  years  old.  William  Holida}^,  the  ma- 
ternal grandfather,  was  also  born  in  North 
Carolina  and  on  the  Holiday  side  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  the  Penn  colony.  He  was 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  \'ermilion 
county.  Illinois.  The  parents  of  our  subject 
were  married  in  \'ermilion  county,  where 
the  mother  had  located  in  her  girlhood  days, 
her  father  having  been  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers here.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  Clark 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  dentistry  at  Cov- 
ington, Indiana,  and  owing  to  failing  health 
he  turned  his  attention  to  farming  near 
Crawfordsville,  that  state,  where  he  re- 
mained for  some  time.  Later  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  TbomtDWU, 
Indiana,  and  then  again  he  farmed.  In  the 
s])ring  (if  1870,  however,  he  came  to  \'ermil- 
ion  county  and  engaged  in  farming  in  h'l- 
wood  township,  near  Ridgefarm.  where  he 
remained  until  1890.  He  afterward  resided 
at  Vermilion  Grove  for  five  vears  and   in 


Georgetown  he  engaged  in  banking,  being  at 
the  present  time  the  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  at  that  place.  His  wife  is 
also  lis'ing  and  they  are  prominent  and  in- 
fluciUial  residents  of  Georgetown.  The 
Doctor  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Quaker  church.  He  has  always 
refused  to  hold  public  office  but  in  matters 
of  citizenship  he  is  loyal  and  progressive  and 
his  life  has  ever  been  honorable  and  upright. 
In  his  family  were  three  children,  the  eldest 
being  O.  P.  Clark,  who  married  Ada  Elliott, 
by  whom  he  has  four  children.  He  resides 
in  Georgetown,  being  the  cashier  of  the 
bank  there.  The  Judge  is  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Emma,  the  only  daughter, 
is  the  wife  of  Professor  C.  E.  Cosand,  the 
principal  of  the  Lincoln  Street  school  of 
Danville,  by  whom  she  has  two  children. 

Judge  Clark  of  this  review  beg'an  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  later  was 
a  student  in  Vermilion  Academy,  at  Vermil- 
ion Grove,  where  he  remained  until  1887. 
He  was  also  a  student  for  two  years  in  Earl- 
ham  College,  of  Richmond,  Indiana,  and 
then  entered  the  Bloomington  Law  School, 
a  department  of  the  Wesleyan  University, 
where  he  completed  the  prescribed  law  course 
and  was  graduated  in  1893.  At  Ridgefarm 
he  began  practice  hut  in  1894  he  came  to 
Danville,  entering  into  partnership  with 
George  G.  Mabin,  since  which  time  he  has 
practiced  in  this  cit\'  with  marked  success. 
A  man  of  sound  judgment  he  manages  his 
cases  with  masterly  skill  and  tact  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  lawyers  of  the  city. 
He  has  been  connected  with  much  of  the 
important  litigation  tried  in  the  coiu'ts  of  this 
district.  He  was  chosen  as  counsel  for  the 
])laintitY  in  the  case  of  Carrie  Corbett  versus 
John  Gernand,  in  which  the  jury  gave  a  ver- 
dict in  favor  of  his  client  for  fifty-four  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  thirty-three  and  one- 


842 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


third  dollars — the  largest  breach  of  promise 
verdict  ever  rendered  in  the  United  States. 
In  the  conduct  of  these  cases  the  firm  of 
Wabin  &  Clark  was  assisted  by  E.  R.  E. 
Kimbrough.  'Sir.  Clark  has  conducted 
many  personal  injury  cases  and  the  firm  won 
a  verdict  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  their 
client  in  the  case  of  Sherber  versus  Lorton. 
Judge  Clark  prepares  his  cases  with  marked 
precision  and  care  and  enters  the  courtroom 
well  qualified  to  meet  every  possible  point 
of  attack.  He  is  a  convincing  and  earnest 
speaker,  strong  in  argiunent,  and  his  deduc- 
tions follow  in  logical  sequence.  In  the 
spring  of  1902  he  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publican party  for  judge  of  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty, and  the  following  September  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  position  to  fill  out  the  unex- 
pired term  of  Judge  Thompson,  who  had 
resigned.  As  the  Republican  candidate  he 
will  undoubtedly  be  elected  to  the  same  office 
at  the  November  election,  that  party  having 
a  good  majority  in  this  county.  In  his  social 
relations  Mr.  Clark  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  the  Elks,  and  he  is  quite  prom- 
inent in  social,  political  and  professional 
circles. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1895,  Judge  Clark 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Myra  Men- 
denhall.  the  wedding  taking  place  in  \'er- 
milion  Grove,  Illinois.  The  lady  was  born 
in  Catlin,  this  state,  on  the  6th  of  January, 
1871,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  M.  C.  and  Cynthia 
(Kennedy)  Mendenhall,  the  former  a  native 
of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 
Her  parents  were  married  at  Center  Point, 
Indiana,  and  the  father  afterward  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Catlin,  Illinois, 
being  one  of  the  pioneer  physicans  and  suc- 
cessful representatives  of  the  profession  in 
this  countv. 


During  tlie  seven  years  of  their  residence 
in  Danville  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  become 
widely  known  and  have  been  recei\ed  into 
the  best  circles  of  society,  Ijecause  of  their 
innate  culture  and  refinement,  their  intelli- 
gence and  genuine  worth.  In  a  profession 
where  advancement  can  only  be  gained 
through  merit,  because  it  depends  upon  in- 
tellectuality as  well  as  earnest  and  continu- 
ous labor  Judge  S.  Murray  Clark  has  gained 
a  position  of  distinction,  and  upon  the  bench 
he  is  proving  by  his  fairness,  impartiality 
and  capability  that  the  trust  in  him  is  well 
placed. 


LEMUEL  P.  ADAMS. 

Prominent  among  the  progressive  ag- 
riculturists cf  Newell  township  is  numbered 
the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
review  and  who  is  also  classed  among  the 
honored  pioneers.  He  lives  on  section  22, 
where  he  has  a  splendid  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  and  one-half  acres  or 
rich  and  well  improved  land.  He  was  born 
here  May  2.  1854.  His  paternal  grandfa- 
ther. William  Adams,  was  an  honored  sol- 
dier of  the  Revolutionary  war,  serving  as 
an  officer  in  that  struggle  for  independence. 
He  lived  to  be  about  ninety  years  of  age 
and  was  burietl  in  the  Martinfield  cemetery, 
in  Newell  township,  near  where  the  old  wal- 
nut tree  now  stands.  Samuel  Adams,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  Kentucky,  and  married  Nancy  Mar- 
tin, whose  birth  occurred  in  the  same  coun- 
ty. In  the  year  1825  Samuel  Adams  came 
to  Vermilion  county,  settling  among  the 
Indians,  who  outnumbered  the  white  men 
ten  to  one.  There  were  three  families  in 
the  party  which  traveled  westward,  all  com- 
ing with  two  horse  wagons  and  it  required 


CF    V..E 
Ur^IVERSiTY  Cf  ILLINOIS 


SAMUEL   ADAMS. 


MRS.  SAMUEL   ADAMS. 


l; 

r 


ILLINOIS 


\ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


847 


three  cir  four  weeks  t(.)  make  tlie  trip,  the 
party  camping  along  the  roadside  at  niglit. 
The  menil)ers  of  the  party  were  John  Ad- 
ams, a  cousin  of  Samuel  Adams,  and  his 
famih' :  Joseph  Martin,  a  brother-in-law  of 
our  subject's  father:  and  Samuel  Adams, 
who  was  accompanied  by  his  first  wife  and 
two  children.  They  took  up  their  abode  on 
the  state  boundary  line  and  soon  Mr.  Ad- 
ams erected  a  log  cabin  with  a  stick  and 
clay  chimney.  This  stood  on  section  22, 
Newell  township,  the  old  family  home- 
stead. He  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  from 
the  government,  for  which  he  paid  one  hun- 
dred dollars.  No  transfer  of  this  property 
has  ever  been  made  since  that  time,  save 
when  it  came  into  possession  of  our  sub- 
ject. Samuel  Adams  was  a  noted  dealer  in 
hogs,  which  he  raised  for  the  home  market. 
His  earliest  trading  points  were  Eugene  and 
Perrysville  on  the  Wabash  river  and  he 
oftentimes  also  hauled  products  to  Chicago, 
which  re(|uired  about  eighteen  days  to  make 
the  trip.  It  was  necessary  to  ford  the  riv- 
ers, for  no  bridges  had  been  built,  and  to 
camp  out  along  the  road  at  night.  The  his- 
torA-  of  such  pioneer  experiences,  if  written 
in  detail,  would  fill  a  volume.  Home  made 
clothing  was  used  and  the  second  wife  of 
Mr.  Adams  was  noted  for  her  skill  in  weav- 
ing. She  made  blankets  and  coverlets  for 
the  beds  and  assisted  materially  in  establish- 
ing a  good  home,  for  the  family  through  her 
labor  in  the  household.  In  the  "40s  Mr. 
Adams  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  first  wife  and  later  he  married  Sarah 
Rayle,  who  was  a  widow  with  five  children. 
He  had  thirteen  children  by  his  first  mar- 
riage and  there  were  two  children  born  of 
the  second  marriage,  the  elder  being  James 
H.,  who  resides  in  West  Newell,  and  the 
younger  l>eing  Lemeul.  The  second  Mrs. 
Adams  was  a  daughter  of  Luke  Kayles,  who 


\\;is  an  early  pi()neer  of  \'ermilion  county 
and  was  the  first  owner  of  land  on  the  north 
fork.  Samuel  Adams  died  in  1881,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years  and  twenty  days, 
and  the  mother  of  our  subject  passed  away 
in  September,  1882,  when  about  seventy- 
four  years  of  age. 

Lemuel  P.  Adams  was  reared  in  Newell 
township  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier 
life  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
.Although  his  privileges  in  that  direction 
were  limited,  his  training  at  farm  labor  was 
not  meager,  for  from  early  spring  planting 
until  crops  were  harvested  in  the  late  au- 
tumn he  bore  his  part  in  the  work  of  the 
fields.  He  was  about  twenty  years  of  age 
when  he  began  business  fiir  himself  and  to- 
day he  is  one  of  the  substantial  farmers 
of  Newell  township.  He  has  added  to  his 
landed  possessions  through  thrift  and  good 
management  and  has  been  actively  and  suc- 
cessfully identified  with  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of 
the  feeding  and  raising  of  hogs,  keeping  on 
hand  annually  about  seventy  hogs  and  at 
the  present  time  he  has  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen head.  Mr.  Adams  has  aided  quite 
largely  in  clearing  timber  land  and  in  de- 
veloping the  agricultural  resources  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  He  has  ever  been  a 
friend  of  the  varied  interests  which  have 
contributed  to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding 
of  the  county.  He  can  remember  when 
Danville  was  but  a  mere  village  and  when 
the  greater  part  of  the  land  was  wild  and 
unbroken.  There  were  many  timber  wolves, 
turkeys  and  other  wild  game  which  could  l>e 
had  in  abundance,  while  deer  were  also  fre- 
(juently  seen.  His  father  often  told  of  see- 
ing as  manv  as  eighteen  and  twenty  deer  in 
a  herd  upnn  his  farm  but  he  never  cared  for 
hunting. 

Mr.  Adams  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss 


848 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


^Martha  Current,  but  after  a  short  married 
life  of  four  years  she  died  in  1883,  leaving 
two  children,  WilHam  H.  and  Alva  Oscar. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Adams  chose  Miss 
Minerva  Rouse,  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Alinerva  (Martin)  Rouse,  early  settlers  of 
Newell  township.  ]\lrs.  Adams  was  born  on 
the  old  Rouse  homestead  farm  in  this  town- 
ship May'  31,  1863,  and  gave  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  our  subject  May  29,  1884. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  live  chil- 
dren, of  whom  four  are  living:  Sarah 
Ella,  twelve  years  of  age;  Grover  Dennis, 
aged  ten;  Ethel  May,  aged  seven;  and  Clar- 
ence Delmar,  who  is  a  little  lad  of  five  years.  ■ 
They  also  lost  one  child,  Myrtle  E.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  The  living 
children  are  now  attending  the  district 
school. 

Mr.  Adams  is  a  well  informed  man  who 
keeps  abreast  with  the  times.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  small  tract  of  land  given  him 
b\'  his  father  all  that  he  possesses  has  been 
acquired  through  his  own  exertions,  and  in 
addition  to  his  valuable  home  farm  of  al- 
most three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  he  owns 
two  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  in  Greene 
county,  Indiana.  This  has  upon  it  a  good 
orchard  and  substantial  buildings  and  is 
surrounded  by  a  well  kept  fence.  This 
property  is  rented,  bringing  to  him  a  sub- 
stantial income.  Since  his  father's  death 
Lemuel  Adams  has  added  to  the  old  home 
place  many  substantial  and  valuable  im- 
provements. He  has  a  good  grain  farm  and 
fine  pasture  lands  with  even*-  facility  for 
cultivating  his  fields,  including  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery.  His  corn  crops  yield 
from  forty  to  forty-five  bushels  per  acre 
and  his  oats  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  bush- 
els. The  farm  work  is  now,  however, 
largely  performed  by  his  sons,  ^Ir.  Adams 
merely  giving  his  supervision  to  the  work 


during  the  past  five  years.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist 
church  located  upon  his  father-in-law's  old 
homesteatl  and  in  his  political  affiliations 
Mr.  Adams  is  a  Democrat.  He  deserves 
mention  in  this  volume  not  only  because 
he  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  the  county  but  also  on  account 
of  his  genuine  worth,  his  loyal  citizenship 
and  his  upright  life. 


FRIENDS  IX  \'ERMILION  COUNTY. 

In  the  earlv  years  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury the  Friends  or  Quakers  in  the  east  and 
south  became  dissatisfied  with  their  sur- 
roundings and  began  an  exodus  north  and 
westward.  The  reason  for  this  movement 
was  probably  two  fold.  First — To  get  away 
from  slavery  which  was  very  distasteful  to 
them  and  which  they  considered  a  very 
wrong  and  vile  business,  besides  being  con- 
trary to  their  church  creed.  Second — Hav- 
ing never  been  very  prosperous  in  the  rocky 
and  mountainous  regions  of  Virginia  and 
Tennessee,  they  determined  to  establish 
themselves  in  a  more  fertile  and  productive 
region  where  they  could  build  for  themselves 
a  religious  and  educational  community  ac- 
cording to  their  own  ideas  and  beliefs. 
Ohio  and  Indiana  received  a  great  number 
of  these  emigrants,  some  of  which  being  still 
dissatisfied,  pushed  farther  west  and  settled 
in  the  fertile  plains  of  Vermilion  county, 
Illinois,  near  what  is  now  Vemiilion  Grove. 
This  was  soon  after  the  grand  old  Prairie 
state  had  been  admitted  to  statehood  and 
since  that  time  many  communities  and  meet- 
ings have  sprung  up  around  this  place. 

The  first  of  these  settlers  came  by  way  of 
Indiana  from  Jefferson  county,  Tennessee, 


L.  P.  ADAMS. 


Cr    V.^E 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


851 


arri\'ing  at  \'erniilion  Grove  in  1822. 
Among  the  first  families  were  those  of  Jolm 
Haworth.  Henry  Canaday  and  John  Mills. 
John  Haworth  settled  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Academy  Farm  which  was  donated  to 
that  institution  by  his  son.  Elvin  Haworth. 
some  years  ago.  On  this  farm  was  located 
a  rude  log  hut.  in  which  the  first  meetings 
for  worship  were  held  soon  after  the  settle- 
ment was  maile.  Henr^-  Canaday  settled 
cm  what  is  known  as  the  R.  H.  Canaday 
farm  one-half  mile  west  of  the  Grove. 
Henry  Canaday  was  the  first  man  to  be  ap- 
pointed to  the  position  as  head  of  the  meet- 
ing, a  place  of  great  importance  in  the  car- 
rying on  oi  the  h'riends  Church  at  that  early 
day. 

jiilin  Mills  settletl  on  what  is  known  as 
the  Old  Mills  homestead  two  miles  west  of 
the  station  near  where  Richard  ]\'lills  now 
lives. 

The  countr\-  was  wiUl  jirairie  and  tim- 
l)er  lands  at  that  time,  l-'oxes  and  wolves 
were  plentiful  and  wikl  turkeys  and  prairie 
chickens  furnished  much  food  for  the  set- 
tlers. Indians,  wild  and  fierce,  still  roamed 
over  the  prairie  and  timber  lands  and  hunted 
the  bison  and  deer  and  fished  unmolested 
along  the  little  streams.  Xo  roads  were  seen 
except  the  hunter's  path.  No  bridges 
crossed  the  sluggish  streams.  No  fences 
bound  the  traveler's  way,  but  nature  held 
complete  control  and  seemed  to  battle  hard 
against  invasions  made  by  human  hands. 
Ague  and  fever  proved  dreadful  foes  and 
pestilence  made  havoc  amongst  the  little 
band,  but  push  and  perseverance,  which 
those  early  settlers  possessed  and  which  has 
been  a  predominant  characteristic  of  their 
descendants,  soon  made  the  wild  and  barren 
lands  "to  lilossom  like  the  rose"  and  produce 
abundant  crops.  Ponds  were  drained,  the 
land  was  cleared,  roads  were  laid  out  and 


soon  the  country  assumed  the  appearance  of 
civilization. 

Following  the  first  settlers  or  families 
came  the  Hendersons  in  1824,  and  the  Reeses 
in  1830,  and  Hesters  and  Meudcnhalls  about 
the  same  time.  Others  whose  names  are  not 
menlit)ued  came  early  and  helped  to  make 
up  the  neighborhood  and  subdue  the  wild 
country.  The  first  "meeting,  house"  was 
built  in  1823  in  the  north  end  of  what  is  now 
\'ermilion  cemetery.  It  was  built  of  huge 
walnut  logs  measuring  from  two  to  three 
feet  in  diameter.  The  roof  was  clapboards 
and  the  seats  were  hewed  logs.  It  was  here 
in  this  rude  house  that  b'ricnds  for  miles 
ai^onnd  came  together  regularly,  twice  a 
week  for  twenty-nine  years  to  worship  God. 
and  study  of  Him  out  of  His  Word.  At  the, 
end  of  this  time,  or  in  1853,  the  first  frame, 
house  was  built  near  wdiere  the  log  one  stood. 
This  house  had  many  more  accommodations, 
but  still  the  conveniences  were  very  meager 
compared  with  a  modern  church.  The  first 
branch  meeting  was  established  at  Elwood, 
at  which  place  a  log  house  was  built  about 
1830.  This  cabin  served  as  a  church  until 
1846,  when  a  frame  house  with  a  stone  foun- 
dation was  built. 

The  next  meeting  set  up  was  at  Hopewell 
and  a  house  was  built  in  1848,  and  then 
Pilot  Grove  about  the  same  year.  Ridge- 
farm.  Carol  and  Georgetown  meetings  were 
established  later.  Sabliath  schools  were 
earlv  established  in  all  the  meetings  and 
reading  and  spelling  were  the  branches 
taught.  Later  the  Bible  became  the  text 
book.  The  c^uarterly  meeting  was  begun  in 
1863  in  that  memorable  year  of  the  Civil 
war.  The  Vermilion  meeting  house  being 
too  small  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
crowds  that  gathered  at  these  times,  was  en- 
larged the  same  year  and  stood  as  a  land 
mark  for  all   the  country  around,  until  its 


852 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


place  was  taken  by  the  splendid  new  brick 
structure  which  was  built  in  1884. 

The  quarterly  meeting  is  now  composed 
of  eight  niDUthly  meetings  with  a  total 
membership  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
members.  All  of  these  meetings  are  not  in 
Vermilion  county  but  all  have  sprung  from 
this  central  point. 

Friends  have  always  belie\ed  in  educa- 
tion as  a  means  of  uplifting  humanity  and 
provisions  were  early  made  for  schools. 
The  first  school  was  a  subscription  school 
taught  by  Reuben  Black,  who  came  from 
Ohio,  in  1824-5.  ^^  ^^'is  in  a  log  house  one 
mile  west  of  Vermilion  Grove.  There  were 
fourteen  children  on  roll  and  the  branches 
taught  were  reading,  writing  and  spelling. 
Among  others  whose  names  are  mentioned 
as  early  teachers  were  Elijah  Yeager,  Henry 
Fletcher  and  Elisha  Hobbs.  In  1849  the 
people  got  up  a  subscription  to  build  a  new 
house  but  could  not  raise  the  money,  so 
David  and  Elvin  Haworth  and  William 
Canaday  with  the  help  of  some  others  built 
what  was  calletl  Vermilion  Seminary  in 
1850,  a  building  thirty  by  fifty-two  with  two 
recitation  rooms  and  supplied  with  proper 
desks  and  furniture.  They  employed  J.  M. 
Davis  as  principal  and  school  opened  with 
one  hundred  and  ten  students.  This  school 
continued  for  many  years  and  prospered. 
The  standard  of  education  was  held  high  and 
as  a  result  the  .Academy  was  founded  in 
1874.  This  was  really  a  continuation  of 
the  old  seminary  which  disappeared  with  the 
advent  of  free  schools.  The  present  two- 
ston.-  brick  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
eight  thousand  dollars.  A  peoples'  endow- 
ment of  ten  thousand  dollars  was  raised. 
William  Rees,  John  Henderson.  Richard 
Mendenhall,  John  Elliott,  Jonah  M.  Davis 
and  Eh'in  Haworth  were  the  first  board  of 
trustees.     Edwin  Harney  was  first  principal. 


The  school  is  under  control  of  X'ermilion 
quarterly  meeting  of  Friends  Church,  but  it 
is  not  sectarian.  The  location  of  the  acad- 
emy is  a  very  beautiful  one.  in  a  natural 
grove  of  three  acres  which  was  donated  to 
the  school  by  Thomas  Hester,  father  of  the 
late  William  Hester.  Other  liberal  dona- 
tions have  been  made  to  the  institution, 
among  which  was  the  donation  by  Elvin 
Haworth  of  all  his  property,  including  a 
splendid  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
fi\-e  acres  close  by.  A  movement  is  on  foot 
at  the  present  to  increase  the  endowment  ten 
thousand  dollars  more,  which  if  accom- 
plished will  put  the  school  on  a  splendid 
financial  basis.  The  quarterly  meeting  is 
proud  of  her  school  and  liberally  patronizes 
the  institution. 

Such  is  the  history  of  Friends  from  their 
beginning  in  Elwood  township  and  \'ermil- 
ion  township  and  \'ermilion  county.  Many 
points  of  interest  are  necessarily  omitted,  but 
we  feel  sure  that  the  points  mentioned  will 
he  of  interest  to  manv. — Bertr.\m  Rees. 


COLONEL  ISAAC  CLEMENTS. 

Colonel  Isaac  Clements,  who  is  now 
serving  as  governor  of  the  Dan\ille  branch 
of  the  National  Home  for  disabled  soldiers, 
is  a  native  of  Brookville,  Indiana,  bom 
March  31,  1837.  His  father,  Isaac  Clem- 
ents, was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but 
removed  to  Indiana  and  died  in  Laurel  of 
the  latter  state  in  1873. 

Between  the  ages  of  six  and  eighteen 
years  Colonel  Clements  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Indiana  and  was  afterward 
engaged  in  teaching  for  a  year  or  two  in 
order  that  he  might  further  continue  his 
studies.     When  twenty  years  of  age  he  en- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


853 


tered  tlie  Asburv  L'liiversity  at  Greencastle 
and  was  there  gnukuUed  on  the  completion 
of  the  regular  course  with  the  class  of  1859. 
In  the  same  year  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Jackson  county,  where  for  six  months  he 
pursuetl  his  temporary  vocation  of  teaching. 
Later,  however,  as  soon  as  he  had  read  suffi- 
ciently so  as  to  be  admitted  to  the  bar,  he 
began  practice,  having  been  admitted  in 
j86i.  His  professional  career,  however,  was 
soon  interrupted  for  the  great  issue  of  civil 
war  was  before  the  country  and  in  July  Col- 
onel Clements  ofYered  his  services  as  a  de- 
fender of  the  Union.  He  was  made  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  G,  Ninth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  was  appointed  provost  marshal 
at  Athens,  Alabama,  acting  in  that  capacity 
from  1863  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he 
resigned  in  order  to  join  his  company  which 
was  then  advancing  on  Atlanta.  During  the 
term  of  his  military  service  he  participatetl 
in  many  notable  engagements  and  sustained 
two  severe  wounds.  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Shiloh.  where  he  was  twice  wounded, 
Fort  Donelson  and  Corinth  and  at  the  last 
named  place  was  again  wounded.  He  was 
alsu  in  tlie  advance  on  Atlanta.  He  did 
valiant  service  for  his  country  wherever 
duty  called  him  and  since  the  close  of  hostil- 
ities lie  has  long  been  engaged  in  public  ser- 
vice of  a  more  quiet  nature,  although  of  a 
no  less  important  character.  His  loyalty  to 
his  country  is  above  question  and  with  dis- 
tinguished honor  he  represented  his  ilistrict 
in  the  forty-third  congress,  being  clecteil 
from  Illinois  to  participate  in  the  councils 
of  the  nation.  In  1877  he  was  appointed  a 
penitentiary  commissioner  for  the  southern 
Illinois  Prison  at  Chester  and  acted  in  that 
capacity  for  eleven  consecutive  years.  Sub- 
sequently he  did  duty  at  Chicago  as  United 
States  pension  agent  for  three  years  and  for 
nearly  a  year  he  was  superintendent  of  the 


Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  .Xnnnal.  Illinois. 
In  December.  1S98,  he  was  appointed  to  his 
responsible  and  honorable  position  as  gov- 
ernor of  the  Soldiers'  Home  of  Dan\il!e. 

On  the  1 6th  of  November,  1864.  the 
Colonel  was  married  to  Miss  Josephine  Nutt, 
a  tlaughter  of  Cyrus  Nutt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D., 
of  Bloomington,  Indiana.  They  became  the 
parents  of  four  children,  of  whom  three  are 
living:  Frank,  Louis  and  Robert.  For 
thirty  years  Colonel  Clements  has  been  a 
valued  representative  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  he  is  also  connected  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic-  Almost  his 
entire  life  has  been  spent  in  the  government 
service,  either  upon  the  field  of  battle  or  in 
civic  office  and  his  course  has  been  such  as 
to  awaken  the  highest  commendation  and 
confidence.  Like  a  soldier,  he  has  ever  felt 
that  his  first  duty  was  to  his  country  and  its 
welfare  and  he  has  ever  placed  the  general 
good  before  personal  aggrandizement. 


WILLIAM  HESSEY. 

For  many  years  this  gentleman  resided 
in  Vermilion  county  and  his  name  is  insep- 
arablv  connected  with  the  early  commercial 
interests  of  Danville,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  for  a  long  period.  His 
birthplace  was  near  Louisville.  Kentucky, 
either  in  that  state  or  southern  Indiana,  and 
he  was  a  boy  of  twelve  when  he  came  to 
X'ermihon  county,  Illinois,  with  his  parents. 
His  father  took  up  goveniment  land  here 
and  engag'ed  in  farming. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent 
upon  a  farm  in  Middlefork  township  and 
his  education  was  obtained  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools  so  commcin  in  those  days.  Re- 
moving to  Danville  in  1857  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  E.  P.  Martin  and  opened  a 


854 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


general  store,  becoming  one  of  the  early 
merchants  of  this  place.  He  continued  to 
engage  in  btisiness  here  until  1876  and  then 
lived  retired  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
on  the  4th  of  December,  1888,  his  remains 
being  interred  in  Spring  Hill  cemetery. 

Mr.  Hessey  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Miss  Catherine  Cannady  of  In- 
diana, by  whom  he  had  six  children.  Those 
still  hving  are  Mrs.  English,  a  resident  of 
Danville.  Illinois;  Belle,  who  makes  her 
home  with  ]\Irs.  English;  and  Cordelia,  wife 
of  Seth  W.  Denny  of  Evansville,  Indiana. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1858.  and  Mr.  Hessey  subsequently 
married  Elizabeth  Hessey,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  children,  one  of  whom  is  deceased. 
The  other  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  W.  Voorhees 
of  Peoria,  Illinois.  By  a  former  marriage 
Mrs.  Hessey  had  two  children,  both  now  de- 
ceased. 

]\lr.  Hessey  was  a  supporter  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  but  took  no  active  part  in  poli- 
tics aside  from  voting.  He  was  connected 
with  the  blue  lodge  of  the  iMasonic  fraternity 
at  Danxille  and  held  membership  in  the 
Christian  church.  He  was  a  man  of  the 
highest  respectability,  and  he  left  behind  him 
an  honorable  record  well  worthy  of  enuila- 
tion. 


WILLIAM    WILLIAMS. 

\\'illiam  Williams  is  a  retiretl  farmer 
now  living  in  Hoopeston.  During  the  years 
of  his  active  business  career  bis  persistent  la- 
bor and  careftdly  directed  energy  brought  to 
him  a  competence  which  now  enables  him  to 
put  aside  all  business  cares  and  rest  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 
He  was  born  in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in 
1832,   and  was  the  only  child  of  William 


Williams.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee and  after  arriving  at  years  of  matur- 
ity he_wedded  Miss  Riela  B.  Hobson,  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  their  marriage  being 
celebrated  in  McLean  county.  The  father 
died  during  the  early  boyhood  of  our  subject 
and  the  mother  afterward  became  the  wife 
of  J.  G.  Reyburn,  and  her  death  occurred 
when  William  Williams  of  this  review  was 
but  sixteen  years  of  age.  Mr.  Williams  had 
two  half-sisters,  Mrs.  Ellen  Bunn  and  Mrs. 
Margaret  Rowel!,  and  a  half-brother, 
James,  now  deceased. 

Mr.  Williams  remained  Avith  his  mother 
until  after  her  death,  lix'ing  upon  the  old 
home  farm,  and  in  the  district  schools  pur- 
sued his  education.  He  continued  on  the  old 
home  place  until  twenty-one  years  of  age 
and  then  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count, renting  land  for  several  years.  He 
was  married  in  1854  to  ]\Iiss  Abigail  Dean, 
who  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in 
1833,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  N.  and  Mary 
(El well)  Dean,  who  removed  from  Mary- 
land to  Ohio  and  subsecpiently  took  up  their 
abode  in  INIcLean  county,  Illinois.  The  fa- 
ther there  died  while  the  mother  passed 
away  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  Mrs. 
Williams.  The  latter  has  two  sisters  and 
one  brother  yet  living:  William  S.  Dean, 
Mrs.  Joseph  \\'iIson  and  Airs.  Margaret 
^Villiams. 

The  year  1871  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
iiur  subject  in  \^ermilion  county.  He  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  in  Grant  town- 
ship and  afterward  added  another  eighty 
acre  tract,  so  that  be  now  owns  altogether  a 
(piarter  section  on  sections  iS  and  19,  Grant 
township.  .Ml  of  the  improvements  upon 
this  place  he  has  made  and  the  substantial 
buildings  stand  as  monuments  to  his  enter- 
prise and  earnest  labor.  He  continued  the 
cultivation  of  his  fields  with  marked  success 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


855 


until  iScSo,  when  lie  removed  to  Hoopeston, 
where  he  purcliased  a  lot  011  Soutli  Second 
avenue  and  erected  tliereon  a  very  comfort- 
able and  attractive  residence.  He  now  leases 
his  land  and  tlie  rental  from  his  property 
brings  him  a  good  income.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  known  as  a  wide-awake  and 
progressi\e  agriculturist  of  his  cnmmuuitv 
and  his  persistent  purpose  and  honorable 
dealing  were  potent  elements  in  his  success. 

The  hoine  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams 
was  blessed  with  six  children,  of  whnni  four 
are  yet  living.  Elnora  R.  is  the  wife  of 
Samuel  Umbanhowar.  a  farmer  of  Grant 
township,  by  whom  she  has  six  children, 
Nellie,  George,  Charles,  William,  May  and 
Frank;  George,  who  married  Emma  \^an 
Clave  and  died  leaving  one  son,  Frank ; 
James  j.,  who  resides  upon  his  father's  farm 
and  married  .Vnna  Sellers,  by  whom  he  has 
two  children,  Grace  and  Reed ;  Eva,  the  wife 
of  George  Hobbs,  of  ^lichigan;  and  Lee. 
whci  married  Myrtle  Ilewett,  by  whom  he 
has  two  children,  Robert  and  Harry,  and 
makes  his  home  in  Rockford,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Williaius  and  his  wife  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  although 
the  lady  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  serving 
as  a  trustee  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
church  work  and  the  proiuotion  of  the  cause 
of  Christianity.  Of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
he  is  an  exemplary  member,  emlx)dying  in 
his  life  the  beneficent  spirit  of  the  craft.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  an  earnest  Repub- 
lican and  he  served  as  highway  commission- 
er, as  trustee  and  .school  director  in  this 
county,  while  in  McLean  c<iunty  he  once 
filled  the  position  of  constable.  During  the 
administration  of  Dr.  Wilson  as  mavor  of 
Hoopeston  he  served  as  alderman  from  the 
first  ward.  In  political  thought  and  action 
he  has  always  been   independent,  carrying 


out  his  honest  views  without  fear  or  favor, 
lu  business  he  has  achieved  success  through 
honorable  etYort,  untiring  industry  and  capa- 
ble management,  and  in  private  life  he  has 
gained  the  warm  personal  regard  which 
ari.ses  from  true  nobility  of  character,  defer- 
ence for  the  o])inions  of  others,  kindliness 
and  genialitv. 


LINCOLN    PAYNE. 

Lincoln  Payne  was  born  in  Vigo  county, 
Indiana,  December  2,  1861.  and  is  a  son  of 
Allen  F.  and  Mary  A.  (Jewell)  Payne,  in 
whose  faiuily  were  six  chilreeii.  he  being  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth.  In  the  comiuon 
schools  of  Clay  county,  Indiana,  he  pursued 
his  cditcation,  his  parents  having  remo\ed  to 
that  county  when  he  was  but  five  years  of 
ag'e.  He  remained  as  a  student  in 
school  until  se\enteen  vears  of  age,  when- 
he  began  teaching  in  the  district  schools. 
He  afterward  attended  the  state  normal 
school  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and  the 
county  normal  school  at  Brazil.  Indiana. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  Mr, 
Payne  came  to  Danville  and  here  learned  the 
printer's  trade  with  the  Daily  News,  work- 
ing in  the  office  as  an  employe  for  five  years. 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois 
Printing  Company  with  which  he  continued 
for  four  years,  and  during  that  time  he  was 
a  member  n\  the  board  of  directors  and  the 
secretary  of  the  company.  In  1890.  how- 
ever, he  sold  his  interest  and  organized  the 
Payne  Printing  Company  of  which  he  is  thC' 
chief  stockholder.  He  was  also  the  manager 
of  the  Danville  Daily  News,  having  as- 
sumed the  office  in  February,  1891. 

Mr.  Payne  was  married  .\ugust  26, 
1890.  to  Miss  Mary  Graydon.  of  Indianajjo- 
lis.   Indiana,  and  they  have  three  children, 


856 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Lilla,  Mary  Graydon  and  Lincoln,  Jr.  Mr. 
Payne  is  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 
He  has  a  public-spirited  interest  in  the  city 
and  its  progress  and  through  the  columns 
of  his  paper  he  has  championed  many  meas- 
ures for  the  general  good,  exerting  strong 
influence  over  public  opinion  in  this  way. 
His  career  has  been  successful  chiefly  by 
reason  of  his  natural  ability  and  his  thor- 
ough insight  into  the  business  in  which  as  a 
vouno'  iournalist  he  embarked. 


WILLIAM  D.  PORTER.  M.  D. 

Dr.  William  D.  Porter  for  many  years 
occupied  a  leading  position  in  professional 
circles  not  only  because  of  his  skill  as  a 
practitioner  but  also  because  of  a  life  that 
would  bear  the  closest  investigation  and 
scrutiny  and  that  ever  commanded  esteem 
and  good  will.  He  was  prominent  among 
the  representative  citizens  of  \'ermilion 
county  and  was  numbered  among  the  pion- 
eers of  Blount  township.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Kentucky  March  25,  1826.  and  his  death 
on  the  20th  of  August.  1890.  when  he  was 
sixty-four  years  of  age.  Many  friends 
mourned  his  loss.  His  parents  were  Seth 
and  Cynthia  (Davis)  Porter,  also  natives 
of  Kentucky.  In  their  family  were  four 
sons  and  a  daughter,  three  of  the  sons  be- 
coming physicians. 

Dr.  Porter  of  this  review  completed  a 
literary  course  by  graduation  and  afterward 
entered  the  medical  department  of  the  L^ni- 
versity  of  Kentucky,  at  Louisville,  in  which 
he  likewise  graduated.  In  1863  he  came  to 
\'ermilion  county,  settling  in  Higginsville. 


which  at  that  time  was  a  prosperous  and 
growing  village.  He  began  his  practice, 
however,  in  Brown  county,  Indiana,  remain- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  in  that  county,  to 
which  his  parents  had  removed.  After  com- 
ing to  X'ermilion  county  he  opened  his  office 
and  his  practice  extended  over  a  wide  terri- 
tory. The  night  was  ne\er  too  dark  or  the 
weather  too  inclement  for  him  to  respond 
to  a  call  from  the  sick  and  suffering,  and 
his  professional  services  were  extended  as 
readily  to  the  poor  as  to  the  rich,  even 
though  there  was  no  hope  of  any  pecuniary 
reward.  He  formetl  a  \ery  wide  acquain- 
tance and  the  qualities  of  his  manhood  en- 
deared him  to  those  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact. 

It  was  in  \'erniilion  county  that  Dr.  Por- 
ter formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Phoebe 
Holloway.  and  winning  her  hand  in  mar- 
riage they  were  joined  in  wedlock  on  the 
28th  of  January.  1866.  The  lady  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  January  25,  1833. 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Eleanor  (\\'ill- 
fawn )  Holloway.  Her  father  was  a  native 
of  Maryland,  removing  from  the  eastern 
shore  of  that -state  to  Ohio,  the  mother  be- 
ing born  in  the  Buckeye  state.  She  died 
when  Mrs.  Porter  was  only  nine  years  of 
age  and  the  daughter  was  left  an  orphan  at 
fourteen.  There  were  three  daughters  in 
the  family,  of  whom  Mrs.  Porter  was  the 
second,  and  is  now  the  only  survivor.  When 
she  was  a  little  maiden  of  live  summers 
her  parents  removed  from  Ohio,  settling  in 
Warren  county.  Indiana  and  there  the 
mother  died.  The  father  afterward  came 
to  ^'ermilion  county,  taking  up  his  abode 
near  Myersville.  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  Mrs.  Porter  then  went 
to  live  with  the  family  of  "John  Myers,  a 
miller,  for  whom  the  town  of  Myersville 
was  named.  She  remained  there  and  attend- 


DR.  WM.  D.  PORTER. 


--v;    r--    I"  IMO'S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


859 


eil  scliool  until  she  readied  womanhood.  Her 
older  sister  had  become  the  wife  of  (leorge 
C'rossman.  who  tlied,  leaving  two  children, 
antl  Mrs.  Porter  then  went  to  live  with  Mrs. 
Grossman,  with  whom  she  remained  until 
her  own  marriage.  Her  younger  sister, 
Mary,  became  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Fairchild, 
a  son  of  riniothy  Fairchikl.  and  died  Octt)- 
ber  16,  1901,  leaving  a  family  of  three 
daughters  and  one  son,  all  of  whom  had 
reached  atlult  age.  The  marriage  of  the 
Doctor  and  his  wife  was  blessed  with  three 
children.  Cynthia  l)ecame  the  wife  of  A. 
C.  I-"irebaugh.  September  24,  1884,  and  to 
them  were  born  fi\e  children :  Glenn,  Mary, 
Nellie,  Ruth  and  Mossie.  Eleanor  was  mar- 
ried in  1886  to  Patrick  Jordan,  of  James- 
burg,  Ilinois.  Mossie  B.  was  married  June 
25,  1893,  to  Daniel  O'Brien,  of  Chicago. 

Dr.  Porter  was  one  of  the  influential  cit- 
izens and  progressive  men  of  the  county.  He 
was  identified  with  the  Indiana  State  Medi- 
cal Society  and  was  recognized  as  an  able 
representative  of  his  chosen  profession.  Fra- 
ternally he  was  connected  with  the  IMasonic 
Lodge  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
owned  three  hundred  acres  of  very  valuable 
fami  land  and  thus  provided  his  wife  and 
children  with  a  good  living.  He  was  a 
model  husb.-md.  a  kind  and  loving  father, 
a  charitalile  and  benevolent  man  and  a  loyal 
friend.  Mrs.  Porter  now  lives  in  a  com- 
fortable, pleasant  home  close  to  her  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  has 
served  as  Sunday-school  superintendent  and 
is  now  conducting  a  class  of  young  ladies. 
She  has  always  looked  upon  the  bright  side 
of  life  and  has  done  her  part  toward  elevat- 
ing mankind,  assisting  in  the  care  of  the 
sick  and  helping  the  needy.  Like  her  hus- 
band she  has  ever  enjoyed  the  warm  regard 


of  many  friends  and  her  many  excellent 
(lualities  of  hanri  and  mind  lia\e  endeared 
her  to  those  among  whom  she  has  lived. 


IRA  GRANT  DA\IS. 

I.  Grant  Davis  was  lx)rn  in  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois.  June  10,  1863,  and  is  a  son 
of  Henry  V.  and  Catherine  (Callahan) 
Davis.  Henry  V.  Davis  was  the  son  of 
Henry  Davis,  whose  name  appears  else- 
where in  this  work  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  James  Davis.  Henry  \'.  Davis 
was  born  September  25,  1819,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  February,  1843,  to  Mary  Ann  Cope- 
land.  By  this  union  were  born  the  following 
children  :  William  E.,  who  resitles  at  Beat- 
rice. Nebraska,  and  has  one  child  ;  and  Sarah 
E.,  who  has  only  one  child  living.  JNIr. 
Henry  V.  Da\  is  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond wife  being  Catherine  Callahan.  .She 
died  Septeml)er  13,  1893.  By  this  union 
three  children  were  lx)rn :  Oscar  H.  resides 
in  Hcmier,  Illinois.  He  is  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness at  ^larshfield,  Indiana,  and  has  four 
children — Chester,  Katie,  Harry  and  Frank, 
all  at  home.  I.  Grant  Davis  is  the  second 
child  by  the  second  union.  George  \V.  mar- 
ried Highley  Robertson  and  resides  five 
miles  southwest  of  Homer,  Illinois.  They 
have  two  children,  Chester  and  Clara, 
Henry  \'.  Davis  has  made  a  distribution  of 
his  land  among  his  children  and  retired  to 
Homer,  Illinois,  in  1892.  On  the  5th  of 
July,  1894,  in  Danville,  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  E.  R.  ThompsiMi.  They  went  to  Mis- 
sissippi, where  they  lived  for  three  years, 
when  they  came  back  to  Danville,  where  they 
are  now  living.  Mr.  Davis  is  a  hale  and 
hearty  gentleman,  well  able  to  attend  to  his 
business  affairs  and  he  and  his  wife  have  a 


86o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


comfortable  home  fitted  up  with  every  con- 
venience. 

I.  Grant  Davis  attended  school  at  Pleas- 
ant X'alley,  and  afterward  took  the  high 
school  course  at  Champaign,  Illinois.  At  an 
earl}-  age  he  drove  a  carriage  in  Cham- 
paign, during  a  period  of  two  years. 
He  then  removed  to  a  farm  five  miles 
southwest  of  Homer,  owned  by  his  father. 
On  this  farm  he  remained  for  four  years, 
when  he  removed  to  the  old  homestead 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  On  the  15th 
of  February,  1888,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  E.  Palmer,  who  was  bom  in  Homer, 
December  3,  1867.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Milburn  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Palmer. 
The  father  was  born  ^Nlay  13,  1836,  near 
Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  and  the  mother  was 
born  March  31,  1831,  in  Zurich,  Switzer- 
land. They  w'ere  married  in  Homer,  Illi- 
nois, w^here  Milburn  Palmer  purchased  land, 
following  agricultural  pursuits,  and  where 
he  still  lives.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  he  is  a  man  of  prominence  and  influence 
in  his  community.  IMrs.  Davis,  the  wife  of 
our  subject,  w^as  one  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  are  still  living.  Clar- 
ence married  Mattie  Stebbins  and  resides  in 
Homer.  ^lichigan.  Alice  is  the  wife  of 
William  Flaugher  and  resides  in  Anderson, 
Indiana.  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. Carl  ]M.  resides  in  Anderson,  Indiana. 
Olive  and  Oliver  (twins)  are  now  deceased. 
Jacob  resides  in  Homer,  Illinois.  Emma  is 
a  telephone  operator  of  Homer.  Illinois. 
Ellen  G.  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Wood,  of 
Homer.     Ada  also  lives  at  Homer,  Illinois. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  have  been 
born  three  children :  Alallie  L.,  born  De- 
cember 25.  1888;  Henry  H.,  born  April  13, 
1891  :  and  Palmer,  lx)m  September  23,  1895. 
Mr.  Davis  has  a  large  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  acres.    This  is  one  of  the  best 


in  X'ermilion  county.  He  has  rebuilt  the  old 
homestead  and  lias  now  a  very  attractive 
home.  This  is  situated  on  sections  6  and  7 
in  \'ance  township.  He  is  a  pleasant  and 
genial  gentleman  and  has  many  friends.  He 
belongs  to  the  Baptist  church  and  his  wife 
to  the  Presbyterian.  He  is  connected  with 
the  ]\Iasonic  fraternity  and  a  member  of 
Homer  Lodge,  No.  199.  He  belongs  to  the 
Court  of  Honor,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a 
member.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 
Every  movement  and  measure  intended  for 
the  welfare  of  his  township,  state  or  county, 
is  heartily  endorsed  by  Mr.  Davis  and  to-day 
he  is  regarded  as  one  of  Vance  township's 
leading  agriculturists. 


IRA    GROVER    JOXES. 

Ira  G.  Jones  is  a  retired  farmer  and  capi- 
talist living  in  Ridgefarni.  Seventy-six 
years  have  come  and  gone  since  he  arrived  in 
\'ermilion  county  and  the  historv-  of  the  pio- 
neer settlement  of  this  portion  of  the  state 
would  be  incomplete  without  the  record  of 
Mr.  Jones,  who  from  the  earliest  develop- 
ment of  the  town  has  watched  its  growth 
and  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  its  sub- 
stantial improvement.  When  Illinois  was 
cut  off  from  the  advantages  and  comforts  of 
tlie  older  east  by  the  unbroken  prairies  and 
rivers  which  were  unbridged,  he  was 
brought  to  this  county  by  parents  wh.o 
reared  him  amid  hardships  and  trials  of  pio- 
neer life. 

The  birth  of  ]\Ir.  Jones  occurreil  in  east- 
ern Indiana,  near  Liberty,  on  the  nth  of 
January.  1826,  his  parents  being  Aaron  and 
Phoebe  (Watkins)  Jones.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Xew  Jersey  and  in  his  early  boy- 
hood was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Fayette 
countv,    Pennsvh'ania.    where     the     family 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


86i 


lionie  was  established.  The  paternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  and  valiantly  fought 
with  the  colonists  in  the  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence. Aaron  Jones  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  Keystone  state  and  after  arriv- 
ing at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Phoebe 
Watkins,  who  was  a  native  of  Fayette  coun- 
t}'.  Pennsylvania.  They  became  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  but  only  one  is  now  liv- 
ing— Ira,  of  this  review.  In  the  year  1827 
Aaron  Jones  brought  his  family  from  Indi- 
ana to  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  became 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  locality,  lo- 
cating at  Quakers  Point.  There  he  rented 
land  for  two  years,  after  which  he  entered 
a  claim  from  the  go\'ernment  at  the  land 
office  at  Crawfordsville.  He  paid  for  this 
fhe  usual  government  price  and  at  once  be- 
gan the  cultivation  and  development  of  the 
farm.  He  erected  a  double  log  cabin  with 
s  clay  chimney,  .a  puncheon  floor  and  a  clap- 
board roof.  The  nearest  trading  places  at 
th.at  time  were  Newport  and  Eugene,  Indi- 
ana. The  now  flourishing  and  attractive 
city  of  Danville  and  the  smaller  cities  and 
towns  of  Vermilion  county  were  then  but 
mere  hamlets  or  had  not  yet  sprung  into  ex- 
istence.' The  work  of  improvement  seemed 
scarcely  begun  and  the  most  farsighted 
could  not  have  dreamed  of  the  rapid  changes 
which  were  to  occur  and  make  this  one  of 
the  garden  spots  of  the  great  Mississippi  val- 
ley. "Father  Jones,"  as  he  was  called,  was 
a  very  hospitable  man  and  his  home  was  al- 
ways open  to  the  weary  traveler,  whom  he 
entertained  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  never 
accepting  any  pay  for  his  trouble,  his  cour- 
tesy and  his  hospitality. 

It  was  amid  pioneer  surroundings  that 
Ira  G.  Jones  was  reared.  The  only  educa- 
tion which  he  received  was  that  aft'orded  in 
one  of  the  primitive  log  schools  of  the  day. 


Children  set  on  slab  benches,  their  feet  rest- 
ing on  a  puncheon  floor.  There  was  an  im- 
mense hreiilace  in  one  end  of  the  room  and 
the  furnishings  were  of  the  most  pi-imitive 
character.  The  metods  of  instruction,  too, 
were  in  keeping  with  the  building  and  the 
text  Ixioks  were  limited,  but  while  his  edu- 
cational facilities  were  meager  Mr.  Jones 
had  ample  training  at  farm  work  and  it  was 
hard  work  at  that,  for  he  assisted  in  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  clearing  and  developing  new 
land.  Well  can  he  remember  the  spinning 
wheel  at  which  his  mother  worked  for  all 
the  clothing  usecl  by  the  family  was  spun 
and  woven  in  the  household.  A  wooden 
mold-board  was  used  in  plowing  the  fields 
anil  the  other  farm  implements  bore  little  re- 
semblance to  the  improved  machinery  which 
lessens  and  facilitates  farm  labor  at  the  pres- 
ent day.  \\'ild  game  of  all  kinds  was  to  be 
had  in  abundance,  such  as  turkeys,  pigeons 
and  prairie  chickens,  much  larger  game  was 
also  killed,  for  deer  still  roamed  over  the 
prairies  and  venison  furnished  many  a  meal 
for  the  early  settler.  Wolves  frequently 
made  the  night  hideous  with  their  howling 
and  all  around  were-  seen  the  evidences  of 
frontier  life.  There  was,  however,  a  spirit 
of  good  will,  friendliness  and  helpfulness 
;uiiong  tlie  pioneers  that  is  somewhat  lack- 
ing at  the  present  day.  They  rejoiced  in 
each  others  happiness  and  sympathized  in 
each  others  sorrows  and  the  latchstring  was 
always  out,  friends  and  neighbors  being 
heartily  welcomed  at  the  different  pioneeer 
hiimes. 

Mr.  Jones  continued  to  work  upon  his 
father's  farm  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage, 
which  important  event  in  his  life  was  cele- 
brated in  July,  1855.  He  wedded  Miss 
Ruth  Connnr  and  for  fourteen  years  they 
tra\eled  life's  journey  together,  but  on  the 
9th  of  August,  1S69,  she  was  called  to  her 


S62 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


final  rest.  She  had  become  the  niotlier  of 
seven  cliil(h"en,  l)ut  uf  tliis  numl)er  t)nly  four 
are  yet  Hving:  F.nieline,  George  W'.,  Rosa- 
lie and  Seymour. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1871,  Mr. 
Jones  was  ag'ain  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Rlioda  J.  Rice,  the  widow 
of  James  M.  Rice  and  a  daughter  of  James 
F.  W'eller.  of  El  wood  townsiiip,  Vermilion 
county.  I 'nto  thi.s  marriage  have  been  born 
four  children,  all  sons :  Pearl  wedded  Allie 
Davis  and  they  reside  in  Ridgefarm,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  planing  mill  business. 
They  have  three  children.  Frank  married 
!Molhe  Dubre  and  has  one  child.  His  home 
is  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Bertie  died  at  age  of 
one  year.  Arthur  married  Nettie  Cooke  and 
they  reside  in  Ehvood  township,  fwhere  he  is 
devoting  his  energies  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. 

Throughout  the  years  of  his  active  busi- 
ness career  ]\Ir.  Jones  engaged  in  farming. 
He  worked  industriously  and  energetically 
and  was  a  progressive  farmer  who  kept  in 
touch  with  the  advancement  made  in  agri- 
cultural implements  and  in  the  methods  of 
tilling  the  soil.  His  untiring  industry  and 
capable  management  proved  the  evidence  of 
his  success  and  as  the  years  passed  he  added 
to  liis  landed  possessions  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  almost  three  thousand  acres  of  the 
rich,  productive  and  valuable  land  of  Ver- 
milion county.  All  this  has  been  acquired 
entirely  through  his  own  labors.  From  early 
spring  time  imtil  the  crops  were  harvested  in 
the  late  autumn  he  worked  in  the  fields  or 
superintended  the  operations  of  his  farming" 
interests  as  he  advanceed  in  years  and  also 
made  progress  in  a  financial  way.  Certainly 
such  a  life  record  is  commendable  and 
should  serve  as  a  source  of  inspiration  and 


encouragement  to  others  who  have  to  begin 
life  as  he  did,  empty  handed.  On  April  14, 
1887.  lie  retired  from  his  home  in  Ehvood 
township,  removing  to  Ridgefarm,  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jones  is  a  stalwart  and 
earnest  Republican  wlio  has  given  his  sup- 
port to  the  party  since  its  organization  and 
has  been  active  in  its  councils.   He  has  served 
as  highway  commissioner,  as  road  overseer 
and  as  school  trustee  and  has  also  been  a 
member  of  the  city  council  of  Ridgefarm. 
In  matters  pertaining  to  the  general  good  he 
has  ever  borne  his  part  and  in  public  office 
has  discharged  his  duties  with  promptness 
and  fidelity.     Mr.  Jones  has  now  passed  the 
seventy-seventh  mile-stone  on  life's  journey. 
His  life  has  been  one  of  honor  as  well  as  of 
industry  and  wherever  he  is  known  he  is  held 
in  the  highest  esteem.     He  has  a  very  wide 
actjuaintance  gained  through  his  long  resi- 
dence   in  Vermilion    county.     His    memory 
goes  back  to  the  time  when  this  section  of 
the  state  was  but  sparsely  settled,  w  hen  Indi- 
ans still  visited  the  district,  for  it  was  sev- 
eral years  after  the  arrival  of  the  family  be- 
fore the  Black   Hawk  war  occurred.     The 
land  was  yet  unclaimed  for  the  uses  of  the 
white  man,  only  here  and  there  was  a  set- 
tlement to  show  that  the  rq^resentatives  of 
the  white  race  had  made  their  way  into  this 
district.     Mr.  Jones  can  relate  many  inter- 
esting incidents  of  those  early  days  and  takes 
pleasure  in  recalling  events  which  occurred 
at  that  time  and  yet.  he  does  not  live  in  the 
past,  but  still  maintains  an  active  interest  in 
the  present  and  rejoices  in  what  \'ermilion 
county  has  accomplished.     He  certainly  de- 
serves mention  as  one  of  its  leading  agricult- 
urists and  his  life  record  proves  what  splen- 
did advantages  Illinois  offers  to  the  wide- 
awake and  energetic  farmer. 


c 


umivek: 


Qc  IL'JKOIS 


4>1 


\i.Iu(^otaf' 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S65 


WILLI A.\[  STLWART. 

I)cei)l\'  eiigra\eii  on  Daiuille's  vuU  of 
fame  is  the  name  of  William  Stewart.  By 
the  death  of  this  honorable  and  upright  cit- 
izen the  community  sustained  an  irreparable 
loss  and  was  deprived  of  the  presence  of  one 
wilt  mi  it  had  come  to  look  upon  as  a  guar- 
dian, benefactor  and  friend.  Death  often  re- 
moves from  our  midst  those  whom  we  can 
ill  afford  to  spare,  whose  lives  have  been  all 
that  is  exemplary  of  the  true,  and  thereby 
really  great,  citizen.  Such  a  man  was  Mr. 
Stewart,  whose  whole  career,  both  business 
and  social,  ser\-ed  as  a  model  to  the  young 
and  an  inspiration  to  the  aged.  During  a 
long  and  successful  commercial  life,  char- 
acterized by  enterprise,  he  ever  maintained 
an  enviable  reputation  for  the  highest  honor 
and  principle,  and  no  unworthy  deed  or 
word  ever  linked  itself  with  his  name. 
Through  the  conduct  of  important  business 
affairs  he  contributed  largely  to  the  general 
prosperit}',  and  no  citizen  of  Illinois  ever 
made  better  or  more  unostentatious  use  of 
his  accumulations.  Danville  in  many  ways 
profited  by  his  prosperity  and  the  welfare 
and  upbuilding  of  the  cit}-  were  very  dear  to 
his  heart. 

William  Stewart  was  born  in  Bo  'Ness, 
Linlithgowshire,  Scotland,  January  26, 
1840,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Young) 
Stewart,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  land 
of  the  heather  and  were  there  marrietl.  The 
father  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  schools  of 
Scotland,  but  forty-five  years  ago  he  was 
called  to  his  liiial  rest  and  his  wife  died 
twelve  years  ago.  In  their  family  were  six 
children. 

The  subject  of  this  re\-iew  pursued  his 

early  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 

town   and   afterward   continued   his   studies 

in  Glasgow  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
34 


he  put  aside  his  textbooks  to  become  a 
factor  in  the  business  world.  No  special 
advantages  surrounded  him  in  his  youth, 
save  that  which  comes  as  an  inheritance 
from  honorable  parentage.  lie  saw  the 
necessity  of  providing  for  his  own  support 
and  began  learning  the  trade  of  a  machinist 
and  engineer,  working  as  an  apprentice  for 
seven  years  and  afterward  as  a  journeyman 
in  Scotland  for  a  short  time.  A  young  man 
of  twenty-two  years,  he  came  to  America 
ill  the  fall  of  1861,  to  enjoy  the  broader 
business  opportunities  of  the  new  world. 
IMaking  his  way  westward  to  Fort  Wayne, 
Iiuliana,  he  secured  employment  in  the 
\\'abash  Railroad  shops  and  becoming  fore- 
man he  remained  there  for  eleven  years. 
His  success  was  undoubtedly  largely  due  to 
his  persistency  of  purpose  and  his  thorough 
understanding  of  the  work  in  which  as  a 
young  tradesman  he  embarked,  his  effi- 
ciency rendering  his  labors  of  value  to  those 
l)y  whom  he  was  employed. 

While  in  l""ort  Wayne  Mr.  Stewart  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Dickey,  a 
native  ,of  Scotlaiul  and  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert ruid  Ellen  (Bell)  Dickey,  wdio  were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Scotland  and 
came  to  America  in  1850.  The  father  fol- 
lowed farming  in  early  life  and  in  I'ort 
Wayne  he  was  employed  as  a  boiler-maker. 
For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  lived  re- 
tired and  he  ami  his  wife  now  make  their 
home  in  h'ort  Wayne.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children.  Mr.  Dickey  is  a  member 
of  the  ]\lasonic  fraternity  and  his  political 
support  is  given  the  Republican  party. 

Mr.  Stewart  resided  in  L'ort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  from  the  time  of  his  marriage  un- 
til January,  1873.  when  he  came  to  Danville' 
and  was  made  foreman  of  the  machine  de- 
partment of  what  is  now  the  Chicage  & 
Eastern     Illinois     Railroad     at    this   place. 


866 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Three  years  later  he  resigned  his  position 
to  enter  upon  an  independent  business 
career,  purcliasing  an  interest  in  the  Rey- 
nolds foundry,  which  was  then  a  small  con- 
cern. Not  long  after  he  bought  out  Air. 
Reynolds"  interest.  In  1878  a  disastrous 
fire  occurred  and  Mr.  Stewart  lost  much 
that  he  had  previously  saved,  but  with 
stout  heart  and  strong  determination  he  set 
to  work  to  retrieve  his  lost  possessions. 
The  name  of  the  enterprise  was  changed 
to  the  Stewart  Foundry  &  INIachine  Com- 
panj'  and  in  1891  the  business  was  incor- 
porated under  the  name  of  the  Danville 
Foundry  &  Machine  Compan}-,  the  stock- 
holders being  William  Stewart  and  L.  A. 
Chesley.  Under  the  capable  management 
of  Mr.  Stewart  the  business  prospered  until 
it  became  the  leading  industrial  concern  of 
this  city,  furnishing  employment  to  many 
workmen.  The  plant  was  continually  en- 
larged until  it  covereil  four  acres  and  the 
annual  outcome  is  now  very  extensive,  the 
products  being  sold  throughout  the  fenglh 
and  breath  of  the  land. 

]\Iany  other  enterprises  of  importance 
in  tlie  business  development  and  prosperity 
of  Danville  received  the  co-operation,  en- 
couragement and  direct  assistance  of  Mr. 
Stewart.  He  was  interested  in  the  Danville 
Street  Car  Company,  the  Danville  Electric 
Light  Company  and  was  one  of  the  stock- 
holders in  the  Danville  Fair  Association. 
He  had  valuable  real-estate  holdings  here 
and  much  farm  land  in  Indiana.  The  ex- 
tent and  importance  of  his  investments  indi- 
cate in  a  measure  the  degree  of  his  success. 
His  prosperity  came  as  the  reward  of  a  life 
of  industry,  guided  by  sound  judgment  and 
absolute  fidelity  to  the  etliics  of  commercial 
transactions. 

L'nto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Stewart  was  born 
one  child,  Helen  B.  S.,  the  wife  of  L.  A. 


Cheslex'.  They  also  had  a  niece  and  adopted 
daughter,  Elizabeth  F.  Air.  Stewart  was 
a  prominent  Mason,  being  made  a  member 
of  the  order  soon  after  his  arrival  in  Dan- 
ville, while  in  Chicago  he  received  the  con- 
sistory degrees.  He  also  belonged  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  he 
affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  A 
Republican  in  his  political  faith,  he  stanchly 
endorsed  the  party  and  for  three  terms  he 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Danville,  although  the  aid  which  he  ren- 
dered to  the  city  was  usually  unofiicial. 
Local  progress  was  a  cause  most  dear  to 
him  and  he  rejoiced  heartily  in  the  sub- 
stantial improvement  of  Danx'ille  and  con- 
tributed in  very  large  measure  to  its  up- 
building, being  for  many  years  associated 
with  almost  every  improvement  here  made. 
He  was  connected  with  the  opera  house,  the 
city  hall  and  other  public  buildings,  and  the 
public  librarv  found  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the 
establishment  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  here 
and  his  aid  was  never  sought  in  vain  when 
the  ol)ject  was  the  betterment  of  public  con- 
ditions here.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  and 
earnest  nature,  of  steadfast  purpose  and  un- 
faltering fidelity  to  what  he  knew  to  be 
right.  He  made  no  loud  professions  of  his 
religious  faith,  but  he  believed  and  trusted 
in  the  stipremacy  of  God  and  frequently  re- 
peated the  first  fifteen  \erses  of  the  four- 
teenth chapter  of  Job  in  a  Scotch  paraphrase, 
teaching  of  man's  mortality  and  sin,  and 
that  his  body  would  arise  again  and  he 
would  appear  before  God.  Of  him  it  might  be 
said  as  it  was  of  Goldsmith's  "village  preach- 
er" that  "e'en  his  failings  leaned  to  virtue's 
side,"  for  he  was  charitable  almost  to  a 
fault  and  although  his  was  a  most  active 
Inisincss  life  he  always  had  time  to  listen 
patiently  and   sympathetically  to  a  tale  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


867 


real  distress.  In  his  giving',  however,  he 
Avas  unostentatious,  nor  did  he  beheve  in 
indiscriminate  giving  which  often  fosters 
vagrancy.  His  donations  reheved  genuine 
distress  and  many  times  were  of  marked 
vahie  in  enabhng  a  man  to  gain  a  start  in 
the  business  world.  He  was  always  glad 
of  an  opportunity  to  recognize  and  reward 
^  faithfulness  on  the  part  of  his  employes,  by 
whom  he  was  held  in  the  greatest  admira- 
tion and  respect. 

^Ir.  Stewart  passed  away  at  eight 
o'clock  on  Wednesday  morning.  ]\Iay  29, 
1901,  and  on  Friday  afternoon  he  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Spring  Hill  cemetery  of  Danville. 
His  life  record  covered  sixty-one  years.  He 
had  used  well  the  talents  which  had  lieen 
entrusted  to  him  and  had  accomplished 
much  in  his  earthly  pilgrimage  of  three 
score  years.  Viewed  from  any  standpoint 
his  life  might  well  be  called  successful.  He 
amassed  a  splentlid  fortune,  but  he  never 
allowed  the  accumulation  of  wealth  to  in 
any  way  warp  his  kindly  and  genial  nature 
and  tlie  sterling  rectitude  of  his  character 
won  him  the  honor  and  esteem  of  men. 


THOMAS    B.  CASTLEMAN. 

In  the  promotion  and  advancement  of 
the  world  in  all  the  normal  lines  of  human' 
progress  and  cixilization  there  is  no  factor 
which  has  exercised  a  more  potent  influence 
than  the  press,  which  is  both  the  director  and 
the  mirror  of  public  opinion.  Vermilion 
county  has  been  signally  favored  in  the  char- 
acter of  its  newspapers  which  have  been  vi- 
tal, enthusiastic  and  progressive,  ever  aim- 
ing to  advance  the  interests  of  this  favored 
section  of  the  country  and  aiding  in  laying 
fast  and  sure  the  foundations  of  an  enlisd-it- 


ened  commonwealth,  to  further  the  ends  of 
justice  and  to  uphold  the  banner  of  Illinois. 
In  all  of  these  matters  the  Danville  Press  has 
been  among  the  foremost  papers  of  the 
county  and  Thomas  B.  Castleman,  its  mana- 
ger, is  a  well  known  factor  in  journalistic 
circles. 

Mr.  Castleman  was  born  in  Clark  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  a  son  of  William  A.  and  Ann 
R.  (Isler)  Castleman,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Old  Dominion.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  and  merchant  of  Clark  county,  Vir- 
ginia, and  also  served  as  judge.  He  died  in 
1884  at  the  age  of  seventy- four  years,  but 
the  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eleven  children 
whii  reached  manhood  or  womanhood  and 
of  this  number  se\'en  are  yet  living.  Thomas 
B.  being  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 

In  Berryville  Academy,  of  \^irginia, 
Thomas  B.  Castleman  pursued  his  educa- 
tion, completing  his  school  course  in  1867. 
He  afterward  engaged  in  farming  in  his  na- 
tive state  until  1870  when  he  came  to  the 
west,  establishing  his  home  in  Danville  in 
that  year.  Here  he  entered  the  employ  of 
William  Hessey  as  bookkeeper  and  subse- 
ciuently  accepted  a  similar  position  with  the 
firm  of  ^^'illiam  Mann  &  Company  with 
whom  he  continued  for  seven  years.  Later 
he  engaged  in  dealing  in  men's  furnishing 
goods  for  three  years,  after  which  he  entered 
the  postoftice  as  mail  clerk,  capably  serving 
in  that  cajjacity  for  four  years.  The  \'ear 
1888  was  spent  as  city  editor  of  the  Dan- 
ville Press  and  he  then  became  bookkeeper 
for  the  Kellyville  Coal  Company.  In  the 
year  1891  iie  acted  as  clerk  in  the  state  legis- 
lature and  in  1894  he  was  assistant  postmas- 
ter of  Danville,  acting  in  that  capacity  under 
John  Beard  until  1897,  when  he  became  sec- 
retary, solicitor  and  local  manager  for  the 
Danville     Press,     .'i     positioii     which      he 


868 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


now  holds.  In  June,  1901,  he  also 
became  a  member  of  the  board  of 
re\ie\v  of  \'enniIion  county,  and  is 
now  acting  in  that  position.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  an  old  school  Democrat. 
He  is  not  bitterly  partisan,  and  in  fact  is 
liberal  on  political  matters  believing  it  policy 
to  maintain  favorable  conditions  rather  than 
to  inaugurate  changes.  In  the  year  1889  he 
was  elected  city  treasurer  of  Danville. 

Mr.  Castleman  holds  membership  in 
Olive  Branch  Lodge,  No.  138,  F.  &  A.  M., 
of  which  he  is  a  past  master,  and  he  also  be- 
longs to  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Or- 
der of  Elks.  In  1875  he  married  Harriet 
Du  Puy,  of  Flemingsburg,  Kentucky,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  three  children, 
William  D.,  Estelle  M.  and  Irene  A. 


JOHN  WILLI A!\IS. 

John  \Villiams,  now  deceased,  was  a 
man  respected  for  his  sterling  traits  of 
character  and  at  his  death  the  community 
lost  a  valued  citizen.  He  was  born  in  Har- 
rison county,  Ohio,  September  29,  1832,  a 
son  of  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Hoopes)  Will- 
iams, who  in  the  spring  of  1854  came  to 
\'ermilion  county.  They  belonged  to  the 
Society  of  Friends  and  the  father  was  a 
preacher  of  that  denomination. 

John  W'illiams  was  a  young  man  of 
twenty-two  years  when  he  arrived  in  Ver- 
milion county  to  face  pioneer  conditions 
and  assist  in  the  development  of  this  region 
from  a  frontier  district  to  an  advanced  state 
of  ci\ilization.  He  engaged  in  breaking 
prairie  and  in  farming  and  during  the  third 
year  after  his  arrival  he  entered  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  12, 
I'rairie   Green    township,   Iroquois   count}'. 


There  he  lived  for  seventeen  years.  For 
several  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  and  then  removed  to  his  farm 
Sduth  of  Hoopeston,  carrying  on  agricult- 
ural pursuits  until,  on  account  of  ill  health 
he  retired  from  business  life  and  purchased 
a  home  in  Hoopeston,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining   days. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1858,  Mr.  Will- 
iams was  united  in  marriage  to  Elnora 
Shankland,  who  was  born  in  1841  and  died 
February  2t,,  1864.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, but  all  had  passed  away  before  'Mr. 
Williams  was  a  second  time  married.  On 
the  1 2th  of  August,  1867,  Jennie  j\I.  Har- 
wood  became  his  wife.  She  was  born  April 
7,  1844.  They  had  two  children  who  died 
in  infancy  and  there  are  two  who  now  sur- 
vive: Ne'he,  tlie  wife  of  J.  E.  Whitcomb,  of 
Hoopeston,  and  Josephine,  the  wife  of 
^lout  Wolverton.  i\Irs.  \\"illiams  was  born 
in  East  Rupert,  A'ermont,  in  1844  and  came 
alone  to  Illinois,  being  inarried  in  \\'atseka 
in  1867. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Williams  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church  and  through 
a  long  period  ser\-ed  as  one  of  its  elders. 
He  took  a  very  active  interest  in  church  and 
Sunday-school  work  and  his  widow  now 
attends  the  Christian  church,  although  she 
is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
For  some  years  prior  to  his  death  Mr.  \\'ill- 
iams  was  an  in\'alid  and  at  length  passed 
away  at  his  home  in  Hoopeston  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1902,  his  remains  being  inter- 
red in  Floral  Hill  cemetery.  His  life  was 
ever  honoraljle  antl  upright  and  all  who  knew 
him  respected  him  for  his  genuine  worth. 
He  served  as  assessor  of  Prairie  Green 
township  for  four  or  five  consecutive  years 
and  in  all  life's  relations  he  was  found  true 
to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him  and  to  prin- 
ciples of  upright  manhood.     i^Irs.  Williams 


fcr-^^.^       ''/rM^-^Z-l.^^ 


UNIVERSITY  .^f"  iLLlNOlS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


871 


now  owns  a  farm  in  Indiana  and  iier  pleas- 
ant home  in  Hoopeston,  so  that  she  is  com- 
fortabl}-  sitnated  in  life.  An  earnest  Chris- 
tian woman  her  inllnence  is  always  on  the 
side  of  improvement,  progress,  truth  and 
the  right.  She  belongs  to  the  Women's 
Christian  Temperance  Union  and  is  well 
knuwn  in  temperance  and  church  circles. 


ISAAC    M.  REES. 


Isaac  M.  Rees,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  section  26,  Elwood 
townsiiip,  near  Ridgefarm,  was  born  near 
Vermilion  Gro\-e  in  this  county,  November 
28,  1840,  his  parents  being  John  and  Sus- 
annah (Dillon)  Rees.  In  the  year  1830  his 
liarents  arrived  in  Vermilion  county  and 
were  married  here.  They  came  with  t\\-enty- 
two  others  who  were  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  or  Quakers  and  to  that  faith  they 
always  adhered.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  near  Ridgefarm,  thus  providing  for 
his  family,  which  numbered  se\en  children. 
These  are,  Thomas  C,  now  deceased;  Mrs. 
Bethany  Hiatt,  who  resides  in  Terre  Haute, 
Indiana ;  Mrs.  Jane  Wallace,  of  Carthage, 
Missouri;  James  S.,  of  Newburg.  Oregon; 
Mrs.  Ella  S.  Weeks,  of  Sapulpa,  Indian  Ter- 
ritory; and  Mrs.  Mary  Gulick,  of  Gushing, 
Oklahoma.  The  father  died  in  the  year 
1854,  and  was  survived  liy  the  mother  for 
thirty-seven  years. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
Isaac  M.  Rees,  we  present  to  our  readers  one 
who  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Vermilion 
county.  He  pursued  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  was  reared  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  boys,  assisting  materially 
in  the  development  of  his  mother's  land  after 
his  father's  death.     On  the  lotli  (if  Decem- 


ber, 1S68,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Araminta  Mills,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Hannah  Mills,  She  was  born  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  west  of  Vermilion  Grove  anil  is  a 
representative  of  the  prominent  and  well 
known  Mills  family  that  was  established  in 
Vermilion  county  at  a  very  early  day  in  its 
history,  when  the  Indians  were  far  more 
numerous  than  the  white  settlers  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  state.  Unto  the  parents  of  Mrs. 
Rees  were  born  twelve  children,  nine  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity  and  are  still 
li\-ing,  being  useful  and  representative  citi- 
zens of  the.  community.  Like  her  husband 
Mrs.  Rees  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  l)y  her  marriage  she  has  liecome  the 
mother  of  five  children.  Emory  J.  was  mar- 
ried December  28,  1898,  to  Deborah  Gor- 
man, and  they  went  as  missionaries  to  Jo- 
hannasburg.  Africa.  William  .\.,  who  is 
living  at  Vermilion  Grove,  married  .\della 
A.  Commons.  Mrs.  Olive  Walthall  is  the 
wife  of  A.  J.  Walthall,  a  farmer  of  Quaker, 
Indiana,  and  they  have  two  children.  Milo 
E.  is  a  student  in  Penn  College  at  Oskaloosa, 
Iowa;  and  Anna  S.,  who  completes  the  fam- 
ily, is  still  at  home.' 

I\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Rees  began  their  domestic 
life  in  the  vicinity  of  Ridgefarm,  where  they 
lived  for  fi\-e  years  or  more,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Cham]>aign  county,  where  they  re- 
mained for  nineteen  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  they  came  to  their  present 
home  on  section  26,  Elwood  township.  Here 
they  now  live  happily  and  comfortably,  our 
subject  de\'Oting  his  energies  to  general  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  with  the  result  that  he  is 
anmially  adding  to  his  capital.  He  is  a  pro- 
gressiN-e  agriculturist,  a  quiet,  unassuming 
man,  and  a  citizen  of  value.  He  manifested 
his  loyalty  to  his  country  at  the  time  of  the 
Civil  war  by  putting  aside  all  business  and 
personal  considerations  and  offering  his  aid 


872 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


to  the  Union.  He  enlisted  on  the  22d  of 
July.  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  A, 
Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
and  he  afterward  served  with  Company  H, 
of  the  First  United  States  \'eteran  ^"olun- 
teer  Engineers,  continuing  with  that  com- 
mand until  mustered  out,  about  the  close  of 
the  war  on  the  27th  of  June,  1865.  When 
the  war  was  over  and  the  country  no  longer 
required  his  services,  he  received  an  honor- 
able disc'iarge  antl  returned  to  his  home  to 
again  take  up  the  work  of  the  farm  which  he 
has  since  followed.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  education  and  for  many  years 
ser\ed  as  a  school  director.  He  belongs  to 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  in  his  political 
faith  is  a  Prohibitionist,  having  long  been  an 
ardent  advocate  of  the  cause  of  temperance. 
In  fact  his  life  has  ever  been  one  in  harmony 
v.-ith  upright  principles  and  he  has  favored 
every  measure  and  mo\-ement  calculated  to 
uplift  his  fellow  men  and  advance  the  cause 
of  morality  in  the  community  where  he 
makes  his  home  and  believes  that  in  severing 
his  connection  with  the  Republican  party  in 
1888  he  compromised  none  of  the  original 
principles  of  that  party  as  a  party  of  prog- 
ress and  reform. 


JUDGE    JACOB    W.  WILKIX. 

The  name  of  Judge  Jacob  W.  Wilkin  is 
inseparably  associated  with  the  history  of 
jurisprudence  in  Illinois  and  no  man  has 
been  more  respected  in  the  state  and  none 
more  highly  deserved  the  honor  that  has 
Ijeen  bestowed  upon  him.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing as  one  of  the  supreme  judges  of  the  com- 
monwealth and  his  ability  makes  him  one  of 
the  most  capable  jurists  that  ever  graced  the 
court  of  last  resort.    The  Judge  was  born  in 


Licking  county,  Ohio,  in  June,  1837,  and  is 
a  son  of  Lsaac  and  Sarah  (Burner)  Wilkin, 
natives  of  Virginia.  Soon  after  their  mar- 
riage they  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Lick- 
ing county,  and  in  1845  they  Ijecame  resi- 
dents of  Crawford  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming.  Prior  to  his  ar- 
rival in  this  state,  however,  he  had  followed 
contracting  and  building.  His  life  record 
covered  eighty-one  years,  while  his  wife 
passed  awa\-  at  the  ad\anced  age  of  eighty- 
five,  both  dying  in  ^larshall,  Clark  county, 
where  they  were  living  retired.  In  their 
family  were  nine  children,  six  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  four  are  yet  li\'ing,  but 
the  Judge  is  the  only  one  who  resides  in 
Danville.  One  brother  and  a  sister  are  liv- 
ing in  Robertson,  Crawford  count}',  and 
this  brother,  H.  O.  Wilkin,  is  filling  the  posi- 
tion of  circuit  clerk  there.  The  sister,  Mrs. 
]\Iary  JNI.  Coulter,  is  a  widow.  The  other 
brother.  Rev.  [M.  T.  ^^"ilkin,  is  a  minister  of 
the  Alethodist  church,  now  preaching  in  Ur- 
bana.  Illinois. 

When  a  lad  of  eight  years  Judge  \\'ilkin 
was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents  and  at- 
tended school  in  Crawford  county.  He  aft- 
erward became  a  student  in  McKendree 
College  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  and  was 
thus  pursuing  his  literary  education  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out.  Deeply  interested 
in  the  questions  which  involved  the  country 
in  the  struggle  and  most  loyal  to  the  L^nion 
cause,  he  ofi^ered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, enlisting  in  ]\Iarshall,  Clark  county,  as 
a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Illinois  A'olunteer  Infantry,  under 
Colonel  Nathaniel  P.  billies,  the  regiment 
being  assigned  to  the  Thirteenth  Army 
Corps.  With  his  command  the  Judge  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  preceding  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  in  the  campaign  which  was 
followed  by  the  surrender  of  that  southern 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


873 


stronghold.  He  was  on  detached  service  at 
General  (Irant's  headtjuarters  for  sometime 
during  the  siege  and  lie  was  also  in  the  Red 
River  campaign,  during  which  he  partici- 
p;ited  in  ih.e  battle  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads 
anil  other  engagements.  He  also  aided  in 
the  siege  of  Spanish  h'ort.  in  the  campaign 
against  Fort  Blakely  and  in  other  move- 
ments (if  th.e  army  in  that  ilistrict  of  the 
south.  He  had  enlistetl  in  the  spring  o: 
1862.  was  mustered  in  in  August  of  the  same 
year  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  he  received  an 
Itonorable  dischharge,  having  b.een  in  the 
army  for  more  than  three  years.  He  joined 
his  company  as  a  private  hut  was  soon  aft- 
erward comniivsiimed  its  captain  and  when 
mustered  out  held  the  rank  of  major  of  the 
One  Hinulred  and  Thirtieth  Illinois  Regi- 
ment, which  was  a  consolidation  of  the  old 
One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  and  the  Sev- 
enty-seventh Regiments.  W^ith  his  com- 
mand he  was  mustered  out  at  Mobile  and  re- 
cei\cd  his  discharge  at  Springtield.  Illinois. 
I'ollowing  his  return  to  civil  life  Judge 
Wilkin  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the 
direction  of  Judge  Scholfield,  a  distin- 
guished member  of  the  Illinois  bar  and  a 
jurist  of  prominence.  In  1806  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  and  he  began  practice  in 
^Marshall.  Clark  cmuity.  As  a  partner  of  his 
former  preceptor  he  practiced  from  1867  tm- 
til  1873,  and  in  the  latter  year  the  dissolution 
of  the  business  relationship  was  brought 
abiiut  by  the  election  nf  Judge  Scholfield  to 
the  supreme  bench.  Jtidge  Wilkin  was  then 
alone  in  practice  until  1879.  when  he  was 
elected  circuit  juilge  of  the  fourth  circuit, 
comprising  the  counties  of  Clark,  Edgar, 
Coles,  Vermilion,  Douglas,  IMoultrie,  ]\Ia- 
con,  Piatt  and  Champaign.  He  continued  to 
reside  in  >.larshall.  Illinois,  until  1885,  when 
he  was  re-elected  circuit  iudge  and  was  as- 


signed to  the  appellate  court  of  the  fourth 
district,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Dau;^ 
\ille.  Jn  June,  j888,  he  was  elected  jLo  the 
supreme  bench,  succeeding  Judge  John  M. 
Scott,  t)f  McL.ean  count}',  and  in  i8y7  was 
re-elected  so  that  he  is  now  ;i  member  of  the 
court  of  last  resort.  When  first  elected  he 
became  an  associate  of  his  former  preceptor, 
Judge  Scholfield,  who  was  also  upon  the 
bench  and  continued  a  memljcr  of  the  su- 
prciue  cinirt  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  I'ebruary,  1893.  -"^  '^i'^"  "^  unimpeacha- 
ble character,  of  unttsual  intellectual  endow- 
ments, with  a  thorough  understanding  of 
the  law.  i)atience,  urbanity  and  industry, 
Judge  Wilkin  took  to  the  bench  the  very 
highest  (jualifications  for  this  most  respon- 
sible office  in  the  system  of  the  state  gox'em- 
ment ;  and  his  record  as  a  judge  has  been  in 
harmony  with  his  record  as  a  man  and  law- 
yer, distingiushed  by  unswerving  integrity 
and  a  masterful  grasp  of  every  problem  that 
has  presented  itself  for  solution.  The  Judge 
has  great  respect  for  the  dignity  of  judicial 
place  and  power,  and  no  man  ever  presided 
in  a  court  with  more  respect  for  his  environ- 
ments than  does  Judge  Wilkin.  As  a  result 
of  that  personal  characteristic  the  proceed- 
ings are  always  orderly  upon  the  part  of 
e\'erv  one — audience,  bar  and  the  ofiicers 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest.  His  opin- 
ions are  fine  specimens  of  judicial  thought, 
always  clear,  logical,  and  as  brief  as  the 
cluiracter  of  the  case  will  permit.  He  never 
enlarges  beyond  the  necessities  of  the  legal 
thotiglit  in  order  to  indulge  in  the  drapery  of 
literature.  His  mind,  during  the  entire  per- 
iod of  his  course  at  the  bar  and  on  the  bench, 
has  been  directed  in  the  line  of  his  profession 
and  his  duty,  .\side  from  the  practice  of 
law  and  the  ])erformance  of  his  judicial  du- 
ties, Iudge  Wilkin  has  to  some  extent  been 


874 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


interested  in  other  business  enterprises,  hav- 
ing formerly  been  tlic  president  of  the  Ori- 
ental b'louring  Company  of  Danville. 

In  September,  1865,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Judge  Wilkin  and  Miss  Alice 
E.  Constable,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Charles 
H.  Constable,  and  unto  them  were  born  four 
children,  of  whom  one  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  are :  Harry  O.,  John  Scholheld  and 
Jessie  B.  The  sons  are  both  in  Oregon.  In 
tiie  early  spring  of  1883  Mrs.  Wilkin  died, 
her  remains  interred  in  Marshall  cemetery. 
In  the  fall  of  1885  the  Judge  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being'  with  Sarah  E. 
Archer,  a  daughter  of  Judge  William  C. 
Whitlock,  of  Marshall,  Illinois.  By  her  first 
marriage  she  had  one  son,  William  Archer, 
who  is  now  a  practicing  attorney  of  Chicago. 

The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Danville  and 
is  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  Formerly  he  was  a  Re- 
publican and  serx'cd  as  a  Grant  elector  in 
1872.  To  a  man  of  broad  mind  who  has 
made  a  close  stud)'  of  social  and  economic 
questions  as  well  as  of  the  political  history 
of  his  country,  the  subject  of  education  is 
always  a  matter  of  interest  and  for  many 
years  Judge  Wilkin  served  as  a  trustee  of  the 
Southern  Illinois  Normal  School.  Fratei"n- 
ally  he  is  a  prominent  iNIason,  belonging  to 
the  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  of  Dan- 
ville and  of  the  consistory  and  shrine  of  Chi- 
cago. He  is  also  identified  with  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  with  the  Loyal 
Legion  of  Chicago.  A  gentleman  of  pleas- 
ing and  courteous  manner  he  is  not  less  es- 
teemed for  his  social  worth  than  his  profes- 
sional ability  and  he  is  to-day  numbered 
among  the  distinguished  residents  of  the 
state  because  of  his  well  rounded  character, 
his  evenly  balanced  mind  and  splendid  in- 
tellectual attainments. 


JAMES  SLOAN. 

James  Sloan,  who  is  now  so  efficiently 
serving  as  sheriff  of  Vermilion  county,  is 
a  native  of  Illinois,  his  l)irth  having  occur- 
red in  Joliet,  \\'ill  county,  on  the  31st  of 
March,  1851.  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Campbell)  Sloan,  were  both  born 
in  Canada  and  are  now  deceased.  During 
his  early  life  the  father  followed  farming 
in  the  Dominion,  but  his  last  days  were 
spent  in  Joliet,  Illinois.  Of  his  nine  chil- 
dren six  are  still  li\-ing  but  our  subject  is 
the  only  member  of  the  family  residing  in 
this  county. 

Mr.  Sloan  is  inbebted  to  the  public 
schools  of  Joliet  for  his  early  school  privi- 
eges,  but  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  his  edu- 
cation was  completed  as  far  as  attending 
school  was  concerned,  and  he  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  at  first  working  as  a 
farm  hand  in  Will  county.  On  the  3d  of 
May,  1868,  he  accepted  a  position  with  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  water  boy, 
and  remained  in  the  railroad  service  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  being  gradually  pro- 
moted— first  to  laborer  and  later  to  section 
foreman,  road  master  and  general  road  mas- 
ter. He  only  remained  with  the  Chicago  & 
Alton  a  short  time,  however,  being  em- 
ployed on  the  construction  of  their  double 
tracks,  and  on  the  24th  of  November,  1868, 
left  theii'  cmpio}'  and  was  connected  with 
the  construction  of  the  Peoria,  Pekin  & 
Jacksonville  Railroad  until  June  23,  1869. 
He  was  next  with  the  Indiana.  Blooming- 
ton  &  W'estern  road,  now  a  part  of  the  Big 
Four  system,  entering  their  employ  June 
2T,.  i86g,  on  construction  \\-ork,  and  re- 
maining with  tlicni  until  the  completion  of 
the  road  December  19,  1S70,  when  he  took 
charge  of  a  section  as  foreman  and  served 
as  such  until  October  3,  1875.     He  was  then 


JAMES  SLOAN. 


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THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S77 


promoted  to  road  master  in  charge  of  the 
Peoria  division  and  filled  that  position  until 
the  15th  of  Xovember,  1878,  when  he  was 
given  charge  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad  as  general  road  master,  with 
oflice  in  Danville.  He  remained  with  that 
road  until  March  t,i,  1890,  when  he  re- 
signed and  took  charge  of  the  Clover  Leaf 
Railroad  with  oltices  in  East  St.  Louis,  hut 
reniainerl  with  that  company  onl)'  until  the 
3rd  of  May,  1890,  when  he  resigned  and 
accepted  a  similar  position  with  the  I^ake 
Eric  &  Western  Railroad  between  La- 
fayette. Indiana,  and  Peoria,  Illinois,  with 
lieacl-c|uarlers  at  Paxton. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1873,  Mr. 
Sloan  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda  Stone,  a  native  of  Pekin,  Tazewell 
county  Illinois,  and  to  them  have  been  born 
eight  children,  as  follows  :  Lucinda,  the  oldest 
child,  who  died  in  infancy;  Minnie,  now  the 
wife  of  O.  D.  Ehlicher,  a  druggist  of  Pekin, 
Illinois:  James,  who  married  Frances  Mc- 
Reynolds,  of  Danville,  and  is  now  assisting 
his  father  in  the  duties' of  his  office;  Ellen; 
Henry,  who  married  Esther  Tobby,  and  is 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business  in 
Danville;  Will.  Lulu  and  Florence,  all  at 
home. 

I  he  Republican  parly  has  ahvavs  found 
in  Mr.  Sloan  a  stanch  supporter  of  its  prin- 
ciples and  he  has  taken  a  very  prominent 
and  inlluential  part  in  public  affairs.  Dur- 
ing his  early  residence  in  Danville,  in  iS8.^, 
he  was  elected  and  ser\-ed  as  alderman  from 
tlie  second  ward  for  two  terms  and  in  1887 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  while  serving 
his  second  term  as  alderman,  and  that  office 
he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents  for  two 
years.  In  April,  1893,  wliile  living  in  Pax- 
ton,  Illinois,  he  was  again  elected  mayor  of 
Danville,  and  returned  to  this  citv  to  enter 


upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  again  ser\-ing 
one  term.  On  December  5,  1894,  he  accept- 
ed the  p(?sition  of  deputy  sherifl'  and  ser\ed 
in  that  capacity  for  four  years,  continuing 
after  his  term  as  mayor  expired,  and  was 
elected  sheriff  in  the  fall  of  1898.  He 
proved  a  most  capal)le  and  trust- 
worthy officer,  serving  until  Decem- 
ber I,  1902,  and  in  all  the  relations 
of  life  has  been  found  true  and  faithful  to 
any  trust  reposed  in  him.  Socially  Mr. 
Sloan  is  a  prominent  Mason,  belonging  to 
the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  of 
Danville,  and  the  consistory  and  }klystic 
Shrine  of  Chicago.  Lie  is  also  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks, 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
the  Roaclmaster's  Association  of  America, 
in  which  he  served  as  vice-president  for  three 
ov  four  terms.  He  is  now  a  director  of  the 
Vermilion  Building  Association,  and  as  a 
public-spirited  citizen  he  takes  a  commend- 
able interest  in  all  ino\-ements  calculated  to 
l)rove  of  public  benefit. 


JOFIN    SPROULS. 


John  Spronls,  a  prominent  and  enter- 
])rising  farmer,  is  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  of  rich  land  in 
Georgetown  township  and  the  neat  appear- 
ance of  his  place  with  its  excellent  improve- 
ments and  modern  equipments  is  an  indica- 
tion of  the  careful  supervision  which  he 
gives  to  his  property  and  to  his  farm  work 
in  its  various  departments.  His  birth  oc- 
curred upon  this  farm,  February  26,  1845, 
and  he  belongs  to  one  of  the  old  and  honored 
pioneer  families  of  (he  county.  His  father, 
James  S])rou!s.  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and   in   enrlv  life  went   from   that  state  to 


8/8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Ohio,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
Miss  Mary  Hathaway.  He  sought  and  won 
iier  hand  in  marriage  and  they  began  tlieir 
domestic  Hie  in  Ohio,  which  was  her  nati\'e 
state,  there  hving  until  1837,  wlien  tliey 
started  westward,  taking  up  their  abode  in 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  Here  ]\Ir. 
Sprouis  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  from  the  government,  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  a  quarter  section,  a  part 
of  the  farm  upon  which  his  son  John  now 
resides.  \\'ith  characteristic  energy  he  be- 
gan improving  the  land,  turned  the  first  fur- 
rows in  the  fields  and  carried  on  the  task  of 
plowing  and  planting  until  his  fields  were 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  in  fact,  he 
continueil  farm  work  there  throughout  his 
remaining  days.  On  the  nth  of  March, 
1S45,  while  riding  a  horse,  he  was  thrown 
and  killed.  In  her  later  years  the  mother 
lived  among  her  children  in  this  county  and 
reached  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
three.  Unto  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Sprouis  had  been 
born  thirteen  children,  five  of  whom  now 
sur\-ive,  while  most  of  the  others  died  in 
early  childhood.  ,\ndrew  married  America 
Pribble  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  \'er- 
milinn  county.  Indiana.  Cieorge  wedded 
Hannah  J.  Davis  and  follows  agricultural 
pursuits  on  a  part  of  the  old  homestead. 
Elizabeth  is  tlie  wife  of  William  Ruby  and 
resides  in  Newport,  Indiana.  Hannah  is  the 
widow  of  Sanshury  Holdaway  and  resides 
in  Eugene.  Indiana. 

John  Sprouis,  of  this  re\'iew,  the  young- 
est member  of  the  family,  was  but  an  in- 
fant at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  His 
educational  pri\-ileges  were  obtained  in  the 
common  schools.  Throughout  his  youth  he 
remained  at  hdUie  assisting  his  mother  in  the 
work  of  the  home  farm  and  assuming  its 
management  as  he  attained  an  age  that  qual- 
ified him  for  such  a  task.     He  sought  as  a 


companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  journey 
Miss  Sarah  Ann  Hearst,  their  marriage  be- 
ing celebrated  here.  The  lady  was  born  in 
A'ermilicjn  county,  Indiana,  where  her  fa- 
ther carried  on  farming,  but  afterward  he 
removed  to  Missouri  and  there  died.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sprouis  has  been 
blessed  with  nine  children :  Etta,  the  wife 
of  John  Brown,  a  resident  farmer  of  George- 
town township;  Amos  B.,  who  married  Bes- 
sie Sollars  and  is  a  farmer  of  Georgetown 
township ;  Alice,  the  wife  of  Hanson  Nut- 
cher,  who  is  living  in  \^ermilion  county, 
Indiana:  and  Leonard,  Clara,  Laura,  Grover 
and  Gertie,  all  at  home;  and  Doha,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Air.  Sprouis  and  his 
brother  George  took  charge  of  the  home 
place,  equally  dividing  the  property,  our  sub- 
ject becoming  the  owner  of  the  south  half 
anil  there  he  has  since  resided.  He  has, 
howe\er,  extended,  the  boundaries  of  his 
place  by  additional  purchases  until  he  now 
owns  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land,  on  which  he  has  made 
many  nice  improvements,  where  he  carries 
on  general  farming.  His  attention  is  chiefly 
gi\-en  to  stock-raising  and  he  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  fine  cattle.  He  has  found  this  a 
good  source  of  income  and  has  become  well 
known  as  a  stock-dealer  throughout  this 
part  of  the  state.  As  the  years  have  passed 
by  his  success  has  increased  and  yet  he  owes 
his  financial  advancement  not  to  any  outside 
aid  or  influence  but  to  earnest  work,  sup- 
])lemente(l  by  sound  business  judgment.  He 
lias  always  voted  with  the  Democracy  and 
believes  firmly  in  the  principles  of  the  party. 
r>oth  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methiulist  Episcopal  church  of  Georgetown 
township  and  are  earnest  Christian  people, 
whose  lives  are  in  harmony  with  th.eir  faith 
and  professions. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


879 


C.  D.  KENTON,  M.  D. 

The  tilting-  reward  of  a  well  spent  life  is 
an  liunora1)le  retirement  in  which  to  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  former  toil  and  a  period  of  rest 
from  labor.  This  has  been  vouchsafed  to 
Dr.  Henton  as  the  reward  of  his  energy  and 
perseverance  in  former  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  practicing  physicians  of  \'er- 
niilion  county,  having  located  here  in  1853. 
His  death  occurred  in  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 3.  1S31,  his  parents  being  Evan  and 
Maria  (Inskeep)  Henton,  both  of  whom 
were  nati\es  of  Ohio  and  during  the  greater 
part  of  their  lives  they  were  residents  of  the 
vicinity  of  Hillslxiro.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  jjy  occupation  and  always  carried  on 
that  pursuit  in  order  to  provide  for  the  sup- 
port of  liis  family. 

The  Doctor  obtained  his  early  education 
in  his  native  state,  supplementing  his  com- 
mon-school privileges  by  study  in  the  acad- 
emy at  Hillsboro,  Ohio.  He  was  the  only 
member  of  the  family  that  ever  came  to 
X'erinilion  county,  the  year  1853  witness- 
ing his  arrival  here  and  he  Un\k  up  bis 
abode  near  Myersville,  where  he  began  prac- 
ticing. While  living  there  he  was  married  to 
.Miss  Susan  (lundy,  thus  securing  a  faithful 
comjianion  and  helpmate  for  life's  joiu'ney. 
She  w;'s  born  near  Myersville,  June  6.  1833, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Davidson) 
(lundy.  both  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  whence 
they  came  to  Vermilion  county  at  a  very 
early  epoch  in  the  history  of  this  portion  of 
tiie  state.  Her  father  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  near  Myersville  and  was  there  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  suc- 
cessfully carrying  on  business  until  his 
death.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  one 
daughter.  Hattie  May. 

In  i860  Dr.  Henton  entered  Rush  Medi- 
cal  College  of   Chicago,  in   which   he  wvas 


graduated  with  the  class  of  1861  and  given 
a  lertificate  to  practice.  He  then  returned 
to  ^lyersville,  where  he  soon  secured  a 
liberal  patronage  ;uid  gained  thorough  ex- 
perience as  a  medical  practitioner.  He  con- 
tinued at  that  place  until  1872,  when  desir- 
ing a  wider  field  of  labor  he  came  to  Danville 
and  opened  an  office  on  Vermilion  street. 
He  was  not  long  in  winning  the  public  con- 
fidence by  reason  of  his  skill  and  abilitv  and 
he  continued  in  active  practice  until  1897, 
when  on  account  of  failing  health  be  laid 
aside  bis  professional  duties  and  has  since 
li\'ed  retired.  He  was  very  successful  in  his 
cbdsen  field  (jf  labor  and  his  career  was  one 
of  progression  for  his  was  a  nature  that 
could  not  l^e  content  with  mediocrity  and  he 
steadily  advanced  until  he  won  a  foremost 
i)lace  aninng  the  capal)le  jihysicians  of  Ver- 
milion county. 

I\Ir.  Henton  has  nc\'er  held  nor  sought 
office,  yet  he  has  ever  been  a  stanch  advocate 
of  Republican  principles  and  has  kept  well 
informed  on  the  issues  and  questions  of  the 
day.  He  is  an  exemplary  rei)resentative  of 
tlie  Masonic  fraternity  of  Danxille  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Kimber 
Methodist  E])iscopal  church  of  this  city.  He 
owns  a  beautiful  home  at  No.  519  West 
JMadison  street,  where  he  is  now  living  with 
his  wife  an^l  daughter.  Hospitality  reigns 
supreme  there  and  unto  the  Doctor  and  bis 
family  is  freely  accorded  in  turn  the  hospi- 
tality of  many  of  the  best  homes  of  tlie  city. 


JESSE  LANE. 

Vov  sixty-seven  years  Jesse  Lane  has  re- 
sided in  Illinois.  He  is  now  living  retired  in 
Potomac,  but  was  for  many  years  one  of  the 
active  business  men  of  the  town  and  a  thrifty 


88o 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


farmer  of  the  county.  He  was  born  near 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  January  27,  1831,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  Lane,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  North  Carohna  about  1796.  About  1815 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  the 
family  becoming  early  settlers  of  that  state. 
William  Lane  v.'as  three  times  married,  his 
third  union  being  with  Nancy  Lacy,  who 
\vas  a  native  of  Georgia  but  was  reared  in 
Ohio.  It  was  she  who  became  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  review.  Mr.  Lane  re- 
moved from  Ohio  to  Indiana  and  lived  in 
different  counties  of  that  state  until  1835, 
when  he  came  to  A^ermilion  county,  Illinois, 
settling  in  Blount  township.  Tliere  he  en- 
tered land  and  opened  up  a  farm  ^^•hich  con- 
tinued to  be  his  place  of  residence  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1884,  when  he  had 
reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight 
years. 

It  was  upon  this  farm  that  Jesse  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  work- 
ing in  the  fields  and  meadows  through  the 
summer  while  in  the  winter  season  he  at- 
tended school  to  a  limited  extent,  but  his 
knowledge  has  been  largely  acquired  in  the 
school  of  experience,  and  through  observa- 
tion and  reading  he  has  gained  .much  practi- 
cal knowledge.  In  early  life  he  began  farm 
work  on  his  own  account.  His  father  gave 
him  ninety-hve  acres  of  raw  land  in  what 
is  now  Middlefork  township.  Upon  this 
he  turned  the  first  furrows  and  also  made 
the  rails  to  fence  his  tract.  With  the  work 
of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  he  was 
actively  engaged  and  in  later  years  as  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  his 
property  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  acres.  He  erected 
a  good  residence,  substanlial  l)arns  and  out- 
buildings and  planted  three  orchards.  He 
also  adorned  his  place  by  shade  trees,  tiled 
his  land  and  made  substantial  improvements 


which  transformed  his  farm  into  a  valuable 
place.  In  the  barnyard  were  foitud  good 
grades  of  stock  and  he  both  raised  and  fed 
stock  for  the  market.  About  1875  he  rented 
his  farm  and  removed  to  Potomac,  where 
he  purchased  residence  property.  He  also 
bought  a  lumber  yard  and  became  connected 
with  the  commercial  interests  of  the  place. 
For  ten  years  he  engaged  in  dealing  in  lum- 
ber and  coal.  He  has  also  made  investments 
in  more  land  and  is  to-day  the  owner  of  two 
\aluable  farms  in  the  county,  the  rental  from 
which  returns  to  him  an  excellent  income. 
He  has  purchased  the  old  Lane  homestead 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  ncres  on 
the  Danville  road,  eight  miles  northwest  of 
the  city. 

I\Ir.  Lane  was  married  in  this  county 
i\Iarcli  3,  T853,  to  Delilah  Smith,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  although  reared  in  Vermilion  county 
where  her  father,  John  Smith,  located  at  an 
early  day.  ]Mr.  Lane  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife  about  1864.  She 
left  four  children :  Clara  B.  is  the  wife  of 
Jolm  Davis,  of  Arizona;  Eftie  is  the  w^ife  of 
William  Warren,  of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
and  has  two  children,  William  and  Daisy; 
Mary  Elizabeth  and  Amanda,  the  third  and 
fourth  children,  li\ed  to  lie  married  and  both 
are  now  deceased.  In  1867  ]\Ir.  Lane  was 
married  to  Emaline  Pouch,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Ohio.  There  she  married 
Simpson  Pouch  and  later  came  to  Illinois, 
Mrs.  Lane  has  a  son  by  her  first  marriage, 
William  O.  Pouchs,  of  Oregon,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  a  family.  Mr.  Lane  has  another 
grandchild,  Alta  Holth,  the  wife  of  John 
Holth,  and  a  son  of  Amanda  Lane,  who 
married  Francis  Shain. 

Politically  Mr.  Lane  is  a  Jeffersonian 
Democrat,  having  always  supported  the  party 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for 
James  Buchanan  in  1856.     The  only  excep- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S8i 


tion  which  he  lias  made  was  in  1S72.  He 
has  served  as  one  of  the  town  board,  aided 
in  organizing  tlie  town  and  has  frequently 
l)een  a  member  of  the  school  board.  He 
has  also  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  county 
conventions  of  his  party  and  has  ever  been 
deeply  interested  in  its  growth  and  success. 
He  and  his  \\iie  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  of  Potomac  and  he  is  one  of 
its  trustees.  Through  almost  seven  decades 
Mr.  Lane  has  resided  in  \"crmilion  county 
and  is  therefore  to-day  one  of  its  honored 
pioneers  and  has  witnessed  almost  its  entire 
grov.-th  and  development  as  it  has  emerged 
from  primitixe  cmiditions  to  take  its  place 
among  the  best  counties  of  this  great  state. 
The  deer  and  wolves  which  lived  in  the  forest 
and  roamed  over  the  ])rairies  have  all  dis- 
appearetl  and  in  their  place  are  seen  fine 
grades  of  stock.  The  primitive  frontier 
homes  have  been  replaced  by  substantial  farm 
residences  and  attractive  city  homes.  Roads 
have  been  constructed,  farms  improved  and 
industrial  and  commercial  activity  has 
transformed  the  cities.  Everything  indi- 
cates im[)ro\-cmcnt  and  progress,  in  all  of 
which  Air.  Lane  has  taken  a  keen  and  active 
interest,  l)earing  his  part  in  the  work  of  de- 
velopment as  he  has  found  opportunity.  He 
is  to-day  an  honored  resident  of  the  com- 
munity and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  pre- 
sent the  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers. 


EXOS  COOK. 


No  state  in.  the  L'nion  can  boast  of  a  m(  ire 
heroic  band  of  pioneers  than  Illinois  in  their 
intelligence,  capability  and  genius.  They 
ranked  with  the  pioneers  of  the  east,  and 
their  hardships,  privations  and  earnest  labors 
have  resulted  in  establishing  one  of  the  fore- 


most coiiimonwealths  of  America,  the  possi- 
bilities of  wdiich  are  greater  than  any  of  those 
possessed  by  her  sister  states.  Among  the 
early  settlers  of  Vermilion  county  was  Enos 
Cook,  who  for  thirty-live  years  maintained 
his  residence  here,  dying  September  11,  1877. 
He  was  born  in  L'uion  county,  Indiana,  No- 
vemlier  14,  181 7,  and  came  of  Quaker  an- 
cestry. 

The  ancestral  line  can  be  traced  liack  to 
Peter  Cook,  a  native  of  Chcstershire,  Eng- 
land, who  started  for  America  in  171 3  but 
died  on  the  voyage.  The  ne.xt  in  direct  line 
was  Peter  Cook,  Jr.,  who  was  the  father  of 
Thomas  Cook.  The  latter  was  born  in  Cdies- 
♦ershire,  England,  in  1704,  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Elinor  (^Norman)  Cook,  who  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1713,  and  in  Chester  county, 
that  state,  Thomas  Cook  wedded  Mary  Un- 
derwood. In  1742  they  removed  to  War- 
rington, York  county,  Pennsylvania,  where 

Thomas  Cook  died  between  1749  and  1752. 
His  son  Isaac  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject.  He  was  probably  born  in  1743, 
as  the  records  show  that  he  died  at  Caesar's 
C'reek,  Ohio,  in  1820,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  His  wife  was  Cbarit\-  Cook,  a 
gifted  woman  among  the  Quakers,  who  took 
a  very  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  work 
of  the  society.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Rachel  (Wells)  Wright.  Her  son, 
Thomas  Cook,  was  born  in  South  Carolina, 
January  3,  1770,  and  was  married  Septem- 
ber 5,  1792,  to  Keziah  Henderson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  and  Rebecca  Henderson 
Emigrating  westward  in  1824,  Thomas 
Cook  took  up  his  abode  in  \crniilion  county, 
Illinois,   where  he   resided   until   bis  death. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he 
was  a  leading  member  of  the  Society  of 
b'riends  and  was  noted  for  his  many  social 
and  Christian  virtues.  His  son,  Zimri  Cook, 
the  fatlier  of  our  subject,  was  also  a  native 


882 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  South  Carolina  and  in  youth  became  a 
resident  of  Ohio,  settling  near  Dayton.  He 
afterward  removed  to  Union  county,  In- 
diana, and  from  there  came  to  Vermilion 
county.  Illinois.  While  in  Ohio  he  married 
Elizabeth  Thornton,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children,  live  sons  and  one  daughter.  They 
all  died  in  this  county.  They  were  Enos, 
Henderson,  Evarts,  Thomas,  Joshua  and 
Ellen,  the  wife  of  Arthur  Jackson,  a  noted 
Methodist  minister,  who  resided  here  for 
many  years. 

Enos  Cook  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity  until  about  niiieteen  years  of  age. 
From  1836  until  1838  he  lived  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Fayette,  Hemy  and  Wayne,  Indiana, 
and  then  went  to  Iowa,  spending  several 
months  in  traveling  over  that  state.  Later 
he  retiu'ned  to  \\'ayne  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  followed  tlie  saddlers  trade  and  af- 
terward carried  on  a  similar  business  in 
Henry  county.  The  fall  of  1841  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  \'ermilion  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  resided  continuously  until  his 
death.  He  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
which  he  followed  in  connection  with  work 
at  his  trade  for  several  years.  In  1858,  how- 
ever, he  took  up  his  abode  in  Georgetown 
and  there  engaged  in  the  saddlery  business 
throughout  the  period  of  the  Civil  war.  In 
1868  he  established  a  hotel  in  Georgetown, 
which  he  conducted  until  his  death.  It  is 
the  only  hotel  in  the  place  and  was  well 
patronized,  because  of  the  earnest  effort 
which  he  made  to  provide  for  the  comfort 
of  his  guests. 

Mr.  Cook  was  married  in  Louisville, 
Henry  county,  Indiana,  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1839,  to  Melinda,  daughter  of  Robert  Har- 
ris. Unto  them  were  born  three  children : 
Benjamin  F.,  whose  sketch  follows  this: 
Sylvester  J.,  who  is  living  retired  in  George- 
town ;  and  Emma,  who  died  at  an  early  age. 


her  death  being  deeply  deplored  by  all  who 
knew  her,  because  of  her  beautiful  character. 
Both  sons  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Union 
army,  enlisting  at  the  same  time  in  Com- 
pany A,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  in 
which  the  younger  serxed  out  his  time,  while 
the  elder  brother  was  in  active  field  service 
until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
on  the  nth  of  December,  1864,  after  which 
he  was  detached  and  appointed  judge 
advocate  of  court  martial  at  Nashville, 
filling  tliat  position  until  1866.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  Union 
cause  and  the  government  policy  throughout 
the  period  of  the  Civil  war  and  cheerfully 
gave  his  only  sons  to  the  Union  cause.  He 
led  a  life  of  industry  and  of  honor  and,  al- 
though he  did  not  acquire  wealth,  he  gained 
a  comfortable  competence  and  maintained  a 
reputation  for  straightforward  dealing  and 
for  upright  manhood,  which  is  above  wealth. 


BENJA^IIN  F.  COOK. 

For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  Ben- 
jamin F.  Cook  has  been  a  representative  of 
the  legal  profession  at  the  Danville  bar  and 
has  long  maintained  a  place  in  the  foremost 
ranks  of  this  calling.  With  a  nature  that 
could  never  content  itself  with  mediocrity 
and  w'th  a  realization  of  the  fact  that  at  the 
bar  adxancement  is  had  only  through  in- 
dividual merit,  he  has  worked  his  way  up- 
ward, having  long  since  passed  the  many 
to  stand  among  the  successful  few. 

I\Ir.  Cook  was  born  on  the  3d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1841.  in  Greensboro.  Indiana,  and  in 
his  first  year  was  brought  by  his  parents, 
Mr.  and  JNIrs.  Enos  Cook,  to  \'ermilion 
county,  the  family  settling  in  Georgetown. 
The  father's  sketch  is  given  above.     At  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAI,    RECORD 


883 


usual  age  ^[r.  Cook  began  liis  education, 
attending  the  public  schools  and  in  early  life 
he  also  learned  the  harness  maker's  trade 
witli  his  father,  hul  after  the  country  had 
become  involved  in  Civil  war.  arising 
through  the  differences  of  opinion  brought 
on  by  the  slavery  ciuestion  and  the  attempt 
of  the  S(nith  at  secession,  he  put  aside  his 
business  cares  and  personal  interests  that 
he  might  perform  his  duty  as  a  lo)al  son  of 
the  Union.  Enlisting,  he  became  a  mem- 
l>er  of  Company  A,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, in  1863  and  he  participated  in  a 
number  of  important  engagements,  includ- 
ing the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  Perry ville.  Stone 
River  and  Corinth.  He  was  also  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Nashville,  on  tlie  nth  of  September, 
1864,  at  which  time  he  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  to  the  position 
of  first  lieutenant  in  the  Twelfth  United 
States  Colored  troops  and  it  was  with  that 
command  that  he  went  forth  to  take  part  in 
the  engagement  at  Nashville.  His  injvn'ies 
disabled  him  from  further  field  service  and 
he  was  thereui)t)n  detailed  fur  cnurt  martial 
dutv.  lieing  appointed  the  judge  atlvocate, 
and  until  the  close  of  the  war  he  prosecuted 
claims  and  cases  for  the  government  before 
the  several  militar}-  courts  in  the  city  of 
Nashville  and  that  vicinity,  being  thus  en- 
gaged until  honorably  discharged  on  the 
i6th  of  January.  1866.  Mr.  Cook  remained 
in  Nasln'ille  until  the  fall  of  1869  ami  in 
the  meantime  he  was  there  atlmitted  to  the 
bar.  successfully  passing  an  examination  be- 
fore the  juilge  of  the  circuit,  the  chancery 
and  the  criminal  courts.  In  1867  he  was 
elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Nashville 
and  <lischarged  his  duties  with  such  ability 
that  he  was  re-elected,  serving  for  two  terms. 
He  then  <letermined  to  rctiuMi  to  the  north 
and  in  1869  left  Nashville.     On  the  17th  of 


March,  1875.  he  came  to  Danville  and  has 
since  been  an  active  representative  of  the 
legal  profession  in  this  place.  The  clientage 
accorded  to  him  has  been  of  an  important 
and  rejiresentative  character.  He  has  made 
a  specialty  of  acting  as  pension  attorney  and 
has  presented  many  claims  against  the  gov- 
ernment for  his  clients  from  Maine  to  Cali- 
fornia, being  successful  in  a  large  number  of 
these.  Mr.  Cook  has  also  Ijeen  coimected 
with  real  estate  dealing,  buving  and  selling 
l)roperty,  Jtnd  has  handled  considerable  valu- 
able realty  here,  whereby  he  has  materially 
increased  his  income. 

On  the  jd  of  September,  1872,  was  per- 
formed the  marriage  ceremony  of  Benjamin 
F.  Cook  and  Laura  3il.  l^awrence,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Eliza  Lawrence,  of  George- 
town, Illinois.  The  hospitality  of  many  of 
the  best  homes  of  this  city  is  extended  to 
them  and  they  have  a  large  circle  of  friends 
here.  They  l)eIong  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  Mr.  Cook  is  identified  with 
the  Grand  Army  Post.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Republican,  but  he  has  preferred  to  ab- 
stain from  actix'e  part  in  political  work  in 
order  to  devote  his  entire  atteutinu  to  his 
professional  duties. 


MRS.  LINEA  E.  GOODNER. 

]\lrs.  Linea  Elizabeth  Goodner  is  well 
k'uciwn  in  Ridgefarm,  having  for  a  consider- 
able ])eriod  been  a  resident  of  this  portion 
(if  \'ermilion  coimty.  She  was  burn  Octo- 
ber I.  1 866.  in  Jasjier.  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Nanc\-  ((iregstjuj  Sand- 
ers, hdtli  of  will  mi  were  nati\-es  of  Kentucky, 
whence  they  removed  to  Jasper  county,  Illi- 
nois, soon  after  their  marirage.  There  they 
remained  for  a  number  of  years  and  then 


SS4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


came  to  Vermilion  county,  settling  on  a 
farm  near  Georgetown.  Here  the  father 
died  in  1875  ^^^^  ^'^^  mother  afterward  took 
lip  her  abode  in  Ridgefarm,  where  her  death 
occurred  in  1885.  Tklrs.  Goodner  had  four 
sisters :  \'anetta  3ilcCorkle.  who  died  leav- 
ing two  children :  ^Irs.  Rebecca  Foster,  of 
Danville,  who  has  two  children;  Mrs.  ^lary 
Goodner,  of  Ridgefarm,  who  has  two  chil- 
dren ;  and  ]\Irs.  Alaggie  Carson,  of  Ridge- 
farm. who  has  four  children. 

Mrs.  Goodner,  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  spent  her  girlhood  da}^s  under 
the  parental  roof  and  obtained  her  education 
in  the  public  schools.  She  lived  with  her 
parents  until  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage 
to  John  Goodner  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1887.  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
He  was  born  near  Georgetown  in  this  county 
and  his  parents  were  natives  of  Germany, 
whence  they  came  to  America,  settling  in 
\'ermilion  county  at  an  early  day.  His 
familv  became  prominent  in  the  community 
and  Air.  Goodner  was  ever  respected  for 
his  genuine  worth.  For  a  year  after  their 
marriage  the  young  couple  resided  on  the 
home  farm  and  then  removed  to  the  village 
of  Ridgefarm,  where  they  lived  happily  until 
the  31st  of  Alay,  i8qi,  when  ]Mr.  Goodner 
was  called  to  his  final  rest,  passing  away 
from  heart  trouble.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Pleasant  Mound  cemetery  at 
Georgetown,  and  his  death  was  the  occasion 
of  deep  regret  throughout  the  community. 
!Mrs.  Goodner  was  thus  left  alone  with  the 
care  of  her  two  children,  Charles  Wesley 
and  Cassius,  aged  respectively  twelve  and 
seven  years.  They  are  still  with  their 
mother,  who  is  devoted  to  their  welfare  and 
happiness.  ]^lrs.  Goodner  is  an  active  and 
earnest  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
takes  a  leading  part  in  the  Christian  En- 
deavor Societv  and  in  Sundav-school  work. 


Her  influence  is  ever  on  the  side  of  moral 
progress  and  throughout  the  community 
where  she  has  now  resided  for  some  years 
she  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 


A.  L.   JOHNSON. 


-K.  L.  Johnson  is  one  of  the  progressive 
and  wide-awake  farmers  and  stock-raisers 
of  Ross  township,  living  on  section  4,  where 
he  owns  and  operates  two  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  of  valuable  land,  well  improved  with 
modern  equipments.  He  was  born  in  \'in- 
ton  county,  Ohio,  January  21,  1844,  and  his 
father.  Abraham  Johnson,  was  also  a  native 
of  that  locality,  born  in  1816.  He  came  of 
German  ancestry  and  wedded  Matilda  Pew- 
thers,  a  lad}'  of  Scotch  descent,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  Ohio.  To  provide  for  his  family 
he  followed  farming  in  Vinton  county  and 
there  spent  his  entire  life,  his  death  result- 
ing from  an  accident  in  1876.  His  wife  had 
previousl)-  passed  away,  having  been  called 
to  her  final  rest  in  1873.  In  their  family 
of  five  sons  and  two  daughters  A.  L.  John- 
son was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  The 
sons  and  one  of  the  daughters  are  yet  living 
in  Ohio  with  the  exception  of  him  whose 
name  introduces  this  review. 

A.  L.  Johnson  was  reared  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads  of  the  period.  In 
the  summer  months  he  worked  in  field  and 
meadow  and  during  the  winter  seasons  pur- 
sued his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
After  he  was  grown  he  began  buying  and 
shipping  stock  and  followed  that  pursuit  for 
fifteen  years.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  old  home  farm  and  ultimately 
he  determined  to  establish  his  residence  in 
Illinois,  coming  to  Vermilion  county  in  1879. 
He  then  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he 


A.  L.  JOHNSON. 


UmVERS^TY  OF^  «LUK01S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


887 


now  resides,  took  up  his  abode  there  and 
began  to  improve  the  place  in  1883.  He  lias 
since  erected  a  large  and  substantial  farm 
residence,  good  Ijarns  and  other  necessary 
outbuildings,  has  planted  an  orchard,  has  set 
out  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  has  tiled 
and  fenced  his  fields  and  has  added  all  mod- 
ern machinery  and  ecjuipments.  He  has  a 
windmill  and  waterworks  upon  his  place 
and  the  substantial  impro\-ements  wliich  are 
ever  tnuiid  upon  a  model  farm.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  raising  and  feeding  stock 
which  he  fattens  for  the  market,  shipping 
about  three  car-loads  of  cattle  and  two  of 
hogs  each  year. 

On  the  31st  of  ^lay,  1866,  in  Vinton 
county,  Ohio,  "Mr.  Johnson  wedded  JMaiy 
Craig,  a  native  of  that  county,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Craig.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren. l)ut  Addie  C,  the  first  born,  died  in 
her  ninth  year  and  Sophia  died  in  1894,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  Clara  M.  is 
therefore  the  only  surviving  member  of  the 
family  and  lives  with  her  parents  on  the 
home  place  in  Ross  township.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  in  1803,  -"^'i''  '-"""^  the 
14th  of  May.  1895,  Mr.  Johnson  married 
Phebe  Craig. 

Mr.  Johnson  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  General  Hancock  in  1868  and  has 
since  supported  each  candidate  of  the  De- 
mf)cracy  for  the  office  of  chief  executive  of 
the  nation.  At  local  elections  he  votes  in- 
dependently, regarding  only  the  capability 
of  the  nominees.  He  has  never  been  an 
office  seeker  himself,  but  was  elected  com- 
missioner of  highways,  by  his  fellow  towns- 
men, who  recognized  his  worth  and  loyalty. 
Ever  a  warm  friend  of  education,  he  be- 
lieves in  securing  good  schools  and  com- 
petent teachers,  and  for  twelve  years  he  did 
effective  service  in  this  direction.  While 
acting  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  he 
35 


served  as  its  secretary.  He  has  served  as 
a  delegate  to  the  numerous  county  and  state 
conventions  of  his  party.  He  and  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  of  Pleasantview.  He  served  for  five 
years  on  the  Ohio  Christian  conference  as 
president,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  he 
was  elected  without  his  knowledge  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Central  Illinois  Christian  confer- 
ence, ha\'ing  served  for  nine  years  in  tluit 
capacity.  His  life  has  been  .upright,  his  act- 
ions manly,  sincere  and  unaffected,  and  his 
salient  characteristics  have  been  such  as  U> 
win  for  him  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  ])een  associated. 


O.  C.  BENSON. 


O.  C.  Benson  is  the  owner  of  a  mill  and 
elevator  in  Fairmount  and  is  now  conduct- 
ing an  extensive  and  profitable  business.  He 
is  one  of  the  citizens  of  foreign  birth  who, 
believing  that  the  new  world  offered  superior 
advantages,  came  to  America  and  utilizing 
the  opportunities  which  lu'n-e  come  to  them, 
now  occupy  creditable  and  honorable  posi- 
tions as  leading  representatives  of  the  com- 
munities with  which  they  have  become  iden- 
tified. Mr.  Benson  was  born  in  Sweden, 
October  23,  1848.  His  father,  Benjamin 
Olson,  was  likewise  a  nati\e  of  that  country, 
as  was  the  mother  of  our  subject  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Kama  Nelson.  They 
were  married  in  Sweden  and  the  father  was 
well  known  there  because  of  his  musical 
skill,  being  a  good  performer  on  many  in- 
struments and  a  leader  of  one  of  the  national 
bands.  He  died  in  1851  and  his  wife,  long- 
surviving  him,  pas.sed  away  in  190 t.  in 
their  family  were  five  children,  of  whom  foiu" 
are  yet  living,  but  Eleanor  died  in  Sweden. 


888 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  others  are:  Johanna,  tlie  wife  of  Nelse 
Hanson,  of  Sweden;  Bengta,  the  wife  of 
John  Christiansen,  of  Fairmount;  O.  C,  of 
this  review;  and  Mary,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  Sweden. 

O.  C.  Benson  attended  school  to  a  hniited 
extent  in  liis  native  country,  but  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  he  put  aside  his  text  books  and 
began  earning  his  own  hving.  He  lost  his 
father  when  only  three  years  of  age,  and  it 
was  therefore  necessaiy  that  he  provide  for 
his  support  in  early  youth.  He  first  secured 
employment  in  a  mill  at  IMolmer,  Sweden, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  in  the  meantime  winning  pro- 
motion until  he  had  become  head  miller  and 
manager.  In  the  year  1873  he  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America,  landing  in  New  York, 
but  he  did  not  tarry  long  in  the  eastern 
metropolis,  making  his  way  at  once  to  Dan- 
ville, Illinois,  in  company  with  a  companion, 
Andrew  Anderson,  who  had  been  visiting 
in  Sweden  and  had  induced  our  subject  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  United  States.  He  be- 
gan working  for  AI.  M.  Wright,  and  his 
close  application  and  his  capability  caused 
him  to  be  retained  in  Mr.  Wright's  service 
for  five  years.  In  1883  he  came  to  Fair- 
mount  where  he  purchased  the  John  Dough- 
erty flour  mill.  This  he  conducted  until 
1896  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  with 
characteristic  energy  he  erected  his  present 
mill.  His  elevator  was  not  burned,  and  he  has 
both  the  mill  and  elevator  at  this  place,  also 
a  mill  and  elevator  in  Catlin,  Illinois.  Both 
are  large  plants  and  his  business  is  fast 
reacliing  mammoth  proportions.  He  han- 
dles a  large  amount  of  grain  annually  and 
also  conducts  an  extensive  milling  business, 
his  products  finding  a  ready  sale  upon  the 
market  because  of  the  excellence  of  the 
quality. 

In  the  citv  of  Danville  Mr.  Benson  was 


united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Matilda  Ellison, 
who  was  born  in  Sweden,  October  15,  1846. 
Her  parents  lived  and  died  in  that  country 
and  she  has  one  sister  who  is  yet  living  in 
Sweden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benson  have 
three  children  still  living:  Alvina,  born 
June  22,  1879;  Emily,  February  5,  1882; 
and  Lilly,  September  24,  1885.  Clarence, 
born  August  10,  1887,  died  when  four- 
teen months  old.  Mr.  Benson  owns  a 
g(X)d  home  and  other  city  property  in  Fair- 
mount.  In  politics  he  is  independent,  with- 
out partisan  bias,  his  support  being  given  to 
the  measures  which  he  believes  are  best  cal- 
culated to  promote  the  public  welfare  and 
to  advance  local  progress.  He  holds  mem- 
bership i^elations  with  the  Modem  Wood- 
men of  America  and  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  Mr.  Benson  has  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  his  determination  to  come 
to  America,  for,  utilizing  the  opportunities 
of  the  new  world  he  has  progressed  in  busi- 
ness until  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a  very 
handsome  competence,  and  he  has,  moreover, 
gained  a  good  home  and  the  regard  of  many 
friends. 


AUGUSTINE   R.  CLAPP. 

The  history  of  Vermilion  county  would 
not  be  complete  without  mention  of  Augus- 
tine Clapp,  Sr.,  one  of  its  few  remaining  early 
pioneer  settlers,  now  residing  on  the  old 
homestead  on  section  9,  Newell  township. 
Mr.  Clapp  was  born  in  Guilford  county, 
North  Carolina,  September  28,  1814,  in  the 
Clapp  neighborhood,  close  to  Greensboro  and 
about  one  mile  from  the  old  Clapp  church, 
which  is  a  brick  structure.  He  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Catherine  Clapp,  the  latter  in  her 
maidenhood  having  also  borne  the  name  of 
Clapp.  They  were  both  of  German  extrac- 
tion and  natives  of  North  Carolina.   Angus- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


889 


tine  Clapp  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  the  others  living-  being:  Manuel,  a 
resident  of  Xorth-Carolina;  Isaac,  who  re- 
sides in  Cherryvale,  Kansas;  and  George  A. 
Clapp,  of  Nebraska,  and  Catherine  in  North 
Carolina. 

iVugiistine    C  lap[)    with     his    wife    and 
two  children  came  from  North  Carohn.a  to 
Illinois   in   a   covered    wagon   drawn    by   a 
span  of  gray  horses  which  he  prized  \ery 
much.     He  started  on  his  journey  April  13, 
1 84 1,  and  was  on  the  road  until  May   10, 
arriving  and   settling  in   Newell   township, 
where  Newell  station  now  stands.     He  set- 
tled upon  the  south  forty  acres  of  that  loca- 
tion.    On  arri\ing  there  he  purchased  se\-en- 
ty  acres  of  land,  that  was  partly  broken,  from 
the  heirs  of  an  estate,  paying  them  forty  dol- 
lars each  for  their  interests.     He  later  pur- 
chased his  present  place,  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres   which   he  Ijought   at   six  dollars   per 
acre,   and    immediately   began   the   work   of 
improvement,  placing  the  tract  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.    Like  many  of  the  early 
settlers  he  found  the  country  new  and  wild. 
Prairie    wolves    were    numerous    and    wild 
game  of  all  kinds  was  plentiful.     Hunting 
in  those  days  was,  to  use  his  own  expression, 
"a  treat."     The  deer  ran  through  the  corn- 
fields of  the  place  and  geese,  brant,  ducks, 
l^rairie  chickens  and  plover  were  within  easy 
reach  of  the  marksman.     Danville  was  the 
nearest    trading   point.      Besides   being   en- 
gaged in  farming  Mr.  Clapp  learned  the  car- 
l^enter's  trade  which  he  followed  for  years. 
He  has  seen  the  wonderful  transformation 
wiiich  has  taken  place  in  \'ermilion  county 
and  has  helped  to  build  the  churches  and 
schools  of  his  district.     He  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Elizalieth  Clapp,  who  in  mar- 
riage did  not  change  her  name.     She  was 
born  in  Orange  county.  North  Carolina,  No- 
vember 24,  1809,  and  is  now  deceased.    She 


was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Starr)  Clapp,  of  North  Carolina.  She  died 
leaving  a  family  of  nine  children  and  a  hus- 
band to  mourn  her  loss.  The  family  record 
is  as  follows :  Jt>hn  Clapp,  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  resides  in  Newell  township.  For  his 
first  wife  he  chose  Emily  Knox,  and  after 
her  death  he  was  m;irried  to  Mrs.  Cox,  a 
widow,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Blair,  of 
\'ermilion  county.  The  second  member  of 
the  family,  Catherine  IL,  died  April  5,  1842. 
Alfred  died  August  S.  1848.  George  A. 
resides  in  Craw^ford  county,  Illinois.  He 
married  Mattie  Cox  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren. Isaac  S.  married  Mary  Knott  and  re- 
sides in  Newell  townshii).  They  are  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  h\-e  of  whom  are 
yet  li\'ing.  Augustine  R.  is  the  sixth  mem- 
licr  of  the  family.  Barbara  Jane  married 
C.  B.  Williamson  and  departed  this  life  leav- 
ing one  chdd,  ]Minta,  who  lives  with  her 
father,  in  Ohio.  She  had  one  sister,  Bertha, 
who  died  previous  to  the  death  of  her 
mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clapp  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  of  which  he 
has  been  a  trustee,  tie  helped  build  the 
church  known  as  Pleasantview.  In  his 
political  view^s  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  after 
the  organization  of  the  Repul)lican  party  he 
became  a  stanch  advocate  of  its  principles 
and  is  very  proud  to  be  numbered  as  a 
member  of  the  party  which  he  thinks 
embraces  the  best  form  of  government. 
He  has  been  a  voter  for  many  years,  be- 
ing now  eighty-eight  years  of  age.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
having  filled  the  offices  of  school  and  dis- 
trict treasurer,  township  trustee  and  town- 
slii])  supervisor.  He  also  served  as  town 
clerk  for  a  number  of  years  and  one  year  as 
assessor.  His  life  has  ever  I)een  worthy  of 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, w'hich  he  has  enjoyed  in  a  high  degree. 


890 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Augustine  R.  Clapp  is  the  sixth  in  order 
of  birth  in  his  father's  family.  He  was  Ijorn 
on  tlie  Old  home  place  in  Xewell  township, 
December  23,  1849.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  district  schools,  working  on 
the  home  farm  in  the  summer  seasons  and 
attending'  school  during  tlie  winter.  He, 
too,  has  been  an  active  factor  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  county,  and  to  his 
efforts  is  largely  due  the  present  high  state 
of  cultivation  of  the  farm  which  he  occupies. 
He  and  his  father  have  labored  together  to 
make  their  farm  productive  and  attractive, 
and  from  all  care  and  labor  on  the  place. 
He  now  relieves  his  worthy  and  honored 
father  who  retains  his  faculties  in  a  remark- 
able degree. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1874,  Augustine 
R.  Clapp  was  united  in  marriage  to  IMiss 
Phoebe  Seymour,  who  was  born  in  Vermil- 
ion county,  November  2,  1855.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Hutton  and  Eveline  (Allen) 
Seymour.  This  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children,  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
Eveline,  both  living  at  home.  Edward  as- 
sists his  father  in  the  work  of  the  farm, 
which  is  very  \-aluable  and  yields  about 
thirty-tive  Inishels  of  corn  and  thirty  bushels 
of  oats  to  the  acre.  Augustine  R.  Clapp  is, 
like  his  father,  a  stanch  Republican  and  has 
long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  standard 
bearers  of  the  party.  He  has  long  been  as- 
sociated with  the  progress  and  improvement 
made  in  the  county,  and  is  very  proud  of  its 
material,  moral  and  intellectual  advancement 
toward  which  he  has  ablv  contributed. 


JOHN  W.  O'HAVER,  M.  D. 

For  twenty  years  Dr.  O'Haver  has  prac- 
ticed his  profession  in  Danville  with  marked 
success  and  to-day  he  has  a  very  large  pat- 
ronage, which  indicates  his  high  standing  in 


the  ranks  of  the  medical  profession.  He  was 
born  near  Pleasantville,  Indiana,  February 
II,  1859,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  German 
lineage,  the  ancestry  being  traced  back  to  a 
very  early  date.  About  1728  Christopher 
Joseph  Hifer  was  born  in  Prussia.  He  was 
of  the  great  industrial  and  professional  class 
of  the  fatherland  and  he  and  his  brother 
Cornelius  pursued  a  seven  years"  course  in 
medicine  and  surgery,  after  which  they  went 
to  Ireland,  wdiere  they  won  such  success  and 
distinction  that  the  prefix  "O"  was  placed 
before  their  names  and  they  were  then  called 
O'Hifer.  \\'hen  the  Catholic  persecution 
began  they  went  to  England,  but  not  liking 
that  country  returned  to  Germany,  where 
both  pursued  another  seven  years'  course  in 
medicine  and  surgery.  They  then  emigrat- 
ed to  the  new  world,  settling  in  Virginia, 
where  they  were  married.  Dr.  Christopher 
J.  0"Hifer  became  a  resident  of  Tennessee 
in  1760.  and  there  Joseph  O'Haver,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
1766.  By  a  happy  turn  of  affairs  Joseph 
O'Haver  married  the  daughter  of  a  sister  of 
Frederick  the  Great.  She  was  a  wonderful 
singer,  possessing  musical  talent  of  the  high- 
est order. 

When  the  brothers  came  to  America  the 
family  name  of  O'Hifer  was  changed  to 
O'Haver,  and  that  spelling  has  since  been 
retained.  The  great-grandfather  was  very 
celebrated  in  his  profession  and  cured  every 
case  of  cancer  and  other  tumorous  disease 
that  was  brought  to  him.  His  patients  came 
from  many  states,  over  a  radius  of  hundreds 
of  miles.  Among  his  descendents  are  many 
who  have  gained  distinction  in  professional 
lines,  including  physicians,  teachers  and  min- 
isters of  the  gospel. 

Pleasant  Miller  O'Haver,  the  father  of 
Dr.  O'Haver,  of  Danville,  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  in   1819, 


JOHN  W.  O'HAVER.  M.  D. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


893 


anil  there  as  the  result  of  his  industry  aitd 
enterprise  became  the  owner  of  fifteen  hun- 
(h'ed  acres  of  land.  He  also  built  the  best 
llouring  mill  which  had  been  erected  in  the 
county  up  to  that  date.  In  public  affairs 
he  was  very  prominent  and  intluential.  He 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was  a  leader 
in  church  and  Sunday-school  work,  served 
as  a  trustee  in  the  church  and  as  a  leader 
in  the  Sunday-school.  By  his  first 
marriage  he  had  twelve  children,  of  whom 
ten  are  living.  Ilis  eldest  son,  Rev.  W.  P. 
O'Haver,  is  an  elder  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  I'"or  his  second  wife  P.  M. 
0'Ha\"er  mai'ried  Cvnthia  Ann  Hinkle,  and 
of  this  marriage  the  Doctor  and  seven  other 
children  were  born.  Her  father  was  Philip 
Hinkle  and  her  grandfather  Wondall  Hin- 
kle, one  of  the  pioneers  of  Indiana.  In  the 
Hinkle  family  were  also  many  worthy 
l)reachers  and  teachers.  P.  M.  O'Haver  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Indiana  until  called  to  his 
final  rest.  He  is  survived  by  two  children 
of  the  first  marriage.  Rev.  W.  P.  O'Haver, 
of  Bloomfield,  Indiana ;  and  Mrs.  Harriet 
S.  Edwards,  a  resident  of  Freelandsville,  In- 
diana. The  children  born  of  the  second  mar- 
riage are:  Thomas  B.,  of  Pleasant\-ille; 
Martha  M.,  the  wife  of  Jesse  H.  Fleming, 
of  Marco,  Indiana;  Charles  J.,  a  resident  of 
Keuka,  Florida;  R.  S.,  of  Lyons,  Indiana; 
and  (jrace,  the  widow  of  Shannon  Ogg,  and 
a  resident  of  Bloomington,  Indiana. 

Dr.  O'Haver  pursued  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Greene  and  Sullivan  counties  of  In- 
diana, leaving  the  district  schools  at  an  early 
age.  He  then  began  work  with  his  father 
in  the  mill  and  gained  much  practical  knowl- 
edge of  both  engineering  and  agricultural 
pursuits.  For  a  few  years  lie  had  full  charge 
of  the  machinery  of  the  mill,  serving  as  en- 
gineer for  four  or  five  years.  This  occupa- 
tion continued  to  claim  his  attention  until 


1879,  when,  desiring  to  become  a  memlier 
of  the  medical  profession,  he  ilex'oted  three 
years  to  the  mastery  of  the  princi])les  of  the 
science  and  was  graduated  with  high  honors 
in  the  Cincinnati  College  of  Medicine  and 
Surgery  in  the  spring  of  1882.  He  also  re- 
ceived a  fine  set  of  instruments  as  the  first 
prize  for  winning  the  highest  scholarship  in 
the  college  on  the  diseases  of  women  and 
children,  and  his  great  skill  along  those  lines 
and  in  other  branches  of  his  profession  has 
always  enal^led  him  to  maintain  a  foremost 
place  in  the  ranks  of  the  medical  fraternity 
in  Danville.  Opening  an  office  in  Danville 
his  practice  lias  steadily  grown  until  it  has 
reached  extensive  proportions,  covering  a 
large  part  of  the  county.  He  belongs  to  the 
Tri-County  Medical  Society  and  the  Vermil- 
ion County  ^^ledical  Society,  the  State  Med- 
ical .Society,  and  the  National  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  has  been  on  the  staff  of  both  of 
the  hospitals  of  Danville  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  training  school  for  nurses  and  served  on 
its  staff'  for  five  years.  While  he  engages  in 
general  jiracticc  he  makes  a  specialty  of  the 
diseases  of  women  and  children  and  in  this 
branch  has  been  extremely  successful. 

Dr.  O'Haver  first  wedded  Mary  M.  Mc- 
Connell,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  McConnell,  who  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent, and  of  Sarah  (Dyer)  McConnell,  a 
native  of  Owen  county,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
O'Haver  died  August  3,  1899.  She  was  a 
devout  Christian  woman,  holding  mem- 
bership in  the  Kimber  Methodist  Epis- 
cojxd  church,  and  she  belonged  to  the 
Court  of  Honor  and  the  Home  Forum.  On 
the  1 2th  of  November,  1902,  the  Doctor 
married  Miss  Peninah  Ann  Jones,  a  nati\e  of 
this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  C.  E.  Jones, 
who  was  a  pioneer  of  the  county  and  now  a 
farmer  of  Vance  township,  living  near  Fair- 


894 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mount.     Mrs.  O'Haver  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  of  Fairmount. 

The  Doctor  is  medical  examiner  for  a 
number  of  insurance  societies  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  fraternal  organizations,  including  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Modern  W^oodmen  of  America,  the  Royal 
Circle  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  In  all  of 
these  he  holds  membership  and  is  likewise 
a  member  of  the  Kimber  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  with  which  he  has  been  identi- 
fied since  iS8j,  wliile  his  i^iembership  rela- 
tion with  the  denomination  dates  from  the 
time  when  he  was  fourteen  vears  of  age.  He 
views  political  questions  from  a  Republican 
standpoint,  having  always  given  his  support 
to  that  party,  and  in  1900  he  was  elected  in 
the  fom"th  ward  to  the  city  council  and  re- 
elected in  1902  for  another  term  of  two 
years.  He  has  served  on  some  of  the  most 
important  committees,  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  health,  and  a  member  of  the 
ordinance  and  sewer  committees.  The 
council  is  now  preparing  to  build  the  Car- 
negie librarj-,  which  will  be  a  handsome 
structure,  erected  at  a  cost  of  forty  thou- 
sand dollars,  the  city  furnishing  the  site. 
The  Doctor  is  a  man  whose  prominence  is 
not  the  less  the  result  of  an  irreproachable 
pri\'ate  life  than  of  professional  skill  and 
ability.  The  world  instinctively  pays  defer- 
ence to  the  man  whose  success  has  been 
worthily  achieved  and  because  of  this  Dr, 
O'Haver  is  occupying  an  enviable  position 
in  the  regard  of  those  by  whom  he  is  known. 


GEORGE  F.  MEXIG, 

Prominent  as  a  representative  of  in- 
dustrial interests  of  Danville  stands  George 
F.  Menig,  the  superintendent  and  secretary 
of  the  Danville  Woolen  ilills.     This  is  an 


enter])rise  of  importance,  contributing  in  no 
small  tlegree  to  the  commercial  prosperity 
of  the  city.  It  has  been  said  that  the  man 
who  each  week  pays  a  large  force  of  work- 
men over  his  counter  is  more  deser\-ing  of 
the  gratitude  of  his  race  than  is  the  general 
who  leads  his  hosts  forth  to  battle,  for  he 
supplies  h.is  fellow  men.  with  the  means  of 
preserving  life  instead  of  destroying  it  and 
enables  them  to  become  self-supporting, 
self-reliant  and  self-respecting  citizens.  [Mr, 
IMenig  may  therefore  be  classed  among  the 
important  factors  in  business  life  in  Dan\-ille 
where  from  his  boyhood  days  he  has  lived  a 
life  of  industry  and  enterprise  that  has  found 
its  culmination  in  the  successful  control  of 
an  important  industry. 

A  native  of  Edgerton,  Ohio,  he  was  born 
August  6,  1870,  and  is  a  son  of  Ferdinand 
]\Ienig,  a  native  of  Germany.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  George  F,  Menig,  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Germany,  but  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  to  America  in  1852,  crossing 
the  Atlantic  to  Xew  York  city,  where  he 
first  located.  There  he  learned  the  baker's 
trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  for  several 
years  or  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out,  when, 
loyal  to  his  adopted  land,  he  joined  the  Union 
army  and  ser\-ed  throughout  the  period  of 
hostilities.  After  th.e  war  was  over  he  went 
to  Edgerton.  (Jhio,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  barrel  staves,  shipping  his 
product  to  Cleveland.  Subsequently  he 
turned  his  attention  to  general  merchandis- 
ing, which  he  followed  in  Edgerton  for  a 
few  years.  He  afterward  entered  into  part- 
nership with  George  Kerr,  in  the  estal)lish- 
ment  of  a  woolen  mill  and  continued  in  that 
business  for  live  years  or  initil  Februar}% 
1878,  when  he  came  to  Danville  and  founded 
ihe  Danville  Woolen  Mills,  which  have  since 
been  conducted  with  success,  the  scope  of 
their   Ijusiness   being  continuallv   increased. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


895 


while  the  output  of  the  factory  grows  from 
year  to  year. 

Mr.  Menig  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  .Shean,  of  W'orcester,  Massachu- 
setts, and  unto  them  liave  been  born  eleven 
children,  as  follows :  Margaret,  who  is  now 
in  the  convent  in  Notre  Dame,  Indiana; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Tliomas  Brown,  who  is 
employed  as  a  bookkeeper  in  the  Second  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Danville;  George  F.,  of  this 
review ;  Gertrude,  tlie  wife  of  William  Hoot- 
en,  of  Danville;  Ursula,  who  is  a  bookkeeper 
in  the  Danville  Woolen  Mills  and  in  the 
merchandise  stores  owned  by  her  father  and 
brother;  I'rank,  who  is  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  a  grocery  store  owned  by  the  firm ;  Nellie, 
who  is  clerking  in  the  dry-goods  depart- 
ment ;  Gustavus,  who  is  also  acting  as  a 
clerk;  Bertha,  at  home;  and  two  who  died 
in  childhood. 

The  children  were  provided  with  good 
educational  pri\'ileges  in  tlie  schools  of  Dan- 
ville and  of  Loretta,  Ohio.  Mr.  Menig  of 
this  re\-iew  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Danville.  Here 
he  studied  in  the  public  schools  for  a  time 
and  afterward  entered  a  college  of  Notre 
Dame,  Indiana.  On  comjileting  his  educa- 
tion he  joined  his  father  in  Inisiness  and  is 
to-day  the  superintendent  and  secretary  of 
the  Danxille  Woolen  Mills,  incorporated. 
The  plant  is  located  at  No.  220  Logan 
a\'enue  and  is  one  of  the  largest  manufactur- 
ing plants  of  the  city.  They  make  all  kinds 
of  woolen  goods.  The  mill  was  erected 
about  1850  and  was  conducted  by  the  firm 
of  Hobson  &  lillsworlh.  It  was  tlien  an 
old  frame  structure,  operated  by  water 
power.  That  firm  continued  as  owners  for 
several  \cars  and  then  sold  out  to  I'erdinand 
Hanke,  who  also  conducted  the  business  for 
several  years.  The  ne.xt  owner  was  S.  H. 
Riggs,  who  continued  in  charge  for  some 


time,  when  Ferdinand  Menig  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  the  business,  entering  into 
partnership  witli  Mr.  Riggs,  in  a  business 
connection  that  maintained  for  about  eight 
or  ten  years,  when  Mr.  Menig  purchased 
his  partner's  interest  and  became  the  sole 
owner.  In  iSgo  the  business  was  incor- 
porated with  l'"cr(linaud  Menig  as  the  presi- 
dent of  the  company  and  George  F.  Menig 
as  Ihe  superintendent  and  secretary.  They 
now  employ  aliout  one  hundred  liands  and 
manufacture  all  kinds  of  woolen  goods 
mostly  for  the  eastern  trade.  They  also  do 
a  great  deal  of  work  for  the  government, 
making  woolen  cloths  of  different  kinds.  In 
connection  with  the  woolen  mills  the  firm 
also  owns  and  conducts  a  grocery  store  and 
tlry-goods  store,  located  on  Logan  avenue 
near  the  mills,  handling  evei'ything  in  this 
line  and  enjoying  a  large  trade,  which  has 
now  assumed  profitable  proportions.  Both 
father  and  son  dex'oteil  their  entire  time  to 
the  business,  which  makes  heavy  demands 
upon  their  attention,  owing  to  the  volume 
of  their  trade  in  both  the  manufacturing  and 
mercantile  departments.  Neither  have  held 
offices  in  the  city  or  county,  nor  have  they 
desired  political  preferment  of  any  kind. 
They  are  recognized  as  reliable  and  enter- 
prising business  men,  accurate  in  trade  trans- 
actions and  with  business  sagacity  which 
enables  them  to  recognize  possiijilities.  The 
father  owns  a  beautiful  residence  at  No.  222 
Logan  axenue  located  near  the  stores  and 
mill. 

George  F.  Menig  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Lucy  J.  Mathias,  of  Chicago,  and 
the\-  now  ha\-e  an  interesting  little  daughter, 
Lucile.  Their  home  is  at  No.  422  Oak 
street,  wliere  they  have  a  nice  residence.  Mr. 
]\Ienig  votes  with  the  Rei)ul)lican  party  and 
socially  is  identified  with  the  Elks  Lodge  at 
Danville.     He  and  his  family  are  all  con- 


696 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


iiected  with  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church  of 
this  city.  ilr.  Menig  is  a  man  of  enterprise, 
positive  character,  indomitable  energ}-,  strict 
integrity  and  liberal  views  and  has  teen  fully 
identified  with  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  city  of  his  adoption,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  has  controlled  important  business 
interests.  In  the  Avorld  of  trade  the  name 
of  ^lenig  is  well  known  and  through  the 
marked  industr}-  and  enterprise  of  the  own- 
ers of  the  Danville  Woolen  Mills  they  have 
become  men  of  afiluence  in  this  citv. 


T.  L.  FIXLEY,  ^I.  D. 

Among  the  young  men  of  \'ermi!ion 
county  who  have  attained  distinction  in  busi- 
ness and  professional  ranks  is  Dr.  J.  L.  Fin- 
ley,  who,  although  not  yet  thirty  years  of 
age,  has  gained  success  as  a  member  of  the 
medical  fraternity  that  many  an  older  physi- 
cian might  well  envy.  He  was  the  second 
and  only  son  in  a  family  of  three  children. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Xew  England 
and  from  \'ermont  removed  to  southern  In- 
diana, where  they  are  still  living,  the  father 
devoting  his  attention  to  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  is  a  capable  and  successful 
physician  and  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  the  locality  where  he  resides. 

The  Doctor  was  born  in  1874  and  early 
in  life  enjoyed  good  educational  privileges 
which  he  impro\ed  until  he  had  completed 
the  high  school  course  b}'  graduation  when 
seventeen  years  of  age.  Then  thinking  to 
follow  in  the  professional  footsteps  of  his 
father,  he  read  medicine  with  him  and  later 
became  a  student  of  the  University  of  Ken- 
tucky, at  Eouisville,  completing  the  course 
in  the  medical  department  with  the  class  of 
1896  and  ranking  high  among  his  ninety- 
six  classmates. 


In  the  previous  year  the  Doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  to  ]Miss  Xannie  Richards, 
of  Fredericksburg,  •  Indiana,  and  after  his 
graduation  he  removed  to  Collington,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  began  practice,  quickly  gain- 
ing a  fair  patronage.  He  has  the  confidence 
of  the  public  by  reason  of  his  thorough  and 
accurate  understanding  of  the  principles  of 
medical  science  and  his  correct  application 
thereof  to  the  needs  of  sufifering  humanitv. 
He  reads  broadly,  thinks  deeply,  works 
earnestly,  and  thus  is  meeting  with  success. 

Unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Finley  has  been  born 
one  son,  J.  Keith,  three  years  of  age.  So- 
cially the  Doctor  is  connected  through  mem- 
bersliip  relations  with  the  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modem  AVood- 
men  of  j\nierica  and  in  these  he  has  held 
many  offices.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
church  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  strong 
Republican,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
office,  preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  professional  duties.  He  be- 
longs to  the  County  and  State  Medical  So- 
cieties and  is  also  a  member  of  the  American 
^Nleilical  x\ssociation. 


PROSPER  LESEURE. 

Few  men  were  as  widely  known  or  as  sin- 
cerely mourned  as  Prosper  Leseure.  who 
passed  away  Xovember  23,  1897,  while  vis- 
iting his  children  in  Danville.  He  was  bom 
on  the  26th  of  May.  1820.  in  X'ancy,  France, 
a  son  of  Pierre  and  Anne  Leseure,  also  na- 
tives of  the  same  place.  \Mien  Prosper  Le- 
seure had  reached  the  age  of  ten  years  his 
father,  accompanied  by  the  family,  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  remained  for  a  short  time.  Later 
he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  subse- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


S97 


quently  to  an  estate  in  southern  Indiana, 
where  he  lived  the  Hfe  of  a  country  gentle- 
man. It  was  on  this  estate  that  the  children 
grew  to  manhood  or  womanhood  and  ac- 
quired their  English  education.  When  yet 
a  young  man  Prosper  Leseure  came  to  Dan- 
ville, soon  to  he  joined  by  his  l)rothcr.  and 
together,  under  the  firm  name  of  \'.  &  P. 
Leseure,  they  established  a  large  general 
mercantile  store,  which  they  carried  on  for 
man_\-  years  with  marked  success,  theirs  be- 
coming one  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  the 
kind  in  the  city.  In  1867,  however,  this 
partnership  was  dissolved,  and  for  a  time 
Prosper  Leseure  was  not  engaged  in  any 
business.  Later,  in  connection  with  Cieorge 
Yeomans,  he  operated  a  large  lumber  busi- 
ness but  eventually  disposed  of  his  interests 
to  his  son-in-law,  J.  G.  Shedd.  In  1SS3 
Mr.  Leseure,  together  with  several  others, 
organized  the  State  Bank,  of  which  he  was 
vice  president  for  a  number  of  years,  retir- 
ing from  active  business  in  1889.  In  the 
spring  of  1892  he  removed  to  California, 
living  retired  in  Los  Angeles, 

Prosper  Leseure  was  twice  married.  To 
the  first  union  three  children  were  born,  of 
whom  two  are  yet  living:  Helen  L.,  the 
widow  of  J.  G.  Shedd,  who  was  the  superin- 
tendent of  schools  in  Danville  for  many 
years:  and  Oscar,  who  is  a  prominent  sur- 
geon of  Detroit,  Michigan.  His  wife  hav- 
ing died  in  1858,  Mr.  Leseure  was  again 
married,  in  1863,  to  Miss  Harriet  Crane,  of 
Danville.  One  child  was  born  to  them, 
Ernest  X,  Leseure,  the  president  of  the  Dan- 
ville Xruiiinal   Bank. 

As  a  p<jlitician  Prosper  Leseure  was  little 
known,  but  in  charitable  and  pliilanthropic 
work  many  have  cause  to  remember  him. 
He  was  unostentatious  in  his  gi\ing  and  it 
could  be  truthfully  said  of  him  that  his  right 
hand  knew  not  what  his  left  hand  did.     An 


earnest  Christian  worker,  he  was  for  a  long 

period  a  moving  spirit  in  the  Presbyterian 

church.     He  died  lea\ing  to  his  children  a 

precious    legacy — the    heritage    of    a    good 

name. 

•-•-• 

w.\lti-:k  r.  wiLSox,  m.  d. 

Dr.  W'aUcr  R.  Wilson,  of  Hoopeston,  is 
a  native  of  Oneida  county,  Xew  York,  born 
on  the  20th  of  hebruary,  1852,  and  comes 
of  an  old  New  England  family.  His  father, 
Otis  E.  Wilson,  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, while  the  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mary  Matthews,  was  born  in  New 
York  and  in  the  Empire  state  they  were 
married..  'J"hc  father  was  a  farmer  in  early 
life  ;,rid  later  devoted  his  attention  to  gen- 
eral merchandising  in  East  Lynn,  Illinois. 
Tiiere  he  died  in  1894,  but  his  wife  still  sur- 
vives and  is  now  a  resident  of  Hoopeston. 
In  th'^n-  family  were  the  following  children: 
i\Irs.  Hattie  Elliott,  of  Hoopeston:  Mrs.  Dr. 
Eallis.  of  Danville;  Mrs.  Frank  Hall,  of 
Hoopeston :  and  the  Doctor. 

When  only  two  years  of  age  Dr.  W'il- 
son  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Kendall 
County.  Illinois,  ami  thence  the  family 
removed  to  Kankakee  county  about  1858. 
lie  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  making  his 
home  in  Kankakee  county  until  his  re- 
moval with  his  parents  to  Hoopeston,  in 
1877.  His  early  education  was  acquired  in 
the  pulilic  schools  and  for  six  months  he  was 
a  student  in  Kankakee  Seminary.  Later  he 
went  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  entered  upon 
a  course  of  study  that  could  prejiare  him.  for 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  after  the  com- 
pletion of  the  regular  coiu\se  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  Hahnemann  Medical  College  with 
the  class  of  1877.    He  had  previously  studied 


898 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


with  Dr.  (.ampbell,  of  Wilmington,  Illinois. 
Well  equipped  for  his  chosen  work,  he 
located  in  Hoopeston,  in  February.  1877.  on 
leaving  Hahnemann  College,  and  has  since 
made  his  home  here.  He  received  an  hon- 
orary degree  from  the  Chicago  Homeopathic 
College  in  1878.  As  a  general  i^ractitioner 
of  medicine  and  surgery  he  has  displayed 
marked  ability,  showing  that  he  is  well 
equipped  to  successfully  cope  with  the  in- 
tricate problems  which  continually  face  the 
physician.  He  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
anatomy  and  keen  insight  into  the  ravages 
made  by  disease  or  cast  upon  people  as  a 
legacy  by  progenitors.  In  the  administra- 
tion of  remedial  agencies  he  has  been  most 
successful  and  to-day  he  stands  among  the 
leading  representatives  of  a  profession  which 
by  many  is  given  the  highest  rank  among 
all  the  lines  of  activity  to  which  man  can 
devote  his  energies.  The  Doctor  has  recent- 
ly added  an  X-ray  machine  to  his  otifice.  He 
has  all  of  the  modern  appliances  for  the  suc- 
cessful treatment  of  disease  and  for  surgical 
work.  His  practice  extends  over  a  wide 
territory  and  comes  from  many  of  the  best 
families  in  this  portion  of  the  state,  but  al- 
ihough  it  makes  heavy  demands  upon  his 
time  he  is  also  controlling  and  superintend- 
ing his  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  acres 
in  Iroquois  county.  This  farm  is  well 
stocked  and  is  now  the  home  of  his  son.  In 
addition  to  his  labor  the  Doctor  hires  farm 
liands  to  assist  in  the  work  of  the  place. 
For  about  twelve  years  he  was  in  the  drug 
business  whicli  he  carried  on  in  connection 
with  his  practice.  In  this  enterprise  he  was 
associated  with  S.  A.  Kennedy  and  W.  H. 
Elliott,  but  about  1896  he  disposed  of  his 
drug  interests. 

In  Hoopeston,  in  October,  1877,  was  cel- 
ebrated the  marriage  of  Dr.  Wilson  and  Miss 
Anna    C.    iluirhead,    a    daughter    of    Rev. 


James  M.  ]\Iuirhead,  who  was  a  minister 
of  the  Methodist  Ei)iscopal  church,  largely 
]ireaching  in  central  Illinois.  He  dietl  in  the 
year  1892,  but  the  influence  of  his  noble 
life  remain  as  a  blessed  benediction  to  those 
who  knew  liim.  His  wife,  who  in  her  mai- 
denhood was  ]Mary  Blackstock.  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Champaign  county,  Illinois.  Unto 
the  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  the  latter  being  Alice 
May,  the  wife  of  Ernest  Bishop,  of  Hoopes- 
ton, Illinois.  Robert  E.  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Chicago  Homeopathic  College,  of  the  class 
of  1902,  while  Clarence  J.  is  an  enterprising 
farmer.  The  elder  son  was  a  meiuber  of 
Battery  A,  of  Danville,  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war  and  served  at  Porto  Rico. 
Clarence  resides  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois, 
operating-  his  father's  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres.  The  Doctor  is  quite  prominent  in 
]\Iasonry.  lielonging  to  the  blue  lodge  and 
chapter,  and  in  the  latter  he  has  served  as 
a  high  priest  for  several  years.  He  belongs 
to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  to  the 
Alodeni  Woodmen  of  America  and  the 
Royal  Circle,  and  in  the  last  two  he  is  the 
medical  examiner.  He  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  ]\Iethodist  church  and  has  long 
been  one  of  its  earnest  members.  Formerly 
he  served  as  its  Sunday-school  superintend- 
ent. He  has  taken  quite  an  active  interest  in 
its  work,  contributing  most  liberally  to  its 
support.  In  his  political  affiliations  the 
Doctor  is  a  Republican  and  for  two  years  he 
served  as  mayor  of  Hoopeston,  while  for 
six  years  he  was  one  of  the  aldermen  of  the 
city.  He  owns  a  two-story  brick  building  in 
this  town,  tlie  lower  floor  being  occupied  by 
Elliott's  drug  store,  \\hile  the  upper  story 
is  occupied  as  a  residence  by  the  Doctor  and 
his  family.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State 
Homeopathic  Association  and  reading, 
study     autl     investigation     are     continually 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


899 


broadening  his  knowledge  to  an  extent  that 
makes  him  one  of  the  best  informed  mem- 
bers of  the  medical  fraternity  in  this  part 
of  the  state.  His  practice  has  assumed  ex- 
tensive and  profitable  proportions  and  this 
success  is  merited  because  of  his  close  appli- 
cation and  his  deep  interest  in  the  work. 


THEODORE  B.  REDMOND,  M.  D. 

On  the  roll  i>l  physicians  in  \'ermilion 
county  appears  the  name  of  Dr.  Theodore 
B.  Redmond,  who  has  attained  considerable 
distinction  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor.  He 
resides  in  \'ermilion  Heights,  a  suburb  of 
Danville,  where  he  has  a  large  practice,  and 
moreover  he  is  ni>t  only  entitled  to  distinc- 
tion of  mention  in  this  volume  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  professional  life  but  also  as  a 
representative  of  a  prominent  pioneer  family 
of  the  county. 

He  v/as  born  in  Salem,  \\'ashington 
county,  Indiana,  November  i,  1846,  and  is 
a  son  of  William  11.  and  Elizabeth  (Boul- 
ton)  Redmond.  The  father  was  born  in 
Floyd  county,  Indiana,  about  1820,  and  his 
wife  was  born  near  Louisville,  Kentuck}-, 
about  io-34.  She  was  there  reared  and  edu- 
cated, hcrving  good  school  privileges,  and  in 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  she  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Redmond.  During 
the  early  part  of  his  life  the  father  resided 
near  New  Albany.  Indiana,  where  he  learned 
and  followed  the  tailor's  trade,  carrying  on 
business  there  until  1848,  when  he  came  to 
\'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  settling  at 
Georgetown.  At  an  early  day  he  ser\'ed  as 
postmaster  there  and  was  a  well  known  and 
influential  citi?:en.  He  worked  at  the  tailor's 
trade  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1877,  and  his  wife  passed  away  U25on  a  farm 


in  Danville  township,  in  1885.  She  was  a 
lady  of  superior  culture  and  of  literary  taste 
and  al)ility.  She  read  broadly,  became  ex- 
tremely well  informed  and  was  justly  re- 
garded as  the  most  literary  woman  of 
(jeorgetown.  W'riting  was  to  her  a  pleasure 
and  in  an  early  day  she  w-as  the  correspond- 
ent from  Georgetown  to  all  the  leading 
papers  of  this  part  of  the  state.  She  also 
possessed  consideral)le  poetical  talent  and 
contributed  a  number  of  poems  as  well  as 
l)rose  productions  to  periodicals,  including 
both  newspapers  and  magazines.  She  wrote 
for  the  papers  under  the  non  de  plume  of 
Lizzie  and  her  productions  were  eagerly 
read.  She  had  a  very  wide  acfpiaintance  not 
only  in  this  countv  Ijut  also  in  eastern  Illi- 
nois and  Indiana  and  the  public  passed 
favorable  judgment  upon  her  literary  and 
poetical  powers.  She  is  survived  by  two 
sons,  the  Doctor  and  John  G.,  who  resides 
n])on  a  farm  near  Catlin. 

In  the  public  schools  near  his  home  Dr. 
Kedmond  obtained  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion, which  was  supplemented  by  study  in 
the  Georgetown  Seminary,  at  Georgetown, 
this  county,  after  which  he  spent  one  term 
as  a  student  in  the  State  Lhiiversity  at  Nor- 
mal, Jllinc.iis.  Returning  to  \*ermilion  coun- 
ty h.e  then  began  teaching  in  the  country 
schools  near  Georgetown.  In  1868  he  went 
to  that  place  and  took  up  the  study  of  medi- 
cine in  the  oflice  and  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Kimbrough.  with  whom  he  studied  for 
two  years.  He  then  began  practice  in  Paler- 
mo, Illinois,  where  he  continued  for  a  year, 
going  thence  to  Parke  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  practiced  for  three  years.  Feeling 
that  his  medical  education  was  not  complete, 
h.owe\er,  he  next  went  to  Indianapolis  and 
matriculated  in  the  Indiana  Medical  College 
in  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1875,  receiving  his  diploma.    At  the  gradua- 


900 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tion  exercises  he  delivered  an  essay  upon 
zj'mosis  and  was  accorded  the  first  prize. 
He  rcuirned  tlien  to  Parke  county,  where  he 
remained  in  practice  until  1882,  covering  a 
period  of  ten  years  altogether  in  that  county. 

On  the  26th  of  Decemlier,  1872,  the 
Doctor  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Ellen  Richmond,  a  native  of  Parke  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  Return  J.  and  Hilary  (Mil- 
ler) Richmond,  Ijut  the  latter  is  now  de- 
ceased. Her  father,  however,  is  still  living. 
Pie  was  an  extensive  farmer  of  Parke  coun- 
ty, but  has  now  retired  from  business  cares 
and  for  the  past  eighteen  years  has  resided 
with  his  daughter  and  the  Doctor.  Mrs. 
Redmond  is  one  of  a  large  family  and  has 
three  brothers  and  one  sister  yet  living.  All 
ha\e  married  and  have  families  of  their  own 
and  are  now  residents  of  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Redmond  was  educated  in  her  native  county 
and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  She  belongs 
to  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  of  Danville  and  her  influence  is  ever 
given  in  behalf  of  measures  intended  for  the 
uplifting  of  humanity.  By  her  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  one  child  :  Idelle,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Harry  Gilliland,  a  contractor 
and  builder,  who  resides  at  Vermilion 
Heights  and  is  actively  connected  with  the 
improvement  of  that  portion  of  Danville. 
They  have  two  children,  Rosalie  and  a  baby 
boy. 

In  the  year  1882  Dr.  Redmond  returned 
with  his  family  from  Indiana  to  Vermilion 
county  and  purchased  a  small  farm  in  Dan- 
ville township,  whereon  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence, and  while  supervising  its  improve- 
ment he  also  continued  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  Tliere  he  remained  until  Decem- 
ber, 1900,  when  he  removed  to  the  city,  es- 
tablishing his  home  at  Vermilion  Heights, 
where  he  erected  a  nice  residence  and  office 
at  the  corner  of  Second  street  and  ^^"arring- 


ton  avenue.  He  has  been  very  successful, 
in  fact  his  professional  duties  make  such 
heavy  demands  upon  his  time  that  it  leaves 
him  little  opportunity  for  social  enjoyment. 
He  is,  however,  a  zealous  student  who  has 
a  deep  interest  in  his  profession  from  the 
scientific  and  from  the  humanitarian  stand- 
point. His  capability  in  coping  with  disease 
in  its  many  intricate  forms  has  been  the 
means  of  gaining  for  him  a  very  large  pat- 
ronage and  in  consequence  a  good  annual  in- 
come. In  early  life  the  Doctor  was  an  advo- 
cate of  the  Democracy  but  is  now  a  stanch 
Republican,  believing  firmly  in  the  principles 
of  the  latter  party.  He  belongs  to  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  at  Danville  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 


CHARLES  E.  ELLSWORTH. 

Although  comparatively  a  young  man 
at  the  time  of  his  death  Charles  E.  Ells- 
worth had  already  attained  a  prominent  pos- 
ition in  public  afl:'airs  and  was  a  recognized 
leader  in  political  and  social  circles  of  Ver- 
milion county.  His  business  relations 
brought  him  in  connection  with  many  of 
the  citizens  of  Danville  and  the  surrounding 
districts,  all  of  whom  respected  him  for  his 
genuine  worth,  for  his  loyalty  in  citizenship 
and  his  fidelity  to  eveiy  trust  reposed  in 
him. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  was  born  near  Spring- 
field, in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  June  11,  1868, 
and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  J.  (Bire- 
ley)  Ellsworth,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  On  the  paternal  side  he  was 
descended  from  an  old  New  England  fam- 
ily, his  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Ellsworth, 
having  been  born  in  New  England.  His 
grandfather   was    ^^'illian^    Ellsworth,   who 


C.  E.  ELLSWORTH. 


LIBHARY 

Of  t;-;e 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


903 


resided  in  Ohio  for  many  years.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Lewis 
Bireley,  who  Hved  and  died  in  Ohio,  passing 
away  at  tlie  advanced  age  of  eighty-five 
years.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Sarah  Shank.  The  Shanks  were  originally 
from  Pennsylvania  Ijut  the  branch  of  the 
family  to  which  she  belonged  lived  in  Alary- 
land.  Jacob  Ellsworth,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  spent  his  entire  life  in  Ohio  and  fol- 
lowed the  profession  of  teaching,  thus  aid- 
ing largely  in  the  intellectual  development 
of  the  various  communities  with  which  he 
was  connected.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war  he  joined  the  L'nion  army,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  G,  Ninety-fourth  Ohio 
Infantiy.     His  widcnv  still  survives  him. 

In  the  common  schools  near  his  boy- 
hood home  Charles  E.  Ellsworth  obtained 
his  early  education  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
w-as  granted  a  teacher's  certificate.  After 
teacing  for  two  terms  in  Ohio,  he  came  to 
Danville,  Illinois,  and  attended  the  high 
school  here  for  a  time.  Later  he  resumed 
teaching,  which  he  followed  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  and  in  1890  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  work  of  surveying,  entering 
the  service  of  .Vlexander  Bowman,  then 
county  surveyor  of  Vermilion  county.  Two 
years  later  'Mv.  Ellsworth  was  elected  to  that 
oftice  on  the  Republican  ticket  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  position  so  acceptably  and 
creditably  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1896  and 
was  chosen  for  a  third  term  in  1900,  being 
the  incumbent  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  March  19,  1903. 
Many  of  the  new  additions  to  the  city  of 
Danville  were  surveyed  by  him.  He  was 
also  civil  engineer  in  connection  with  the 
construction  of  a  large  portion  of  the  streets 
of  Hoopeston  and  made  the  surveys  for  the 
internrban  lines  of  railroad  connecting 
Danville  with  outside  places.     He  made  and 


published  a  map  of  Hoopeston  in  1890  and 
of  Danville  in  1892.  He  laid  out  the  towns 
known  as  Vermilion  Heights  and  Oak  Lawn 
and  in  1897  he  made  the  topographical  out- 
line which  was  used  in  making  all  the  ar- 
rangements by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment for  the  National  Soldiers'  Home  in 
Danville.  In  the  following  winter  he  as- 
sisted the  United  States  geological  engineers 
in  making  the  topographical  survey  of  the 
country  around  Danville,  covering  fifteen 
miles  square.  jMr.  Ellsworth  thoroughly 
mastered  his  profession,  which  he  under- 
stood in  principle  and  detail  and  his  accurate 
workmanship,  his  systematic  labors  and  his 
fidelity  to  trusts  reposed  in  him  made  him 
a  most  commendable  and  acceptable  officer. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1892,  Mr. 
Ellsworth  was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss 
Julia  Madden,  an  adopted  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Michael  Madden,  of  Catlin,  and  to 
them  were  born  three  children  :  Helen  Eliz- 
aljeth.  Esther  Alary  and  Grace  Jane. 

Mr.  Ellsworth  was  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Tribe 
of  Ben  liur,  and  the  Court  of  Honor.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  organiz- 
ing many  of  the  societies  of  the  Sons  of 
\'eterans  of  Illinois  and  was  captain  of 
Kearney  Camp  at  Danville  for  four  years. 
He  was  also  in  charge  of  the  mustering  of- 
fice of  the  Illinois  division  for  four  years 
and  (hu-ing  that  time  he  instituted  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  camps.  In  1899  he 
became  junior  \ice  commander  of  the  Illi- 
nois Division  and  perhaps  to  no  other  resi- 
dent of  this  part  of  the  state  did  the  or- 
ganization owe  so  much  of  its  advancement 
and  substantial  progress.  He  was  president 
of  the  Danville  Poultry  Association  and  one 
of  the  promoters  of  the  Vermilion  County 
Poultry  Association.  With  the  second  meet- 
ing of  the  State  Poultry  Association  under 


904 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  new  appropriation  by  the  legislature  he 
Avas  placed  on  the  executive  board.  Five 
years  ago  when  the  joint  meeting  of  the 
state  and  county  associations  was  held,  he 
was  secretary  of  the  latter  association  and 
assisted  the  state  secretary.  His  work  for 
the  ofificial  was  so  thorough  that  he  was 
chosen  to  that  office,  and  in  January,  1903, 
he  was  elected  state  president.  In  politics 
Mr.  Ellsworth  was  a  prominent  and  active 
Republican  and  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  Joseph  Cannon  campaign  club.  He  was 
a  typical  American  citizen,  wide-awake  and 
progressive,  who  entered  heartily  and  en- 
thusiastically into  any  movement  which  re- 
ceived his  indorsement. 


WILLIAM  BE\^ER,  SR. 

William  Beaver,  Sr.,  who  is  now  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  of  his  former  toil,  living  a 
retired  life  in  Potomac,  was  born  in  Foun- 
tain county,  Indiana,  October  23,  1831. 
His  father,  John  Bever,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  which  state  the  grandfather,  Mich- 
ael Bever,  had  located  at  a  very  early  day. 
Later  the  family  removed  to  Ohio  and  about 
1825  Michael  Bever  became  a  resident  of 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  establishing  a 
home  there  in  pioneer  times.  He  had  a 
fainily  of  nine  sons  and  two  daug'hters, 
among  whom  w'as  John  Bever.  The  father 
of  our  subject  spent  the. days  of  his  child- 
hood and  youth  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  and 
^vas  married  there  to  Jane  Pemberton.  He 
and  his  wife  then  established  their  home 
upon  a  farm  in  Ohio,  where  they  lived  for  a 
number  of  years.  When  his  father  removed 
to  Indiana  he  also  took  his  family  to  that 
state,  traveling  with  a  six  horse  team.  He 
settled  in  Fountain  county  in  1825,  among 
the    earlv    residents    who    had    esjtablished 


homes  there.  The  grandfather  and  his  sons 
each  entered  land  from  the  government, 
cleared  their  respective  tracts  and  developed 
good  farms.  John  Bever  owned  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  good  land  which  he  trans- 
formed into  a  nice  farm  and  upon  which  he 
spent  his  remaining  days,  there  rearing  his 
family. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Will- 
iam Bever,  Sr.,  we  present  to  our  readers  the 
life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  in  Potomac  and  throughout  the 
surrounding  district.  In  retrospect  we  can 
see  him  as  a  young  boy,  assisting  in  clearing 
his  father's  farm,  in  planting  the  fields  and 
cultivating  the  crops  until  after  the  harvests 
were  garnered  in  the  autumn.  To  some  ex- 
tent he  attended  the  public  schools,  but  his 
educational  privileges  were  limited  to  some 
degree.  In  early  life  he  engaged  in  teaching 
for  one  term.  He  was  married  in  Fountain 
county,  Indiana,  January  18,  1852,  to 
Lydia  Jane  Keller,  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
born  in  Greene  county.  His  attention 
was  then  gi\'en  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  Fountain  county  until  1880,  the  year 
of  his  arrival  in  Vermilion  county,  Illinois. 
Here  he  located  on  a  farm  a  half  mile  east 
of  Potomac,  becoming  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  which  he  continued  to 
culti\ate  successfully  for  nine  years,  when 
he  remo\  ed  to  Potomac,  although  he  carried 
on  farm  v.ork  for  a  year  thereafter.  In  con- 
nection with  his  son,  William  A.,  he  pur- 
chased a  steam  thresher — the  Huber  ma- 
chine,—  which  they  have  together  operated 
during  the  harvesting  season  for  a  number 
of  years  and  the  son  is  still  successfully  en- 
gaged in  threshing  grain  in  the  county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bever  have  been  born 
four  children  who  are  yet  living :  Rebecca, 
the  wife  of  William  Blackford,  a  farmer  of 
Middlefork  township;  Sarah,  at  home;  Will- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


905 


iam  A.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Po- 
tomac: and  Ella,  the  wife  of  Asa  Felmley, 
of  Potomac.  They  also  lost  three  children. 
The  eldest  daughter,  Minerva,  grew  to 
womanhood  and  married  Charles  Davis,  of 
Fountain  county,  Indiana.  She  died  in  that 
county  aliout  187S.  Alary  became  the  wife 
of  J.  Blackford,  of  Fountain  county,  after- 
ward came  to  Vermilion  county  and  died  in 
Middlefork  township,  h'ranklin  died  at  the 
age  of  eigiiteen  months. 

Mr.  Bever's  study  of  the  political  ques- 
tions of  the  day  has  led  him  to  give  an  earn- 
est support  to  the  Republican  party,  with 
which  he  has  been  allied  from  the  time  of  its 
organization,  casting  his  first  ballot  for  its 
first  presidential  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont, 
and  for  each  presidential  nominee  of  the  Re- 
publican party  since  that  time  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  year  1880,  when  he  lost  his 
\-ote  by  reason  of  his  removal  from  Indiana 
to  Illinois.  He  has  been  elected  assessor 
and  re-electeil  until  he  has  now  served  for 
five  consecutive  terms  and  has  been  elected 
for  the  sixth  term.  ha\ing  made  five  assess- 
ments of  the  town  and  township.  He  has 
likewise  been  a  member  of  the  town  board 
and  has  ever  been  found  loyal  and  efficient 
in  every  position  of  public  trust  to  which  he 
has  been  appointed.  All  who  know  him  es- 
teem him  for  his  genuine  worth  and  for  his 
fidelity  to  duty  in  both  public  and  private 
life. 


W.  W.  DYE. 


Progression  might  well  be  termed  the 
watchword  of  the  newly  organized  firm  of 
Miller  &  Dye,  dealers  in  marble  in  Danville. 
There  is  nothing  of  fearful  conservatism  to 
be  seen  in  their  Inisincss  methods,  but  on  the 
other  hand  advancement  and  on-going  are 


the  elements  which  have  already  placed  this 
firm  in  the  vanguard  of  the  business  enter- 
prises of  the  city,  where  but  a  comparatively 
few  months  ago  it  was  entirely  unknown — 
the  business  having  not  then  been  estab- 
lished. 

W.  W.  Dye  is  a  western  man  by  birth, 
training  and  preference  and  possesses  the 
enterprising  spirit  of  this  section  of  the 
country.  He  was  born  near  Riola,  Illi- 
nois, August  20,  1871,  and  is  a  son  of  C. 
T.  and  Elizaljeth  (Shaver)  Dye.  On  the 
paternal  side  the  ancestry  can  be  traced  back 
to  William  Dye,  who  was  a  soldier  under  the 
command  of  George  Washington  in  the  Rev- 
olutionaiy  war  and  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign of  New  Jersey  and  the  memorable 
winter  at  Valley  Forge.  He  died  in  New 
Jersey  in  1784.  liis  son,  Kenneth  Dye,  of 
Mason  county,  Kentucky,  died  in  1817  and 
he  was  the  father  of  Peter  Dye,  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject.  Peter  Dye,  also 
li\-ed  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  and  died 
in  1822.  John  Dye,  the  grandfather,  became 
a  private  of  Company  C,  Seventy-third  Illi- 
nois \'olunteer  Infantry,  during  the  Civil 
war  and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River.  It  was  his  son,  C.  T.  Dye,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Shaver  and  became  the  fa- 
ther of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Dye  was  the  eld- 
est daughter  of  Captain  David  Shaver,  of 
Danville,  and  a  descendant  of  Zachary 
Taylor,  president  of  the  United  States.  Still 
further  back  can  the  ancestry  be  traced. 
His  great-grandfather,  John  Allen  Taylor, 
was  a  son  of  Harrison  Taylor,  a  cousin  of 
the  president  of  the  United  States.  Peter 
Shaver,  also  a  great-grandfather  of  our  sub- 
j  ect,  was  born  in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia, 
in  1790,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Af- 
ter his  marriage  C.  T.  Dye  began  farming 
and  throughout  his  entire  life  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits. 


9o6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


W.  W.  Dye,  Avliose  name  introduces  this 
record,  was  reared  by  his  parents,  who  gave 
him  a  sure  foundation  upon  which  to  build 
character  as  well  as  business  success,  for 
he  was  trained  to  iiabits  of  industry  and 
economy.  After  attending  the  common 
schools  he  pursued  a  normal  course  in  the 
Kansas  Normal  College  at  Fort  Scott,  Kan- 
sas, but  did  not  graduate.  For  ten  years  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  and  was  a  suc- 
cessful educator.  He  afterward  went  upon 
the  road  as  a  traveling  salesman,  represent- 
ing a  monumental  business  and  was  extreme- 
ly successful  in  that  line.  For  three  years 
he  was  upon  the  road  and  then  embarked 
in  business  on  his  own  account.  It  was  early 
in  his  business  career  that  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  firm  of  C.  N.  Clark  &Company, 
of  Urbana,  Illinois,  dealers  in  cemetery  work 
of  all  kinds.  Having  mastered  the  business 
in  all  its  departments  he  became  their  lead- 
ing man  and  then  ambitious  to  engage  in 
business  on  his  own  account  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  J.  W.  ]\Iiller,  who  was  the 
chief  designer  for  the  firm  oi  Knox,  Miller 
&  Company,  of  Danville,  of  which  he  was 
also  a  partner.  On  the  15th  of  July,  1902, 
the  firm  of  }ililler  &  Dye  opened  an  office  at 
Xo.  22,  South  \'ermilion  street  and  have 
since  conducted  business  with  constantly 
growing  success.  They  make  a  specialty  of 
work  in  American  and  imported  marbles 
or  granites,  and  from  their  establishment 
are  sent  out  some  of  the  finest  specimens 
of  the  sculptor's  art  to  be  found  anywhere. 
They  carry  a  large  stock.of  granite  and  mar- 
ble and  are  prepared  to  do  work  of  all 
classes  from  the  smallest  headstone  to  the 
most  elaborate  mausoleum.  Both  men  are 
fully  cpialified  to  superintend  the  business 
in  any  department  and  splendid  success  has 
attended  their  eft'orts,  in  fact,  their  business 
lias   far  exceeded  their  expectations,   many 


very  large  and  important  contracts  being 
awarded  them  until  the  output  brings  to 
them  a  very  gratifying  financial  return.  En- 
terprise and  energy,  a  knowletlge  of  the 
trade  and  the  desires  of  the  public,  and  busi- 
ness methods,  which  neither  seek  nor  re- 
cjuire  disguise — in  these  are  found  the  secret 
of  their  success. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  1893,  ^^^'-  Dye 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  Emily  Alice 
Church,  of  Catlin,  Illinois.  Her  parents 
were  Ijom  and  reared  in  the  city  of  London 
and  after  attaining  mature  years  came  to 
America.  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Dye  now  have 
four  children:  Gladys,  Francis,  Walter  C. 
and  Vida.  Socially  Mr.  Dye  is  connected 
with  the  Masonic  fraternitv,  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows  Society,  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
men  of  America  and  the  Court  of  Honor. 


DORAIAX  B.  DOUGLASS. 

Dorman  B.  Douglass  is  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  Catlin  township,  hav- 
ing three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valu- 
al)le  land  on  sections  i  and  2,  his  broad  acres 
Ijeing  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
while  substantial  buildings  have  been  erect- 
ed and  the  place  is  rendered  still  more  at- 
tractive hv  numerous  shade  and  fruit  trees 
with  which  he  has  adorned  the  grounds. 
Concrete  walks  have  been  laid  and  all  mod- 
ern equipments,  improvements  and  conven- 
iences have  been  added  until  the  Douglass 
farm  is  now  one  of  the  finest  and  most  val- 
uable in  this  section  of  the  county. 

Its  well  known  and  progressive  owner 
was  born  October  11,  1827,  in  Danville 
township,  Vermilion  county,  and  is  there- 
fore one  of  its  oldest  native  sons.  Its  his- 
toiy  from  pioneer  times  down  to  the  present 


L 


UUIVERG'TY  CF  ILLINOIS 


D.  B.  DOUGLASS. 


MRS.  DORMAN   B.  DOUGLASS. 


C7  -.,:e 

UNIVERGiry  Of  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


911 


is  familiar  to  liiiii,  his  memory  forming  a 
connecting-  link  between  the  days  when  this 
section  of  the  conntry  was  a  frontier  dis- 
trict to  the  present  period  of  progressive- 
ness  and  prosperity.     Mr.  Douglass  comes 
of  New  England  ancestry  and  is  the  second 
in  order  of  birth  of  the  children  of  Cyrus 
and    l\ul)y    (Bloss)    Douglass.     The  father 
was  born  in  \'ermont  and  the  mother's  birth 
occurred  in  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania,  she 
being  a  representative  of  one  of  the  worthy 
families  of  the  Keystone  state.     They  were 
married  about  three  miles  north  of  Danville 
at  a  place  called  Denmark,  and  soon  after- 
ward they  took  up  their  abode  about  three 
miles  south  of  Danville.     The  father  was  a 
iiatter  by  trade,  having  learned  the  business 
in  New  Vork,  and  on  emigrating  westward 
be  brought  with  bim  considerable  material 
with   which   to   engage   in   business   in    St. 
Louis,  Missouri.     There  be  remained  for  a 
time,  afterward  removing  to  Brown  county, 
Indiana,  but  in  that  locality  he  remained  for 
but  a  short  period.     It  was  in  the  year  1S24 
that   he  arrived  in  Vermilion  county,  first 
settling  east   of   Georgetown  near   Eugene, 
where  he  entered  some  land  from  the  gov- 
ernment, the  grant  being  made  by  President 
James  Monroe.     He  afterward  lived  at  But- 
ler's  Point  and  it  was  while  residing  in  that 
locality  that  he  was  married.     Subsequently 
he  entered  other  tracts  of  land  and  became 
the   owner   of    a    valuable    fanu.      He    was 
lunnbered  among  the  founders  of  the  coun- 
ty, aiding  in  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foun- 
dation upon  which  has   been    budded    the 
present  improvement  and  prosperity  of  this 
portion  of  the  state.        Indians   were  very 
numerous  during  the  early  days  of  his  resi- 
dence   here.       The    forests  stood   in   their 
primeval    strength   and   were  not   only    the 
Iiaunt  of  the  reil  men  but  also  were  the  lair 
of  many  wild  animals.    From  the  time  of  his 

36 


marriage  until  his  retirement  to  private  life 
Cyrus  Douglass  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  his  labors  resulted  in  making  his 
farm  \'ery  productixe.  In  1865,  however, 
he  rcnio\ed  to  Eairmount  .and  there  bis  wife 
died  on  the  15th  of  December,  1866.  Mr. 
Douglass  survived  her  for  fourteen  years, 
passing  away  December  20,  1880,  and  thus 
the  county  lost  one  who  had  been  verj'  active 
in  advancing  its  interests  from  an  early 
epoch  in  its  history.  Mr.  Douglass  served 
under  Captain  Morgan  L.  Payne  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war  of  1831-2,  and  was  most 
helpful  in  reclaiming  this  portion  of  the 
state  for  the  uses  of  the  white  man.  In  his 
family  were  thirteen  cluldrcn,  nine  sons  and 
four  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years 
of  maturity  with  the  exception  of  one  son, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

Those  things  which  are  to  most  of  the 
residents  of  \'ermilion  county  matters  of 
history  are  to  iMr.  Douglass  things  of  ex- 
perience. It  is  hardly  possible  for  the  vis- 
itor of  to-day  to  realize  that  a  half  century 
ago  all  this  rich  region  was  wild  and  un- 
improved, antl  yet  Mr.  Douglass  can  well 
remember  the  stretches  of  forest  and  of  un- 
broken prairie,  the  log  cabin  homes,  the  lit- 
tle \illages  which  stood  upon  the  site  of  now 
flourishing  towns  and  cities.  He  can  re- 
member Danville  when  it  contained  but 
three  stores,  and  during  the  period  of  his 
boyhood  many  of  the  towns  of  the  county 
were  not  founded.  He  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  a  log  schoolhuse,  wdiich  was  heated 
with  an  immense  fireplace  that  extended 
across  one  entire  end  of  the  room.  Like  the 
other  scholars  he  sat  upon  the  slab  benches 
and  he  conned  his  lessons  from  scboolliooks 
of  a  i)rimiti\e  character  in  institutions  of 
learning  were  the  motto  of  "spare  the  rod 
and  spoil  the  child"  was  one  that  was  closely 
followed.     It  was  only  through  the  winter 


9C2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


season  that  he  had  the  privilege  of  attending 
scliool,  for  during  the  summer  months  his 
services  were  needed  upon  tlie  home  farm. 
As  soon  as  old  enough  to  handle  the  plow 
he  took  his  place  in  the  fields  and  was  there- 
after always  husily  engaged  in  the  work  of 
culti\ating  the  crops  until  after  the  harvests 
of  late  fall.  The  first  plow  which  he  used 
was  a  wooden  mold  board  and  he  droA^e  with 
a  single  line  harness  made  of  rope.  He  did 
his  harvesting  with  a  reap  hook,  which  later 
was  superceded  by  a  cradle.  After  turning 
the  furrows  the  girls  of  the  family  would 
drop  corn  by  hand.  At  length,  however, 
Mr.  Douglass  left  home  and  spent  three 
years  in  the  gold  regions  of  southern  Ore- 
gon and  also  of  California,  being  located 
principallv  upon  the  little  fork  of  the  Feath- 
er ri\'er.  He  resided  in  California  from 
185 1  until  1S53,  during  which  time  he  was 
engaged  in  mining,  and  then  returning  home 
by  way  of  the  ocean  and  Nicaraugua  route 
to  New  York,  crossing  the  country  then  to 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois.  Again  in  1864 
Mr.  Douglass  made  that  long  trip  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  crossing  the  plains  to  Idaho 
and  Montana,  where  he  remained  for  about 
two  and  one-half  years.  In  that  period  he 
engaged  in  minig  and  dift'erent  occupations. 
After  his  trip  to  California  he  returned  to 
his  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  was 
partially  improved,  and  at  once  began  its 
further  de\-elopment  and  cultivation.  In  his 
agricultural  pursuits  he  has  ever  displayed 
industry  and  enterprise,  combined  with  ex- 
cellent business  judgment,  and  thus  through 
his  own  labors  he  has  steadily  advanced  to 
a  position  of  afiluence.  being  now  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  very  valuable  farm  proprety. 
When  he  was  a  boy  Chicago  was  the  trad- 
ing point  for  the  family  and  long  trips  were 
made  by  wagon  to  that  city.  Mr.  Douglass 
can  also  remember  when  the  people  largely 


attended  church  by  walking  the  entire  dis- 
tance, seeing  whole  families  go  two  or  three 
miles  in  this  way.  Frequently  they  made 
the  journey  on  horseback,  the  wife  sitting 
behind  her  husband  on  the  same  horse.  Camp 
meetings  were  held  out  of  doors  and  candles 
were  fastened  to  the  bushes  in  order  to  af- 
ford light.  Mr.  Douglass  remembers  quite 
well  the  first  matches  which  he  ever  saw, 
antl  previous  to  that  time  fires  were  built 
by  using  flint  and  tow,  also  punk,  which  was 
picked  up  in  the  timber.  The  clothing  was 
largely  made  from  flax  spun  in  the  house- 
hold, the  women  doing  the  carding  and 
spinning,  the  cleaning  and  weaving,  utiliz- 
ing indigo  for  coloring.  Even  the  congress- 
men went  to  Washington  in  the  home  made 
clotliing,  and  few  indeeil  were  the  tailor- 
made  suits  seen  in  \'ermilion  county  during 
tliat  epoch.  It  was  quite  difiicult  to  obtain 
leather  for  shoes,  and  the  individual  had 
only  about  one  pair  a  }ear.  On  Sundays 
the  girls  would  carry  their  shoes  until  they 
were  near  the  church,  when  they  would  put 
them  on,  remo\ing  them  after  the  service 
was  over  and  returning  home  barefootd. 

In  1855  ^^''-  Douglass  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Anna  Downing,  in  Danville 
township,  the  lady  being  a  daughter  of  Ellis 
and  Louise  ( Hathaway)  Downing,  who 
were  nati\es  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky,  re- 
spectixely.  Her  parents  began  their  domes- 
tic life  in  the  latter  state,  and  afterward  be- 
came pioneer  settlers  of  Logansport.  Indi- 
ana, where  the  father  died.  Subsequently  the 
mother  came  to  Catlin  township.  \''ermilion 
county,  where  she  remained  until  her  death. 
Fom'  children  were  born  of  their  union,  of 
whom  Mrs.  Douglass  is  the  eldest.  She  was 
bom  near  W'ashington.  in  Mason  county, 
Kentucky.  December  25,  1825.  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Indiana  and  with  her  mother 
came  to  Illinois.     By  her  marriage  she  had 


\^\\\^' 


t^^o' 


\^^ 


_o^o\s 


MRS.  CYRUS  DOUGLASS. 


CYRUS  DOUGLASS. 


u,v;v£R, 


^-  ':-.v£ 

''■ITY  OF 


'^umis 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


917 


ii\-e  children  :  Samuel,  who  is  now  living 
at  home;  Eliza,  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Cook: 
Allen,  who  married  ^laggie  Bycrly;  Belle 
B.,  the  wife  of  Charles  Lucas;  and  George 
\\'..  who  married  Miss  Cord,  and  lives  on 
the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Douglass  also  has 
twelve  grandchildren.  In  1902  he  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who 
died  on  the  i6th  of  June  of  that  year.  They 
had  traveled  life's  journey  together  for  more 
than  forty-six  years,  sharing  \vith  each 
other  its  joys  and  sorrows,  its  adversity  and 
prosperity.  They  had  been  most  happy  in 
their  home  life  and  the  loss  of  the  wife 
comes  as  a  \ery  great  blow  to  the  husband. 
She  had  been  an  invalid  for  about  fifteen 
or  sixteen  years,  but  bt)re  her  illness  uncom- 
plainingly, without  a  murmur. 

Mr.  Douglass  has  indeed  seen  many 
changes  in  Vermilion  county.  He  himself 
has  made  trips  down  the  Mississippi  river 
to  New  Orleans,  going  upon  a  flatboat  made 
at  Olmsted  Mill.  Twice  he  has  crossed  the 
plains  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  making  the  trips 
with  ox  teams.  To-day  when  he  tra\els  he 
finds  it  possible  to  speed  over  the  country  in 
a  palace  car  in  which  one  can  enjoy  almost 
all  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  a  mod- 
ern home.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in  what 
has  l)een  accomplished  in  X'ermilion  county 
and  he  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  work 
of  development  and  improvement.  For  over 
thirty  years  he  Iras  been  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  Catlin  Lodge,  No.  285,  F.  &  A.  .M., 
has  passed  through  all  of  the  chairs  and  that 
he  is  one  of  the  valued  representatives  of 
the  craft  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  his  ]:)ic- 
ture  hangs  upon  the  wall  of  the  lodge  room. 
Fifty-four  times  has  he  excrci.sed  his  right 
of  franchise,  being  a  Democrat  of  the  Jack- 
sonian  type  and  one  of  the  standard  bearers 
of  the  party.  A  number  of  times  has  he  at- 
tended congressional  and  county  convention 


tended  count}'  and  congressional  con- 
\'entions  ;nid  has  put  forth  very  earnest 
eft'ort  in  behalf  of  the  party  and  its  success. 
He  owns  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
the  best  farm  land  in  the  county  and  his 
home  farm,  all  of  which  is  well  tiled  and 
fenced  and  under  a  very  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, is  the  visible  evidence  of  his  life 
of  industry  and  toil.  He  also  has  other 
farm  property  which  he  leases.  Coal  under- 
lies his  home  place  and  at  any  time  he  could 
command  one  hundretl  and  fifty  dollars  per 
acre  for  his  land.  His  property  is  the  re- 
ward of  his  labor  and  well  does  he  merit 
the  comfortable  competence  which  now  pro- 
vides him  with  all  of  the  necessities  and 
manv  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 


AUSTIN  M.  SOXGER. 

Austin  M.  Songer,  who  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  business  men  of  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty, having  been  actively  and  honorably 
engaged  in  merchandising  in  Alvin,  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  portion  of  the 
«tate  since  August.  1868.  He  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  Indiana,  August  17, 
1850,  and  his  father,  Lewis  Songer,  was 
a  native  of  \'irginia.  When  a  young  man 
he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  X'ermilion 
county,  and  later  removed  to  Warren  coun- 
ty. Indiana.  Me  married  Catherine  Daniels, 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  Ijoth 
were  of  (ierman  ancestry.  It  was  during 
the  pioneer  epoch  of  Warren  county  that 
Mr.  Songer  located  there  and  he  often  took 
a  flatboat  down  the  \\'abash  and  Mississippi 
rivers  to  Xew  Orleans,  thus  transporting  his 
products  to  the  southern  market.  In  1868 
he  came  to  \'ertniliiin  I'ounty.  settling  in 
Ross  township. 


9i8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Austin  M.  Songer,  who  accompanied  his 
parents,  was  tlien  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
years.  He  had  acquired  good  school  privi- 
leges in  Indiana  and  had  assisted  his  father 
in  the  more  arduous  task  of  developing  and 
clearing  the  home  farm.  Here  he  also  bore 
his  part  in  tlie  farm  work  until  after  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  started  out 
in  life  on  his  own  account,  working  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  few  years.  He 
also  chopped  wood  and  made  railroad  ties 
during  the  winter,  wiiile  during  the  sum- 
mer months  he  devoted  his  energies  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  His  labor  and  economy 
at  lengtli  brought  to  him  capital  sufficient 
to  enable  him  to  make  a  purchase  of  land 
and  he  became  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of 
timber  land  near  .Vlvin.  From  this  he 
cleared  tlie  trees  and  in  course  of  time  trans- 
formed the  tract  into  a  richly  cultivated 
field.  He  successfully  carried  on  farming 
until  1884,  when  he  came  to  Alvin  and  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  a  mercantile  enterprise 
here.  Later  the  stock  was  divided  and  Mr. 
Songer  has  since  carried  on  the  business 
alone,  increasing  his  stock  to  meet  the  grow- 
ing demands  of  his  trade.  He  now  carries 
a  large  line  of  general  merchandise  and  has 
a  very  liljeral  patronage,  owing  to  the  repu- 
tation which  he  has  gained  for  handling  a 
high  grade  of  goods  and  fair  dealing.  He 
has  qualities  which  make  him  a  popular  mer- 
cliant,  Ijeing  genial,  approachable  and  oblig- 
ing, and  through  iiis  trade  transactions  he 
has  gained  many  warm  friends.  He  pur- 
chased a  lot  in  the  town  and  has  erected 
thereon  a  large  brick  residence,  which  is  one 
of  the  attractive  homes  here.  He  also  owns 
other  town  property  and  a  good  farm  near 
.\lvin  and  lias  a  business  l)lock  in  Alvin 
aside  from  the  one  which  is  occupied  1)v  his 
own  store. 

While  his  agricultural   and  commercial 


interests  have  made  heavy  demands  upon  his 
time  \\r.  Songer  has  yet  found  time  to  take 
an  active  interest  in  political  affairs,  as 
e\ery  true  American  citizen  should  do 
who  has  the  welfare  of  his  country  at 
heart.  He  has  long  Ijeen  a  Democrat, 
supporting  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  party  and  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Cle\-eland  to  the  office  of  postmaster 
of  Alvin.  serving  for  four  years.  He  has 
also  been  president  of  the  town  board  for 
a  number  of  terms,  has  been  president  of  the 
school  board  for  two  terms  and  has  fre- 
quently been  a  delegate  to  the  county  con- 
\'entions  of  his  party,  his  opinions  carrying 
weight  and  influence  in  its  councils.  He 
has  been  elected  a  member  of  the  county 
l)oard  of  supervisors  from  Ross  township, 
although  he  is  living  in  a  strong  Republican 
district  and  on  the  board  is  serving  as  a 
members  of  a  number  of  important  commit- 
tees, including  tliose  on  pulilic  Ijuiklings  and 
grounds.  He  and  his  wife  are  memljers  of 
the  Metliodist  Episcopal  cliurch,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  trustee. 

Mr.  Song'er  was  married  in  Ross  town- 
ship, September  26,  1871,  to  Amanda  E. 
Biteler,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daughter 
oi  William  and  iMary  Biteler,  who  were 
pioneer  settlers  of  Vermilion  county,  coming 
to  this  state  from  Indiana.  They  are  still 
living  here  numbered  among  the  honored 
early  settlers  of  the  community.  Mrs.  Son- 
ger has  spent  the  greater  part  of  her  life  in 
Vermilion  county  and  by  her  marriage  has 
become  the  mother  of  three  children :  Will- 
iam L.,  who  assists  his  father  in  the  store; 
Efiie  May,  tlie  wife  of  Fred  Pasmas,  of  Al- 
vin ;  and  Audubon  Cleveland.  The  family 
ba\-e  a  verv  attracti\'e  and  pleasant  home  in 
.\lvin,  noted  for  its  gracious  hospitality,  and 
the  members  of  the  household  occupy  an  en- 
viable position  in  social  circles  where  true 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


919 


worth  and  intelligence  are  received  as  pass- 
ports into  good  society.  The  record  of  Mr. 
Songer  is  one  which  the  American  citizens 
hold  in  highest  regard  for  it  proves  the  pos- 
sibilities that  this  country  affords  to  her 
residents,  lie  has  by  strong  purpose,  sup- 
plemented b}-  industry  and  clear  business 
judgment  advanced  to  a  \ery  creditable  posi- 
tion in  commercial  circles  and  now  possesses 
a  handsi>me  competence  which  is  the  direct 
reward  of  his  own  labors. 


.\r.RAllA.\l  L.  bX)X,  M.  U. 

Centuries  ago  the  sage  Epicharmus  gave 
expression  to  the  adage  "Earn  thy  reward; 
the  gods  gi\'e  naught  to  sloth,"  and  through- 
out the  ages  which  luue  run  their  course 
since  that  time  the  truth  of  this  admonition 
has  been  vcriticd.  It  is  as  manifest  in  pro- 
fessional life  as  in  industrial  work  and  the 
men  who  gain  advancement  and  success  are 
tliose  who  apply  themselves  earnestly  to 
their  chosen  calling,  making  it  always  the 
first  consideration.  Because  of  close  appli- 
cation, broad  learning  and  capability  Dr. 
Abraham  L.  Fox  has  become  well  known  as 
a  successful  physician  i<\  I  )aii\illc.  lie  was 
born  at  Oakwood,  Vermilion  county,  Octo- 
ber 30,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  George  A.  and 
Margaret  Oakwood  Fox,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Greene  count  \-.  l'cnns_\l\ania,  and  the 
latter  of  Kentucky.  His  i)arents  were  mar- 
ried in  this  county,  the  mother  belonging  to 
the  old  and  prominent  Oakwood  family 
wiiich  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
George  A.  Fox  came  to  \''ermilion  county 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-three  years, 
driving  one  thousand  head  of  sheep  across 
the  country  frc^n  Pennsylvania.  He  settled 
in  Oakwood  township,  where  he  purchased 


came  the  possessor  of  extensive  property  in- 
terests. Unto  him  and  his  wife  were  born 
six  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  hving,  the 
daughter  being  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 
The  father  died  October  14,  1900,  and  his 
Avife  passed  away  in  Jul}',  1898,  their  re- 
mains being  interred  in  the  Oakwood  cem- 
etery. 

Dr.  l'\)x  of  this  review  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Oakwood 
townshi])  and  afterward  entered  the  semin- 
ary at  Dan\ille.  pursuing  a  course  in  ad- 
vanced stutlies.  Subsequently  be  engaged  in 
teaching  for  three  years  in  Catlin,  Oakwood 
and  I'ilot  townships  of  Vermilion  county, 
but  he  regarded  this  as  a  preliminary  step 
to  other  professional  labor.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  he  entered  Rush  ]\Iedical  ('ollege 
in  1879  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1882  upon  the  completion  of  a  thorough 
course.  He  then  returned  to  Oakwood  and 
entered  upon  practice,  remaining  there  for 
four  years,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  in 
]3anville.  He  has  never  had  a  partner,  but 
has  made  his  way  unaided  and  has  gained  a 
creditable  standing  in  professional  circles 
as  one  whose  knowledge  and  altility  en- 
titles him  to  the  patronage  of  the 
public.  in  1893  he  was  elected  health 
Commissioner  of  l)an\ille  and  served  for 
two  years.  Tn  1899  he  w^as  again  chosen 
for  that  ofhce  and  in  1901  he  was  re-elected, 
his  second  term  expiring  on  the  30tb  of 
.\pril,  ii)o,v  l''roni  i8(jo  until  1894  Dr. 
b'o.x  served  as  local  surgeon  of  this  division 
of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad. 
He  is  examining  physician  for  several  insur- 
ance companies,  including  the  Metropolitan 
of  New  York,  the  Pacific  Mutual  of  Califor- 
nia, the  Western  Mutual  Life  .Association  of 
Chicago,  the  Security  Trust  &  Life  Insur- 
ance Company  of  l'hiladeli)hia  and  the  Chi- 
cago Guarantee  Life  h'und  of  Chicago.     He 


920 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


belongs  to  the  Vermilion  County  j\ledical 
Society,  the  Tri-Coimty  Medical  Society,  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Amer- 
ican ^Medical  Association,  thus  keeping  in 
touch  with  the  advanced  thought  of  the  pro- 
fession as  it  is  continually  broadening  its 
field  of  usefulness. 

In  .March,  1882.  the  Doctor  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Lida  Shean,  of  Danville, 
and  to  them  were  born  two  children.  Ma- 
belle  Clare  and  Gertrude  G.  On  the  6th  of 
August.  1889,  .the  Doctor  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  l>eing  with  Miss  Eva 
G.  Gibbs,  of  Danville.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican  with  firm  faith  in  the  principles 
of  the  party,  yet  without  desire  for  ofificial 
honors  as  a  reward  for  party  fealty.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  Damascus 
Lodge,  Xo.  84,  K.  P.,  the  Benevolent  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  of  Danville  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  which 
he  is  a  past  grand.  He  is  also  connected 
with  a  number  of  insurance  orders.  His 
genial  nature  makes  him  a  favorite  in  social 
as  well  as  professional  life  yet  his  first  con- 
sideration is  always  his  professional  duty 
to  which  he  is  ever  faithful. 


XOAH  D.  SOWERS. 

Xoah  D.  Sowers  was  for  many  years  a 
progressive  farmer  of  A'ermilion  county, 
Illinois,  and,  recognized  as  a  valued  citizen, 
his  loss  was  deeply  deplored  by  many  friends. 
He  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana. 
February  5,  1843,  ^  son  of  Michael  and 
Sarah  (Rachard)  Sowers,  who  were  natives 
of  Davidson  county,  X'orth  Carolina,  where 
they  were  married  in  1835.  Four  years 
later  they  removed  to  Fountain  county,  In- 


diana, where  the  father  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  August  15, 
J  845,  when  he  was  fifty-two  years  of  age. 
The  mother  afterward  married  a  Mr.  Mor- 
gan, who  has  since  died,  and  she  passed 
away  on  the  21st  of  Xovember,  1881,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years.  Our  subject's  fa- 
ther was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views 
and  was  identified  with  the  Lutheran  church. 
In  his  family  were  three  children:  Louis, 
who  resides  in  Fairmount,  Illinois;  Phebe, 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Gooding,  a  resident  of 
Fountain  county,  Indiana;  and  X'oah  D. 

In  the  district  schools  of  his  native  state 
the  subject  of  this  review  pursued  his  educa- 
tion until  sixteen  years  of  age.  His  advant- 
ages in  that  direction,  however,  were  some- 
what limited  because  during  the  months  of 
summer  his  services  were  needed  upon  the 
home  farm.  He  remained  upon  the  farm, 
assisting  his  stepfather  in  its  cultivation  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  1867  he 
arrixed  in  Illinois,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
\'ermilion  county,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  with  his  brother  for  ten  years.  Dur- 
ing that  time  he  saved  his  earnings  and  with 
the  capital  thus  acquired  he  purchased  eigh- 
ty acres  of  land  in  Vance  township.  Upon 
this  he  erected  a  good  house  and  svibstantial 
barns  and  continued  the  cultivation  of  his 
fields  with  good  success  for  a  number  of 
years. 

On  the  17th  of  Fel)ruary,  1881.  INIr. 
Sowers  was  united  in  marriage  in  \\'ashing- 
ton  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Miss  Cinder- 
ella Conklin.  who  was  born  in  that  county, 
March  21,  1847.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Catherine  (Ross)  Conklin,  were  both  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  state  and  were  mar- 
ried in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  after 
which  they  located  on  the  farm  near  Pros- 
perity,   Washington    county.      They    lived 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


921 


-there  until  the  tatlier  died  on  the  ist  of  June, 
1879,  and  tlie  motlier  still  makes  her  home 
on  the  old  farm.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
helil  a  number  of  township  offices,  including 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  belonged 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  his 
life  was  in  consistent  harmony  with  his  re- 
ligious faith.  Mrs.  Sowers  was  one  of  a 
family  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are 
riow  living:  William  A.,  who  resides 
u[)on  the  old  homestead:  Cinderella,  the 
widow  of  our  subject;  Phebe  Jane,  the 
wife  of  Cepbus  Meeks,  who  is  living 
near  Waynesljurg,  Greene  county,  Pennsyl- 
\ania:  0])helia.  the  wife  of  Ross  ]\lcLain. 
of  Cireenc  county,  Pennsylvania;  I\-a  G.,  the 
widow  of  George  Alann,  and  a  resident  of 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania ;  and 
Ross  AI.,  who  makes  his  home  in  Portland. 
Oregon. 

.\t  the  time  oi  their  marriage  Mr.  Sow- 
ers took  his  bride  to  bis  home  farm  and  there 
tiiey  resided  continuously  until  1899.  when 
tiiey  removed  to  Fairmount.  He  was  quite 
successful  in  his  agricultural  work  and  was 
the  tjwner  of  one  bundreil  and  twentv  acres 
of  valualjle  land.  His  death  occurred  June 
2j,  1900,  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Fairmount  cemetery.  .\  stanch  Deiuocrat 
in  his  i)olilical  \icws  he  always  refused  to 
hold  office,  but  in  other  ways  rendered  his 
party  what  .services  he  could.  He  belonged 
to  the  (."umbcrland  Presbyterian  church  and 
his  life  was  a  busy,  useful  and  upright  one 
cliaracterized  by  qualities  which  in  every 
land  and  every  clime  command  esteem  and 
good  will.  Ill  1901  Mrs.  Sowers  Iniilt  a 
commodious  home  in  Fairmount  and  she 
also  owns  an  acre  of  ground  here  on  which 
are  some  good  residences,  which  she  rents. 
She  is  an  estimable  lady  and  is  widelv  ami 
favorably  known  in  this  portion  of  \'crmil- 
ion  county. 


ERNEST  X.  LESEURE. 

E.  X.  Lescure,  the  president  of  the  Dan- 
\ille  Xatiunal  liank,  was  born  in  Daiuille, 
March  24,  1864,  a  son  of  Prosper  and  Har- 
riet T.  Leseure.  In  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  this  city  he  obtained  his  English 
tducation  and  in  1882  he  wont  to  Europe, 
spending  two  _\-ears  in  travel  and  study  in 
hrance  and  (jermany.  Upon  returning  to 
Damille  be  at  once  entered  uptm  his  busi- 
ness career,  in  the  State  Bank.  He  entered 
the  bank  as  bookkeeper  in  order  to  become 
familiar  with  all  the  details  of  the  business, 
and  a  little  later  became  its  assistant  cashier. 
In  due  course  he  became  the  cashier  of  the 
institution,  with  which  he  remained  until  the 
1st  of  January,  1891,  when  he  entered  the 
Sccoiul  Xational  Bank  of  this  city  as  assist- 
ant cashier.  He  acted  in  that  capacity  until 
1894,  when  he  left  the  bank  and  became 
general  manager  of  the  Dan\  ille  Street  Rail- 
\\.^y  Sc  Light  Company,  with  which  he  was 
c<3nnected  until  the  fall  of  1900,  when  the 
plant  was  sold  to  eastern  parties.  Mr.  Le- 
seure tiieii  purchased  the  interest  of  R.  D. 
McDonald  and  J.  S.  McFerren,  in  the  State 
P>ank  of  Danville,  and  on  the  ist  of  Decem- 
ber, 1900,  assumed  the  presidency  of  the 
bank.  Six  months  later  the  State  Bank 
was  comerted  into  the  present  Danville 
Xational  Bank,  of  which  Mr.  Leseure  is  the 
president  and   the  principal   stockholder. 

In  1891  Mr.  Leseure  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mablc  F.  Cannon,  a  daughter 
of  Hon.  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  a  sketch  of 
whom  a])pcars  elsewhere  in  this  work.  They 
now  lia\e  twd  daughters,  X'irginia  and 
Helen.  In  his  political  views  Mr.  Lescure 
is  a  Republican.  He  is  thoroughly  convers- 
ant with  the  banking  business  in  all  its  de- 
partments and  to  it  gi\-es  the  major  part  of 
his  attention  with  the  result  that  the  Danville 


922 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Naiunal  Bank  lias  become  one  of  the  strong- 
est financial  institntions  in  this  part  of  the 
state. 


WILLIAM  H.  PRICE. 

Nature  seems  to  have  intended  that  man 
shall  spend  the  latter  years  of  life  in  retire- 
ment from  labor.  In  youth  he  is  ambitious, 
energetic  and  resolute  and  the  future  lures 
him  on  with  bright  hopes.  As  manhood  ad- 
vances mature  judgment  is  added  to  the 
qualities  of  younger  years  and  results  in  the 
careful  conduct  of  business  affairs.  Later, 
one's  physical  powers  are  not  so  great  and  it 
is  thus  evident  that  man  was  intentled  to 
labor  less  strenuously  in  his  declining  years. 
To  ]Mr.  Price  has  been  vouchsafed  a  well- 
earned  retirement  from  work.  He  \vas  long 
associated  with  agricultural  interests  and  at 
one  time  he  owned  and  operated  tweh'e  hun- 
dred acres  of  land,  thus  carrj-ing  on  farming 
on  an  extensixe  scale.  Now  he  is  living 
quietly  at  his  pleasant  home  at  No.  408 
Robinson  street,  Danville,  leaving  the  more 
active  duties  of  a  business  life  to  others.  He 
was  born  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  July  4,  1827, 
and  since  December,  1S30,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  A'ermilion  county,  Illinois.  His 
father,  Robert  G.  Price,  born  July  27,  1788, 
was  a  nati\e  of  Kentucky  and  was  there 
reared.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  loyally 
served  his  countrv  as  a  soldier  under  Gen- 
eral ^^"illiam  Plenry  Harrison.  When  a 
young  man  he  went  to  Pike  county,  Ohio, 
wdiere  he  was  married  to  Nancy  Howard, 
born  February  27,  1793,  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  state.  He  took  his  bride  to -his  farm 
home  and  in  Pike  county  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1830,  when  he 
brought  his  family  to  \'ermilion  county,  Illi- 
nois.   Plere  he  entered  from  the  government 


eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was  located  near 
the  city  of  Danville.  He  cleared  this,  as  it 
was  timber,  turning  the  first  furrow  on  many 
a  field.  There  he  carried  on  farm  work  for 
some  time  and  later  scjld  that  place  and  set- 
tled near  the  state  line,  where  he  was  living 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
January,  1856.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
about   1844. 

Mr.  l^rice  is  the  youngest  of  five  chil- 
dren, ami  the  only  survivor.  He  was  only 
ab(iut  three  years  of  age  \\dien  brought  by  his 
parents  to  ^'ermilion  county,  and  he  lived 
near  Danville  until  sixteen  years  of  age.  His 
educational  privileges  were  very  limited  and 
the  knowledg'e  that  he  has  gained  has  been 
largely  won  in  the  hard  school  of  experi- 
ence. He  remained  with  his  father  until 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixteen,  when 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  working 
as  a  farm  liaiul  1)}"  the  day  and  month  for 
t«i>  or  three  years.  The  first  land  which  he 
ever  owned  he  entered  from  the  govern- 
ment, securing  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Pilot  township,  about  1845.  This  he 
broke  and  improved,  transforming  it  into  a 
good  farm,  the  well  tilled  fields  returning 
to  him  rich  harvests.  There  he  remained 
until  1891.  The  property  has  never  been 
transferred  and  has  never  had  a  mortgage 
upon  it.  Though  he  left  that  farm  it  has 
still  continued  in  his  possession.  He  bought 
more  land,  Iiowe\er.  from  time  to  time,  until 
his  possessions  aggregated  twelve  hundred 
acres,  with  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
the  home  farm  and  the  remainder  near  by. 
Mr.  Price  erected  a  good  residence,  two 
large  barns,  ami  made  other  improvements. 
He  planted  a  large  orchard  and  set  out 
shade  and  ornamental  trees,  which 
added  much  to  the  attractive  appeaivance 
and  value  of  his  property.  .\s  the 
years    passed    he   addetl   all    modern    e(]uip- 


W.  H    PRICE. 


x;   rf   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


925 


ments,  including  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery, which  aided  him  in  carrying  on  the 
work  of  the  farm. 

On  the  oOth  of  jainiary,  1850,  in  this 
county.  Mr.  Price  was  united  in  marriage 
to  ^lary  J.  Cazott,  who  was  horn  July  4. 
1833,  in  Vermilion  comity,  a  daughter  of 
Ilcm-y  Cazott,  who  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers here,  coming  from  Kentucky.  Mrs. 
Price  spent  her  girlhood  days  here  and  at 
length  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  the 
subject  of  this  review,  with  whom  she  trav- 
eled life's  journey  for  about  forty-one  years. 
She  was  then  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1891, 
her  remains  being  interred  in  the  Embery 
Chapel  cemetery.  After  the  death  of  his 
wife  Mr.  Price  retired  from  the  farm  and 
came  to  Danville,  residing  with  a  daughter 
for  a  year  or  two.  He  was  then  married 
in  this  city  September  5.  iScjj,  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  J.  Ellsworth,  a  widow,  who  was  born 
in  Clark  county.  Ohio,  May  23,  1S41.  There 
she  spent  her  early  life  and  ga\c  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  Jacob  H.  Ellsworth,  who  died 
in  the  Buckeye  state.  Mrs.  Ellsworth  af- 
terward came  to  Illinois,  joining  her  son, 
Ch.arles  E.,  the  late  county  surx'eyor  of 
\'ermilion  couiUy.  Mr.  Price  had  fi\'e  chil- 
dren by  his  first  marriage:  Jerusha  J.  is 
the  widow  of  Henry  Helmick.  and  resides  in 
Pilot  township.  She  has  two  sons,  Charles 
and  William  Helmick.  The  former  is  mar- 
ried and  has  one  daughter.  Lloyd  II.,  l)orn 
December  2,  1852,  married  Mary  Snider, 
and  follows  farming  in  Vernon  county,  Mis- 
souri. Emily  M.,  born  March  2,  1855,  is  the 
wife  of  Guy  C.  Howard,  of  Armstrong,  Illi- 
nois. Charles  R.,  born  January  30,  1857. 
married  Delia  Hatfield,  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Pilot  township,  and  has  two  children,  Ev- 
erett L.  and  Elsie  M.  Alice  N.,  born  ^lay 
2,  1859,  is  the  wife  of  Asbury  Duncan,  of 
Potomac.  Illinois,  and  has  one  child.  Lola. 


Since  retiring  from  farm  life  ^Ir.  Price  has 
given  to  his  children  over  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land.  After  removing  to  this  city 
he  purchased  eight}'  acres  near  the  town  and 
this  is  well  improved,  constituting  a  valua- 
ble tract.  He  also  owns  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres,  which  includes  the  old  home 
place  of  two  hundretl  and  forty  acres  that 
he  enteretl  from  the  go\-ernment.  I11  Dan- 
\illc  he  i)urchased  a  lot  and  built  thereon 
a  neat  residence,  which  is  \et  bis  home. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Price  was  an  old  line 
Whig  and  later  he  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  and  has  sup- 
ported each  of  its  presidential  nominees 
since  he  voted  for  its  first  candidate,  John 
C.  Fremont.  He  has  never  missed  a  town- 
shi]3  or  a  presidential  election.  While  on 
the  farm  he  served  as  a  commissioner  for 
twehe  years,  although  he  has  never  been 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  ofiice  seeking, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  He  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Danville  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. During  seventy-two  years  he  has 
lived  in  \ermilion  county.  Few  indeed  of 
its  residents  ha\'e  so  long  been  identified 
with  its  growth  or  ha\e  Ijeen  eye  witnesses 
of  its  progress  and  development.  He  has 
seen  the  county  emerge  from  the  wilderness 
to  take  its  ]5lace  among  the  leading  counties 
of  the  great  commonwealth.  He  has  watched 
it  as  it  has  kept  abreast  of  the  progress  and 
improvement  of  other  counties,  for  its  citi- 
zens have  been  of  a  progressive  class  who 
are  ever  ready  to  adopt  any  melhotis  for 
improvement.  He  can  remember  Danville 
when  it  was  a  mere  village,  giving  little 
promise  of  its  future  metro])olitan  growth. 
In  the  early  days  he  suft'ered  man}-  hard- 
ships and  pri\-ations  incident  to  pioneer 
times,  but  he  persevered    in    his    work  of 


926 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


farming  until  his  labors  brought  to  him  very 
gratifying  success.  He  is  truly  a  self-made 
man.  for  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen  he 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  He  had  no  money,  but  he  possessed 
determination  and  force  of  character  and 
gradually  he  acijuired  not  only  a  good  liv- 
ing but  extensive  landed  possessions  that 
enabled  him  to  provide  handsomely  for  his 
children  and  at  the  same  time  retain  a  very 
gratifying  competence  for  his  later  years. 
His  life  has  been  quietly  passed  and  his  his- 
tory is  commendable  because  he  has  always 
been  true  to  his  duties  of  citizenship,  honor- 
able in  his  relations  with  his  fellow  men  and 
true  to  e\'ery  duty  that  has  devolved  upon 

him. 

*—-* 

NATHAN  M.  ARNOLD. 

Nathan  M.  Arnold  is  the  efficient  post- 
master of  East  Lynn,  which  position  he  has 
occupied  for  a  number  of  years.  Almost 
five  decades  have  passed  since  his  arrival  in 
Illinois  and  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury he  has  lived  in  \'ermilion  county. 
Thoroughly  imbued  w  ilh  the  spirit  of  enter- 
prise and  progress  which  has  e\er  dominated 
the  west  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward, winning  not  only  financial  success  but 
also  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated. 

.\  native  of  Li\ingston  county.  New 
York,  he  was  born  on  the  12th  of  May, 
183 1.  His  father,  William  Arnold,  was 
born  in  Cayuga  cnunty.  New  "^'ork,  and  was 
a  son  of  Elijah  Arnnld.  likewise  a  native  of 
the  Empire  state.  The  family  is  of  English 
origin  and  was  founded  in  .\merica  at  the 
time  when  the  early  Pilgrims  sought  refuge 
in  the  new  world.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  county  of 


his  nativity  and  was  there  married  to  Laura 
Alerritt,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who  was 
reared  in  Cayuga  count}'  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Nathan  Merritt.  In  order  to  provide  for 
his  family  Air.  Arnold  followed  his  trade  of 
wagonmaking.  Removing  from  Cayuga 
county  to  Livingston  county,  he  established 
a  shop  at  Mount  Morris,  which  he  conduct- 
ed successfully  for  some  time.  There  he 
reared  his  family  and  spent  his  last  days, 
passing  away  when  only  thirty-one  years  of 
age,  his  death  resulting  from  an  accident. 
His  wife  survived  him  and  cared  for  their 
children.  Later  she  removed  to  Spring 
^^'ater  in  Li\ingston  count}',  taking  up  her 
abode  upon  a  farm. 

It  was  upon  his  father's  farm  that  Nath- 
an Arnold  was  reared  and  entering  the  com- 
mon schools  near  his  home  he  pursued  his 
education.  When  he  had  arrived  at  years 
of  maturitv  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account  in  Li\'ingston  county,  representing 
agricultural  interests  there  for  some  time. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey  he  chose  Miss  IMaria  Redmond, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated  October  2t,. 
1S50.  The  lady  was  born  and  reared  in 
Li\-ingston  county  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Richmond  Redmond,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  that  part  of  the  state. 

In  1864  the  subject  of  this  review  left 
the  Empire  state  and  took  advantage  of  the 
business  opportunity  of  the  growing  west. 
He  located  in  Greene  county,  Illinois,  upon  a 
farm  of  three  thousand  acres,  belonging  to 
the  firm  of  Gregory  Brothers,  bankers  of 
Whitehall.  He  was  made  their  foreman 
and  occupied  that  position  for  ele\'en  years, 
successfully  controlling  their  extensive  agri- 
cultural interests.  In  187 J  he  came  to  \'er- 
milion  county  and  purchased  a  tract  of  raw 
land  in  Butler  township.  Soon  the"  plow 
had  turned  the  furrows  in  the  hitherto  un- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


927 


ciiltivated  fields  and,  breaking  and  fencing 
his  land,  he  soon  placed  it  under  a  high  slate 
of  cultivation,  thus  developing  an  excellent 
property  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
He  carried  t)n  his  farm  work  there  with  ex- 
cellent success  until  about  1889,  when  under 
President  Benjamin  Harrison  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  East  Lynn,  acting  in 
that  capacity  for  about  fi\e  years.  Again 
he  was  appointed  by  President  McKinley  in 
1896  and  1900,  and  is  now  ser\ing  in  his 
sixth  year,  his  incumbency  in  this  office  al- 
together covering  eleven  years.  He  was 
afterwards  elected  justice  of  the  peace  of  his 
townsliip,  in  which  ca])acity  he  has  ser\-ed 
for  sixteen  years,  and  for  about  ten  or 
twelve  years  he  has  been  a  township  trustee, 
and  to  whatever  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
he  has  been  called  he  has  ever  been  found 
loyal.  Me  has  been  a  resident  of  East  Lynn 
since  lirst  appointed  ptjstmaster  here  and 
the  interests  of  the  \-iilage  have  been  largely 
advanced  through  iiis  efforts. 

-Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Arnold  have  a  family  of 
four  children:  William,  of  East  Lynn; 
Edelia,  liie  wife  nf  Wheeler  Insley,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  In^iuois  county;  Frank,  who 
is  engaged  in  the  livery  jnisiness  in  East 
Lynn:  and  Myrtle,  the  wife  of  W'.  S. 
Elick,  who  is  the  station  agent  and  tele- 
graph operator  at  East  Lynn.  In  1900 
the  golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold 
was  celeljrated  and  (jver  a  hundred  guests 
were  ])resent.  friends  attending  from  Dan- 
ville, Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  various 
dther  places. 

Politically  Mr.  Arnold  was  in  earlv  life 
an  old  line  Whig  and  in  1856  he  voted  for 
John  C.  I'remont.  the  first  presidential  candi- 
date of  the  Republican  p;nly.  Since  that 
time  he  has  ne\er  failed  to  support  the  men 
whose  names  have  lieaded  the  ticket  and  in 
all  matters  of  citizenship  he  is  equally  loyal 


and  faithful.  For  thirty-eight  years  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Illinois  and  for  thirty 
years  has  lived  in  Vermilion  count}'.  He 
has  seen  the  swami)s  and  sloughs  drained, 
the  prairies  broken  .and  farms  dex'elopetl 
until  this  is  one  of  the  richest  agricultural 
sections  of  this  great  state.  He  has  aided 
niateriallyin  opening  up  and  im]jro\  iiig  \'er- 
miliiin  county  and  has  been  identihed  largely 
with  its  developmeiU  and  prosperity.  He  is 
well  known  in  Hoopeston  and  in  the  mirthern 
part  of  the  county  and  is  a  man  of  tried  in- 
tegrity and  worth.  Both  he  and  his  estim- 
able wife  are  held  in  high  regard  and  are 
well  deser\ing  of  mention  in  the  history  of 
the  Past  and  Present  (if  X'ermilion  countv. 


G.  M.  SCOTT. 


G.  j\l.  Scott  owns  and  operates  one  hun- 
dred and  eleven  acres  of  land  on  section  19, 
Pilot  township.  He  was  born  a  mile  and  a 
half  southwest  of  his  present  home  on  the 
30th  of  September,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  C.  and  Margaret  (Hubbard)  Scott, 
the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio,  'idiey  were  married,  how- 
e\er.  in  Oakwood  township,  X'ermilion  coun- 
t\-,  having  emigrated  westward  when  the 
Indians  still  roamed  over  the  plains  and 
pitched  their  tents  in  the  forests.  The  father 
(lied  in  the  year  1847  and  the  mother,  long 
sur\  i\ing  him,  passed  away  in  1892.  There 
were  ten  children  in  this  family  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  review  is  the  ninth  in  order 
(il  birth.  The  family  record  is  as  follows: 
Willis,  a  resident  of  De  Witt  county,  Illinois; 
l^lizabeth,  the  wife  of  Hedge  Thompson,  of 
Pilot  townslii]);  jane,  the  deceased  wife  of 
John  Stuiup.  of  I'ikn  township;  Victoria, 
the  wife  of  Lawrence  Jones,  of  Ross  town- 


928 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ship;  Louisa,  at  home;  Caroline,  the  wife 
of  James  Creamer,  of  Oakwood  township; 
George  W.,  of  White  county,  Indiana;  Mar- 
cus \\'.,  wlio  is  living  in  Blount  township; 
G.  M.,  of  this  review;  and  John  T.,  who  is 
a  resident  of  Pulaski  county,  Indiana. 

The  educational  privileges  which  G.  M. 
Scott  enjoyed  were  those  afforded  by  the 
district  schools  of  his  locality.  Throughout 
his  entire  life  he  has  followed  farming,  and 
in  boyhood  days  he  became  familiar  with 
the  duties  and  labors  which  fail  to  the  lot 
of  the  agriculturist  in  connection  with  the 
raising  of  grain  and  stock.  At  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  started  out  upon  an  indepen- 
dent business  career  with  about  two  hundred 
dollars  in  money.  He  has  always  lived  up- 
on the  farm  which  is  yet  his  home  and  which 
he  purchased  about  fifteen  years  ago,  becom- 
ing the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  eleven 
acres.  Here  he  carries  on  general  farming 
and  stdckraising  and  the  well  tilled  fields 
return  to  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care 
and  labor  he  bestows  upon  them.  Every- 
thing about  his  place  is  neat  and  attractive 
in  appearance  and  the  presistent  efforts  of 
Air.  Scott  have  formed  the  fecundation  upon 
which  he  has  builded  his  success. 

In  1875  occurred  the  marriage  of  our 
subject  and  Miss  Sarah  Jane  Trimmell,  who 
was  born  in  Pilot  township  in  1855,  ^'""^  ^^ 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Hepzibai:  (Davis) 
Trimmell.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Ohio,  but  were  married  in  Illinois.  Alarch 
25,  1832,  and  from  that  time  until  called  to 
their  final  rest  they  resided  in  Pilot  township. 
The  father  dieil  in  1875.  He  was  a  ^•eteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  having  served  for  four 
years  as  a  loval  defender  of  the  L'nion,  dur- 
ing which  time  his  meritorious  conduct  on 
the  field  of  battle  won  him  promotion  from 
the  position  of  private  to  the  rank  of  captain. 
In  his  family  were  five  children,  but  only 


two  are  now  living,  Airs.  Scott  and  James 
Trimmell.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  has  been  blessed  with  four  children  : 
Nora,  the  Avife  of  George  Lee,  of  Blount 
township,  by  whom  she  has  one  child,  Janet; 
Otie,  the  wife  of  Ernest  Seymour  Aloore, 
of  Pilot  township,  by  whom  she  has  a  daugh- 
ter, Lillian ;  and  Etta  and  Edward,  who  are 
still  under  the  paternal  roof. 

Mr.  Scott  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men Camp  at  Collison,  and  he  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is 
now  serxing  as  road  commissioner  and  for 
IweKe  years  he  has  filled  the  office  of  school 
director  the  cause  of  education  finding  in 
him  a  warm  friend  who  does  all  in  his  power 
ti)  adxance  its  interests.  By  perseverance, 
determination  and  honorable  effort  he  has 
overthrown  all  obstacles  which  have  barred 
his  path  to  success,  and  his  genuine  worth 
and  public  spirit  have  made  him  a  \alued 
representative  of  Pilot  township. 


EUGENE  H.  WHITHAAl. 

^\'hen  anibitiim  is  satisfied  and  every  ul- 
timate aim  accomplished,  then  eft'ort  ceases 
and  energy  gives  way  to  inactivity.  The  mo- 
tive power  of  the  world  is  ambition,  and  to 
this  every  comiuunity  owes  its  upbuilding. 
Eugene  H.  Whithan:,  who  stands  to-day  as 
one  of  the  leading"  men  of  his  portion  of  \'ev- 
milion  county,  has  been  actuated  by  a  spirit 
of  ambition  for  personal  success,  for  public 
progress  and  for  an  advanced  citizenship 
and  to  this  end  he  has  directed  his  laliors 
with  the  result  that  he  has  become  a  pros- 
perous resident  of  Rankin  and  has  contrib- 
uted in  an  appreciable  manner  to  the  upbuild- 
ing   and    substantial    improvement    of    this 


£'.//fi''^7^'t 


r       ^ 


-H 


vi\\\"^^^^ 


J,VvH 


0^  V. 


v\v>o\^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


93I' 


liicalitv.  He  has  long  been  identified  w  ith  ihe 
banking  and  grain  interests  of  Rankin,  and 
the  latter  branch  of  his  business  furnishes  an 
excellent  market  for  grain  producers  and 
the  lurnier  provides  a  necessary  medium  of 
financial  exchange,  at  the  same  time  bring- 
ine  to  Mr.  Whitham  a  ven-  ilesirable  return 
for  his  labor  and  investment. 

Air.  Whitham  was  born  in  Canal  Fulton, 
Fulton  county,  Ohio,  November  8,  1847,  a 
son  of  John  De  Ment  and  Caroline  (Far- 
well)  Wdiitham.  The  father  was  born  in 
Ohio  county,  W'e.st  Virginia,  ]\Iarch  22, 
1815,  and  died  in  Olynipia,  Washington, 
January  14,  1897.  His  parents  were  Jos- 
eph Rider  and  Sarah  {De  Ment)  Whitham, 
and  he  was  ot  English,  Irish,  Holland  and 
French  extraction.  His  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  he  unit- 
ed with  that  denomination  before  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age.  Under  the  direction 
of  his  pastor.  Rev.  John  McCloskey,  he  pre- 
pared for  college  and  was  gradtiated  in 
Washington  College,  of  Pennsylvania,  with 
the  class  of  1835.  For  two  years  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  the  academy  at  West 
Nottingham,  Maryland,  after  which  lie  en- 
tered Princeton  College  and  was  graduated 
in  1840.  On  the  25th  of  May,  of  that  year, 
he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  was  ordained 
October  12,  1841.  He  had  three  pastorates 
in  the  Presbyterian  church — Unity  and 
Wolf  Run.  Pennsylvania,  and  at  Keene  and 
Canal  Fulton,  Ohio;  two  pastorates  in  the 
Free  Presbyterian  church — Alount  Jackson, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Lowell,  Ohio,  together, 
and  Paint  Valley,  Ohio;  and  two  pastorates 
in  the  United  Presbyterian  chmx"h — Sugar 
Branch,  Illinois,  and  I'airfa.x.  and  Florence, 
Iowa.  lie  continued  to  preach  occasionally 
tintil  he  had  passed  the  eightieth  mile-stone 
on  life's  journey,  and  he  accomplished  much 
good   for   the  cause  of   humanity   and   the 


chiu'cli.  He  was  a  \erv  ardent  Abolitionist 
and  assisted  many  a  slave  on  his  way  to 
freedom,  his  home  being  one  of  the  stations 
on  the  "imdcrground  railroad." 

Ke\'.  Whithaiu  was  married  twice.  On 
the  2d  of  November,  1841,  he  wedded  Chris- 
tina B.  Gray,  who  died  August  2,  1843, 
leaving  a  daughter,  who  grew  to  maturity 
and  married.  On  the  25th  of  September, 
1844,  Rev.  Whitham  wedded  Caroline  Far- 
well,  a  native  of  Xew  Hampshire,  and  unto 
them  were  born  iour  children :  Eugene 
H. ;  Robert  Farwell,  a  govenunent  survey- 
or and  civil  engineer,  residing  in  Seattle, 
Washington ;  George  Louis,  an  attorney  of 
Seattle ;  and  Charles  Sumner,  a  real-estate 
agent  of  Randolph,  Nebraska.  The  mother 
survi\ed  her  husband  about  two  years,  pass- 
ing away  March  18,  1899,  when  she  was 
laid  by  his  side  in  the  cemetery  of  Rankin. 
Rev.  Whitham  was  a  most  liberal  man,  both 
with  his  time  and  money  and  never  hesi- 
tated in  the  performance  of  any  duty.  He 
was  practically  the  builder  of  the  Olympia 
United  Presbyterian  church  and  he  labored 
untiringly  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause 
of  Christianity  and  for  the  uplifting  of  his 
fellow  men.  There  were,  moreover,  as 
dominant  traits  in  his  character,  an  abiding 
sympathy  antl  charity  which  won  him  the 
confidence  and  love  of  his  fellow  men. 

Eugene  H.  W'hitham  received  his  pri- 
mary education  near  IMillerslnirg,  in  Holmes 
county,  Ohio,  and  afterward  attended  the 
State  Normal,  at  Normal,  Illinois.  He  had 
come  to  Illinois  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years, 
settling  in  Rankin,  of  which  he  is  one  of 
the  founders  and  promoters.  He  iirst  worked 
upon  his  father's  farm  near  the  town  but  in 
1872  entered  the  grain  business  in  the  em- 
l>lov  of  Mr.  Rankin,  for  whom  the  town  was 
named.  With  him  he  remained  until  1875, 
wlicn    the    private   bank   of    Rankin.    Whit- 


952 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ham  &  Company  was  formed,  and  Mr. 
W'hitliani  became  tlie  owner  of  a  half  in- 
terest and  has  since  been  its  cashier  and 
manager.  His  i)artners  are  W.  A.  Rankin 
and  B.  H.  Durham,  both  prominent  and  re- 
hable  business  men,  but  the  success  of  tlie 
institution  is  practically  due  to  the  enter- 
prise and  business  ability  of  Mr.  Whitham, 
who  from  the  first  has  controlled  its  affairs 
and  placed  it  upon  a  paying  basis.  In  addi- 
tion to  their  bank  the  company  owns 
ten  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Irocjuois 
county,  just  across  the  Vermilion  county 
line;  and  four  thousand  acres  of  grain 
land  in  Chariton  county,  Missouri.  Mr. 
Whitham  has  also  been  identified  with 
the  grain  business  since  coming  to  Ran- 
kin, being  a  partner  in  the  Rankin  Grain 
Company,  which  is  incorporated,  and  in 
addition  to  his  business  interests  here,  he 
has  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  ad- 
joining the  town,  and  an  interest  in  five  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  good  farm  land  in 
Indiana. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1879,  Mr.  Whit- 
ham was  married  to  Elizabeth  George,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  George,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Ford  county,  Illinois,  who  is  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  George,  however,  is  living 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitham,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-three  years.  She  was  the  mother  of 
six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitham  have  been  born  two 
children:  (ilenn  Howard,  born  Qctolier  11, 
1882,  and  now  in  the  bank  with  his  father; 
and  Gladys  Eugenia,  born  October  8,  1888. 
The  parents  are  prominent  members  antl  act- 
ive workers  in  the  Presbvterian  chmxh  at 
Rankin  and  Mr.  Whitham  is  serving  as  one 
of  its  elders. 

He  has  always  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  politics  as  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  has  been  a  member  of  the 


county  central  committee,  and  yet  has  never 
consented  to  become  a  candidate  for  ofiice. 
His  best  service  to  the  public  has  been  given 
as  a  private  citizen  and  his  work  in  behalf 
of  his  locality  has  been  far-reaching  and 
beneficial.  He  is  a  leader  in  many  move- 
ments for  the  benefit  of  the  town,  and  his 
active  co-operation  is  given  to  all  measures 
tending  toward  public  progress  and  im- 
provement. There  has  been  nothing  sensa- 
tional in  his  business  career,  for  his  advance- 
ment has  not  been  secured  through  specula- 
tion but  through  earnest  labor,  careful  in- 
vestment and  sound  practical  judgment  in 
the  guidance  of  his  affairs.  His  prosperity  has 
followed  his  efforts  as  a  logical  sequence  and 
there  has  come  with  it  the  good  name  that 
is  ever  enjoyed  by  those  who  do  not  take 
ad\-antage  of  the  necessities  of  their  fellow 
men  in  business  transactions. 


GEORGE  W.  -MILLER. 

Li\'ing  on  section  16,  Ross  township, 
George  W.  ?vliller  owns  and  operates  a  farm 
of  four  huntlred  acres.  Almost  six  decades 
liave  passed  since  he  came  to  this  county 
;;nd  the  changes  which  have  occurred  during 
this  period  are  well  known  to  him  for  he 
has  been  a  witness  of  the  growth  and  im- 
])n)vement  of  this  section  of  the  state.  He 
claims  Indiana  as  the  state  of  his  nativity, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty, there,  November  26,  1841.  He  repre- 
sents an  old  family  that  has  been  prominent 
in  the  de\elopment  of  districts  in  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  river  valleys  through  many 
years.  His  great-grandfather  became  an 
early  settler  of  Ohio  and  was  captured  and 
killed  by  the  Indians  during  the  warfare 
with   the   red   men.     Cornelius    Miller,    the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


933 


grandfather  oi  our  subject,  was  said  to  be 
the  first  male  child  born  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  wliere  the  city  of  Cincinnati  now 
stands.  He  became  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers oi  Kentuck}-  and  afterward  renioNcd  to 
Indiana,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the  early 
settlers  of  X'erniilion  county,  that  state. 
Andrew  J-  ?ililler  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1814  and  bv  his  parents  was  taken  to  Indi- 
ana, where  he  was  reared.  He  wedded 
Catherine  Mover,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
afterward  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Indiana  for  a  number  of  years.  Three  of 
his  children  were  born  there  and  about  18^4 
he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  settling 
in  Ross  township,  Vermilii^in  county,  among 
the  first  settlers  to  reclaim  the  wild  land  for 
purposes  of  civilization.  From  the  govern- 
ment he  entered  a  tract  of  land  and  after- 
ward bought  other  property  until  he  was  the 
owner  of  sixteen  hundred  acres.  He  de- 
veloped the  fann  adjoining  that  on  which. 
liis  son  George  \\'.,  now  resides  and  became 
a  prominent  agriculturist  of  his  locality, 
carrying  on  his  work  in  such  a  manner  that 
his  progressive  ideas  and  unfaltering  dili- 
gence made  him  a  progressive  farmer.  He 
died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years 
and  his  wife,  still  surviving  him,  now  resides 
on  the  old  home  i)lace  with  one  of  her  sons. 
George  W.  Miller  of  this  re\'iew  be- 
longed to  a  family  of  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters,  and  of  this  number  four  sons  and 
four  daughters  reached  years  of  maturity, 
while  three  sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet 
living.  No  event  of  special  importance  oc- 
curred to  vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for 
our  subject  in  his  youth.  He  was  only  three 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois.  Here  he  attended  the  com- 
mon school  during  a  few  months  each  vear. 
but  from  the  time  of  early  spring  jjlanting 
until  the  harvests  were  rathered  in  the  au- 


tumn he  worked  in  the  fields.  He  is  almost 
will  illy  a  self-educated  as  well  as  a  self-made 
man.  He  remained  with  his  father  until 
thirty  years  of  age  and  in  the  meantime 
tiH.)k  charge  of  and  carried  on  the  home 
farm.  During  this  time  he  had  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his  present 
farm  and  in  iSj2  he  took  up  his  abode  there- 
on, since  which  time  he  has  placed  the  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has  re- 
modeled the  buildings,  built  others  and  now 
has  a  substantial  residence  and  commodious 
barns  and  sheds  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and 
stock.  An  orchard  which  he  planted  now 
bears  its  fruit  in  season  and  forest  trees 
throw  their  shade  o\'er  the  lawn  and  protect 
the  home  from  the  hot  rays  of  the  summer 
sun.  A  valuable  and  well  improved  farm  is 
that  now  owned  Ijy  George  W.  Miller,  who 
from  time  to  time  has  added  to  his  property 
until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate 
four  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  all  of  which 
is  under  a  high  state  of  culti\'ation.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  raising  of  grain  he  makes  a 
business  of  feeding  and  shipping  cattle  and 
hogs  for  the  market. 

The  home  life  of  Mr.  Miller  has  been 
very  pleasant.  He  was  happily  married  in 
Ross  township,  February  13,  187J,  to  Miss 
Vienna  C.  Hass,  a  native  of  I'ennsvhania 
and  a  daug'hter  of  Daniel  Hass,  who  was 
111  irn  in  the  Keystone  state  and  came  to  Ver- 
milion county  in  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
were  parents  of  nine  children :  Andrew 
D.,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
this  county;  Samuel  I.,  who  is  married  and 
also  carries  on  agricultural  inirsuits  in  this 
couiit\';  George  and  Garver  C.  who  assist 
in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm ;  Louisa, 
the  wife  of  Jesse  Landown,  a  farmer  of  Ver- 
milion county;  Mary  Ellen,  Elsie  Maude 
and  Pearl,  all  yet  under  the  paternal  roof. 
Thev  also  lost  an  infant  son,  John. 


934 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


The  political  work  uf  Mr.  Miller  has  been 
directed  in  l:)ehalf  of  Democracy  when  state 
and  national  issues  are  involved,  but  at  local 
elections  votes  independently  of  party  ties. 
He  served  for  three  consecutive  years  as 
commissioner  of  highways  and  for  a  number 
of  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board, 
but  has  never  been  active  in  seeking  public 
office,  as  his  attention  has  been  largely 
claimed  by  his  business  affairs.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
George  W.  Miller  has  resided  in  Vermilion 
county  and  those  who  have  known  him  from 
boyhood  as  well  as  his  accjuaintances  of  later 
years  give  to  him  their  friendship,  a  fact 
which  indicates  that  his  has  been  an  honor- 
able and  upright  career. 


RE\'.  \V.  H.  WEBSTER. 

Among  the  men  who  are  well  known 
not  only  in  A'ermilion  county  but  in  central 
Illinois  because  of  their  various  activities  is 
Rev.  William  H.  Webster,  D.  D.,  of  Dan- 
ville. Dr.  Webster  was  born  in  Schoharie 
county,  Xew  York,  in  1835.  Before  he  was 
ten  years  old  both  of  liis  parents  died.  He 
came  to  Danville  in  1848  with  his  sister, 
who  was  the  wife  of  a  Methodist  minister. 
As  the  sister  died  a  few  months  after  com- 
ing here  and  her  husband  moved  away  in 
a  short  time,  he  was  left  when  about  fourteen 
years  old  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world 
as  best  he  could.  This  he  did  by  working 
at  whatever  came  at  hand.  He  sawed  wood, 
worked  in  a  livery  barn,  painted  wagons, 
plows,  buggies  and  houses,  besides  other 
work.  For  a  time  he  made  all  of  the  putty 
sold  in  the  stores  in  Danville.  He  relates 
that  he  took  care  of  the  fires  for  a  lumber 


kiln  where  the  lumber  was  dried  for  many 
of  the  houses  then  being  built  in  Danville. 
This  kiln  was  at  the  corner  of  Vermilion 
and  North  streets,  where  the  Illinois  Print- 
ing Company  building  now  stands.  Of  the 
lumber  there  dried  some  was  used  for  the 
new  residence  on  Hazel  and  North  streets 
erected  by  William  Lamm,  which  was  then 
the  pride  of  the  town,  and  some  for  the 
Methodist  Seminary.  Across  the  street 
south  from  the  lumber  kiln  was  the  little 
frame  Methodist  church  in  which  preaching 
was  held  on  Sundays,  and  on  week  days  a 
school,  that  developed  into  Danville  Sem- 
inary, was  kept  b}'  the  Rev.  O.  S.  Mun- 
sell  and  his  wife.  At  a  i"ecess  some  of  the 
attendants  of  the  schoolcame  to  where  Air. 
Webster  was  at  work  and  spoke  of  their 
studies  in  a  way  that  e.xcited  his  interest.  He 
determinetl  that  he,  too,  would  know  some- 
thing of  those  wonderful  studies.  So  the 
next  fall  he  was  enrolled  as  a  scholar.  He 
worked  nights  and  mornings  and  Saturdays 
to  pay  expenses.  Some  times  he  was  out 
of  school  several  weeks  while  he  earned 
money  to  pay  his  bills.  In  this  way  work- 
ing, going  to  school  and  teaching  he  at- 
tended the  seminary  in  Danville,  then  As- 
bury  Lniversity  of  Indiana,  and  finally  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  LTniversity,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  the  classical  course  in  1859.  He 
began  teaching  school  before  he  was  eigh- 
teen years  of  age.  His  first  school  was  at 
what  was  called  the  Rickart  schoolhouse, 
about  eight  miles  northwest  of  Danville. 
He  afterwartl  taught  where  Potomac  is 
now  located  and  at  Kygers  Mill,  now  Grape 
Creek,  Mann's  Chapel  and  other  places  and 
in  Shelbyville  Seminan,'.  He  joined  the 
Methodist  church  at  a  camp  meeting  held 
near  Danville.  He  was  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher  while  teaching  at  Shelbyville.  Af- 
ter teaching  during  the  week  he  often  rode 


REV.  W.  H.  WEBSTER. 


LV 


UM\VtRS'.-i>'  0^ 


^ii\m^ 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


937 


miles  into  tlie  country  to  lill  liis  Sunday  ap- 
pointments. In  the  winter  of  1858-9  he 
was  appointed  as  assistant  preacher  on  the 
circuit  that  embraced  tlie  nortli  half  of  \'er- 
niilion  county.  He  traveled  over  this  cir- 
cuit on  horseback,  preaching  an  average  of 
once  a  day.  He  preached  in  private  houses, 
schoolhouses.  barns,  groves  and  in  the  few 
churches,  and  wherever  a  small  congrega- 
tion could  be  gathered.  Besides  preaching- 
he  furnished  Bibles  and  rehgious  books  to 
tlie  people  and  kept  up  his  college  studies. 
Some  times  in  crossing  the  sloughs  and 
stre;uus  his  jaded  horse  would  refuse  to  pro- 
ceed and  he  was  compelled  to  alight  and 
lead  the  horse  and  wade  through  the  mud 
and  water. 

Becoming  a  member  of  the  Illinois  con- 
ference at  its  session  in  Danville  in  1859  his 
work  since  that  time  has  been  connected  with 
that  body.  For  his  first  year's  work  in  the 
conference  he  was  paid  ninety  dollars  and 
he  paid  his  board  in  part  out  of  that  sum. 
For  a  time  he  taught  school  to  pay  expenses 
while  he  served  as  pastor  of  a  church.  His 
salary,  however,  increased  until  it  reached 
two  thousand  dollars  per  year.  Mr.  Web- 
ster has  served  as  pastor  of  churches  at  Ur- 
bana,  Champaign,  Bloomington,  Quincy, 
Jacksonville,  Springfield  aiul  Decatur,  and 
as  presiding  elder  of  Jacksonville,  Spring- 
fielil  and  Danville  districts.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  four  general  conferences  of  his 
denomination  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
in  shaping  its  polity.  In  the  long  struggle 
which  ended  in  the  admission  of  women  to 
the  law  making  body  of  the  church  he  was 
from  the  fi-st  actively  in  favor  of  their  ad- 
mission. He  was  in  favor  of  laymen  being 
represented  with  ministers  in  the  councils  of 
the  church  and  has  seen  this  measure  also 
succeed.  He  was  for  years  a  trustee  of  Illi- 
nois Women's  College  at  Jacksonville  and 
37 


of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloom- 
ington. He  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
to  oversee  the  great  publishing  interest  of 
his  church  when  the  new  publishing  house 
in  New  York,  costing  a  million  dollars,  was 
built,  and  when  the  Epwoith  Herald,  the 
paper  having  the  largest  circulation  of  any 
paper  of  the  denomination,  was  published. 

At  the  close  of  his  term  as  presiding 
elder  of  the  Danville  district  Mr.  Webster 
took  the  work  of  superintendent  of  the  Do- 
mestic Missionary  Society,  which  he  had 
helped  to  organize.  In  its  interests  he  trav- 
eled over  a  large  part  of  central  Illinois, 
raising  funds,  establishing  missions  and  aid- 
ing weak  churches.  For  this  service,  con- 
tinued during  ten  years,  he  refused  to  ac- 
cept compensation  above  his  actual  travel- 
ing expenses.  He  is  now  acting  as  financial 
secretary  for  the  superannuated  relief  fund, 
a  fund  intended  to  aid  those  veterans  in  the 
ministry  who,  having  devoted  their  lives  to 
the  work,  are  now  in  need.  For  many  years 
he  has  been  the  treasurer  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  his  conference.  In  that  capac- 
ity he  has  annually  had  charge  of  thousands 
of  dollars  of  church  funds,  of  which  he 
gives  a  strict  account  at  each  session  of  the 
conference. 

Early  in  the  ministry  Mr.  Webster 
formed  the  opinion  that  for  a  minister  to  at- 
tempt to  make  no  financial  provision  for 
himself  was  wrong  and  often  injurious  to 
his  usefulness.  He  believes  that  while  a 
minister  should  not  turn  aside  to  make 
money  yet  that  for  him  to  give  some  thought 
to  business  and  thus  provide  for  himself  in 
age  will  render  him  a  better  preacher  as 
well  as  enable  him  to  be  useful  where  other- 
wise he  could  not  be.  So  in  early  life  he  in- 
vested his  small  savings  with  the  result  that 
now  he  is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
believes  that    churches    ought  not  only  to 


938 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


give  their  pastors  a  support  but  should  en- 
courage and  assist  them  in  making  provision 
for  themselves  in  old  age. 

Before  his  majority  Air.  Webster  be- 
came active  in  behalf  of  the  then  newly 
formed  Republican  party.  He  made  politi- 
cal speeches  in  the  exciting  campaign  be- 
tween Fremont  and  Buchanan  in  1856.  He 
advocated  the  election  of  Lincoln  in  i860. 
During  the  war  of  the  rebellion  he  assisted 
in  raising  a  company  but  failed  to  get  into 
the  service.  He  let  it  be  known  that  his 
church  stood  for  the  Union  and  that  dis- 
loyal persons  \\ere  not  wanted  as  members. 
While  he  still  counts  himself  a  Republican, 
he  claims  the  right  and  duty  to  vote  for 
any  men  or  measures  that  will  promote  the 
best  interest  of  the  people.  While  not  allied 
with  the  Prohibition  party  he  has  often  aided 
in  securing  anti-license  laws  in  the  cities 
where  he  has  been  pastor.  For  several  years 
Mr.  Webster  was  president  of  the  Danville 
school  board  and  gave  much  time  to  ad- 
vancing the  interests  of  the  schools.  Dur- 
ing his  ministrv  he  has  seen  many  hundreds 
con\'erted  and  brought  into  the  church.  He 
has  been  successful  in  building  churches, 
paying  church  debts,  aiding  missions  and 
while  loyal  to  his  own  church  he  has  stood 
for  brotherhood  among  all  Christians. 

The  history  of  the  changes  in  Danville 
and  Vermilion  county  since  Mr.  Webster 
came  here,  if  written,  would  read  like  a  ro- 
mance. Then  Danville  was  a  frontier  vil- 
lage of  a  few  hundred  people  with  many  log 
houses  and  few  conveniences.  The  wildest 
fancy  could  not  then  predict  the  splendid 
city  it  is  to-day.  Communication  with  the 
outside  world  then  was  had  only  by  stage 
coach.  The  streets  were  often  impassable 
with  mud  and  w-ere  dark  at  night.  The 
Methodist  church  which  Mr.  Webster  at- 
tended was  lighted  like  most  of  the  dwell- 


nig:-  v.ith  tallow  dips  or  candles,  from 
which  the  tallow  often  dropped  dow-n  on  the 
\\nrshii)])ers  who  sat  near  them.  The  clnux-h 
was  seated  with  wooden  Itenches  and  the  wo- 
men sat  on  one  sitle  of  the  church  and  the 
men  on  the  other.  Alen  and  women  were 
not  allowed  to  sit  together.  In  the  county 
the  few  settlers  lived  mostly  either  in  the 
timber  or  along  the  edge  of  the  prairie  and 
usually  in  log  cabins.  The  prairies  were 
covered  to  a  large  extent  by  sloughs  and  tall 
grasses  and  were  inhabited  by  rattle  snakes, 
deer  and  wolves  and  cranes.  The  woods 
abounded  with  wild  turkeys  and  game.  Land 
that  now  is  worth  more  than  one  lumdred 
dollars  per  acre  could  then  be  bought  at 
less  than  a  dollar  an  acre,  and  was  thought 
by  many  to  be  worthless.  When  Mr.  Web- 
ster looks  back  to  his  youth  and  notes  the 
vast  strides  made  since  then  to  the  present 
time  he  feels  that  he  has  lived  in  the  most 
wonderful  period  of  the  world's  history. 
From  the  Danville  as  he  first  saw  it  to  the 
Danville  of  to-day  with  its  splendid  churches 
and  public  ])uililings.  magnificent  streets,  its 
business  houses,  parks  and  public  utilities, 
in  any  other  age  would  represent  the  prog- 
ress of  a  thousand  years.  Mr.  Webster  feels 
that  he  has  been  favored  by  living  and  try- 
ing ti>  do  his  part  in  such  an  age. 

Mr.  Webster  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  to  Aliss  Augusta  Rob- 
inson, a  daughter  of  William  Robinson,  and 
one  of  a  family  of  five  children.  She  was 
born  October  3,  1867.  and  by  her  marriage 
has  l)ecoiue  the  mother  of  several  children, 
of  whom  only  one  son.  John  Wesley  Web- 
ster, is  living.  He  is  now  an  attorney  of 
Dan^■ille.  He  was  graduated  at  DePauw 
University  of  Indiana,  became  a  law  stu- 
dent in  the  State  L^niversity  of  Illinois,  and 
then  entered  the  Harvard  University  at 
Cambridge,  Alassachusetts.     Wliile  he  was 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


939 


at  DePauw,  the  paper  of  tliat  school,  the 
Del  'auw  ralladiuni,  was  running  behind  and 
Mr.  Webster  assumed  its  management, 
made  it  an  enterprising  school  jomnial  and 
placetl  it  upon  a  paying  basis.  He  married 
]\liss  Esther  J.  Baum,  a  daughter  of  John 
\V.  Baum.  and  they  now  have  a  daughter, 
Elizabeth. 

In  a  summary  of  the  career  of  Rev. 
Webster  it  would  be  impossible  to  give  the 
result  of  his  life  work  for  intluence  is  im- 
measureable  and  the  force  of  character  can 
not  be  determined  by  any  known  standard. 
There  is,  however,  much  tangible  proof  that 
his  laljors  have  been  of  practical  value.  The 
churches  of  Vermilion  county  have  felt  the 
impetus  of  his  zeal  and  energy,  Methodist 
congregations  in  varicnis  parts  of  the  state 
also  ov.e  their  growth  in  no  small  degree 
to  his  teachings  and  his  example,  and  in  the 
history  of  the  Christian  development  of  the 
state  the  name  of  Re\'.  William  H.  Web- 
ster should  be  enrolled  as  one  whose  dili- 
gence and  zeal  have  been  important  elements 
in  Christian  advancement. 


JAMES  GILMORE. 

There  is  no  rule  for  achieving  success 
and  yet  there  are  certain  elements  which  are 
indispensil)le  in  a  pros])erous  career.  These 
are  strong  determination,  sound  ])ractical 
judgment  and  a  recognition  of  possibilities. 
All  of  these  have  been  manifest  in  the  career 
of  Mr.  Gilmore  who,  though  he  started  out 
at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years  to  fight  life's 
battle  unaided,  has  come  off  conquerf)r  in  the 
strife.  To-day  he  is  numbered  among  the 
capitalists  of  Dan\ille  holding  imjjortant 
realty  interests  and  at  the  same  time  controll- 
ing extensive  mercantile  affairs.  The  per- 
severance, energy,  and  strong  determination 


which  have  been  concomitants  in  his  success, 
furnish  an  example  that  is  well  worthy  of 
emulation. 

Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  native  of  Canada,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Dundass,  on  the 
t/th  of  August,  1853.  His  parents,  Ed- 
ward and  Bridget  (Stanton)  Gilmore,  were 
both  natives  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and 
were  married  in  Canada,  both  having  located 
in  that  country  in  the  year  1846.  The  father 
engaged  in  farming,  following  agricttltural 
pursuits  in  the  Dominion  until  1856,  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  first 
at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  There  he  followed 
railroading  until  1S59.  in  which  \-ear  he  re- 
moved to  Kokomo,  where  he  continued  in 
the  railroad  employ  and  there  he  li\ed  until 
]868.  Jn  the  meantime — in  the  year  1866 
— his  wife  had  passed  away.  Coming  to 
Danville,  Illinois,  he  continued  to  make  his 
iiome  with  the  subject  of  this  review  until 
called  to  his  final  rest  in  1899.  He  was  a 
Deinocrat  in  his  jjolitical  ai'filiations  and  in 
his  religious  faith  was  a  Catholic.  In  the 
family  were  three  children  :  James ;  Maty, 
the  wife  of  C.  F.  Springer,  of  Kokomo, 
Indiana;  and  John,  who  resides  at  Gates, 
h^)untain   county,   Indiana. 

James  (iilmore  was  only  alxiut  three 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  the 
United  States  and  in  Howard  county,  Indi- 
ana, he  acquired  his  education.  His  school 
life  was  completed  when  he  was  but  twelve 
years  of  age  and  he  then  began  work  on  the 
Wabash  &  Erie  canal  as  a  driver,  being  em- 
pl()\ed  in  that  capacity  for  two  summers. 
He  then  made  his  way  to  Covington,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  worked  on  the  Big  Four  Rail- 
road for  a  year,  after  which  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  retail  licjunr  business  with 
which  he  was  connected  in  the  lloosier  state 
until  1871. 

In  that  vear  Mr.  Gilmore  came  to  Dan- 


940 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ville  and  entered  the  employ  of  Mattis  Mil- 
ler, who  owned  a  retail  liquor  house  on 
South  street  and  who  died  the  following  year. 
Mr.  Gilmore  then  embarked  in  business  for 
himself  in  the  same  locality,  conducting  his 
new  enterprise  until  1874  when  he  left  the 
city  and  went  to  Coal  Creek,  Fountain  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  where  the  coal  veins  were  being 
developed.  For  a  few  months  he  engaged 
in  digging  coal  and  in  the  same  year  he  came 
once  more  to  Danville.  In  October  of  the 
same  year  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  ^Miss 
Mary  AIcLean,  who  was  born  in  Danville 
in  1857,  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mary 
(Sculen)  McLean,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  the  Emerald  isle  and  came  to  Ameri- 
ca at  an  early  day,  locating  in  Lafayette, 
Indiana.  In  the  early  fifties  they  became  re- 
sidents of  Danville  and  the  father  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits.  His  wife  died  in 
i860,  but  he  long  survived  her,  passing  away 
in  1884.  In  his  political  views  he  was  a 
Democrat  and  was  a  life  communicant  of 
the  Catholic  church.  In  his  family  were  si.x 
children  :  Ellen,  wife  of  Frank  Cavanaugh, 
deceased;  Anna,  the  wife  of  Charles  Davis, 
of  the  state  of  Washington ;  Ruth,  the  wife 
of  Michael  0"Bern  of  Champaign,  Illinois; 
Bridget,  the  wife  of  M.  J-  Wiseman,  of  Dan- 
ville, Illinois;  George,  who  resides  in  Dan- 
ville; and  Mrs.  Gilmore.  Unto  the  mar- 
riage of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  seven  children:  Ellen,  now  the  wife 
of  William  ]\IcDonald,  of  this  city;  Edward, 
who  is  acting  as  his  father's  bookkeeper; 
William,  who  is  pursuing  a  law  course  in 
Georgetown  University,  of  Washington  D. 
C. ;  John,  a  pharmacist  of  Danville,  Illinois ; 
Grover,  Emmet  and  Cecil,  all  of  whom  are 
with  their  parents. 

At  the  time  of  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gilmore  began  their  domestic  life  in 
Coal  Creek,  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged 


in  mining  coal.  In  1875,  however,  he  once 
more  took  up  his  abode  in  this  city  and  was 
engaged  in  the  retail  liquor  business  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother-in-law,  Frank  Cav- 
anaugh, a  relation  that  existed  for  nine 
months.  In  1877  Mr.  Gilmore  established 
a  retail  liquor  house  in  Germantown  but  once 
more  took  up  his  abode  in  this  city  in  1879 
and  carried  on  business  in  the  same  line  in 
the  old  St.  James  block.  In  1885  he  erected 
the  first  business  block  on  Jackson  street  and 
removed  his  store  to  that  building.  In  1888 
he  sold  out  to  Neil  Olson  and  opened  a 
wholesale  and  retail  liquor  house  next  door  to 
the  courthouse  on  East  Main  street.  There 
lie  continued  until  1892,  when  he  again  built 
on  Jackson  street  and  engaged  in  the  wln:>le- 
sale  liquor  business  until  1901,  when  he  sold 
out  to  E.  J.  Epstein.  On  the  ist  of  Septem- 
ber, 1 90 1,  he  embarked  in  his  present  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  the  JNIerchandise 
Company,  at  No.  425  East  Main  street. 
Here  he  handles  billiard  tables,  office  and  bar 
furniture,  safes,  cash  registers  and  desks, 
and  has  already  secured  a  good  patronage, 
receiving  the  support  of  many  who  had  pre- 
viously known  him  in  business  relations  and 
who  recognized  his  right  to  a  liberal  share 
of  the  public  support.  Mr.  Gilmore  also 
owns  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Parke  county,  Indi- 
ana. This  is  underlaid  by  rich  deposits  of 
coal  and  is  therefore  very  \-aIuable.  He  also 
owns  lead  and  zinc  mining  interests  in  Pitts- 
burg, Hickory  county,  Missouri,  and  his 
real  estate  holdings  in  Danville  are  valuable. 
A  local  paper  said :  "James  Gilmore,  who 
recently  purchased  the  ground  at  the  comer 
of  Van  Buren  street  and  Washington  avenue 
upon  which  at  no  distant  date  he  intends 
erecting  a  hotel,  has  a  marked  preference  for 
corner  lots.     In  fact,  all  of  the  property  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


941 


owns  in  tlie  city  is  of  that  character.  He 
owns  sixt3-six  feet  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Jackson  streets,  eighty-six  feet  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Van  Buren  and  Washington  avenue, 
one  hun(h-ed  and  twenty  feet  at  tiie  corner  of 
Scott  and  College  streets,  eighty-eight  feet 
at  the  corner  of  Main  and  McDonald,  and 
residence  property  at  the  corner  of  Vermil- 
ion and  Davis  streets.  He  has  more  corner 
lot  property  in  the  business  section  of  this 
city  than  any  other  individual."  It  will 
thus  lie  seen  tliat  Mr.  (.iilniore  has  made  very 
extensive  and  judicious  in\estments  in  prop- 
erty and  his  realty  holdings  retiu'n  to  him  an 
excellent  income. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 
Mr.  Gilmore  believes  firndy  in  the  principles 
of  the  party  Init  has  ne\'er  been  an  office 
seeker.  He  belongs  to  the  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  church  and  is  a  liberal  contributor 
to  its  support.  He  has  also  co-operated  in 
many  measures  for  the  general  good  and 
Danville  has  benefited  by  his  efforts  in  her 
behalf.  His  business  affairs  have  ever  been 
capably  conducted.  Probably  the  real  secret 
of  his  success  is  his  untiring  industry  and  his 
recognition  of  business  openings.  From  the 
age  of  twehe  years  down  to  the  present  time 
he  has  ijeen  dependent  entirely  upon  his  own 
resources  and  steadily  has  he  worked  his 
way  upward  until  he  now  occupies  an  en- 
viable and  prominent  position  on  the  plane 
of  affluence.  He  is  a  man  of  strong  force 
of  character,  and  is  reliable  and  enterprising, 
and  throughout  Danville  James  Gilmore  is 
widely  known  and  highly  respected. 


J.  B.  COURTNEY. 


Actixely  identified  with  commercial  in- 
terests in  Potomac  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
Mr.  Courtney  has  for  twenty  years  been  re- 


garded as  a  popular,  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful druggist  here.  Since  1845  he  has 
made  his  home  in  Illinois.  He  was  born  in 
Monongalia  county.  West  Virginia,  March 
2,  iS2.\.  and  comes  of  Irish  lineage.  His 
father.  Roliert  B.  Courtney,  was  a  native  of 
the  Emerald  isle  and  when  a  lad  of  ten  sum- 
mers crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the  new  world 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Virginia. 
There  he  was  reared  and  married,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  Courtney, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and 
was  also  of  Irish  lineage.  In  the  war  of 
181J  Mr.  Courtney  served  his  cotmtry-  and 
held  the  commission  of  major.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  in  West  \'irginia  for  many 
years  and  afterward  removed  across  the 
mountains  to  Ohio,  settling  near  Youngs- 
town,  in  Trumbull  county,  where  he  again 
took  up  farm  work  about  1829.  It  was  in 
that  locality  that  he  reared  his  family.  His 
home  was  in  the  midst  of  the  green  forest 
and  cutting  down  the  trees  there  he  cleared 
a  tract  of  land  which  he  developed  into  rich 
and  productive  fields,  making  his  home  upon 
that  place  until  1845,  which  was  the  year  of 
his  removal  to  \'erniilion  county.  Illinois. 
Here  he  again  became  associatetl  with 
pioneer  conditions  and  a  factor  in  pioneer 
work.  He  entered  land  here  with  a  land 
warrant,  becoming  the  owner  of  a  tract 
in  Middlefork  township,  upon  which  he  spent 
his  last  days,  passing  away  in  1866,  when 
about  sixty-six  years  of  age.  His  wife  sur- 
\ived  him  for  about  three  years.  In  the 
family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  nine  chil- 
dren who  reached  years  of  maturity,  but  the 
onlv  ones  now  living  are:  J.  B.,  of  this 
review:  and  ^Irs.  Sarah  Briggs.  a  widow, 
who  is  Ii\-ing  in  Kansas. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  J. 
B.  Courtney  we  present  to  our  readers  the 
life  record  of  one  who  is  widelv  and  favor- 


942 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pblv  known  in  \'ermilion  county,  for  during' 
the  fifty-seven  years  of  his  residence  here  he 
has  gained  a  wide  acquaintance  and  has  ever 
been  honored  by  reason  of  his  genuine 
worth.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in 
Ohio,  wliere  his  school  privileges  were  limit- 
ed because  the  system  of  public  education 
hail  scarcely  been  installed  at  that  time  and 
had  in  no  wise  reached  its  present  stage  of 
perfection.  During  the  short  period  of 
winter  he  would  attend  school  but  during 
the  remainder  of  the  year  he  was  engaged  in 
farm  work,  his  training  in  that  direction  be- 
ing in  no  way  meager. 

\\  hen  a  young  man  he  came  to  Illinois, 
where  he  was  employed  at  farm  work  for 
about  two  years  and  on  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  returned  to  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  to  wed  the  lady  of  his  choice.  He  was 
there  married  on  the  26th  of  December, 
1847,  to  Samantha  Gruey,  who  was  born  in 
that  county  and  was  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Gruey,  of  German  descent.  Her  people 
were  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  estab- 
hshing  their  home  near  Pittsburg.  Henry 
Gruey  became  one  of  the  first  residents  of 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  and  in  pioner  times 
bore  an  active  part  in  the  early  development 
of  that  section  of  the  state.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Courtney  located  in  Trumbull 
county,  which  remained  his  place  of  resi- 
dence for  eight  years,  when  in  1855  he  re- 
turned to  ^'ermilion  county.  Here  he  pur- 
chased his  father's  farm,  locating  thereon. 
He  further  improved  the  place,  living  there 
lor  twenty  years.  He  then  came  to  Poto- 
mac, being  one  of  the  first  to  establish  a 
home  in  the  village.  Here  he  embarked  in 
the  drug  business  and  also  conducted  an  im- 
plement business  and  since  that  time  he  has 
lieen  one  of  the  active  merchants  of  the  town. 
He  now  carries  a  good  stock  of  drugs  and 
medicine,  paints,  oils  and  varnishes,  and  has 


a  very  enviable  reputation  because  of  his 
honorable  dealing,  his  reasonable  prices  and 
his  earnest  desire  to  please  his  patrons. 

In  1890  yir.  Courtney  puixhased  a  lot 
and  built  bis  present  residence,  where  he 
and  his  wife  dispense  cordial  hospitality 
to  their  many  friends.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children,  of  whom  the  eldest,  J-  B. 
Courtney,  grew  to  mature  years  and  was 
married.  He  was  associated  with  his  father 
in  business,  but  died  on  the  21st  of  Septem- 
ber, 1899.  C.  F.  Courtney,  the  second  son, 
died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years. 
Eftie  A.  became  the  wife  of  Lewis  ^^'ilber, 
a  business  man  of  Potomac,  and  died  in 
April,  1899,  leaving  one  son,  Harold  C.  W'il- 
ber,  who  now  makes  his  home  with  his 
grandparents. 

Originally  i\Ir.  Courtney  was  an  old  line 
Whig  and  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for  Zachaiy  Taylor.  He  was  identified  with 
that  party  until  i860,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  an  earnest  Republican.  He  was 
elected  and  served  for  two  terms  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  has  also  been  assessor,  collector, 
and  for  eighteen  years  commissioner  of  high- 
ways, proving  most  loyal  to  the  trust  reposed 
in  him.  Frequently  he  has  been  chosen  as  a 
delegate  to  county  con\entions.  For  eight 
years  he  has  been  police  magistrate  and  over 
the  record  of  his  official  career  there  falls 
no  shadow  of  wrong  nor  suspicion  of  evil. 
He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  he  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  ^Masonic 
Lodge  of  Potomac,  in  which  he  served  as 
secretary  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has 
resided  almost  continuously  in  this  county 
for  fifty-se\-en  years  and  therefore  deserves 
to  be  classed  among  its  honored  pioneer  res- 
idents, for  it  was  in  the  day  of  its  primitive 
development  that  he  located  within  its 
borders.     He  is  well  known  in  Danville,  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


943 


Potomac  and  in  nortliern  and  eastern  por- 
tions of  the  county,  and  is  respected  by  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  associated  because 
his  life  has  been  honorable;  his  course  man- 
ly: his  actions  sincere  and  unaffected.  He 
and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden  wedding 
on  the  _'Oth  of  December,  1897,  and  their 
ciiildren  with  their  families  were  present.  A 
year  later  manv  of  tlieir  friends  sur])rised 
them  on  the  anniversary  of  their  wedding 
by  visiting  their  home  and  leaving  behind 
iheni  many  substantial  tokens  of  good  will 
and  esteem.  They  ha\e  now  traveled  life's 
journey  together  for  tifty-tive  years,  shar- 
ing with  each  other  in  the  joys  and  sorrows, 
the  adversity  and  prosperity  which  has  come 
to  tiiem,  their  mutual  love  and  conhilence 
increasing  as  the  years  have  passed  by. 
Their  lives  have  been  so  ordered  and  directed 
that  they  have  won  the  confidence  and  re- 
gard of  all  with  whom  they  have  been  asso- 
ciated and  there  are  no  more  honored  or 
respected  residents  in  Potomac  than  J.  B. 
Coiu'tnev  and  bis  wife. 


EVERETT  C.  SMITH 

I'.verett  C.  Smith,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  18,  Elwood  town- 
ship, was  born  September  28,  1879,  in  this 
county,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis  P.  and  Sarah 
J.  (Canaday)  Smith.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  in  1832,  in  company  with 
bis  ])arenls,  a  settlement  being  made  on  what 
is  still  known  as  the  Smith  farm.  Here 
he  was  reared  amiil  tlie  wild  scenes  of  fron- 
tier life  and  on  reaching  his  majority  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Hester,  who  was  his 
neighbor.     Among  their  children  was  Fran- 


cis P.  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Elwood  town- 
ship and  is  now  forty-eight  years  of  age. 
]-\<i  wedded  Miss  Canaday  and  they  began 
their  domestic  life  on  the  old  home  farm 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1897. 
In  that  year  they  removed  to  Ridgefarm, 
where  they  are  now  living.  Mr.  Smith  was 
the  eldest  of  six  children,  the  others  being 
Mrs.  Marv  J.  Canaday,  of  indirinola ;  Isaac 
1).,  now  deceased;  Mrs.  .\manda  Mills,  of 
\'ermilion  Grove;  P.  H.,  who  is  cashier  in 
the  l)ank  at  Vermilion  Grove;  and  Mrs. 
Delia  Peck,  of  Yankee  Point.  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  the  second  of  se\-en  children,  her 
brothers  and  sisters  being  John,  who  is  liv- 
ing in  Georgetow  n ;  Charles,  who  resides  at 
Ridgefarm;  Mrs.  Annette  Mills,  deceased; 
^Irs.  Sophia  Snapp,  of  Rochester,  Indiana; 
J.  Rice,  who  is  living  in  Georgetown;  and 
\\'.  O..  who  makes  his  hcmie  in  Georgetown 
and  is  an  attorney  of  Danville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Francis  P.  Smith  became 
the  parents  of  four  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  was  the  subject  of  this  review.  The 
others  are,  'Mrs.  Ethel  Forbes,  who  is  now 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  resides  at  Ridge- 
farm ;  and.  Noble  and  Orrin,  who  are  fifteen 
and  thirteen  years  of  age,  respectively,  and 
are  attending  school.  In  the  common 
schools  Everett  C.  Smith  acquired  his 
preliminary  education  which  was  supple- 
mented by  study  in  \'ermilion  Grove  Acad- 
emy. He  remained  at  home  until  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  assisting  in  the  cultiva- 
tion and  further  development  of  the  fanli. 
He  was  then  married  to  Miss  Cora  M.  Can- 
adav,  the  wedding  taking  place  on  the  i8th 
of  June.  1902.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
John  !■".  and  Emily  Canackiy,  of  Vermilion 
Gro\e.  her  father  following  farming.  She 
was  born  October  24,  1878,  and  has  four 
sisters :  Mrs.  Grace  L.  Walthall,  of  Quaker, 
Indiana;  Carrie  T.,  Florence  and  Flora,  who 


944 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


are  still  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Canaday 
and  his  brother  Henry  were  both  soldiers 
of  the  Civil  war.  When  he  volunteered 
her  father  was  but  a  boy  and  was  twice 
brought  back  home,  but  each  time  he  ran 
away  again  to  rejoin  his  company  and  at 
length  was  permitted  to  go  to  the  front. 

]\Ir.  Smith  is  identified  with  the  Quaker 
church  and  is  a  Democrat  in  his  political 
affiliations,  while  fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  ^Voodmen  of 
America.  He  is  a  young  man  possessing 
the  enterprising  spirit  which  dominates  the 
west,  and  in  his  business  affairs  is  meeting 
with  creditable  success.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  popular  residents  of  the  commun- 
ity and  have  many  friends  in  the  county 
where  they   have  ahvavs   lived. 


HIRAM  HAYXES  BOLLES. 

Hiram  Haynes  Bolles  was  born  in 
Cooperstown,  Xew  York,  October  ig,  1850, 
and  is  a  son  of  Elisha  A.  and  Clarissa  (Pad- 
dock) Bolles,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Empire  state.  The  father  followed  merchan- 
dising in  his  early  life  and  during  the  last 
twenty  years  of  his  earthl\-  career  he  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  passed  away  in  July,  1900,  at 
the  age  of  So  years,  while  his  wife  died  in 
1869.  In  their  family  were  four  children 
of  whom  Hiram  H.  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  One  sister,  ilartha  L.,  became  the 
wife  of  William  P.  Ross,  a  resident  of 
Davenport.  Iowa,  and  at  her  home  in  that 
city  she  passed  away.  The  other  members 
of  the  family  are  'Sirs.  Mary  D.  Saxton  and 
\y.  p.  Bolles.  After  the  death  of  the  mother 
of  these  children  Dr.  Bolles  was  again  mar- 
ried and  bv  the  second  union  there  were  three 


children.  The  Doctor  spent  his  last  days  in 
Missouri,  ha\'ing  removed  to  the  west  some 
time  prior  to  his  demise. 

Hiram  Haynes  Bolles  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
nati^•e  state,  but  at  the  age  of  seven  years 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal 
westward  and  completed  his  education  in 
Illinois.  He  afterward  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising in  various  places,  including  Chi- 
cago. Bloomington  and  Rockford.  He  came 
from  Bloomington  to  Danville  in  1894  and 
here  opened  up  his  present  business,  that  of 
merchant  tailoring.  In  the  years  which 
ha\-e  since  come  and  gone  he  has  secured  a 
liberal  and  constantly  growing  patronage 
and  to-day  occupies  a  leading  and  creditable 
position  in  business  circles.  He  has  had  a 
practical  education  in  the  line  of  his  chosen 
calling  and  is  now  located  at  Xo.  50  X'orth 
\'ermilion  street,  where  he  carries  a  large 
and  carefulh'  selected  line  of  goods  and  em- 
ploys good  workmen. 

On  the  15th  of  March.  1S77,  Mr.  Bolles 
was  united  in  marriage  to  i\Iiss  Clara  A. 
Saxton.  a  nati\-e  of  Almont.  ^Michigan. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Chicago 
and  has  been  blessed  with  two  children, 
Addie  L.  and  Harry  H.  Mr.  Bolles  is  a 
member  of  Bloomington  Lodge  X'o.  43,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  is  also  connected  with  the  Modern 
^^'oodmen  of  America,  the  Improved  Order 
of  Red  Men  anil  the  Royal  Circle,  while  in 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  for 
one  term  as  a  member  of  the  city  council 
in  Bloomington.  but  has  never  been  a  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  time  and  energies  to 
his  business  affairs.  He  belongs  to  the  First 
Baptist  church  and  is  chairman  of  its  board 
of  trustees.  ^Ir.  Bolles  has  a  finely  balanced 
mind  and  well  rounded  character.  He  pos- 
sesses   a    goodly    supply    of    that    desirable 


H.  H.  BOLLES. 


GF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


947 


coniiiiodity — common  sense — and  this  lie 
■ap[)lies  not  only  to  his  Ijusiness  but  to  tlie 
various  relations  of  life  and  as  a  citizen  he 
is  loyal  and  progressi\e,  upholding-  every 
measure  and  movement  which  he  believes 
will  contribute  to  the  general  progress  and 
material  advancement. 


HlRA^r  H.  CATLETT. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  \'ir- 
ginia's  native  sons. — the  state  which  has 
liu-nished  so  many  honored  presidents  of  the 
United  States.  He  was  bom  on  the  21st  of 
Octolicr,  1823,  in  Charlottesville,  four  miles 
from  the  residence  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 
His  grandfather  owned  the  land  on  which 
the  University  of  Virginia  now  stands.  He  is 
a  son  of  Lawrence  T.  and  Sally  (Harmon) 
Catlett,  both  natives  of  \'irginia,  the  latter 
bi.irn  in  Stanton,  in  which  citv  she  was  reared 
and  married.  After  their  marriage  this 
CLiuple  located  in  Charlottesville,  remaining 
there  until  1828.  Mr.  Catlett,  Sr.,  was  edu- 
cated for  a  law}-er,  but  not  liking  that  pro- 
fession he  learned  the  saddler's  trade.  In 
1828  he  went  to  Tuscum1>ia,  Alabama,  and 
remained  there  a  short  time,  removing  thence 
til  Winchester.  Tennessee.  He  remained 
there  for  two  years  and  then  returned  to 
Charlottesville.  Virginia.  He  remained 
there  until  1835.  when  he  went  to  Blooming- 
burg.  Ohio.  He  there  remained  until  Octo- 
ber T.  1846,  when  he  came  to  \'ermilion 
county.  Illinois,  arriving  here  on  the  i8tli  of 
Octoljer,  1846.  Here  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. His  death  occurred  July  2,  1861.  He 
was  a  Baptist  in  religious  faith,  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat in  political  affiliations.  He  had  been 
master  of  the  lodge  at  Charlottesville.  \'ir- 


ginia.  He  was  ;i  man  of  noble  characteris- 
tics, bene\oIent  to  a  fault,  almost.  He  con- 
sidered it  his  bounden  duty  to  share  a  part  of 
his  earnings  and  wealth  w  ith  his  fellow  men. 
No  one  ever  came  to  him  in  distress  that  Ke 
did  not  receive  immediate  assistance.  As 
a  c^)nsequence  of  his  extreme  benevolence, 
the  great  wealth  \\hicl!  he  r;t  one  tin;e  pos- 
sessed was  devoted  to  charity,  leaving  him 
in  only  modei"ate  circumstances  in  his  de- 
clining years.  Li  times  when  he  was  not  so 
fortunate  he  would  gather  his  familv  round 
him  and  ask  for  assistance  from  the  Omn.ip- 
otent  giver  of  all  good  things.  He  would 
quote  from  the  passage  of  scripture  "Once 
I  was  young  Ijut  now  I  am  old.  but  1  have 
never  seen  the  righteous  forsaken  or  his 
seed  begging  bread."  His  prayers  were  cer- 
tainly answered,  for  he  died  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  The  nobility  of  his  charact- 
er was  made  manifest  in  many  deeds  of  kind- 
ness and  acts  of  benevolence  toward  his  fel- 
low men  and  he  was  e\-er  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian man,  and  it  may  be  said  of  him  as  of  the 
just  men  of  old.  "He  walked  with  God." 
His  loving  wife  dieil  January  10.  1871.  ten 
years  after  the  death  of  her  husband.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  six  girls 
and  six  boys,  but  only  two  are  now  living: 
A'irginia,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Charles  Lamon,  of 
Fairniiiunt.  Illinois,  and  the  subject  of  this 
review. 

Hiram  II.  Catlett  attended  school  in 
Charlottesville,  Virginia,  in  a  log  structure 
taught  by  William  Smithson.  He  contin- 
ued his  education  in  Ohio  after  his  father 
had  rcmo\eil  to  that  state.  His  studies  were 
conducted  tluring  the  winter  months,  while 
in  vacation  he  assisted  his  father  until  he 
was  twenty-two  years  of  ag'e.  He  then  told 
his  father  he  had  faith  in  the  advice  of  Hor- 
ace (irceley.  which  was.  "Go  west,  young 
man,  and  grow  up  with  the  country."     He 


948 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


proposed  to  follow  tiiis  advice  and  his  father 
and  l)rother  Harold  accompanied  him.  They 
located  in  \^ermiIion  county,  near  Fair- 
mount,  Illinois.  On  his  first  arrival  he  spec- 
ulated in  hogs  and  thereby  lost  all  he  and  his 
brother  possessed,  besides  three  hundred  dol- 
lars of  borrowed  money.  Ho^vever,  they 
continued  in  the  steckdealing  business,  buy- 
ing and  selling  hogs  and  cattle.  In  the  year 
1857  Mr.  Catlett  had  bad  success  in  that 
line,  but  his  creditors  refused  to  crowd  him. 
.\d\'ersity  only  made  him  work  the  harder 
and  the  first  year  after  this  he  made  a  pay- 
ment of  ten  per  cent,  on  his  indebtedness 
and  finally  he  succeeded  in  paying  it  all.  In 
the  meantiiue,  he  had  with  his  brother  ac- 
cumulated over  fifteen  hundred  acres  of 
land  and  also  a  large  amount  of  stock.  He 
now  owns  eight  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land.  The  management  of  this  he  controls, 
but  it  is  divided  among  his  children.  Mr. 
Catlett  has  experienced  both  good  and  bad 
fortune,  l)ut  in  both  he  has  retained  bis  pres- 
ence of  mind  and  his  unfaltering  energy  has 
enaljled  him  to  succeed.  He  is  thoroughly 
a  self-made  man,  l:)ut  possesses  pluck,  self- 
reliance  and  endurance  to  a  great  degree. 
Not  only  is  he  distinguished  by  reason  of  his 
landed  possessions,  but  also  by  the  good 
name  he  has  won  through  fair  and  honorable 
dealing  with  his  fellow  men.  He  has  pat- 
ronized nine  diflierent  colleges  in  giving  his 
children  college  educations.  Not  one  of  his 
l>oys  uses  tobacco  in  any  form  or  spirits  or 
liquor  of  any  kind.  His  famil}'  is  one  of 
which  to  be  proud,  and  his  home  is  a  large 
and  attractive  residence  situated  on  a  high 
knoll  of  land,  giving  it  a  picturesque  appear- 
ance, and  from  his  home  he  can  view  hi? 
well  tilled  fields  and  well  filled  barns  and 
granaries.  The  brother  of  Mr.  Catlett  also 
became   well-to-d(.i   and   died    Mav    i.    1002. 


In  1S65  alone  he  lost  seventeeen  thousand 
dollars  on  hogs,  and  in  1875  ^^^  'o^t  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  corn  and  wheat.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  shrewd  manipidators 
of  farm  land  deals  in  \'ermilion  county. 
At  one  time  he  made  a  profit  of  over  five 
thousand  dollars  by  winning  a  case  which 
was  taken  through  five  courts,  in  regard  to 
some  swamp  lands  that  he  had  entered. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1858.  near  Fair- 
mount.  Illinois.  Mr.  Catlett  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Lorinda  Roudebush.  who  was 
born  June  6,  1838,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Ruth  (Shotwell)  Roudebush.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  her  mother 
was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  in  which 
county  they  were  married  and  located,  liv- 
ing there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1843.  The  mother  then  married  William 
Sailor.  They  came  to  Vermilion  county  in 
1856  and  his  wife  purchased  a  farm  upon 
which  they  made  their  home  until  their 
deaths.  Mr.  Sailor  died  in  Oakwood.  Illi- 
nois, and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1864. 
She  was  the  mother  of  eight  children.  Un- 
to Mr.  and  Mrs.  Catlett  have  been  born  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Nellie 
is  the  wife  of  D.  C.  Adams  and  they  reside 
in  Vance  township.  George  R.  is  a  farmer 
of  A'ance  township.  Percy  L.  is  in  the  bank- 
ing business  at  Escanaba,  [Michigan :  and 
Corrinne  is  at  home  with  her  father.  Mr. 
Catlett  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  of 
which  his  son  George  is  trustee.  In  politics 
he  favors  the  Prohiljition  party,  but  on  (jues- 
tions  of  n;itional  importance  sup])orts  the 
Democratic  party  and  is  a  great  admirer  of 
^Villiam  Jennings  Bi-yan.  Fie  is  a  man  of 
good  health  and  fine  constitution,  is  a  bril- 
iiant  conversationalist  and  is  very  popular 
in  his  communitv.  commanding  the  esteem 
cLud  respect  of  all. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


949 


WILLIAM  G.  DOBBINS. 

William  G.  Dobbins  is  tlie  senior  niem- 
lier  of  tlie  lirni  of  Dobbins  &  Lohr.  tin.  slate 
antl  gra\el  roofers,  also  sheet  metal  furnace 
workers,  doing  business  at  No.  22  West 
Main  street,  in  Danville.  They  are  both 
young'  anil  enterprising  business  men.  whose 
efforts  add  to  the  industrial  activit_\-  and  con- 
sequent i)rosperity  of  the  city.  Mr.  Dol)l)ins 
was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  .\pril  0, 
1872,  and  was  only  about  a  year  old  when 
brought  to  Danville  by  his  parents.  His 
father  was  Samuel  Dobbins  a  son  of  Samuel 
Dobbins,  Sr.,  a  native  of  New  York  city. 
The  grandfather  made  his  start  in  the  busi- 
ness world  by  laying  brick,  later  by  speculat- 
ing in  property.  He  accumulated  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money  and  early  in  the 
nineteenth  century  he  remo\ed  to  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  upon  that  in- 
\eslment  he  realized  a  good  margin.  He 
then  caiue  to  Illint)is  and  purchased  what 
was  at  that  time  considered  to  be  the  only 
coal  lands  in  the  state.  He  became  one  of 
the  first  settlers  of  the  northwestern  part  of 
Danville  township,  now  known  as  Tincher- 
ton,  but  for  many  years  the  district  was  called 
Dobbins  farm.  He  paid  four  dollars  per 
acre  for  tliis  land  which  has  since  sold  for 
uuc  hundred  dollars  per  acre,  while  to-day  it 
is  \alued  at  one  thousand  dollars  per  acre. 
At  the  time  Mr.  Dobbins  engaged  in  mining- 
coal  from  his  farm,  customers  came  a  dis- 
tance of  from  sixty  to  eighty  miles  to  get  this 
fuel,  camping  out  along  the  way  during  the 
journey.  I^and  adjoining  his  farm,  before 
its  value  was  recognized,  sold  for  ten  dollars 
per  acre  for  the  timber  tracts  and  twelve 
dollars  jier  acre  when  it  included  both  timber 
and  land.  Samuel  Dobljins,  Sr.,  was  a  most 
enterprising,  progressive  lousiness  man,  very 
fortunate  in  his  investments  because  of  his 


energy  and  keen  foresight.  He  gained  a 
handsome  competence  but  never  selfishly 
hoarded  his  means,  being  a  liberal  contrib- 
utor to  churches  and  to  missions.  He  be- 
(|uealhed  a  fund  of  forty  thousand  iloU.irs  to 
the  Presbyterian  Mission  Board.  In  the 
e;ni\-  development  of  Vermilion  ct)unty  he 
was  a  \ery  important  character,  taking;  an 
acti\e  part  in  its  substantial  upbuilding  and 
improvement  and  le;i\ing  the  impress  oi  his 
individuality  upon  the  early  policies  i>f  this 
portion  of  the  state. 

Samuel  Dobbins,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm.  At  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war  lie  offered  his  services  to  the  go\-ern- 
ment  and  was  sent  out  with  the  boys  in  blue 
of  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  with  which  he  served 
lor  four  years.  At  the  battle  of  [Missionary 
]\idg"e  he  lost  his  left  arm.  Through  ten 
years  he  engaged  in  the  coal  trade  in  Dan- 
\ille.  doing  a  retail  business  as  well  as  mak- 
ing extensive  shipments.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Minta  Jane  Bond  also  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  both  are  now  esteemed  and 
honored  residents  of  Dan\ille. 

William  (i.  l)(.ibbins,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  rec(_ird.  came  with  his  parents  to 
Danville  in  187^^  and  at  the  usual  age  he 
became  a  student  in  the  public  schools,  there- 
in .acquiring  a  good  knowledge  in  the  English 
branches  of  learning  that  fitted  him  for  life's 
practical  duties.  In  his  youth  he  served  an 
apprenticeshi])  to  the  timier's  trade  and  in 
1889  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account  in  connection  witli  William  Lohr, 
as  a  member  of  the  lirm  of  Dobbins  &  L(_)hr. 
This  firm  has  since  enjoyed  a  continuous  ex- 
istence in  which  a  large  trade  has  been 
gained.  They  take  and  execute  extensive 
contracts  for  slate  and  gravel  roofing  and 
for  sheet  metal  work  as  well  as  the  placing 


950 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  furnaces.  Tlieir  patronage  is  now  large 
and  profitable  for  the}'  have  gained  a  leading 
position  in  this  line  of  commercial  activity  in 
this  city. 

In  1S94  Mr.  Dobbins  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Lena  Hastings,  a  daughter  of 
John  Hastings,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Leonard.  Mr.  Dobbins  belongs  to  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America  and  he  and  his 
wife  hold  membership  in  the  Kimber  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  Their  circle  of 
friends  in  the  community  is  extensive  and 
the  hospitality  of  Danville's  best  homes  is 
extended  to  them. 


WILLIAM    RAY    JEWELL. 

\\  .  R.  Jewell  \\as  born  in  Taylurville, 
Kentucky,  August  7,  1837;  removed  with 
parents  to  Sullivan  county,  Indiana,  in  1841  ; 
early  education  in  log  schoolhouses  from 
Hoosier  school  masters.  Learned  the  trade 
of  printer  in  Terre  Haute  and  also  studied 
law.  getting  books  and  kind  instruction 
from  that  grand  old  man.  Colonel  R.  W. 
Thompson.  Taught  school  several  terms ; 
went  to  Northwestern  Christian  L^ni\-ersity, 
Indianapolis,  now  Butler  College,  Irvington. 
Indiana.  When  the  war  of  the  sixties  came, 
he  made  speeches  for  the  Lnion  cause  and 
hel])ed  to  recruit  several  regiments.  En- 
listed in  the  Seventy-second  Indiana  Infantry  ■ 
as  ])ri\ate.  jiromoted  to  lieutenant :  was  in  the 
famous  ^^'ilder  Brigade  of  mounted  in- 
fantry. 

Lieutenant  Jewell  was  one  of  several 
soldiers  in  tlie  front  who  were  sent  home 
on  recjuest  of  tioverndr  Morton  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1863.  to  give  two  months  in  speak- 
ing and  explaining,  to  good  but   wa\cring 


citizens,  that  the  emancipation  proclamation 
and  proposal  to  enlist  negro  troops  were 
necessary  for  saving  the  Union  and  saving 
lives  of  Union  troops. 

Governor  Morton  gave  Lieutenant 
Jewell  a  Captain's  commission,  stationed  at 
Indianapolis.  He  liked  field  duty  better  and 
went  to  the  Se\'enth  Indiana,  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  was  in  many  skirmishes  and 
battles,  including  battles  of  Frankfort, 
Kentucky,  Crab  Orchard.  Hunts\ille.  Ten- 
nessee, Stone  Ri\-er  and  all  the  bloody  bat- 
tles of  the  wilderness  and  siege  of  Rich- 
mond. He  was  one  of  six  brothers  who 
were  in  the  Union  Army,  three  of  whom 
lost  their  li\'es  and  two  others  were  dis- 
abled for  life.  His  health  also  was  much 
l:)roken. 

^Ir.  Jewell  finished  his  classic  college 
course  after  the  war  and  altered  the  min- 
istry of  the  Church  of  Christ,  in  which  he 
was  successful ;  on  account  of  his  liberal 
\iews  he  resigned  as  preacher  and  took  up 
newspaper  work,  established  the  Danville 
News,  weekly  and  Daily,  and  has  edited 
it  for  almost  thirty  years.  The  paper  is 
a  recognized  power  in  the  Republican  party. 
He  also  aided  to  organize  the  Illinois  Print- 
ing Companv,  Danville,  and  was  an  officer 
in  the  company  for  years,  being  secretary, 
president  and  manager.  'Mr.  Jewell  is  an 
able  sjieaker  and  has  taken  part  in  all  Re- 
])ul)lican  campaigns  since  1856,  casting  his 
first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln ;  was  elector 
for  Garfield,  1880.  Harrison.  1888,  and  ?vlc- 
Kinley  in  1896.  Has  been  chairman  of  the 
\'erniilIion  county  Republican  central  com- 
mittee for  about  thirty  years ;  been  a  long 
time  a  familiar  figure  at  state  and  national 
conventions,  and  is  so  skilled  in  drawing 
]ilatfonns  that  he  is  called  "Old  Resohuer." 
He  has  been  the  close  personal  friend  and 
counselor  of  Hon.   Joseph  G.   Cannon,   the 


W.  R.  JEWELL. 


^'-■t 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


953 


distinguislied  representative  of  the  Danville 
district,  during  his  political  career.  He  is 
much  in  demand  as  an  all  round  orator  for 
political,  fraternal,  Chautauqua  and  other 
addresses;  is  also  called  upon  to  talk  at 
funerals  of  liberal  people  and  is  regarded  i)y 
many  as  a  pastor  at  large.  All  classes  and 
kinds  of  people  come  to  him  and  pour  into 
liis  sympathetic  ear  their  tales  of  trouble  and 
disappointment.  He  is  yet  active  though  suf- 
fering from  diseases  contracted  in  the  army. 
He  is  a  devoted  home  maker  and  considers 
their  famih-  of  seven  children,  all  grown, 
five  boys  and  two  girls,  the  crown  of  wealth 
and  glory  of  his  noble  wife  and  himself. 

Mr.  Jewell  has  well  and  efficiently  served 
the  city  of  Danville  as  postmaster  under 
Harrison,  Cle\-eland,  ?^IcKinley  and  Roose- 
^"clt.  The  first  appnintment  made  by  Pres- 
ident McKinley  was  that  of  him  as  post- 
master of  this  city.  In  his  conduct  of  the 
office  he  has  known  no  man's  politics.  His 
object  has  been  t(3  give  the  people  the  best 
possible  mail  scr\ice  and  he  has  accomplished 
his  purpose. 

Mr.  Jewell,  next  to  Mr.  Cannun,  has 
been  the  controling  force  in  shaping  the  pol- 
icy of  the  Republican  party  in  this  district 
since  the  "70s.  In  controversial  politics  he 
has  been  a  gladiator  that  the  party  has 
constantly  called  to  the  forum.  Pie  has  met 
many  foemen  worthy  of  his  steel,  and  they 
have  always  felt  it.  His  friends  regard  Mr. 
Jewell  as  one  of  the  most  fertile  men  of 
this  state.  The  emergency  has  never  arisen 
that  he  could  not  meet.  Often  the  central 
committee  has  been  disappointed  in  the 
coming  of  some  famous  speaker.  Mr.  Jewell 
promptly  took  his  place,  and  the  audience 
has  usually  been  thankful  for  the  disappoint- 
ment. On  one  occasion,  it  is  said,  he  spoke 
five  hours  tn  hold  the  cmwd  until  the  sneaker 


came,  and  the  crowd  stayed  with  him. 
Cireat  gifts  were  showered  ui)on  Mr.  Jewell 
.'is  a  speaker  and  he  has  always  made  splen- 
did use  (if  them.  He  is  forceful,  clear  and 
logical.  He  speaks  from  a  mind  well  stored 
and  a  heart  running  over  with  the  milk  of 
human  kindness,  and  never  fails  to  convince 
the  intellect  or  touch  the  heart  ;uid  sympa- 
thy of  his  hearers.  His  fund  of  illustrative 
stories  is  as  illimital)Ie  as  Lincoln's  and  he  is 
as  ready  in  applying-  them.  He  has  kept 
audiences  in  hearty  laughter,  sober  thought 
or  s_\-mpathetic  tears  on  almost  every  ros- 
trum in  this  state.  In  politics,  Mr.  Jewell 
is  a  general  as  well  as  a  leader.  In  his  long 
service  as  chairman  of  the  county  central 
committee,  he  has  so  handled  matters  as  to 
avoid  conflict  in  the  party. 

In  the  first  McKinley  campaign,  he 
coiUtl  ha\e  carried  this  county  against  in- 
struction for  AlcKinley,  but  the  unity  of  the 
party  was  of  more  consequence  than  victory 
on  his  part,  so  he  permitted  the  instruction 
to  carry.  He  has  been  able  to  see  trouble 
a  long  distance  ahead  and  thereby  avoid  it. 
In  this  conununity  Mr.  Jewell  has  been  a 
great  force  for  good,  he  is  kind  hearted,  con- 
siderate and  forgiving.  He  has  constantly 
stood  for  good  citizenship,  pure  politics,  the 
school  house  and  the  church. 

Without  doubt  he  could  ha\e  been  gover- 
nor of  this  state,  and  when  the  matter  was 
seriously  proposed  to  him.  he  said  :  "T  can't 
raise  my  boys  right  and  be  governor.  God 
gave  me  my  boys  and  I  will  stand  by  them". 
•Without  ambition  for  himself  he  has  con- 
stantly lent  a  kind  and  attentive  ear  to  the 
aspirations  of  others.  By  his  pers(inal  ex- 
am])le,  his  speeches  and  the  Danville  News, 
William  Ray  Jewell  has  left  his  permanent 
impress  on  \'ennih'on  c<iun(y  and  the  state 
of  Illinois. 


954 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


WILJJAM  F.  KEENEY. 

William  I'letclier  Keeney,  a  resident 
farmer  oi  Catlin  township  living  on  section 
34.  was  born  on  tlie  ist  of  October,  1843, 
in  \'ermi!ion  connty,  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
northwest  of  his  present  home.  He  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  H.  Keeney,  who  was  born 
on  the  1 2th  of  March,  1803,  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Eewisburg,  in  Greenbrier  county, 
West  Virginia,  and  after  arriving  at  years 
of  maturity  was  married  in  that  state  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Caraway,  born  March  31, 
1810,  in  Greenbrier  county.  West  Virginia. 
In  the  year  1831  they  came  to  Vermilion 
county.  At  that  time  the  country  was  new 
antl  unbroken  and  full  of  game.  The  fa- 
ther of  our  subject  first  rented  land  and  later 
purchased  some  school  land,  constituting 
the  farm  upon  which  the  subject  of  this 
review  was  born  and  reared.  Tiiroughout 
his  residence  here  Thomas  H.  Keeney  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  and  also  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  graded  stock,  both 
branches  of  his  business  returning  to  him 
a  good  income.  In  his  family  were  nine 
children,  six  sons  and  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity  with  the 
exception  of  one  that  died  in  infancy.  Our 
subject  was  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth 
and  his  sister,  Mrs.  Amanda  Canies,  resides 
on  the  adjoining  farm  to  the  west  of  his 
present  home.  Both  parents  are  now  de- 
ceased. Tiieir  children  were:  H.  F., 
David,  John  A.,  Lucretia  ^^,  James  T.,  Jo- 
seph S..  William  F..  Mary  E.,  and  Amanda, 
now  Mrs.  Carnes,  all  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased except  W.  F.  and  Mrs.  Carnes. 

In  a  manner  similar  to  that  of  most  boys 
of  the  period  ^^'ilIiam  F.  Keeney  was 
reared,  working  on  the  farm  through  the 
summer  months  while  in  the  winter  seasons 
he  attended  school.     Throughout  his  entire 


life  he  has  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  he  began  earning  his  own  living  by 
managing  his  father's  farm  which  he  cijn- 
trolled  until  after  the  father's  death.  He 
continued  to  li\e  on  the  home  place  and 
later  purchased  forty  acres  of  his  present 
home  just  west  of  the  town  of  Catlin.  He 
now  owns  a  valuable  tract  of  three  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  well  drained  and  tiled  and 
supplied  with  all  modern  equipments,  ac- 
cessories and  conveniences.  He  raises  large 
quantities  of  grain  and  he  also  has  good 
pasture  lands  which  furnish  feed  for  his 
stock.  He  handles  about  forty  head  of  cat- 
tle annually,  and  this  materially  increases 
his  income.  The  first  plow  which  he  saw 
used  had  a  wooded  mold  board  and  corn 
was  cultivated  with  the  single  shovel.  He 
never  wore  anything  but  home  made  cloth- 
ing until  he  was  a  young  man  of  about  six- 
teen years,  and  the  various  experiences, 
hardshi])s  and  trials  of  frontier  life  became 
familiar  to  him.  However,  in  his  business 
career  he  has  prospered  and  as  the  years 
have  passed  his  hard  work  and  careful  man- 
agement have  brought  to  him  a  very  desira- 
ble income  and  a  handsome  competence. 

On  the  13th  of  October.  1880,  Mr. 
Keeney  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Ivlary  A.  Richards,  who  was  born  in  Floyd 
county,  Indiana.  July  16,  1850,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  James  and  I\Iary  Richards,  who 
removed  from  Indiana  to  \'ermilion  count}^ 
settling  in  Georgetown  township.  Mr. 
Keeney  has  witnessed  almost  the  entire  de- 
\'elopment  of  this  portion  of  tlie  state.  His 
father  drove  to  the  county  in  a  covered 
wagon  drawn  by  horses,  and  it  required 
several  weeks  to  make  the  trip,  but  at  length 
he  reached  his  destination  and  settled  at  the 
edge  of  the  timber  in  an  old  log  cabin  on  the 
farm  of  Charles  Caraway.  Chicago  was 
then  the  market,  and  Eugene  and  Percival 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


955 


on  tlie  Wabash,  for  Danville  was  but  a  vil- 
lage. ]Mr.  Keeney  can  remember  when 
West  Jklain  street  in  Danville  was  over- 
g'rown  with  jack  uaks  and  hazel  brush.  The 
incdming  seltlers.  howe\'er,  soon  wrought 
a  change  in  all  this  and  in  the  work  of  de- 
velopment, improx'cmenl  and  jjrogress  Ver- 
milion county  has  kept  abreast  with  other 
portions  of  the  state.  Air.  Keeney  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party  in  which  he 
has  lirm  faith  since  attaining  his  majority. 
He  and  his  wife  attend  the  .Mcthiulist  church 
of  Catlin  and  he  served  on  its  building  com- 
mittee at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  its  house 
of  worship.  For  a  number  of  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Fair  Association,  for 
three  years  he  was  its  vice  presiilent  and  for 
ten  years  one  of  its  directors.  ser\ing  in  the 
former  position  at  the  time  the  association 
was  abandoned.  In  Catlin  Lodge.  M.  W. 
A.,  in  which  he  holds  membershi]).  he  has 
held  ciffice.  antl  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
connected  with  the  Royal  Neighliors.  They 
are  i)eople  of  genuine  worth,  widely  known 
in  this  localitv,  and  their  friends  are  manv. 


W.  A.  BROWN,  M.  D. 

>suml)ered  aninug  the  practitioners  of 
Danville,  the  public  has  passed  favoral)le 
jndgmeiU  updU  the  ability  and  labors  of  Dr. 
Brown,  who  was  born  in  Knoxville,  Tennes- 
see, Ajjril  9,  1830.  his  parents  being  I'rancis 
G.  and  Mary  (Bell)  Brown,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Tennes- 
see. They  were  married  in  Knoxville  and  in 
1838  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  IMacoupin 
county,  where  the  father  engaged  in  fann- 
ing. Subsequently  he  removed  to  Chester- 
field, this  state,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1876.     In  politics  he  was  a  life-long  Demo- 


crat and  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  His  wife  died  in  1864.  and  he  af- 
terward married  again.  Of  the  nine  chil- 
tlreii  born  of  the  hrst  union,  the  following 
is  the  record :  Elizabeth,  tleceased  wife  of 
George  S.  Huskey;  John  H..  a  resident  of 
Carlin\ille,  Illinois,  who  married  Martha 
Huskey,  now  deceased:  Malinda,  deceased 
wife  of  Joseph  Rafferly,  of  Fort  Worth, 
Texas:  W.  A.,  of  this  review;  Kate,  wife  of 
Elisha  Harbor,,  of  Barton  county,  Alissouri; 
L.  Al.,  who  served  three  vears  in  the  Civil 
war,  being  slightly  wounded  in  the  famous 
three  days'  fight  at  Shiloh,  and  died  in  Los 
Angelesx  California,  where  he  was  then 
making  his  home:  Mary  Jane,  who  was 
married  and  is  now  deceased :  Laura  and 
Harriet,  twins,  the  former  the  widow  of 
Charles  Saunders  ami  a  resident  of  Green- 
field, Illinois,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  John 
Leach,  of  Chesterfield,   Jllinois. 

Dr.  Brown  began  bis  education  in  a  sub- 
scription school  held  in  an  old  log-  house  in 
Knox  county,  Tennessee,  and  following  the 
removal  of  the  family  to  Macoupin  county, 
Illinois,  he  ]nirsued  liis  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  af- 
ter which,  he  engaged  in  farming  with  his 
father  until  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty 
years.  Subsequently  he  carried  on  farming 
on  his  own  account  for  two  years  and  next 
entered  the  Iowa  LTniversity  as  a  student  in 
the  Keokuk  Medical  School.  This  was  fol- 
lowetl  by  study  in  McDowell  College  of  St, 
Louis.  In  the  inter\-al  be  bad  practiced 
medicine  to  some  extent  and  he  later  located 
in  Renick,  Missouri,  a  station  on  the  \\'a- 
l)ash  Railroad  in  Randolph  county,  where 
he  remained  in  practice  until  186.2.  He 
was  then  appointed  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
I'irst  Pro\-isional  Missouri  RegHment  and 
was  in  acti\'e  ser\ice  in  Missouri,  remaining 
in  the  arm\'  for  two  and  i_>ne-half  vears. 


9S6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Dr.  Brown  arrivetl  in  Danville  in  1864 
and  opening  an  office  continued  an  active 
and  successful  representative  of  the  profes- 
sion in  this  city  until  1887,  when  he  removed 
to  Los  Angeles,  California,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  the  fall  of  1893,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Danville  and  has  since  continued 
in  this  city. 

On  the  8th  of  January.  1850,  in  Ma- 
coupin county.  Illinois,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Doctor  Brown  and  Miss  ^Martha 
Frazier,  a  daughter  of  William  Frazier,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  while  the  mother, 
whose  name  was  ]\Ialinda  Gallagher,  w'as  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  in  which  state  she  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mv.  Frazier.  He 
is  a  saddler  by  trade  but  afterward  engaged' 
in  farming.  His  political  support  was  given 
the  Whig  party  until  its  dissolution,  when 
he  became  a  Republican  and  his  religious 
faith  was  indicated  by  his  membership  in 
the  Society  of  Friends.  He  died  in  Iowa 
in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years  and 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1879  ^^  the  age  of 
sixty-four  years.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living.  Mrs. 
Brown  is  among  the  deceased,  her  death 
having  occurred  in  California,  July  28, 
1888,  her  remains  being  interred  in  Ever- 
green cemetery  of  Los  Angeles.  She  had 
become  the  mother  of  three  children,  two 
of  whom  survi\-e  her :  ^Monroe,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  livery  business  in  Danville; 
and  Frank,  who  resides  in  California.  He 
was  married  in  California  and  has  two 
daughters. 

The  Doctor  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and 
has  always  had  firm  faith  in  the  principles 
of  that  party.  He  has  twice  sen-ed  as  a 
member  of  the  city  council.  Formerly  he 
was  connected  with  various  medical  socie- 
ties and  he  still  belongs  to  the  Vermilion 
County  Medical  Society.     His  long  practice 


of  an  im])ortant  and  varied  character  has 
made  him  a  man  of  broad  experience  and 
capability  and  Dr.  Brown  well  deserves 
mention  among  the  leading  representatives 


of  his  calling. 


A.   G.   SMITH. 

A.  G.  Smith,  who  is  living  on  section  5, 
^liddlefork  township,  and  is  familiarly 
called  "Al"  by  his  numerous  friends  in 
Vermilion  county,  is  at  the  present  time  de- 
voting his  energies  with  success  to  the  work 
of  stock-raising  and  feeding.  His  landed 
possessions  aggregate  fourteen  hundred 
acres  and  thus  he  is  one  of  the  extensive  land 
owners  of  the  comnuinity.  His  farms  are 
situated  near  Potomac  and  from  the  property 
he  derives  an  excellent  income. 

A  native  son  of  the  county,  Mr.  Smith 
was  bom  in  Ross  township,  June  6,  1835. 
His  father,  John  Smith,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  to  come  from  England  to  this  portion 
of  the  state,  having  crossed  the  Atlantic  in 
compau}'  with  Abraham  Mann.  Both  of 
these  gentlemen  are  represented  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  known  as  "English"  John  Smith, 
a  title  which  distinguished  him  from  others 
of  the  name  in  hrs  part  of  Illinois.  Pros- 
perous in  business,  he  owned  hundreds  of 
acres  of  -s-aluable  farming  land  and  was  one 
of  the  prominent,  influential  and  repre- 
sentative farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  the 
county. 

L']ion  the  old  homestead  A.  G.  Smith 
of  this  rex'iew  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth.  It  is  not  hard  to  imagine  what 
kind  of  a  boy  he  w-as.  He  piu-sued  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Rossville  and 
Danville  and  during  the  summer  months  he 


"k 

^■^ 


JOHN  SMITH.  (ENG.) 


C.        .Z 
UUIVERSIVY  &f  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


961 


\\c irked  in  the  fields,  heini;'  early  trained  ti) 
habits  of  industry  and  enterprise — for  these 
facts  are  shown  forth  in  his  suhsecjuent 
career.  He  remained  with  his  father  until 
he  hatl  attained  his  majority  and  assisted  in 
caring  for  the  home  fann.  In  ])an\illc,  on 
the  7th  of  October,  1875,  he  won  as  a  com- 
panion and  helpmeet  for  life's  joumey  Miss 
Lizzie  W'ilkie,  a  daughter  of  James  Bruce 
W'ilkie,  who  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  on 
coming  to  the  new-  world  located  first  at 
Madison,  Indiana,  where  he  reared  his  family 
and  spent   the  last  da}-s  of  his  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  ])egan  housekeeping 
upon  a  farm  near  P>luegrass,  where  he  had 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  which  he 
cultivated  and  further  improved,  making  his 
liome  there  for  twenty-two  years,  and  in 
1899  he  removed  t(3  the  old  family  home- 
stead, taking;-  charge  of  the  ])lace.  Here  he 
lias  built  two  residences  and  has  remodeled 
the  old  house.  He  also  erected  barns  and 
substantial  outbuildings  and  in  connection 
with  general  farming  has  made  a  business 
of  raising  and  feeding  stock,  fattening  for 
the  market  from  one  to  two  hundred  head 
of  steers  and  a  large  drove  of  hogs  annually. 
He  is  justly  accoimted  one  of  the  successful 
agriculturists  and  stock  men  of  \'ermilion 
county  and  his  prosperity  is  well  deserxed, 
for  he  is  energetic,  possesses  laudable 
ambition  and  strong  determination  in  carrv- 
ing  out  his  plans. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  two  children. 
John  Curtis,  the  elder,  is  married  and  fol- 
lows agricultural  pursuits  on  one  of  his 
father's  farms.  Laura  is  the  wife  of  Hugh 
M.  Luckey,  ;i  prominent  farmer  of  Middle- 
fork  townshi]),  Nvherc  he  is  now  serving  as 
supervisor.  They  have  two  children — Alvin 
J.  and  Pauline. 

His  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his 
worth    and    ability,    called     Mr.     Smith    to 

38 


puljlic  oflice  anil  for  live  years  he  has  served 
as  township  trustee,  lie  is  "now  filling  the 
position  of  commissioner  of  highways,  and 
he  has  freiiuentiy  been  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
\entions  of  the  Republican  party,  of  which 
he  is  a  stanch  advocate,  ha\'ing  thus  fol- 
lowetl  in  the  political  footsteps  of  bis  father. 
His  extensive  business  interests  ha\e  made 
bea\\'  demands  uixni  his  time  to  the  exclus- 
ion (jf  a  great  amount  of  political  work,  yet 
be  never  falters  in  performing  any  task  that 
he  feels  will  i)romote  the  welfare  and  pros- 
peritv  of  his  natixe  county.  He  is  leading 
a  busy,  useful,  active  and  honorable  life  and 
is  one  of  the  intelligent  and  highly  respected 
residents  of  ^Middlefork  t(jwnship,  and  well 
deserves  mention  in  the  histcjry  of  Vermilion 
county. 


CAPTATX  S.  S.  IRWIN. 

I'mniinent  ,inil  actix'e  in  public  affairs 
Captain  S.  S.  Irwin  is  serving  his  third  term 
as  postmaster  of  Rankin  and  is  well  known 
as  a  business  man  of  V'ermilion  county, 
where  he  has  lived  for  about  twenty-three 
years,  while  bis  residence  in  the  state  co\'ers 
forty  years.  The  Captain  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Brown 
county,  August  6,  1835.  He  comes  of  a 
family  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  representa- 
tives of  the  name  emigrating  from  Ayrshire. 
Scotland,  to  the  new  world  in  the  year  1667. 
I'he}  settled  in  floneybrook,  Pennsylvania, 
and  New  Jersey.  John  Irwin,  the  great 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Iloneybrook  and  emigrating  westward  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Ohio. 
Robert,  the  gramlfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  P.rown  county,  Ohio,  and  served  his 
country  as  a  soldier  in  the  w-ar  of  iSu 
He  li\-cd  in  the  Ruckeve  state  when  the  In- 


962 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


dians  were  there  in  great  minibers,  the  work 
of  progress  and  imprc>\ement  l)eing  scarceK' 
begun.  Ahiiost  tlie  entire  region  was  a  vast 
wilderness  and  in  the  work  of  de\'elopment 
and  improvement  he  bore  his  part,  aiding  in 
laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for 
the  future  prosperity  and  improvement  of 
his  county.  His  son,  John  Irwin,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Brown  county 
in  1810  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turity he  married  Jane  Bratton,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Higliland  county,  Ohio,  and  who 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Bratton,  also  an 
honored  pioneer  settler  and  of  English  ances- 
try, John  Irwin  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  reared  his  family  in  Brown  count)-,  where 
he  spent  his  entire  life,  passing  away  in  1882, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  wife 
died  in  1848.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children,  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  all 
of  whom  reached  maturity.  One  son,  Will- 
iam R..  was  a  soldier  of  the  Eighty-third 
Ohio  Infantry  and  died  at  Hempstead, 
Texas,  in  18S4.  Another  brother  of  our 
subject,  Joseph  G.  Irwin,  now  resides  in 
Williamsburg,  Ohio. 

Upon  the  old  family  homestead  in  the 
stEfte  of  his  nativity  Captain  S.  S.  Irwin  was 
reared.  He  had  good  school  advantages, 
his  preliminary  education  being  supple- 
mented by  a  course  of  study  in  Lebanon 
Normal  school.  Later  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing in  Clermont  county.  Ohio,  and  then 
came  to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  abode  in 
Douglas  county,  this  state,  on  the  30th  of 
August,  1857.  He  was  employed  as  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Camargo  through 
the  succeeding  winter  and  later  was  elected 
school  commissioner  of  Douglas  county  for 
four  years,  but  went  into  the  army  i^efore 
his  term  was  up.  During  that  time  he  and 
Congressman  Joseph  Cannon,  then  a  candi- 
date for  ])rosecuting  attorney  of  the  county, 


and  our  subject,  a  candidate  for  school  com- 
missioner, occu])ied  the  same  office.  Thev 
labored  for  their  mutual  success  and  became 
warm  friends,  their  friendship  existing  to 
the  present  time.  Successful  in  his  election. 
Captain  Irwin  filled  the  position  of  school 
commissioner  of  Douglas  county  until  the 
\-.'ar. 

He  then  felt  that  his  duty  was  to  his 
country  upon  the  field  of  battle  and  his  ser- 
\"ice  was  continued  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  enlisted  on  the  loth  of  July,  1861, 
in  the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry  and  went  to 
the  south  as  a  private,  becoming  a  member 
of  the  department  of  the  [Mississippi.  He 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Bolivar  and  of 
Holly  Springs  and  at  the  last  named  place 
was  captured  but  he  managed  to  cut  his  way 
out  and  rejoined  his  regiment,  which  re- 
treated to  Cold  Water,  but  the  next  morning 
returned  to  the  battle-field  and  drove  the 
rebels  out  of  Holly  Springs.  Later  Cap- 
tain Irwin  participated  in  the  siege  and  cap- 
ture of  ^''icksburg.  being  present  at  its  fall 
on  the  4t]i  of  July.  1863.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  }'ear  he  participated  in  the  Red  River 
campaign  and  was  again  with  General 
Banks  in  iSoj.  On  the  30th  of  ]\Iarch,  of 
the  latter  year,  he  was  wounded  at  Grand 
Ecore  by  a  gun  shot  in  the  right  elbow,  \\-hich 
temporarily  disabled  him  for  field  service. 
He  lay  in  the  hospital  for  a  time  and  was 
then  granted  a  leave  of  absence  and  re- 
turned home,  where  he  remained  for  two 
or  three  months.  He  then  rejoined  his  reg- 
iment at  Baton  Roiig'e,  Louisiana,  and  later 
was  in  the  siege  of  ^lobile.  Spanish  Fort 
and  Fort  Blakely.  The  last  named  fort 
capitulated  on  the  9th  of  April.  1865,  and 
was  the  last  fight  in  which  Captain  Irwin 
took  part.  He  had  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  orderly  sergeant  and  afterward  to 
first   lieutenant   and   with   that    rank   he  did 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


963 


acti\'e  field  service.  In  June,  iHOj.  while  at 
^'icksburg•  he  was  pninidted  to  the  rank  of 
lieutenant  and  during  the  last  part  of  the 
war  he  ser\-ed  as  such  in  the  commissary 
department  at  Apalachicola,  Florida.  He 
was  three  times  wounded  in  defense  of  the 
old  flag,  and  the  regiment  was  mustered  out 
January  3,  1866.  Captain  Irwin  has  every 
reason  to  be  proud  of  his  war  record,  for  he 
never  faltered  in  facing  the  enemv  and 
though  often  found  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight  he  was  ever  loyal  to  the  cause  which 
lie  espoused. 

When  the  war  was  ended  he  returned  to 
Mattoon,  Illinois,  anil  for  ten  years  engaged 
in  farming  in  that  locality.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Mattoon.  ]"ehrnar_\-  i_'.  1868.  to 
Sarah  Noyes,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  that  locality.  He  took  his  bride 
to  his  farm  ;nid  continued  its  cultiwation 
until  about  1880.  when  he  came  to  \'erniil- 
ion  county.  Here  he  purchased  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise,  which  he  placed  in  a 
store  in  Pellville  and  in  March,  1884,  he 
removed  to  Rankin,  where  he  has  since  en- 
gaged in  business.  He  began  operations  on 
a  small  .scale,  but  gradually  he  extended  his 
business  operations  and  added  to  his  stock 
hardware  anrl  farm  implements.  As  the 
years  passed  he  Iniilt  up  a  very  prosperous 
business,  which  is  now  conducted  by  his  son 
and  his  jiartner  under  the  firm  name  of  Sloan 
iK;  Irwin.  'I"he  Cainain  became  well  known  as 
a  merchant  and  his  industry  and  enterprise 
brought  to  him  creditable  success. 

The  liome  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Irwin 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children  :  Anna, 
a  well  educated  young  lady,  who  is  now  a 
teacher  in  the  \  anderbilt  Industrial  school 
at  llitniore,  Xorth  Cnrohna :  William,  a 
lirominent  Inisiness  man  of  Rankin;  and 
.\nnette,    who   is   conducting   a   photograph 


gallery  in  Rankin  and  is  also  ser\-ing  as  as- 
sistant postmaster. 

In  his  p(jlitical  \iews  the  Capt.ain  has  al- 
ways been  a  stanch  Repuljlican,  having  sup- 
ported the  party  since  John  C.  l""remont  be- 
came its  first  presidential  candidate  in  1856. 
He  has  ne\-er  failed  to  vote  for  each  man 
who  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  ticket  with 
the  exception  of  the  year  1864,  when,  be- 
cause of  his  service  in  the  ;irniv  he  could  not 
cast  his  ballot.  He  has  .been  elected  many 
times  as  justice  of  the  peace  of  his  township, 
serving  continuous!)-  and  eBiciently  in  that 
ciffice  since  1883.  In  i88q  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  under  General  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, was  again  ajipointed  b_\-  President  ^Ic- 
Kinley  and  for  a  third  term  by  President 
Roosevelt.  He  has  frequently  served  as  a 
deleg'ate  to  county  and  state  conventions  and 
has  ])ut  forth  every  effort  in  his  power  to 
])romole  the  growth  and  insure  the  success  of 
his  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
liership  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Ran- 
kin anil  he  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, being  identified  with  Rankin  Lodge, 
.\.  V.  &  A.  AI. ;  and  Mattoon  Chapter,  R.  A. 
M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Grand 
.\rmv  Post  at  Hoopeston.  In  all  life's  re- 
lations Captain  Irwin  has  shown  himself 
to  be  a  man  of  genuine  worth.  l)eing  ener- 
getic and  trustworthy  in  liusiness.  loyal  in 
citizenship  and  faithful  to  the  ties  of  friend- 
ship and'of  the  home.  All  who  know  him 
accord  him  high  respect  and  he  has  a  very 
wide  acquaintance  in  this  county. 


JACOB  P.  ELLSWORTH. 

jacol)  P.  Ellsworth,  a  retired  farmer 
now  identified  with  the  business  interests  of 
Westvillc  as  a  general  merchant,  represents 


964 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


one  i)f  the  oldest  families  of  \'eniiilion 
county.  His  father,  Sylvanus  T.  Ellsworth, 
first  came  to  the  county  about  1840  and  re- 
mo\-ed  his  family  to  the  home  farm  in  Cat- 
lin  township  in  1854.  The  subject  of  this 
review  was  born  in  Vermilion  county,  Jan- 
uary 8,  1847,  his  parents  being  Sylvanus  T. 
and  Zarekla  (Graves)  Ellsworth,  the  for- 
mer a  nali\e  of  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and 
the  latter  of  Kentucky.  During  his  early 
life  the  father  resided  in  the  place  of  his  na- 
ti\ity  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  log- 
ging there  until  1840,  when  he  came  west 
to  look  at  the  country,  believing  that  it 
might  jirove  a  gootl  location  for  business 
ventures.  He  afterwanl  returned  to  Ohio 
and  soon  again  came  to  X'ermilion  county 
and  was  here  married.  Later  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Lewiston,  Illinois,  where 
he  resided  lor  a  year,  working  out  by  the 
day  diu'ing  that  period.  Once  more  coming 
to  Vermilion  county  he  resided  in  George- 
town township  for  about  three  years  and 
then  took  up  his  abode  on  the  old  family 
homestead  in  Catlin  township,  where  he 
spent  his  remaining  days,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years,  during  which  he  lived  at  W'est- 
ville  with  his  daughter.  Throughout  this 
period  he  devoted  his  energies  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  in  which  he  met  with  good 
success.  His  wife  died  in  1S87  and  he  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren: Mary  E.,  the  wife  of  Israel  Bur- 
roughs, of  Danville;  IMargaret,  who  became 
the  wife  of  William  Currants  and  died  in 
1885;  Jacob  P.,  of  this  review;  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  William  D.  Parker,  a  farmer  lis'ing 
on  section  6,  Georgetown  township;  Eveline 
M.,  the  wife  of  George  Watson,  a  contractor 
of  Danville;  Levi  Lincoln,  who  married 
Minnie  Hodge  and  is  li\ing  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Catlin  township ;  and  Cather- 


ine, the  wife  of  William  C.  Dukes,  who  was 
formerly  engaged  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness, but  is  now  a  carpenter  of  Georgetown. 

The  common  school  afforded  Jacob  P. 
Ellsworth  his  educational  pri\'ileges  and  af- 
ter leaving  the  school  room  as  a  student  he 
engaged  in  teaching  in  Danville  township 
at  the  Mc^ilillan  scln)ol  house  in  1870.  He 
was  employed  in  this  capacity  for  sixteen 
months  and  in  1871  was  the  teacher  in  the 
J^rooks  Point  school.  In  the  winter  of  1872 
he  had  charge  of  the  Rouse  sciiool,  after 
which  he  returned  to  the  McMillan  school 
for  one  term.  He  afterward  took  up  his 
abode  on  the  old  home  farm,  where  he  lived 
for  a  3'ear  and  in  1871  he  came  to  Westville, 
erecting  the  first  store  l)uilding  in  this  place. 
Here  he  conducted  a  general  store  for  a 
short  time  and  tlien  established  another  store 
in  1880.  which  he  carried  on  for  a  short* 
[jeriod  and  then  sold  out.  He  afterward 
ga\e  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
;mtil  1880,  when  he  accepted  the  clerkship 
in  the  Kelly  store  of  Westville,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years.  In  1891  he  erected 
his  present  store  building  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  general  merchandising.  He 
likewise  owns  seventy  acres  of  land  in 
Georgetown  township  and  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  in  connection  with  his 
store  he  owns  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
the  home  farm  in  Catlin  township,  which  is 
rented  to  his  brother. 

Mr.  Ellsw(jrth  has  been  twice  married. 
He  first  wedded  Sarah  O'Neal,  of  Veriuil- 
ion  county,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  O'Neal,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  here.  She  clieil  June  21. 
1888,  leaving  two  children:  Austin,  who 
married  May  Lash  and  is  living  near  West- 
ville; and  Lola  B.,  at  home,  b'or  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  F^llsworth  chose  Marv  Donlon, 
of  Danville,  a  daughter  of  Anthony  Donlon, 
wdio  is  now  deceased.     They  have  one  son. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


965 


Ralph  Anthony  Sylvanns.  Theirs  is  a 
pleaant  and  attractive  home  in  \\'est\ille. 
Mr.  Ellsworth  was  the  first  police  magis- 
trate of  this  place  .and  held  the  office  for 
four  years.  He  is  now  assistant  supervisor 
of  his  township  and  has  held  other  minor 
positions.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican 
and  belongs  to  the  Christian  church  of 
W'estville.  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church.  He  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  bis  business  and  is  widely  known 
throughout  this  part  of  the  county.  He 
comes  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  and 
his  own  record  is  in  harmony  with  the  hon- 
ored name  which  has  e\er  ben  borne  l)y  the 
I-lllsworths  in  this  jxntion  of  the  state.  De- 
pendent upon  his  own  resources  from  his 
boyhood  days  he  has  been  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortime  and  has  buildcd  wisel\-  and 

well. 

■> »  » 

rATTF.X   lll.MROD. 

.\  credilalile  military  service,  success  in 
business  and  loyalty  in  citizenship — in  these 
few  words  might  lie  summed  up  the  life  rec- 
ord of  Patten  Himrod.  but  the  interest  which 
his  many  friends  felt  in  him  justifies  a  more 
extended  account  of  a  life  that,  while  free 
from  exciting  episodes  and  from  ostenta- 
tion and  display,  yet  was  rich  in  all  the 
nobler  qualities  that  comm.and  respect  and 
awaken  conlulcnce.  Air.  Hinu'od  was  born 
in  W'alerford,  Pennsyhania,  January  20, 
1839.  a  son  of  David  and  .\bigail  (  Patten) 
Himrod,  the  former  a  native  of  Massachus- 
etts and  the  latter  of  Maine.  For  many 
years  they  resided  in  Water  ford.  Pennsvl- 
vania.  where  the  father  was  connected  with 
the  iron  industry,  operating  a  blast  furnace. 
There  he  lived  until   his  death,   which  oc- 


cin-red  in  1880,  his  remains  being  interred 
in  the  W.aterford  cemetery.  In  early  man- 
boiul  he  gave  his  political  support  to  the 
Whig  p;u't\'  and  upon  its  dissolution  he 
jciined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican 
]);u"tv,  while  socialh'  he  was  identified  with 
the  KniglUs  nl  Malta,  .\fter  his  demise  his 
widow  removed  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  where' 
she  passed  away  in  IQOO,  her  remains,  how- 
ever, being'  interred  by  the  side  of  her  hus- 
band, in  W.aterfurd.  Penns_\-l\aiiia.  In  their 
family  were  ten  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  mature  vears.  while  those  still  liv- 
ing are:  Pbebe,  a  resilient  of  Chicago; 
Charles,  who  married  .Mice  Judson  and  is 
the  vice  president  of  the  Himrod  Coal  Com- 
])any,  his  home  being  in  Waterford,  Penn- 
sylvania :  Katy  H.,  the  wife  of  Thomas  B. 
lliggers,  who  resides  in  Chickasha.  Indian 
Territory :  Kirk,  of  Waterford,  Pennsyl- 
vania;  Gertrude,  the  wife  of  Thomas  A. 
Hagerty.  of  Chicago;  and  Bernard,  who  is 
the  president  of  the  Hinn'od  Coal  Company 
and  li\-es  in  Waterford.  Pennsylvania. 

Patten  Hinn'od  ol)tained  an  academic 
education  in  his  nati\-e  town  anil  after  put- 
ting aside  his  text  books  he  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  bookkeeper  for  his  father,  thus  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  accounts  of  the  lilast 
fiu-nace.  He  remained  in  that  position  tmtil 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  decided  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  west  and  made  his 
way  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  There,  in  July, 
1860.  he  enlisted  in  the  military  service  of 
the  government,  as  a  member  of  Company 
.\,  Second  l.'nited  States  lnfantr_\-.  and  was 
sent  to  Fort  Abercombie,  in  Dakota,  where 
he  remained  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
war.  The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to 
the  east,  where  he  ser\x'd  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  in  1862.  .\fler  his  dis- 
charge he  returned  to  Waterford.     His  fa- 


966 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ther  was  a  personal  friend  of  Governor  Tod'. 
of  Ohio,  and  that  executive  had  Mr.  Him- 
rod  organize  another  regiment  of  volun- 
teers, of  which  he  became  hrst  sergeant  of 
Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Ohio 
Infantry.  He  remained  with  that  regiment 
until  the  close  of  the  war  and  from  time  to 
time  won  promotion  and  distinction,  being 
commissioned  captain  on  the  loth  of  July. 
1863.  In  the  latter  part  of  1864.  in  Geor- 
gia, he  was  captured  and  was  sent  to  Colum- 
bia, South  Carolina.  Sherman  was  at  that 
time  on  the  march  to  the  sea.  and  the  rebel 
forces  had  to  continually  keep  moving  or 
their  prisoners  would  have  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  Union  troops.  In  March. 
1865.  Mr.  Himrod  was  paroled  and  taken 
to  Annapolis.  Maryland,  where  he  was  ex- 
changed, being  at  that  place  at  the  time  of 
the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln. 
whose  funeral  he  attended.  A  few  days  af- 
ter he  was  exchanged  General  Lee  sur- 
rendered and  word  was  received  that  all 
officers  who  were  not  with  their  regiments 
might  resign.  This  Captain  Himrod  did. 
and  once  more  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Wa- 
terfortl.  Pennsylvania. 

At  that  place  he  engaged  in  business 
with  his  cousin.  William  Himrod.  opening 
a  hardware  store  which  they  conducted  until 
1870.  in  which  year  the  Captain  removed 
to 'Woodson  county.  Kansas.  Later  he  took 
up  his  abode  near  \^'infield.  Kansas,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming.  He  had  several 
land  claims  in  that  state  antl  removing  to 
Rice  county  he  settled  at  a  town  then  called 
Peace,  although  the  name  has  since  been 
changed  to  Sterling.  There  he  embarked 
in  the  drug  business  and  after  a  few  years  he 
was  appointed  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  county  treasurer  and  at  the  next  regular 
election  he  was  chosen  for  a  full  term.  He 
proved  a  capalile  officer  and  upon  his  retire- 


ment from  the  position  he  was  elected  cash- 
ier of  the  Bank  of  Sterling,  the  town  hav- 
ing changed  its  name  in  1876. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  in  that  place.  Cap- 
tain Himrod  had  been  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Clara  Lacy,  who  was  born  near  In- 
dianapolis, Indiana,  September  2.  184J. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  in  Peace, 
Kansas,  and  Captain  Himrod  continued  his 
connection  with  the  bank  which  in  1884  was 
merged  into  the  First  National  Bank  and 
he  remained  with  the  institution  as  its  cash- 
ier until  1S98.  He  then  l;>ecame  a  resident 
of  Chicago  and  accepted  the  position  of  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  the  Himrod  Coal 
Company.  In  May.  1900.  he  removed  to 
Danville,  where  he  resided  up  to  the  time 
of  his  ileath.  which  occurred  September  10, 
1902.  his  remains  being  interred  in  Spring 
Hill  cemetery. 

Unto  Mr.  and  }tlrs.  Himrod  had  been 
born  but  one  child,  David,  who  is  repre- 
sented on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr. 
Hinu'od  was  an  earnest  Republican  and  was 
townsh.ip  treasurer  of  Sterling  township  in 
Kansas  for  many  years.  He  belonged  to  the 
Masonic  fraternity  having  been  matle  a  Ma- 
son in  Erie.  Pennsylvania,  in  1868,  and 
after  taking  the  degrees  of  the  lodge  he  ad- 
vanced in  the  order  until  he  became  a 
Kniglit  Templar.  A'arious  official  honors 
were  conferred  upon  him  by  the  craft  and  in 
his  life  he  exemplified  its  noble  and  benefi- 
cent teachings.  A  man  of  excellent  business 
ability  he  had  keen  foresight  and  sound 
judgment  and  added  largely  to  his  income 
through  dealing"  extensively  in  cattle  and 
land.  Wherever  he  went  Mr.  Himrod  won 
friends.  It  would  be  almost  impossible  to 
find  one  who  did  not  entertain  for  him  re- 
e'ard.  while  manv  gave  to  him  a  much 
warmer  expression  of  esteem.  LuU.ilence 
and  idlent-s  were  utterlv  foreign  to  his  na- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


967 


ture,  nor  was  inertia  manifest  at  any  time, 
his  career  being'  one  of  progress,  accom- 
plisiiment  ami  aih  ancement. 


JOHN    W.    OSMAN. 

John  W.  Osman  is  the  sexton  of  Wootl- 
lawn  cemetery,  the  beantiful  "city  of  the 
dead"  wliich  is  situated  at  Indianola,  in  Car- 
roll township,  \'ermilion  county,  Illinois. 
This  position  he  has  tilled  since  1889.  He 
was  born  September  6,  1840,  in  Coshocton 
county.  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Ellis  and 
Levina  (Coy)  Osman.  The  father  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  lixing  and  died  in 
Madison  county.  Indiana,  in  i8')4.  from  a 
fever.  The  mother  also  died  from  fe\'er, 
near  West  Bedford.  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio.  She  was  born  in  \'evay.  Indiana,  in 
1813  and  died  in  1841.  She  had  two  sisters, 
Melinda  Maxwell  and  Mary  Jewell,  and  five 
brothers,  Levi,  Alonzo,  Elisha,  William  and 
Lorenzo.  Ellis  and  Le\ina  (Coy)  Osman 
were  the  parents  of  three  children  :  Andrew 
and  John  W.,  twins,  and  Hannah.  Andrew 
and  Hannah  both  died  in  infancy. 

John  W.  Osman  of  this  re\iew  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  yoiUh  in  the  usual 
matnier  of  farmer  lads  of  tiie  period,  enjoy- 
ing the  ])leasures  as  well  as  perf(jrming  the 
duties  which  came  to  him.  When  the  coun- 
try became  involved  in  Civil  war.  he  re- 
sponded to  tiie  call  for  troops  and  enlisted  in 
the  Sixtieth  Ohio  \nlnntcer  Infantry,  on 
the  1 2th  day  of  February,  1864.  remaining 
in  the  service  until  the  end  of  the  war  and 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  July  28, 
1865.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  the 
wilderness,  Spottsylvania.  Xye  River.  North 
Anna  River.  Bethesda  church,  Cold  Harbor, 


Poplar  Grove  church,  Pegram  Farm.  Hatch- 
er's Run,  F'ort  Stedman.  and  Petersburg, 
Virginia.  Throughout  his  entire  service  he 
was  a  valiant  soldier  and  nobly  fought  in 
defense  of  the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  repre- 
.sented.  When  the  war  was  ended  he  laid 
down  the  weapons  of  war  ;ni(l  entcretl  up<jn 
the  life  of  a  private  citizen,  in  which  capa- 
city he  has  performeil  his  duty  so  capably 
and  well,  as  when  upon  the  battlefields  of 
the  sijuth  he  followed  the  starry  banner  of 
the  nation  on  to  triumphant  victory. 

On  the  i6th  of  May,  1869,  Mr.  Osman 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Serelda  Martin, 
a  tlaughter  of  Benjamin  Martin,  Sr.,  a  farm- 
er of  Westville,  Illinois.  She  had  six  broth- 
ers and  six  sisters,  of  whom  four  brotliers 
and  five  sisters  have  passed  away,  those  still 
li\'ing  l)eing  Benjamin,  a  resident  of  Indi- 
anola, Illinois ;  Andrew,  a  resident  of  .\r- 
kansas:  and  Mrs.  Frances  Henderson,  of 
Danville.  Levi.  .Alexander.  John  William 
H.,  Mary  and  Marinda  are  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Osman  have  one  son,  Alva  H., 
who  is  now  twenty-seven  years  of  age  and 
assists  his  father  in  his  work. 

Mr.  Osman  is  now  sixty-two  years  of 
age.  but  is  as  healthy  and  active  as  a  man 
of  forty,  and  he  i)erfornis  his  <hities  as  se.x- 
tiin  in  a  manner  which  wins  the  approx'al  of 
all.  The  grounds  of  the  cemeterv  are  well 
cared  for  by  him  and  the  plants,  trees  and 
shrubs,  which  are  tastefully  arranged,  are 
the  recipients  of  his  watchful  attention.  He 
is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  Charles  .A. 
Clark  Post.  G.  A.  R.,  of  Ridge  Farm.  Illi- 
nois, and  thus  maintains  pleasant  relations 
with  his  old  army  comrades.  He  delights  to 
indulge  with  them  in  reminiscences  of  that 
great  strugg'le  for  the  ]3reservation  of  the 
I'nion.  and  he  is.  as  is  natural  he  should  be. 
\ery  proud  of  his  war  record.     He  is  held 


968 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


in  ilie  higli  regard  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
townsmen  as  is  indicated  by  his  long  incum- 
bency in  his  present  position  as  sexton  of 
Woodlawn  cemetery. 


HON.  JOSEPH    G.  CANXOX. 

[We  have  to  thank  Colonel  W.  R.  Jewell,  the  life 
long  friend  of  Mr.  Cannon,  for  the  following  sketch.] 

Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Republican,  of  Dan- 
ville, was  born  at  Guilford.  Xorth  Carolina, 
May  7.  1836,  is  a  lawyer:  was  state's  at- 
torney of  Illinois  from  March,  1861.  to  De- 
cember. 1868;  was  elected  to  the  forty-third, 
fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh,  eighth,  ninth, 
fiftieth,  fitV-first,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth, 
seventh  and  re-elected  to  the  fifty-eighth. 
receiving  twenty-two  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred and  forty-one  votes  to  fifteen  thousand 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four  for  H.  C.  Bell, 
Democrat,  and  eleven  hundred  and  sixty-six 
for  X'.  J.  \\'right.  Prohibitionist. 

Such  is  the  brief  statement  in  the  Con- 
gressional Directory  of  the  fifty-seventh 
congress.  This  is  characteristic  of  Mr.  Can- 
non, who  is  modest  beyond  his  merits  and 
puts  little  value  upon  incidents  of  life.  Be- 
ing asked  by  a  magazine  writer  for  an  au- 
tobiography, his  reply  was  characteristic : 
"1  was  born  of  God-fearing  and  man-loving 
parents;  1  made  myself  and  made  a  poor  job 
of  it."  While  Mr.  Cannon  so  estimates 
himself  it  is  well  known  that  he  was  a  sound 
acorn  cast  into  good  ground  from  the  bough 
of  a  morally  and  physically  healthy  oak ; 
that  while  his  growth  has  been  slow  in  the 
storm  and  stress  of  life,  in  the  open,  beneath 
the  broad  sky ;  yet  his  e\-ery  fiber  is  of  tough 
oak,  fit  for  the  keel  of  Old  Ironsides :  that 
he  is  now  one  of  the  tallest  and  grandest 
among   American  statesman.     The  appear- 


ance of  the  man  denotes  his  character.  His 
features  are  strong,  intelligent  and  firm. 
His  eyes  are  blue,  his  hair  li.ght.  and  in  youth 
his  cheeks  were  ruddy,  and  he  bordered  on 
the  handsome.  Since  maturity  and  a  full 
development  of  strength  his  features  have 
become  as  rugged  as  those  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, firm  yet  benevolent.  Indeed,  he  be- 
longs to  the  Lincoln  type  of  man  by  birth, 
education  and  sentiment. 

His  father  was  Dr.  Horace  F.  Cannon; 
his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Gulielma 
Hollingsworth ;  both  were  of  old  Quaker 
families  dating  back  through  Revolutionary 
times  to  the  days  of  George  Fox.  There 
was  a  noted  Quaker  preacher  named  Joseph 
John  Gurney,  who  came  from  England  as 
a  missionary,  and  Dr.  Cannon  was  selected 
to  travel  with  him  and  thought  so  much  of 
him  that  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  he  was  named  Joseph  Gurney  Can- 
non, which  has  been  abridged  into  the  fa- 
miliar name  of  J.  G.  Cannon.  Hence  Mr. 
Cannon  had  a  birthright  in  that  church  and 
from  his  youth  up  was  trained  in  its  simple, 
honest,  noble  principles,  which  have  been, 
and  are  to-day,  the  solid  foitndation  of  his 
moral  life  and  of  his  stanch  Republicanism. 

He  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's 
farm,  doing  the  ordinary  work  of  farm  boys 
of  that  day  and  attending  districts  schools 
in  winter.  Add  to  this  a  few  terms  in  the 
academy  of  Professor  Barnabas  Hobbs.  in 
Annaoolis,  Parke  county,  Indiana,  and  that 
is  the  sum  of  his  school  education.  Yet  he 
is  a  man  of  wide  reading  and  full  of  infor- 
mation. In  his  fourteenth  year  his  father 
in  .going  to  attend  a  patient  had  to  ford  Su- 
gar creek,  which  was  much  swollen,  and  he 
and  his  faithful  horse  were  drowned;  his 
remains  were  never  found,  except  a  clavicle 
which  his  wife  fondly  kept  and  had  buried 


J.  G.  CANNON 


L'- 


(J-^IVr.' 


^^i^Strv    -f 


'ryr 


Of 


'Ui 


■'Ols 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


971 


with  her  body  at  Tuscola  a  few  years  aj^o. 

After  clerking  in  a  store  at  Annapolis 
for  ti\e  years  at  two  hundred  cUillars  a  year, 
Joseph  found  that  he  had  saved  five  hundred 
dollars  and  with  this  fortune  he  went  to 
Torre  Haute  and  studied  law  with  John  P. 
Usher,  one  of  the  l)est  lawyers  of  the  west; 
thence  he  went  to  the  Cincinnati  Law 
School.  He  had  to  econimize,  of  course, 
and  he  knew  how  and  determined  to  suc- 
ceed. ^\■hen  his  law  course  was  finished  he 
opened  an  office  in  Shelbyville ,  Illinois, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  such  men 
as  [udges  Thornton.  Moulton  and  others. 
His  brother,  William  P.  and  bis  mother  re- 
moved from  Indiana  to  Tuscola  and  he 
joined  them  there  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  said  to  a  friend,  "I 
found  the  legal  pasture  \-ery  short  and  had 
plenty  of  time  to  stutly  and  I  improved  it. 
When  I  did  get  a  little  case  I  searched  out 
all  the  authorities  and  went  over  it  time  and 
again  with  ni}'  imaginary  opponent.  I  had 
a  case  at  L'rbana  in  those  days  and  walked 
from  Tuscola  to  that  place,  with  my  coat 
on  mv  arm.  l)ecause  I  could  make  wages 
walking." 

.At  Tuscola  he  met  Miss  Mary  Pamela 
Reed,  who  became  bis  wife  and  whose  coun- 
sel and  keen  intellect  assisted  him  greatly 
in  bis  career.  Mrs.  Cannon  was  a  magnifi- 
cent lady,  elegantly  educated,  strong  com- 
luon  sense,  loftv  ideals,  and  gave  her  bus- 
ijand  a  steady  and  powerful  support  during 
those  days  of  struggle,  and  after  he  became 
successful  in  life.  She  died  in  nan\ille  in 
December,  1889,  deeply  luourned  by  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  especially  by  Mr.  Can- 
non and  his  two  daughters.  Miss  Helen  Can- 
non and  Mrs.  Mribel  Cannon  LcScure. 
Miss    Helen,   a   imble   and    gifted   lady,   has 


been  bis  constant  com])anion  and  beliier 
since  the  death  of  her  mother. 

It  was  at  Tuscnla  that  Mr.  Cannon  bad 
the  first  tussle  with  tlie  foundation  of  his 
fortune.  He  told  the  story  himself  as  fol- 
lows: "We  were  as  ])oor  as  church  mice, 
we  bad  to  studv  strict  economy.  My  moth- 
er, good  economical  Quaker  soul,  said  to 
me,  'Joseph,  now  that  thee  is  married  thee 
must  get  thee  a  cow,  a  pig  and  a  hive  of 
bees.'  T  took  mother's  advice.  I  tried  to 
milk  the  cow,  but  she  kicked  me  over  and  I 
had  to  give  that  up  as  a  bad  job.  I  tried  to 
feed  the  calf.  Init  it  butted  me  all  around 
the  yard  and  tore  my  clothes  nearly  off. 
When  the  bees  were  ready  to  swarm  I 
thought  I  would  go  out  among  them  like 
father  used  to  do.  and  hi\e  them :  the  bees 
got  all  over  lue,  crawled  under  my  shirt  and 
stung  me  in  a  hundred  different  places  and 
I  had  to  let  them  go.  The  only  thing  1 
could  get  along  with  at  all  was  the  pig.  I 
could  feed  that,  scratch  its  back  and  it  would 
grunt.  I  got  it  good  and  fat  and  gave  it 
away  to  a  farmer;  why,  I  could  no  more 
kill  and  eat  that  hog  than  I  could  one  of  the 
members  of  my  own  f.amily :  I  thought  too 
much  of  it." 

In  1 86 1  Joseph  decided  to  run  for  state's 
attorney  against  Ward  H.  Lamon,  at  one 
time  .\braham  Lincoln's  law  i)artner,  after- 
ward marshal  of  the  District  of  Columbia 
anrl  an  officer  of  Lincoln's  body  guard.  La- 
mon was  quite  popular  and  extensively 
k-nown :  Cannon  was  comparatively  un- 
known. His  friends  tried  to  kee[)  him  from 
running  l)ut  be  bad  calculated  and  believed 
he  could  win.  While  living  in  Indiana  he 
had  attended  the  big  yearly  Quaker  meet- 
ings in  \'ermilion  ('iro\-e  with  bis  ])arents, 
tra\clin<r  across  the  roU"'h  countrv  in  a  farm 


972 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


wagon.  He  knew  every  Quaker  family  of 
consequence  in  the  region  of  Georgetown 
and  X'erniilion  Grove.  The  nuul  was  terri- 
ble, tlie  streams  were  high  and  without 
l)ridges.  but  he  swam  his  liorse  across  them, 
went  into  the  Quaker  settlement,  made  a 
house  to  house  ^•isit.  told  them  who  he  was 
and  what  he  wanted.  The  good  old  people 
listened  gravely  and  replied,  "Yes,  Joseph, 
we  know  thy  good  neither  and  father  and 
will  vote  for  thee."  They  were  as  good  as 
their  word  and,  to  the  surprise  of  every  one, 
when  the  primary  was  over.  Cannon  was 
nominated  by  a  good  majority  and  subse- 
quently elected.  This  office  he  held  until 
1868  and  during  the  time  became  so  well 
known  that  he  \-entured  to  run  for  congress. 

In  1 8/2  he  made  his  first  race  for  con- 
gress in  the  eleventh  district,  composed  of 
the  following  counties :  Champaign.  Coles, 
Douglas,  !Macon,  Piatt  and  \'ermilion.  His 
opponents  in  the  convention  which  was  held 
at  Tolona,  were  General  Jesse  H.  Moore, 
then  serving  in  congress,  Colonel  J.  W. 
Langley,  of  Champaign,  and  Colonel  Ly- 
man Guinnip,  of  \'ermilion.  On  the  first 
ballot  Cannon  had  but  four  votes  from 
Douglas.  The  voting  proceeded  with  but 
little  change  but  with  much  e.xcitement  to 
the  thirty-eiglith  ballot,  when  Vermilion 
gave  her  eight  votes  to  Cannon ;  Coles  and 
Macon  followed  and  the  ballot  stood  Lang- 
ley  seven.  Moore  four  and  Cannon  twenty- 
six.  His  nomination  was  made  unanimous 
with  thundering  applause.  He  was  called 
and  made  a  modest  speech  in  which  he 
spoke  so  kindly  of  his  opponents  that  he  won 
them  over.  He  was  elected  over  his  op- 
ponent Judge  V\'illiam  E.  Xelson,  of  Deca- 
tur   l)y  a  large  majority. 

Mr.  Cannon  has  been  nominated  every 
two  years  since  187 J  and  always  by  accla- 
mation,  and   been   re-elected   each   time   bv 


good  majorities  except  ni  1890.  the  year  of 
the  great  landslide,  when  McKinley  and  al- 
most the  whole  line  of  Republican  congress- 
men went  down.  The  ablest  men  in  the  op- 
position have  been  his  opponents,  including 
the  elocjuent,  accomplished  and  brave  Gen- 
eral John  C.  Black.  That  he  has  been  nom- 
inated by  acclamation  since  his  first  nomina- 
tion testifies  to  his  great  political  common 
sense  autl  management. 

The  main  elements  of  his  strength  are: 
1st,  His  hard  common  sense.  He  is  a  gen- 
ius of  this  type  of  men.  He  sees  things  as 
they  are  and  knows  how  to  meet  them.  2d, 
His  steadfast  integrity.  He  ne\er  falsifies, 
pre\-aricales  or  shutfles.  He  makes  few 
promises :  he  keeps  those  he  makes.  He 
never  makes  promises  during  a  campaign. 
^d.  His  knowledge  of  men.  He  knows  men 
as  tlie  most  skilletl  merchant  knows  fabrics 
by  the  slightest  touch.  4th.  His  steadfast- 
ness to  tried  friends.  He  never  vises  a  man 
to  neglect  him  afterward.  Xo  man  remem- 
bers services  better  and  reciprocates  more 
fully.  3th.  lly  his  fairness  and  kindness  to 
opponents.  He  has  no  feuds  with  any  who 
desire  to  be  friendly.  One  has  to  be  a  fussy 
man  and  fuss  b\  himself  who  continues  to 
fuss  with  Mr.  Cannon.  He  prefers  to  have 
men  with  him  this  year  who  were  against 
him  last  year.  6th.  By  his  natural  demo- 
cratic manners,  which  are  ingrained.  He  is 
one  of  the  people  in  act  and  speech.  His 
conversation  is  fidl  of  homely  illustrations 
from  the  fireside,  the  wayside,  the  shop. 
He  enjoys  a  good  joke  and  has  a  fund  of  an- 
ecdote rich  and  rare,  which  he  tells  as  well 
as  Joe  Jefferson  acts  Rip  Van  Winkle.  7th, 
His  power  as  a  speaker.  While  not  elo- 
quent in  word  painting,  yet  he  pours  forth 
sound  facts  as  a  threshing  machine  pours 
forth  clean  golden  grain  where  the  yield  has 
been  an  hundred  fold.     The  substantial  peo- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


97  3 


])le  who  do  the  thinking  and  mold  sentiment 
Iiear  him  witli  rapt  attention.  His  clear  cut 
facts  gleam  like  new  golden  coin  in  their 
minds.  He  will  no  more  misquote  statistics 
or  facts  than  the  pious  preacher  would  mis- 
quote liolv  writ.  Now  and  then  in  his 
speeches  he  will  tell  a  funny  anecdote,  hut 
tiie  great  body  of  wiiat  he  has  to  o^ay  is 
solid,  sound  and  goes  to  tiie  soul  of  affairs. 
"What  does  Cannon  say  about  it?"  is  in  the 
mouths  of  his  constituents  when  a  new 
question  of  importance  arises.  Long  since 
tiiev  ha\-e  come  to  trust  in  his  knowledge 
and  integrity  for  they  know  he  is  no  dema- 
gogue or  trifler  but  a  real  statesman.  8th, 
His  eminent  ability  as  a  legislator.  It  is 
useless  to  enlarge  on  this.  He  is  honest, 
faithful,  forceful  in  congress.  His  political 
opponents  acknowledge  this.  Mr.  Cannon 
does  not  speak  often  in  Congress ;  but  when 
he  speaks  he  has  the  closest  attention  on  ac- 
count of  the  matter  of  what  he  says.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  mesnbers  in  the  house  who 
instruct  the  members,  and  in  whose  state- 
ments thev  have  contidence.  "He  is  the 
ablest  man  in  either  branch  on  business  stat- 
istics." is  what  Speaker  Reed  and  other 
members  have  said.  During  the  stormy 
days  of  the  "Bos  and  '90s  Reed,  McKinley 
and  Cannon  were  the  big  three  who,  as  com- 
mittee on  rules  and  as  leaders,  fought  and 
won  great  parliamentary  battles.  His  long 
and  alile  service,  his  generous  nature  and 
his  eminent  ability  as  a  parliamentarian,  has 
made  him  speaker  of  the  next  house  (the 
fifty-eighth  Congress)  by  the  unanimous 
choice  of  the  Republican  members. 

Mr.  Cannon  is  strictly  domestic.  His 
house  is  a  large,  substantial  brick.  418  North 
Vermilion  street.  Danville,  presided  over 
by  his  stately  daughter.  Mrs.  Ernest  N.  Le- 
Seure.     Here,  in  his  great  library,  he  spenils 


much  of  his  leisure  time  and  with  his  two 
beautiful  grandchildren  whom  he  loves  and 
spoils,  little  \  irginia  and  Helen  LeSeure, 
while  from  its  golden  frame,  with  love-lit 
smile  of  wife  and  grandmother,  looks  down 
the  gracious  face  of  the  noble  woman  with 
whom  he  made  life's  morning  march,  when 
their  bosoms  were  young,  and  whom  he 
often  sees  in  his  visions  and  dreams. 


J.\MES  A.  FLEMING. 

This  is  pre-eminently  the  age  of  business 
activity.  In  no  era  in  the  world's  history 
has  energy  been  so  entirely  directed  in  the 
channels  of  trade,  of  commerce,  of  produc- 
tion, purchase  and  sale.  Each  community 
presents  as  its  representative  citizens  men 
prominent  in  business  circles  and  in  Danville 
among  this  number  is  James  A.  Fleming, 
who  is  to-day  at  the  head  of  the  Fairweight 
Standard  Scale  Company.  He  was  born  in 
Stark  county.  Illinois.  July  28,  i860.  His 
grandfahter.  John  Fleming,  w'as  born  in 
New  York,  but  comes  of  a  family  that  doubt- 
less originated  in  Flanders,  France,  where 
the  people  are  known  as  Flemish  and  lui- 
doubtedly  because  of  this  the  name  Fleming 
originated.  The  more  immediate  ancestors 
of  our  subject,  however,  were  residents  of 
Ireland  and  from  the  Emerald  Isle  came  to 
.\merica,  t\)unding  the  family  in  New  "^'ork. 
The  granil father  married  a  Miss  Hibbler 
and  for  a  time  they  resided  in  Canada. 

A.  H.  Fleming,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Canada  and  lived  for  a  time  in 
New  Jersey,  but  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Stark 
county,  in  1856.  There  he  married  Miss 
Catherine  Mcintosh,  a  native  of  that  locali- 


974 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tv,  aiul  they  li\cd  upon  a  farm  there  until 
tlie  tall  of  1872,  when  they  removed  to  Iro- 
quois county,  Illinois,  residing  there  contin- 
uously until  1S80  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  spent  in  Nebraska  and  in  Iowa.  In 
1883  Mr.  Fleming  took  up  his  abode  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hoopeston.  \'ermilion  county. 
and  in  1895  located  in  the  town,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insurance  busi- 
ness. He  is  now  living  there  and  is  a  re- 
spected and  worthy  citizen.  A  Republican 
in  politics  he  has  never  sought  or  desired 
office,  but  is  always  interested  in  the  pro- 
gress and  welfare  of  his  county,  state  and 
nation.  He  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  a  trus- 
tee. His  wife  died  Alay  24.  1890.  and  two 
of  their  seven  children  have  passed  away. 
The  tive  now  living  are :  James  A. ;  Will- 
iam A.,  of  Milford,  Illinois;  Enoch,  of 
Hoopeston;  Allen  T.,  of  Peoria;  and 
Charles  W'.,  who  is  a  mail  clerk  and  resides 
in  Paducah,  Kentucky. 

James  A.  Fleming  pursued  his  education 
in  Stark  county  and  in  Iroquois,  county  and 
as  an  attendant  of  the  schools  of  Milford. 
He  then  entered  the  Grand  Prairie  Semin- 
ary, at  Onargo,  Illinois,  after  which  he  pur- 
sued a  course  in  the  commercial  college 
th.ere  and  was  graduated  in  1882.  I'or 
seven  years  thereafter  he  resided  upon  a 
farm,  which  he  continued  to  cultivate  and  im- 
l)ro\e  and  later  he  was  employed  by  the  El- 
gin National  Watch  Company  a  short  time. 
He  was  also  in  the  service  of  the  \\'estern 
Publishing  Company  of  Chicago  for  a  year 
and  a  half  and  later  became  local  salesman 
for  the  firm  of  H.  Hartman  &  Company, 
dealers  in  scales,  of  Grand  Rapids.  Michi- 
gan. He  also  sold  windmills,  his  territon,- 
i^eing  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  he  continued 
in  that  business  until  1896.  In  March,  of 
that  year.  Air.  Fleming  established  the  Fair- 


weight  Scale  Company,  which  was  incorpor- 
ated June  14,  1900,  for  the  manufacture  of 
farm,  elevator,  stock  and  small  platform 
scales.  The  business  has  grown  to  large 
proportions  and  the  product  is  now  shipped 
to  every  state  in  the  Uninn.  Mr.  I'leming 
is  the  president  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany, while  F.  A.  Fleming  is  its  secretary. 
The  factory  is  located  at  No.  22-23-24 
Franklin  street,  but  in  the  spring  of  1903  the 
company  intend  to  build  a  large  modern 
factory  to  be  thoroughly  equipped  with  the 
latest  machinery  and  accessories.  They  paid 
thirteen  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  for  a 
tract  of  land,  which  has  been  subdivided  and 
is  now  knowui  as  the  Fairweight  Standard 
Scale  Company's  Subdivision.  The  lots 
have  been  placed  on  the  market  and  have  al- 
ready secured  a  good  sale.  Mr.  Fleming 
retains  possession  of  two  of  these  on  which 
ht  expects  soon  to  erect  a  fine  residence. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1890,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  our  subject  and  Florence 
Padgitt,  \\ho  was  born  in  Coshocton  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  in  i860,  a  daughter  of  John  L. 
and  Elizabeth  (Heaton)  Padgitt.  who  were 
natives  of  Ohio  and  were  married  in  that 
state.  Her  father  engaged  in  the  potterj' 
business  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to 
\  ermilion  county,  Illinois,  and  here  began 
farming.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics 
and  was  a  loyal  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  In  the  family  were  tiiree 
daughters  of  whom  the  living  are:  Mrs. 
Fleming  and  Belle,  the  wife  of  Robert  Brill- 
hart,  who  resides  near  Knoxville.  in  Marion 
county.  Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fleming  now 
have  three  children :  Charles  Irving  Eu- 
gene. lx>rn  in  Hoopeston,  April  i,  1892; 
Edith  Leora,  born  in  Hoopeston.  March  17, 
1895:  and  Florence  Louise,  borh  in  Dan- 
ville. July  29.  1899.  Mr.  Fleming  gives  his 
political    support   to   the   Republican   party, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


97  S 


liut  while  lie  believes  firmly  in  its  principles 
he  has  always  refused  to  become  a  candidate 
for  office.  He  holds  membersliip  relations 
with  the  ^^odern  Woodmen  of  America  and 
in  the  Alethotlist  Episcopal  church  and  co- 
operates heartily  in  every  movement  which 
lie  believes  will  contribute  to  the  general  wel- 
fare. His  own  life  history  is  one  of  pro- 
gression for  he  has  continually  advanced 
from  tlie  time  when  he  comi)leted  his  com- 
mercial course  of  study  and  entered  ui)on 
his  Inisiness  career.  He  has  watched  e\er}- 
opportunity  to  take  a  forward  step  and  has 
utilized  them  as  they  have  been  presented 
and  through  his  unfaltering  industry  and 
persistency  of  purpose  he  has  continually 
worked  his  way  upward  until  he  now  occu- 
pies a  leading  position  in  industrial  circles 
of  his  adopted  city. 


GEORGE  W.  HOSKINS. 

George  Washington  Hoskins  is  num- 
bered among  the  native  sons  of  Vermilion 
County  ami  has  reached  the  seventv-third 
mile-stone  on  life's  journey.  He  was  born 
three  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 
Georgetown  near  the  little  Vermilion  river, 
Feburary  20,  1830,  and  at  the  prsent  time 
he  resides  on  section  7,  Blount  township. 
His  father.  Azariah  Hoskins,  was  born  in 
\'irgiiiia.  .\ugust  17,  1799,  and  leaving  that 
state  emigrated  to  Illinois,  starting  from 
what  is  called  the  horseshoe  bend  of  the 
Ohio  river.  This  was  about  1825.  His 
uncle  Morgan,  building  a  boat  in  which  to 
travel,  they  made  their  way  down  the  Ohio 
river  to  Cairo.  This  was  a  flatboat  and  in 
consequence  they  had  to  float  with  the  tide. 
On  reaching  Cairo  they  left  the  boat  and  by 
covered  wagon  came  to  Vermilion  county. 


after   sex'eral    weeks   si)cnt   upon    the   road. 
The  father  of  our  subject  settled  on  what 
was  called   Helt's  prairie  and  later  he  re- 
moved to  the  vicinity  of  Georg-etown.  set- 
tling in  the  edge  of  the  timber.     He  married 
Sarah  Swisher  antl  they  lived  in  a  district 
where  the  Indians  were  numerous  and  where 
the  work  of  development  and  improvement 
seemed  scarcely  begun.     Mr.  Hoskins  t)f  this 
review   has   often   heard   his   mother   relate 
how  Indians  visited  their  home  at  the  time 
(if  the  Black  Hawk  war.     The  countn*  was 
all   in  a  wild  state  when    the    father    pur- 
chased a  tract   of   land,   in    1831,   and  set- 
tled en  the  south  side  of  what  is  known  as 
Walnut  Grove,  where  the  prosperous  village 
of  Rossville  now  stands.      When  he  took  up 
his  abode  at  that  place  there  was  only  one 
family  li\-ing  in  the  entire  grove  and  only 
one  white  family  resided  between  that  place 
and  (Ihicago.     The  city  of  the  present  day 
was  but  little  more  than  a  fort  which  was 
garrisoned    for   protection   against    Indians. 
Azariah   Hoskins  hauled  wheat  to  Chicago 
at   that  time,   selling  it   for  fifty  cents  per 
bushel,  after  which  he  would  return  with  a 
load  of  i)ro\  isions  and  when  night  overtotik 
him  he  would  camp  out  bv  the  road,  waiting 
for  the  morning  light  in  order  to  resume  his 
journey.     It  was  nothing  then  to  have  both 
horses  stuck  in  the  mud,  for  there  were  many 
sloughs  and  the  district  was  very  wet.     The 
Kankakee  and  Iroquois    ri\ers  had    to    be 
forded   and   from   the   Kankakee  across  the 
prairie  for  eighteen  miles  there  was  not  a 
single  house.     Danville  had  only  one  store 
in  it  at  that  time.     Mrs.  Hoskins  spun  the 
flax  and  wool  to  make  the  clothing  for  the 
familv  for  summer  and  winter  use  and  the 
subject  of  this  review  never  had  a  suit  of 
anxthing   but    iKinicniade   clothing   until    he 
was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  purchased 
soiue  cloth,  hired  a  tailor  to  cut  it  and  em- 


976 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ployed  a  iieighlx>r  woman  to  make  it.  in 
tliese  pioneer  days  there  were  no  matclies 
and  the  settlers  used  to  pick  punk  in  the  tim- 
ber and  use  Hint  and  tow  in  starting  a  tire. 
It  their  own  fires  were  extinguished  they 
would  often  go  to  a  neighbor  to  borrow  fire. 
In  these  early  days  corn  sold  for  ten  cents 
per  bushel  and  other  crops  brought  prices 
fully  as  low.  Houses  were  lighted  with  tal- 
low candles,  which  were  made  by  dipping  a 
wick  into  melted  tallow.  After  this  was  al- 
lowed to  cool  it  was  again  dipped  into  the 
hot  tallow  and  the  process  continued  tmtil 
the  candle  had  reached  the  required  size. 
Later,  candle  moulds  were  made  prior  to  the 
time  when  kerosene  come  into  use.  Ofttimes 
candles  were  fastened  to  the  bushes  in  the 
forest  and  around  these  the  early  settlers 
gathered  for  the  purpose  of  worshipping  God. 
for  religious  services  were  held  in  the  groves 
before  churches  were  erected.  Later  a  log 
building  was  used  both  for  church  and  school 
purposes  and  about  1840  a  frame  house  of 
worship  was  erected  in  this  neighborhood. 
The  girls  would  carry  their  shoes  to  church, 
putting  them  on  just  before  entering  the 
building  and  removing  them  immediately 
after  the  service,  thus  practicing  economy. 
The  church  was  a  united  one,  all  denomina- 
tions worshipping  there,  but  to  sonie  extent 
the  people  were  bothered  by  the  Mormons, 
for  Joseph  Smith  with  is  band  of  followers 
had  not  then  left  this  state  for  Utah.  Aza- 
riah  Hoskins  was  a  prominent  and  influen- 
tial man  in  his  community  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  pioneer  development  of  the  state. 
He  died  in  his  seventy-fifth  year  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  her  ninety-first  year.  In  the 
family  were  eight  children,  of  wiiorn  six 
sons  reached  manhood  and  five  are  yet  living 
between  the  ages  of  si.xty-two  and  .seventy- 
two  years.     All  have  reared  large  families 


rmd  there  are  tliirty-six  grandcliildren  and 
eighty-three  great-grandchildren. 

George  Washington  Hoskins  was  edu- 
cated in  a  log  schoohouse  with  slab  benches 
antl  a  huge  fireplace.  LIpon  the  home  farm 
iie  was  reared  and  assisted  largely  in  the 
work  of  develo]jing  and  cultivating  the  place. 
The  first  plow  which  he  used  hail  a  wooilen 
mold  board  and  when  he  was  eighten  years 
of  age  he  used  a  plow  with  a  single  shovel 
made  by  the  blacksmith  of  the  community. 
When  he  became  a  factor  in  the  fields  rea]) 
hooks  were  just  being  done  away  with  and 
the  cradle  just  coming  into  use  and  he  has 
cradled  grain  many  a  time  for  a  dollar  per 
dav.  He  has  also  split  two  hundred  rails  in 
a  single  day  receiving  fifty  cents  for  his 
work.  He  can  also  remember  distinctly  the 
old  crane  which  hung  over  the  fireplace  and 
from  it  was  suspended  the  iron  kettles  in 
which  the  dinner  was  prepared.  This  was, 
howe\er.  a  great  improvement  upon  the  old 
method  of  cooking  in  the  ashes  ami  when 
the  cook  stoves  were  introduced  it  was  re- 
garded as  a  most  wonderful  thing.  Hos- 
pitalitv  in  those  days  reigned  supreme  and 
whole  families  would  go  on  a  visit  to  one  of 
the  neighbors.  On  the  7th  of  June.  1867. 
George  W.  Hoskins  purchased  his  father's 
farm  and  has  remained  here  continuously 
since.  He  has  also  added  to  his  landed  pos- 
sessions and  he  now  owns  three  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  the  best  improx-ed  land  of  the 
county,  all  fenced  and  supplied  with  modern 
equipments..  He  broke  one  hundred  and 
twentv-three  acres  of  prairie  and  made  the 
rails  with  which  to  fence  his  ])lace.  going 
from  eight  to  ten  miles  in  order  to  secure 
the  timber  and  then  hauling  the  rails  to  his 
hc>me. 

Mr.  Hoskins  was  married  April  2.  18^4, 
to  Marv  E.  Gritton.  who  was  horn  in  F";rke 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


977 


county,  Indiana.  January  29.  1831.  and  came 
to  this  county  when  ten  years  of  age.  Her 
[)areiits  were  Amos  anil  Elizabeth  (Holt) 
(irittou.  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky 
anil  the  latter  of  Xorth  Carolina,  .\lter  his 
marriage  Mr.  Hoskins  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  Ross  township  for  which  he  paid  six  dol- 
lars per  acre,  there  remaining  until  he  pur- 
chased his  father's  old  homestead.  When 
lie  began  housekeeping  his  uncle  \'ouched  for 
the  payment  of  a  set  of  chairs  and  a  break- 
fast table  to  furnish  the  little  log  cabin.  The 
first  cupboard  was  made  by  boring  holes  into 
the  wall  with  an  auger  and  then  upon  wooden 
pins  placing  boards  which  would  hold  the 
dishes.  Later  he  secured  two  bo.xes  and. 
putting  them  on  a  block,  a  curtain  was  hung 
in  front  and  thus  a  cupboard  was  made. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoskins  have  been 
bom  nine  children,  one  being  still  born  while 
another  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months  and 
a  third  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 
They  reared  and  educated  six  of  their  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  married  and  settled  within 
six  miles  of  the  old  homestead.  These  are: 
George  R..  wiio  wedded  Alice  Fairchild; 
William  C,  who  wedded  Mary  Hall;  Theo- 
dore .\.,  who  married  Carrie  Huffman  :  John 
W.,  who  married  Alary  E.  Huffman ;  Sarah 
E.,  the  deceased  wife  of  Elijah  I'otter :  and 
Harriet  B.,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henry 
Potter.  Both  of  these  men  were  sons  of 
William  H.  Potter,  an  honored  pioneer  of 
Vermilion  county  now  in  his  eight\'-se\'enth 
.year.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoskins  have  twenty- 
five  grandchildren  and  there  were  fi\e  great- 
grandchildren, four  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

Mr.  Hoskins  has  ser\-ed  as  tax  collector 
and  as  school  director  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  building  of  the  schools  and 
ciiurches  of  this  locality.  Since  1876  he  has 
l)een  closely  identified  with  the  Church  of 
Christ  and  has  served  as  an  elder  for  manv 


years,  while  formerly  he  was  a  trustee.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat, 
earnest  in  his  advocacy  of  the  party.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Old  Settlers 
Association  of  Potomac  and  ha\c  attended 
many  reunions.  In  every  sense  of  the  word 
he  has  been  one  of  the  upbuilders  of  the 
county  which  lie  has  seen  developed  from  a 
wilderness  to  a  district  of  highly  cultivated 
farms  and  thriving  towns  and  cities.  Few 
of  the  native  sons  of  the  county  have  so  long 
resided  within  its  borders  as  Mr.  Hoskins 
and  his  life  has  e\'er  been  exemplary  and 
may  well  serve  as  a  source  of  inspiration  and 
encouragement  to  others. 


JOHX  MAVHUGH. 

John  Mayhugh  is  living  on  section  10, 
Butler  township,  and  is  a  representative  of 
the  farming  and  stock-raising  interests  of 
this  portion  of  Vermilion  county  and  he  is 
well  known.  His  farm  here  comprises  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  land  near 
East  Lynn.  He  was  born  in  Mason  county, 
Kentucky,  near  the  Ohio  river,  December  23, 
1833.  His  father.  Fielding  Mayhugh.  was 
a  native  of  Virginia,  where  the  family  had 
been  established  at  ;ni  early  day.  When 
a  young  man  Fielding  Mayhugh  removed  to 
Kentuckv,  where  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Dixon,  a  native  of  Mason  count).  He  tlien 
devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural  ])m-suits 
and  it  was  upon  the  home  farm  there  that 
the  suljject  of  this  review  was  reared  to 
manhood,  earh'  becoming  familiar  with  the 
work  of  field  and  meadow,  as  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  place. 
.\fter  his  father's  death  he  and  his  elder 
brothers  carried  on  the  farm  for  a  number  of 
years  and  subse(|uently  John  Mayhugh  pur- 


9/8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


cliased  a  farm  in  Fleming  county,  Kentucky, 
continuing  its  development  anil  impro\-e- 
ment  for  some  time. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  October,  1867, 
in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  that  Mr.  Ma\- 
hugh  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Alice 
Dye,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that  state. 
He  carried  on  his  farming  interests  in  Flem- 
ing county  until  1877,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  pur- 
chasing a  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides. 
This  place  was  fairly  well  improved,  but  he 
has  since  laid  many  rods  of  tiling  and  has 
further  cultivated  his  land  until  it  is  now 
very  rich  and  productive,  being  a  pleasing 
feature  in  the  agricultural  landscape.  He 
has  since  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
on  section  4,  an  improved  farm  which  he 
owns  in  addition  to  the  home  place  on  section 
10,  Butler  township. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Mayhugh 
was  blessed  with  five  children  ;  Edwin,  who 
is  operating  his  father's  land  on  section  4. 
Butler  township;  Isaac,  who  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Philadelphia  IMedical  College  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
Indianapolis,  Indiana;  Thomas  G..  who  has 
recently  completed  a  course  of  study  in  the 
Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  having 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1902;  Mary  and 
Martha,  who  are  at  home  and  are  graduates 
of  the  high  school  at  Indianapolis. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Mayhugh 
is  independent.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for 
James  Buchanan  in  1856.  his  last  for  Will- 
iam McKinley  in  1900.  but  he  does  not  con- 
sider himself  bound  by  party  ties.  He  has 
been  elected  and  served  for  one  year  as  town- 
ship collector  of  Butler  township,  but  the 
honors  and  emoluments  of  public -office  have 
had  no  attraction  for  him.  A  friend  of  edu- 
cation he  stands  as  an  earnest  advocate  of 
good  schools  and  for  years  he  capably  ser\ed 


as  a  school  director.  He  has  for  alxnit 
thirty  years  been  a  devoted  and  loyal  member 
of  the  Christian  church  and  his  aid  and  in- 
fluence are  given  in  snpp(_)rt  (jf  every  measure 
which  he  believes  will  contribute  to  the  gene- 
ral good  and  to  the  uplifting  of  his  fellow 
men.  Mrs.  Mayhugh.  who  was  also  a  faith- 
ful member  of  that  church,  died  on  the  ist 
of  Feljruary,  1903.  and  was  laid  to  rest 
in  East  Lynn  cemetery.  ^Ir.  Mayhugh  has 
led  a  life  of  industry  and  enterprise  and  since 
coming  to  Vermilion  county  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  work  of  development  and  im— 
I)rovement  here,  a  work  that  has  wrought  a 
wonderful  transformation  e\ol\ing  the  coun- 
ty from  a  district  of  swamps  and  sloughs 
into  a  .splendid  agricultural  community. 


A.  G.  PHELPS    DODGE. 

A  capitalist,  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Danville.  A.  G.  Phelps  Dodge  is  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  the  city  and  one  who  has 
deep  interest  in  her  welfare  and  progress. 
Since  attaining  his  majority  his  active  co- 
operation has  been  a  helpful  factor  along 
lines  of  ad\  ancement  in  ever\-  portion  of  the 
countr\-  in  which  he  has  lived.  His  name 
figured  very  prominently  also  in  business 
circles  through  a  considerable  period  and 
his  influence  has  Ijeen  felt  in  political  cir- 
cles, and  yet  Mr.  Dodge  has  never  sought 
to  figure  conspicuously  before  the  public  in 
any  light,  content  to  devote  his  time  to  the 
su])ervision  of  his  invested  interests  ami  to 
gi\'e  his  attention  to  a  consideration  of  the 
momentous  cjuestions  which  are  shaping 
the  trend  of  American  history.  He  is, 
howe\er,  a  man  of  broad  humanitarian  prin- 
ciples and  of  deep  human  sympathy  and 
those  who  have  had  occasion  to  gain  an  in- 


y/r,ii»f;m(!!rmf»>SS^>S!W:::",    -^g--;-^-<        ■y'^fgffSBt^ii^-'-ff^i-^-V^K^'f. 


^^c/^^^^^ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


981 


sisi'ht  into  this  side  of  his  nature  speak  of 
him  ill  terms  of  highest  praise. 

Mr.  Dodge  was  born  in  New  York  city, 
August  25,  1834.  His  ancestral  history  is 
one  of  close  and  long  connection  with  the 
early  annals  of  America  and  back  through 
several  centuries  in  England  can  the  records 
be  found  which  tell  of  the  connection  of  his 
ancestry  with  afifairs  of  importance  on  the 
"merrie  isle."  A  patent,  bearing  date  of 
April  8,  1306.  states  that  "Peter  Dodge, 
gentleman  of  the  town  of  Stopworth,  coun- 
ty of  Chester,  England,"  did  such  loyal  and 
valiant  service  for  his  sovereign,  Edward 
I,  that  he  and  his  heirs  forever  were, en- 
titled to  "have,  enjoy  and  use"  a  coat-of- 
arms.  Cheshire  was  the  original  English 
home  of  the  family.  The  first  ancestor  in 
America  was  William  Dodge,  who  arrived 
in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  July  10,  1629,  antl 
he  was  known  by  the  title  of  "Mr."  which 
was  conferred  only  upon  persons  of  prom- 
inence and  moral  worth.  I-Vom  William 
Dodge  and  his  brother  Richard  have  sprung 
families  to  be  found  in  almost  every  state 
of  the  Union,  and  the  representatives  of 
the  name  ha\e  won  honijr  in  the  various 
wars  of  the  country,  have  gained  distinction 
in  various  walks  of  life  and  have  recorded 
their  opinion  upon  the  legislative  history  of 
the  states  and  the  congressional  records  of 
the  nation.  It  would  be  to  intrench  upon 
the  pages  of  history  to  give  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  the  public  service  of  the  distin- 
guished members  of  the  family.  One  of  the 
most  eminent  men  of  the  nation,  however, 
was  the  father  of  Anson  C.  Phelps  Dodge, 
who  was  a  well  known  jjliilanthropist  and 
merchant  of  New  "\'ork  city;  also  member 
of  congress  for  a  number  of  years  from  that 
state. 

A.  G.  Phelps  Dodge  came  to  Danville 
in  1886  and  was  married  to  Miss  Rose 
39 


\'oorhees,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary 
\'oorhees.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  busi- 
ness man,  but  has  contributed  to  the  real 
estate  interests  of  Danville  and  to  the  im- 
])ro\emcnt  of  the  city.  In  former  years  he 
was  largely  interested  in  the  lumber  business, 
both  in  Canada  and  the  United  States. 
For  nine  years  he  was  a  resident  of  Canada 
and  during  that  time  served  as  a  member 
of  parliament  in  1872  and  1873.  He  is  a 
man  of  cousiilcrable  wealth — large-hearted 
and  generous.  Of  broad  education  antl  ex- 
tensive knowledge,  of  innate  culture  and 
breadth  of  view,  his  personality  has  gained 
him  friends  wherever  he  has  gone.  Pie  oc- 
cupies an  attractive  home  in  Danville  and 
from  this  point  supervises  his  invested  inter- 
ests, while  enjoying  with  his  wife  the  com- 
])anionship   of  a   large  social  accjuaintance. 


AMOS  SMITH   WILLI  A.MS. 

So  prominently  and  actively  was  Amos 
Smith  Williams  connected  with  the  business 
activity  and  substantial  development  of  Dan- 
ville that  no  history  of  the  state  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  his  career.  He 
was  born  here,  August  22,  1831.,  a  son  of 
Amos  Williams,  who  was  of  German  ances- 
trv  and  who  came  to  Vermilion  county  at  an 
early  date.  The  father  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children.  He  came  to  Vermilion 
county  at  an  early  date  in  its  upbuilding  and 
development  and,  settling  in  the  village  of 
Dan\ille,  took  an  active  and  helpful  part  in 
the  work  of  earl\-  improvement.  He  was 
also  prominent  as  a  leader  in  political  affairs, 
held  almost  every  office  within  the  gift  of 
the  people  of  the  county,  was  one  of  the 
earlv  surveyors,  also  served  as  county  clerk 
and   was   the  first   postmaster  of  Danville. 


9S2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In  his  family  were  six  children:  Alaria 
Louise,  horn  at  Butler  Point,  \^ermilit)n 
county,  Fehruary  22.  1S27;  Benjamin 
]'"ranl<lin,  horn  in  Dan\ille,  April  19,  1829; 
Amos  S.,,  who  was  the  third  in  order  'of 
hirth;  Charlotte  E.,  born  in  Danville,  De- 
cemljer  30,  1833;  Mar}-  Julie,  born  in  this 
city.  January  12,  1836:  and  Enoch  A.,  burn 
here  July  15,  1838. 

Amos  S.  Williams  of  this  review  acquired 
early  education  in  the  schools  of  Vermilion 
county  and  continued  his  studies  in  Paris, 
Illinois.  .\t  an  early  age  he  became  inter- 
ested in  business  as  a  hardware  merchant. 
He  spent  seven  years  in  California  and  upon 
his  return  to  Illinois  opened  a  hardware 
store.  He  was  afterward  engaged  in  the 
queensware  and  coal  business  extensively 
for  a  number  of  years,  but  his  last  years  were 
spent  in  honorable  retirement  from  labor. 
His  carefully  managed  mercantile  interests 
had  brought  to  him  a  handsome  competence. 
He  was  also  associated  with  many  other  im- 
portant business  affairs  of  tlie  city — enter- 
prises, which  not  only  promoted  his  individ- 
ual success  but  also  contributed  to  the  gene- 
ral prosperity.  He  possessed  keen  discern- 
ment and  was  cjuick  to  recognize  business 
■opportunities  and  whatever  he  undertook 
he  carried  forward  to  successful  completion. 
He  was  instrumental  in  establishing  and  con- 
ducting the  Iron  \\'agon  Works,  one  of  the 
early  factories  of  the  city,  also  the  Starch 
Works  and  a  box  factory,  and  he  was  the 
vice-])resident  of  the  first  street  car  company 
organized  in  Danville.  All  his  efforts  thus 
led  to  the  substantial  upbuilding  and  im- 
provement of  the  city.  He  possessed  in- 
domitable enterprise,  marked  sagacity  and 
reliable  business  judgment  and  these  quali- 
ties proved  of  great  Ijenefit  in  carrying  on 
enterprises  of  general  worth.  At  the  same 
time  his  carefullv  conducted  affairs  brought 


to  him  a  splendid  fin;uicial  return  and  in  the 
closing  years  of  his  life  he  was  enabled  to 
enjoy  a  well  merited  rest,  surrounded  by  all 
of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
which  go  to  make  life  worth  the  living. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  i860,  Mr. 
Williams  was  married  to  JMiss  Sarah  Jane, 
a  daughter  of  George  Greyson,  and  a  nati\'e 
of  Danville,  born  October  19,  1835.  Her 
father  came  to  \'ermilion  county  as  one  of 
its  early  pioneer  settlers  and  died  when  his 
daughter  was  only  seven  weeks  old.  He 
was  of  English  birth  and  in  early  life  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  America.  A  gentleman  of 
sterling  worth,  of  strong  individuality  and 
marked  strength  of  character,  he  command- 
ed the  regard  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  was  associated.  In  his  family  were 
fi\"e  children,  but  onlv  two  are  now  living. 
Both  '\lv.  and  j\Irs.  Greyson  were  devoted 
members  of  the  JNIethodist  church. 

The  home  of  INIr.  and  Mrs.  \A'illiams  was 
lilessed  with  five  children,  of  \\hom  one  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  are:  Lennie,  born 
April  25,  1862  :  Ernest,  who  was  born  Nov- 
ember 5.  1864,  and  died  July  18,  1873; 
^'ictor,  born  ]\Iay  20,  1868;  and  Carroll, 
born  April  27,  1871. 

^Ir.  \\'illiams  was  a  member  of  the  ]\Ieth- 
odist  church  in  earlv  years  and  in  later  life 
liecame  an  active  memljer  of  the  Episcopalian 
church,  contributing  liberally  to  its  support 
and  doing  all  in  his  power  to  advance  its 
growth  and  upbuilding.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat,  never  faltering  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  part)-.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters 
of  Inisiness  interests,  of  educational  and  re- 
ligious work  in  Danville  and  thus  contri- 
buted in  a  very  large  measure  to  the  improve- 
ment and  progress  of  the  city.  He  wrought 
along  lines  of  the  greatest  good  to  the  great- 
est number  and  his  life  was  so  honorable 
and  upright  that  it  commanded  for  him  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


983 


unqualified  contulence  and  respect  of  all  w  ilh 
whom  lie  was  broug'ht  in  contact.  He  died 
one  the  14th  of  l'el)ruar_\',  i8<;i.  and  Dan- 
ville mourned  the  loss  of  one  of  its  valued 
citizens.  His  career  was  a  long,  busy  and 
useful  one  and  altheiug'h  he  was  earnest  and 
active  in  business  he  never  allowed  the  pur- 
suit of  wealth  to  warp  his  kindly  nature, 
being  to  the  end  of  his  life  a  genial  friend, 
one  whom  it  was  a  pleasure  to  know  and 
meet  under  any  circumstance.  By  his  use- 
fulness and  general  benevolence  he  created  a 
memory  whose  perpetuation  does  not  depend 
upon  brick  or  stone  but  upon  the  spontane- 
ous and  freewill  offering  of  the  grateful  and 
enlightened  people. 


ED\\'ARD  C.  ABDILL. 

Edward  C.  Abdill  was  bom  INIay  14. 
1840,  a  son  of  Irad  and  Rebecca  Aim 
(Watson)  Abdill,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  In  their 
family  were  four  sons  who  reached  maturity. 
The  father  was  a  hardware  merchant,  carry- 
ing on  bu.siness  along  that  line  in  Indiana 
for  a  number  of  A-ears. 

Edward  C.  Abdill  was  reared  under  the 
parental  roof,  pursuing  his  education  in  the 
pul)lic  schools.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
only  twenty-one  years,  when  the  Cix'il  war 
broke  out,  but  he  had  watched  with  interest 
the  progress  of  events  in  the  south,  noted 
the  dissatisfaction  in  the  southern  states  on 
account  of  the  growing  opposition  to  the 
slavery  system  and  he  resolved  that  if  an 
attempt  was  made  to  overthrow  the  Union 
he  would  strike  a  blow  in  its  defense.  The 
war  cloud  gathered  over  the  land  and  on  the 
15th  of  August.  1861,  Mr.  Abdill  carried  out 
his  determination  to  become  a  soldier,  ioin- 


ing  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  B.  Ele\-enth 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Lew  (afterward  General) 
Wallace.  With  his  regiment  he  participat- 
ed in  a  numljer  of  imijortant  engagements, 
including  the  battles  of  Fort  Henry  and  Fort 
Donelson,  two  oi  the  most  hotly  contested 
engagements  in  the  early  part  of  the  war. 
He  was  detailed  for  special  mail  service, 
having  charge  of  the  mails  and  dispatches  at 
General  Grant's  headquarters.  This  service 
he  rendered  so  efficiently  that  in  Deceml:)er, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  first 
lieutenant  and  adjutant  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twentieth  Indiana  Infantry,  After  the 
fall  i.>f  A'icksburg  he  was  designated  by  Gen- 
eral Grant  to  bear  to  the  north  the  official  dis- 
patches announcing  the  great  victory.  Not 
long  after  this  ]\Ir.  Abdill  was  assigned  to 
duty  as  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the 
I'irst  Brigade,  First  Divison,  Twenty-third 
Army  Corps.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
\'icksburg  and  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  at 
length  was  discharged  on  account  of  disabil- 
ity, in  August,  1864.  His  was  a  most  cred- 
itable and  honorable  military  record,  in  which 
he  won  continuous  promotion  l)y  meritori- 
ous conduct  upon  the  field  of  battle. 

Mr.  Abdill  came  to  Illinois  at  the  close 
of  the  war  in  1865  and  located  in  Fairmount, 
where  he  established  a  hardware  business,  • 
conducting  it  for  three  years.  In  1868  he 
remo^■ed  to  Danville  and  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  older  brother  under  the  firm 
name  of  Abdill  Brothers,  dealers  in  iiard- 
ware.  This  enterprise  was  continued  suc- 
cessfully up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
business  career  was  a  creditable  one,  because 
of  his  fidelity  to  correct  business  princijiles, 
his  unquestioned  honesty  and  his  earnest  de- 
sire to  please  his  patrons.  These  qualities 
also  contributed  to  his  success,  winning  for 
him  a  handsome  competence. 


9S4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


During  the  period  of  the  war  Mr.  Abdill 
was  married  on  the  13th  of  August,  1863.  to 
.Anna,  daughter  of  Joseph  Peters,  one  of  the 
lionored  pioneers  of  Danville,  who  came  to 
this  city  in  1833.  He  made  his  way  here  an 
entire  stranger.  He  had  no  capital  and  was 
without  influential  friends  or  acquaintances 
at  this  place,  and  from  an  obscure  position 
he  arose  to  one  of  eminence,  leaving  the 
ranks  of  the  many  to  stand  among  the  suc- 
cessful few.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he  took 
up  the  study  of  law  and  in  order  to  support 
himself  while  pursuing  his  law  studies  he 
engaged  in  driving  a  team  and  followed 
other  occupations  that  would  yield  him  an 
honest  living.  During  this  time  he  devoted 
all  of  his  leisure  to  the  mastery  of  jurispru- 
dence and  eventually  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  then  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  and  soon  gave  proof  of  his 
marked  ability  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  strong 
in  argument,  logical  in  his  deductions  and 
prosecuted  his  cases  with  great  clearness. 
His  devotion  to  his  clients"  interests  was 
proverbial  and  he  prepared  his  cases  with 
great  thoroughness.  At  an  early  age.  such 
was  his  marked  ability  in  his  profession  that 
he  was  elected  county  judge  of  Vermilion 
county  and  served  two  terms.  Other  public 
honors  were  conferred  upon  him,  including 
election  to  the  office  of  state  senator,  and  he 
left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  upon  the 
legislation  enacted  during  his  membershi])  in 
the  upper  house.  While  serving  in  the 
senate  he  contracted  a  cold  which  greatly 
undermined  his  health.  He  went  to  Denver, 
Colorado,  hoping  that  he  would  be  benefited 
by  tlie  change  but  it  was  of  no  avail  and  he 
died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty- 
seven  years.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
was  a  Republican.  He  studied  closely  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day  and  had  a 
stateman's  grasp  of  public  affairs.     Christi- 


anity was  also  one  of  the  motive  powers  of 
his  life  and  he  was  known  as  a  consistent  and 
faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
churcli.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Henrietta  Blakely,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  died  in  Danville  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years.  In  their  family  were  four 
children,  who  reached  adult  age. 

The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
was  blessed  with  four  children,  all  of  whom 
are  yet  living":  Charles  P.,  who  is  now  the 
senior  member  of  the  hardware  firm,  con- 
trolling the  business  which  was  established 
by  his  father;  Mrs.  Bertha  English,  who  is 
a  resident  of  Alemphis,  Tennessee;  Cath- 
erine;   and  Henry  B. 

Mr.  Abdill  was  very  prominent  in  public 
afifairs,  being  well  fitted  for  leadership,  be- 
cause of  his  strong  individuality,  his  marked 
patriotism  and  his  desire  for  the  good  of  the 
county  rather  than  for  self-aggrandizement. 
In  i)olitics  he  was  a  strong  Republican.  He 
was  officially  connected  with  the  Spring  Hill 
Cemetery  Association  as  its  secretary  and 
treasurer.  He  ^vas  a  member  of  the  Loyal 
Legion  and  was  largel}-  interested  in  locat- 
ing the  Soldiers'  mommient  at  this  place, 
contributing  generously  to  the  work,  as  well 
as  becoming  a  champion  of  the  cause.  He 
was  largely  instrumental  in  building  the 
\'ermilion  County  Hospital,  served  as  one 
of  its  trustees,  also  as  president  of  the  board 
of  directors,  was  likewise  overseer  of  the 
building,  and  served  on  various  committees 
connected  with  its  successful  conduct.  He 
held  membership  in  the  Kimber  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  to  his  eft'orts  was 
largely  due  the  erection  of  the  present  house 
iif  worship.  A  deep  feeling  of  sadness 
spread  throughout  Danville  when  it  was  an- 
nounced that  Edward  C.  Abdill  had  passed 
from  this  life,  but  while  those  who  knew  him 
remain  his  memory  will  be  cherished,  not 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


985 


so  much  on  account  of  the  si)lenilitl  success 
whicli  he  achieved  in  business,  not  because  lie 
contributetl  to  tlie  improvement  of  tiie  city 
and  promoted  the  commercial  activity,  al- 
thougii  tliese  would  make  him  \\'orthy  to  be 
long  remembered,  but  because  of  his  hfe  of 
iielpfuhiess  and  good  clieer.  of  broad  sym- 
patliy  and  his  deep  interest  in  and  labors  for 
the  lienefit  of  his  fellow  men.  His  nature 
was  so  kindly  and  genial  that  he  won  not 
merely  regard  l)ut  tliat  deeper  feeling  which, 
call  it  friendship  or  love,  binds  man  in  close 
relations  to  his  fellow  men  in  ties  which 
naught  can  sever.  Thus  it  was  that  Dan- 
ville has  seldom  so  widely  and  sincerely 
mourncil  the  loss  of  one  of  her  residents, 
l-'or  thirty-six  years  he  was  closely  associated 
with  her  history  and  many  of  his  friends,  in 
thought  at  least,  ha\e  l)reathed  the  senti- 
ment. 

"He  was  a  man.  take  him  for  all  in  all. 

I  shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again." 


L.  C.  XORRIS. 


Since  the  year  1872,  L.  C.  Xorris  has 
been  a  resident  of  X'ermilion  county  and  to- 
day is  numbered  among  the  leading  and  in- 
lluential  men  of  Hoopeston.  He  was  born 
in  Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  Sth 
of  May,  1846,  his  parents  being  Eden  and 
Eliza  (Cress)  Norris.  lii.ith  of  whom  are 
natives  of  the  Keystone  state,  the  father 
of  English  descent  while  the  mother  was  of 
German  lineage.  Our  subject  comes  of 
good  old  Revolutionary  stock,  his  great- 
grandfather, Colonel  Upton,  ha\'ing  com- 
manded a  regiment  in  the  war  for  independ- 
ence. The  father  of  our  subject  was  quite 
prominent  in  political  affairs,  e.xerted  a 
stroner   intluence   in    behalf   of   what   he  be- 


liex'cd  to  be  for  the  welfare  of  his  com- 
munity and  for  two  terms  he  served  as  clerk 
of  the  court.  In  the  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  those 
still  living  being  Basil  H..  a  resident  of  Can- 
ton, Ohio;  IMary  E.,  who  is  livitig  in  Phil- 
adelpiiia.  T'ennsvKania ;  and  L.  C. 

.\t  the  age  of  seventeen  years  L.  C. 
Xorris  Ijegan  to  earn  his  own  li\eliliood.  He 
had  pursued  a  commoit  school  education  and 
it  was  his  intention  to  gain  a  collegiate 
education,  but  events  forced  him  to  gi\'e  up 
this  plan.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war 
two  of  his  brothers.  Thomas  C.  and  Wesley, 
enlisted  for  ser\'ice  in  the  United  States 
Arm\'  and  each  remained  at  the  Iront  tor 
three  years.  L.  C.  Norris  was  the  only  son 
who  remained  at  home  and  there  he  did 
])atriotic  serx'ice.  acting  as  fifer  for  three 
different  companies  that  were  raised  in  Get- 
tvshurg.  It  was  this  which  rendered  his 
collegiate  course  impossible,  but  he  put  aside 
his  own  interests  in  l>ehalf  of  his  country 
and  his  martial  music  awakened  the  echoes 
among  the  mountains  wdiich  were  the  wit- 
nesses of  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  con- 
flicts which  as  ever  occurred  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  Air. 
Xorris  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  .  Later 
lie  followed  farming  for  two  years  and  then 
resumed  carpentering  which  he  has  carried 
on  continuously  since,  and  today  he  is  one 
of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  of 
Hoopeston.  In  the  year  1872  he  moved 
from  (Gettysburg.  Pennsylvania,  to  this 
t(jwn.  which  has  been  his  home  continuously 
since.  He  has  l)een  constantly  associated 
with  building  ititerests  in  Hoopeston  and  in 
the  x'icinity,  and  has  erected  as  many  as  two 
hundred  buildings  in  this  place,  including 
the  homes  of  A.  C.  Sibbett,  A.  Honeywell, 
Mrs.  Thoiuas  Kite,  George  Clark,  John 
Leod,  Mrs.  .\.  C.  Sibliett,  and  Tacob  Decker. 


9S6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In  the  countn-  he  also  erected  the  residences 
of  Henry  Fritz.  Mr.  Ripley,  and  of  ^Messrs. 
Thurman  and  Simon  Graves.  Miles  Odle, 
Tack  Holmes,  Hanson  Leod.  and  Joliii  Har- 
mon. He  has  also  taken  and  executed  the 
contracts  for  several  schoolhouses  and 
churches,  including  the  Christian  Science 
church,  which  he  erected  at  a  cost  of  se\en 
thousand  dollars.  He  has  done  considerable 
contract  work  outside  of  the  coimty  and 
he  employs  from  two  to  fifteen  men  during 
the  season. 

In  Littlestown.  Pennsyl\-ania,  in  Octo- 
lier.  1 868.  ]Mr.  Xorris  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  !Miss  Amanda  Lightner,  who  was 
bom  in  Adatns  county.  Pennsylvania,  ^larch 
22.  1847.  In  'icr  parents'  family  were  five 
children :  Ed,  Calvin,  Xewton,  ^^'illiam, 
and  .\manda.  Unto  ^Ir.  and  ^Mrs.  Xorris 
have  been  born  the  following  children : 
Harn,- 1...  who  wedded  ilary  Fellows  and  is 
engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Burl- 
ington. Indiana:  INlaude  B..  the  wife  of  A.  C. 
Sibbett.  an  extensive  land  owner  of  Hoopes- 
ton  wlio  has  eleven  hiuidred  and  fort}-six 
acres  of  land  in  Illinois  and  ^Missouri :  Mabel 
C.  the  wife  of  ^^'i!liam  Ferguson,  who  is 
manager  of  the  branch  board  of  trade  of 
Hoopeston ;  Ernest  E.,  who  holds  a  good  po- 
sition with  the  Southern  Railroad  at  \A"ash- 
ington,  D.  C. ;  Ethel  L.  and  Zoe  Juanita,  at 
home.  ^Ir.  Xorris  has  provided  all  the  chil- 
dren \\ith  good  educational  privileges  and 
with  the  exception  of  the  youngest  two  all 
are  graduates  of  the  high  school.  In  his 
political  affiliations  our  subject  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  scoially  is  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  The  family  stands 
xtry  high  in  Hoopeston  and  our  subject  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Christian 
church,  while  !Mrs.  Xorris  also  belongs  to 
the  Larlies  Aid  Society.  The  true  western 
spirit  of  progress  and  enterprise  are  mani- 


fest in  the  career  of  our  subject  whose  pro- 
gress from  a  humble  financial  position  to 
one  of  affluence  is  marked.  Viewed  from 
any  standpoint  his  life  may  be  said  to  be  a 
success — and  it  is  the  success  not  merely  of 
tlie  man  who  prosecutes  a  prosperous  in- 
dustrial life  intent  only  upon  winning 
wealth,  but  that  of  a  man  who  advances  pul> 
lie  good  in  promoting  individual  prosperity. 
The  insight  into  the  character  of  a  repre- 
sentative American  never  fails  to  offer  much 
of  pleasing  interest  and  valuable  instruction, 
and  tlie  life  of  ilr.  Xorris  certainly  fur- 
nishes food  for  deep  and  profitable  thought. 


AXDREW   SCHARIO. 

This  gentleman  was  for  se\"eral  years  a 
well  known  and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Danville,  holding  the  position  of  chief 
engineer  in  ^^'right"s  Flouring  Mill.  He 
was  a  native  of  X'ew  York,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Dansville,  Livingston  county, 
that  state,  on  the  6th  of  May,  1841.  His 
father.  Peter  Schario,  was  born  in  Germany, 
where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
stationary  engineer  until  his  emigration  to 
America.  After  spending  some  time  in 
Canada,  he  removed  to  Buftalo,  Xew  York, 
and  later  to  Dansville,  that  state,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  called  to 
his  final  rest.  He  did  not  follow  his  trade 
after  coming  to  this  country. 

While  young  Andrew  Schario  learned 
the  business  of  a  stationan."  engineer  under 
his  father's  direction,  and  obtained  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  schools  of  Buf- 
falo, Xew  York.  Later  he  followed  his 
chosen  occupation  in  ^^'aterloo.  Canada,  and 
St.  Louis.  Missouri,  remaining  at  the  latter 
place  only  a  short  time,  however.     He  next 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


987 


went  to  Perrysville,  Indiana,  where  he 
worked  at  the  same  occupation,  being  em- 
ployed as  engineer  in  a  flouring  mill  there 
for  nine  years. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Schario  was  mar- 
ried at  that  place  to  ^liss  Catherine  ^Manges, 
who  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  in  1848,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Charles  Manges,  a  nati\e 
of  Pennsylvania.  At  an  early  day  her 
father  removed  to  Eugene,  Indiana  where 
he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for 
some  time  and  then  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  settling  near  the  village  of 
Humrick,  where  he  purchased  a  small  farm. 
In  connection  with  the  operation  of  his  land 
he  continued  to  work  at  his  trade  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  Unto  Mr.  and 
3ilrs.  Schario  was  born  but  one  child,  John 
P..  who  married  ]Miss  Annie  Kunpt  and  re- 
sides in  St.  Louis,  ^Missouri.  While  living 
in  Danville  he  was  employed  as  fireman  on 
the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  for 
several  years,  but  is  now  round  house  fore- 
man for  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad 
Company  at  St.  Louis.  Mrs.  Schario  also 
has  a  son,  Leo  Schario,  who  was  born 
January  7,  1888,  and  is  a  son  of  her  hus- 
band's deceased  brother,  John  Schario. 

The  subject  of  this  review  continued  to 
reside  in  Eug'ene,  Indiana,  until  1873,  when 
he  came  to  Danville,  Illinois,  and  entered  the 
\\'right's  Fk)uring  ^lill  as  engineer.  He 
was  soon  afterward  promoted  to  chief 
engineer  and  Mr.  Wright  gave  him  full 
charge  of  his  tlepartment.  He  put  in  a  new 
Corliss  engine  and  made  many  needed  im- 
provements in  the  plant.  C(jntinuing  to  buhl 
that  responsible  position  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  28th  of  March,  1887. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Schario  was 
a  stalwart  Democrat.  He  was  an  active  and 
jirominent  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic 
church    of    Danville    and    of    the    Catholic 


Knights  of  America,  being  president  of  the 
society  in  Danville  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  always  a  hard  working.,  energetic 
man.  very  devoted  to  his  family,  and  true 
to  every  trust  reposed  in  him.  He  left  his 
widow  in  comfortable  circumstances,  she 
being  the  owner  of  a  nice  home  at  No.  701 
Collett  street  and  other  property  at  the  cor- 
ner of  North  and  Hayes  streets  and  at  the 
corner  of  Commercial  and  Buchanan  streets. 
In  the  care  of  the  estate  Mrs.  Schario  has 
displayed  good  business  and  executive 
ability,  and  she  is  a  lady  who  makes  many 
warm  friends,  being  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  who  know  her. 


WILLIAM  T.  HANSON. 

Prominent  among  the  leading  and  well 
known  residents  of  A'ermilion  county  is  the 
gentleman  whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch,  now  living  on  a  neat  and  well  culti- 
vated farm  of  sixty  acres  one-half  mile 
north  of  the  old  homestead  on  which  his 
wife  was  reared.  Air.  Hanson  was  born  in 
Putnam  county.  West  Virginia,  October  q, 
1852,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  that 
county.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Mary  J. 
(  Minos)  Hanson,  both  natives  of  Virginia. 
In  1872  !\Ir.  Hanson,  being  then  twenty 
vears  of  age,  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Indiana,  working  there  by  the  month  for 
four  vears.  He  then  came  to  Vennilion 
county,  Illinois,  in  1876,  and  for  the  first 
two  vears  worked  liy  the  month  for  Edward 
Rouse. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1878.  Mr.  Hanson 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  Ann  Rouse, 
a  daughter  of  Edward  Rouse,  a  prominent 
poineer  of  Vennilion  county,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.    Her  mother 


98S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


bore  tlie  inaiden  name  of  Minerva  Martin. 
Mrs.  Hanson  was  born  on  the  old  liome- 
stead,  _\pril  23,  1857.  Mr.  Hanson  rented 
liis  present  place  of  residence  for  four  years 
after  his  marriage  and  then  purchased  the 
place.  It  comprised  sixty  acres  and  was  all 
in  timl)er  land.  This  he  has  tiled,  cleared 
and  improved  until  it  is  one  of  the  model 
farms  of  the  county.  He  has  also  added  to 
his  landed  possessions  as  his  capital  has  in- 
creased until  now  he  owns  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  improved  land,  nearly  all  of 
section  36,  Newell  township.  He  raises  his 
own  cattle  and  horses,  which  are  of  a  good 
grade.  He  and  his  wife  have  been  thrifty, 
ambitious  and  energetic  and  through  their 
united  efforts  have  acquired  a  very  comfort- 
able competence,  which  enaliles  them  to  en- 
joy many  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of 
life.  \Mien  they  first  settled  on  the  farm 
they  li\-ed  in  a  two-room  house,  but  Mr. 
Hanson  has  since  built  a  substantial  home, 
which  is  pleasing  to  the  eye  and  affords  a 
])lace  of  rest  and  enjoyment  to  the  owners. 
The  liospitality  of  the  home  is  extended  to 
many  friends,  and  IVIr.  and  Mrs.  Hanson 
are  popular  and  honored  residents  of  Newell 
township. 

Their  marriage  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children :  Virginia  Agnes,  born  on  the 
home  farm,  April  8,  1878,  married  William 
B.  Canine,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  July 
6,  1873,  their  marriage  being  celebrated 
October  11,  1899.  He  is  a  son  of  IMont- 
gomeiy  and  Celia  (Russell)  Canine,  natives 
of  Montgomery  and  Parke  counties,  In- 
diana, respectively.  Mr.  Canine  came  to 
Vermilion  county  in  1899  ^"^  l^e  3^"d  'i'^ 
wife  reside  about  one  mile  from  the  old 
homestead  on  which  the  latter  was  reared. 
They  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Celia 
Hanson  Canine,  the  only  great-grandchild 
of  Edward  Rouse.     Mr.  and  Mrs.   Canine 


are  members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  church 
and  he  is  a  Democrat  in  political  views. 
The  second  child  in  the  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hanson  was  Minerva  Jane,  who  died 
April  4,  1885,  aged  two  years,  three  months 
and  seven  days.  Otto  A.  died  February  24, 
1889,  at  the  age  of  two  years,  eleven  months 
and  twenty-seven  days.  Sylvia  C.  lives  at 
home  with  her  parents,  as  does  also  Ruth 
Valeria,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  now  a 
l.iright  little  maiden  .of  four  summers. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Hanson  is  a 
Democrat,  having  firm  faith  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  party.  He  has  served  as  school 
director  in  his  township  for  nine  years  and 
the  cause  of  education  has  in  him  a  warm 
friend.  .At  present  he  is  serving  as  school 
trustee.  Pie  has  lived  in  his  present  home 
for  twenty-four  years.  \\'hen  he  came  to 
Vermilion  county  it  was  not  in  the  state 
of  progress,  improvement  and  prosperity 
that  it  is  to-day.  and  Mr.  Hanson  has  taken 
an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  its  growth 
and  upbuilding.  Every  movement  and 
measure  intended  for  the  betterment  of  his 
community  has  received  his  able  support  and 
endorsement,  and  he  is  to-day  numbered 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  Vermilion 
countv. 


PETER    VOORHEES. 

In  ])ioneer  times  the  Voorhees  family 
was  established  in  A^ermilion  county  and 
through  tlie  many  years  which  ela<)sed  from 
that  period  up  to  the  time  of  liis  death  Pe- 
ter \'oorhees  was  an  active  and  honored 
citizen.  His  business  interests  became  ex- 
tensive and  yet  he  did  not  allow  the  accumu- 
lation of  wealth  to  mar  his  kindly  nature. 

Pie  was  known  as  one  of  the  wealthy 
farmers    of    the    countv — at    one    time    the 


vj^^</j^t        ^^^-T^i^^. 


j.jjt^OiS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


99' 


largest  land  owner  in  Xewcll  township — hut 
he  was  not  interested  in  the  accumnlation 
of  wealth  heyond  what  would  bring  the  com- 
forts of  life.  He  was  never  known  to  take 
adx'antage  of  the  necessities  of  his  fellow 
man  in  any  business  transaction.  He  was 
always  ready  to  make  a  bargain  as  much 
for  "the  other  fellow"  as  for  himself.  So- 
cial and  genial,  he  loved  mankind.  He  had 
a  (jnick  and  responsixe  sympathy  for  those 
in  distress  or  trouble,  and  was  often  in  his 
helptulness  more  generous  than  wise.  I'os- 
sessed  of  an  e\er  ready  sense  of  humor  and 
love  of  pleasure,  he  was  an  attractive  man 
to  his  friends,  whom  he  found  in  all  classes. 
He  saw  people  as  they  were  aside  froni  their 
belongings  and  place.  The  prince  and  the 
beggar  were  the  same  to  him ;  the  trappings 
of  this  world  did  not  matter  nuich  to  him; 
he  had  a  ]ihilosophical  indifference  to  the 
benefits  that  can  come  from  worldly  advance- 
ment, and  deliberatel}-  chose  the  line  of  life 
he  lived,  and  never  tired  of  its  rural  com- 
pensations. Iveared  in  the  same  household 
and  the  same  environment  as  the  brother 
who  served  for  forty  years  in  the  house  and 
senate  of  the  United  States,  he  preferred 
!iis  own  choice,  and  regarded  with  affec- 
tionate commiseration  that  brother's  ardu- 
ous responsibilities  and  small  reward. 

l"ew  li\es  in  so  large  a  degree  exempli- 
fied the  Golden  Rule  as  did  that  of  Peter 
Voorhees.  He  never  let  pass  an  opportunity 
to  aid  a  friend  in  need,  regardless  of  his 
own  interest  in  so  doing.  His  religion  was 
the  religion  of  love  and  mercy — believing 
that  the  Creator  would  eventually  care  for 
and  save  all  his  creatures.  He  was  charita- 
ble in  his  judgment  of  others.  "Judge  not, 
lest  ye  be  judged"  was  his  favorite  admoni- 
tion. He  was  for  many  }'ears  the  people's 
chosen   "Overseer   of   the   Poor"  (an   office 


now  al)()lished),  a  place  he  filled  with  pleas- 
ure io  hiiiisiif  and  at  times  jjcrhaps  unde- 
served benelit  to  the  indigent. 

Peter  Voorhees  was  born  in  Butler  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  June  28,  1825.  Since  the  begin- 
ning-  of  the  world  the  laws  of  heredity  have 
been  held  in  respect  by  mankind.  Christ 
said  to  the  young  man  who  came,  seeking 
him.  "Young  man,  whose  son  art  thou?" 
and  the  same  question  is  still  being  asked  of 
any  one  in  whom  we  are  interested  to-day. 
The  A'oorhees  f.amily  were  among  the  earl)- 
Dutch  settlers  of  New  York.  Peter  Voor- 
hees came  of  a  long  line  of  creditable  ances- 
tors. The  name  may  be  found  in  places  of 
trust  and  responsibility  since  the  flays  when 
New  ^'ork  was  called  New  Amsterdam. 

The  hrst  emigrants  in  America  were 
Stevense  and  Peter  \'an  Voorhees,  emi- 
grants from  Holland,  who  crossed  the  At- 
lantic in  the  year  1660.  The  "coat-of- 
arms,"  or  armorial  bearings  of  the  old  Hol- 
land family,  indicate  (according  to  the  St. 
James  fleraldry  office  of  London)  consid- 
erafile  antiquity.  The  motto  is  "Virtus  Cas- 
tellum  Meum."  They  brought  with  them 
land  grants,  patents  or  charters  whereby 
the}^  obtained  real  estate  at  Flatlands,  Long- 
Island,  and  in  New  Jersey.  Although  the 
spelling  of  the  sir  name  has  l)een  changed 
1)y  some  of  their  descendants  the  original 
form  is  also  retained  by  some  who  trace 
their  lineage  back  to  the  .same  common  an- 
cestors. As  the  years  passed  and  the  tide 
of  emigration  began  flowing  from  the  .At- 
lantic coast  inland  members  of  the  Voorhees 
family  came  to  the  west.  The  grandfather 
of  Peter  Voorhees  settled  in  Harrodsburg, 
Kentucky,  when  that  place  was  but  an  In- 
dian fort.  Stephen  \^oorhees,  the  father  of 
Peter,  removed  to  Ohio  and  it  was  in  the 
latter  st.ate  that    I'eter   \'oorhccs  was  born. 


992 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  was  but  two  y^irs  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents again  removed  westward,  this  time  lo- 
cating- in  Fountain  county.  Indiana,  where 
he  was  reared  amid  tlie  wild  scenes  of  pio- 
neer life.  In  1848  he  was  married  to  Mary 
J.  Button,  who  was  born  in  Oldham  coun- 
ty, Kentucky.  November  25,  1828.  She 
was  also  of  Holland  ancestry.  Her  parents 
emigrated  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana,  part- 
ing W'ith  their  slaves  because  of  tlieir  disbe- 
lief in  slavery.  The  same  year  of  their  mar- 
riaee  thev  came  to  Vermilion  countv,  Illi- 
nois,  and  settled  at  the  Voorhees  home- 
stead, which  was  pmxhased  from  a  heritap;e 
from  the  grandfather,  Peter  Voorhees,  of 
Kentucky.  ?ilrs.  \'oorhees  was  as  bright 
and  beautiful  as  Kentucky's  women  are 
famed  for  being,  and  she  was  a  woman  of 
unusual  character.  Philosophic,  patient 
and  enduring,  as  one  of  the  local  papers  said 
at  the  time  of  her  death  :  "She  was  one  of 
the  most  lovable  of  women,  being  possessed 
of  those  womanly  characteristics  that  at- 
tract and  cement  friendships  in  bonds  that 
time  cannot  break  or  even  lessen.  That  she 
was  generous  many  can  bear  witness  and 
that  she  was  one  of  the  most  hospitable  of 
the  matrons  of  this  city  is  known  to  every 
person  who  has  been  so  fortunate  as  to  pass 
the  threshhold  of  her  door.  She  was  of  a 
most  pleasing  disposition  and  had  that  open- 
heartedness  so  characteristic  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  county,  of  whom  she  was 
one.  She  was  one  of  the  most  devoted 
of  mothers  and  to  her  children  she  was  the 
one  whom  there  was  none  who  could  gi\e 
better  advice.  Her  words  were  words  of 
wisdom  and  many  times  they  had  proven  to 
them  that  she  knoweth  best  who  doeth  best. 
"Coming  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  her 
genial  nature  and  well  known  hospitality 
soon  made  her  acquainted  with  the  early  set- 


tlers of  the  county  and  the  home  of  herself 
and  husband  was  the  mecca  for  all  the  pio- 
neers of  that  day.  They  were  sure  of  a 
hearty  welcome  whene\er  they  visited  their 
home  and  her  cheerfulness  and  sunny  dis- 
position always  gladdened  and  enriched 
those  with  whom  she  came  in  contact.  It 
ever  left  its  impress  with  them  after  they 
had  gone  away  and  caused  her  name  to  be 
mentioned  time  and  again  in  the  homes  of 
the  other  pioneers.  She  was  generous  to  a 
fault  and  never  missed  an  opportunity  of 
extending  help  to  those  who  in  an  early  day 
had  many  trials  and  misfortunes.  It  was  a 
pleasure  to  her  to  help  lift  the  burdens  of 
others  and  to  make  joy  and  gladness  rest 
where  sorrow  had  taken  hold.  She  could 
feel  for  others  and  was  not  content  unless 
by  some  manner  she  could  show  it  in  a  sub- 
stantial degree.  She  did  it  without  show 
and  in  a  way  that  it  was  appreciated  by  the 
recipients.  She  did  not  leave  the  impres- 
sion that  in  her  doing  there  was  an  indebted- 
ness to  be  paid,  btit  that  it  w'as  a  ministering 
such  as  would  have  been  received  from  them 
had  the  conditions  been  reversed  and  she 
the  receiver  instead  of  the  giver.  She  was  a 
woman  of  splendid  attaimnents  in  all  the 
walks  of  life  and  in  her  social  nattire  she 
was  the  embodiment  of  the  best,  treating  all. 
\\hether  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  with  the 
same  kindness  and  consideration  that  so 
surely  marks  the  character  of  a  good  Chris- 
tian woman  and  a  consistent  servant  of  the 
?>  raster." 

Unto  r^lr.  and  ^Irs.  ^'oorhees  were  born 
five  children,  four  of  whom  still  surviAC 
them.  These  are :  [Mrs.  A.  G.  P.  Dodge,  oi 
Danville:  Daniel  ^'oorhees.  of  Peoria:  Phili]) 
B.  A'oorhees,  of  Danville:  and  Arthur  \'oor- 
liees.  of  Danville.  One  daughter.  Mrs.  Ben- 
jamin Crawford,  died  but  a  year  prior  to  her 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


993 


motlier's  demise.  Peter  \'oorhees  passed 
away  in  1901  and  ]\Irs.  \'oorhees  died  April 
7.  1902.  While  memory  lasts  to  those  who 
knew  them  tiiis  \vortli\-  couple  will  be  re- 
membered in  \'ermilion  county  and  among 
their  many  friends.  Their  lives  e.xemplified 
their  Christian  faith  and  thev  were  worthy 
and  consistent  followers  of  the  teachings 
of  the  Master.  Peter  Voorhees  is  most  re- 
membered because  of  his  many  kind  deeds 
and  his  helpful  spirit.  An  old  German  sa\-- 
ing  has  come  down  to  us :  "That  a  man 
makes  three  kinds  of  friends  in  this  world 
— gains  he  accumulates,  the  hearts  whom  he 
Io\-es  and  his  good  works.  The  wealth  is 
the  first  to  leave  him  when  death  lays  its 
hands  upon  the  form ;  the  loved  ones  go  to 
the  tomb,  turn  from  it  and  pass  to  their 
homes :  but  his  good  works  follow  him 
through  all  the  years,  praising  his  name  and 
making  liallow  his  memory."  So  let  it  be 
with  Peter  \"oorhees. 


CORNELIUS  POWERS  JONES. 

Upon  a  farm  on  section  22,  Elwood 
township,  resides  Cornelius  Powers  Jones,  a 
native  son  of  Vermilion  countv.  who  was 
born  near  his  present  home,  Jaiuian^-  23, 
1869.  His  parents  were  John  and  Sarah 
(Powers)  Jones,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
which  state  they  were  reared,  educated  and 
married.  They  lived  upon  a  farm  in  Penn- 
sylvania until  after  the  birth  of  two  of  their 
children  and  then,  emigrating  westward, 
took  up  their  abode  in  Elwood  township, 
Vermilion  county,  in  1867.  Here  they  also 
settled  upon  a  farm,  the  father  devoting  his 
energies  to  its  care  and  cultivation.  Their 
fann'ly  numbered  altogether  four  sons  an<l 


three  chnghters,  of  whom  three  of  the  sons 
are  yet  living:  Joseph,  a  resident  of  Ridge- 
farm,  Cornelius  P.  and  W.  A.,  who  is  living' 
at  Kidgefarm.  The  father  has  also  passed 
away,  having  departed  this  life  in  February. 
1899.  but  the  mother  is  still  living  and  makes 
her  home  with  her  son  Cornelius. 

In  the  U5»ual  manner  of  farmer  lads  !\Ir. 
Jones  spent  his  early  youth,  becoming  fa- 
miliar with  the  task  of  tleveloping  the  fields 
and  caring  for  stock.  He  obtained  a  com- 
mon-school education  and  as  a  companion 
and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  he  wedded 
Angie  P)Uell,  their  marriage  being  celebrated 
on  the  23d  of  April.  1896.  The  lady  is  a 
daughter  of  Hiram  and  Elizabeth  Buell.  of 
Elwood  township,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  living  with  the  exception  ®f  three  daugh- 
ters and  one  son.  ]Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Jones  now 
have  an  interesting  child,  John  Orville,  who 
is  two  years  of  age. 

After  his  marriage  our  subject  located 
upon  his  present  farm  where  he  has  lived 
continuously  since,  his  aged  mother  making 
her  home  with  him.  He  is  a  progressive  ag- 
riculturist and  his  rich  lands  are  under  a 
high  state  of  cultix'ation.  Upon  his  place 
he  has  a  substantial  farm  residence,  good 
barn  and  other  necessary  outbuildings,  and 
all  of  the  latest  improvements  in  farm  ma- 
chinery. He  votes  with  the  Republican  par- 
ty and  socially  he  is  identified  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  with  the 

Royal  Circle. 

»  »  » 

C.  V.  ^IcCLEX.\TH AX. 

Throughout  his  business  connect  inn  with 
Danville,  ('.  V.  McClenathan  has  been 
identified  with  banking  interests  and  at 
the  present  time  he  is  one  of  the  directors 


994 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  tlie  casliier  of  the  Dan\ille  National 
Bank.  lie  is  honored  and  respected  in  the 
county  1)1  his  nativity  because  of  what  he 
has  accom])lished  and  yet  the  high  regard  in 
which  lie  is  held  is  not  the  less  the  result  of 
the  honorable  methods  he  has  followed  than 
the  prosperity  which  he  has  achieved.  He 
is  one  of  the  native  sons  of  this  locality, 
his  birth  ha\-ing  occurred  upon  a  farm  near 
Catlin,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1864,  his  par- 
ents being  George  S.  and  Sarah  (Remley) 
McClenathan,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Penns}-l\-ania,  coming  westward  to  Ver- 
milion county,  Illinois,  shortly  after  their 
marriage.  The  IMcClenathan  family  is  of 
Scotch  lineage  and  of  Quaker  belief.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  the  land  of  hills  and  heather  and 
at  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of 
Pennsylvania  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  one 
of  the  old  time  sailing  vessels,  taking  up  his 
abode  near  Philadelphia.  The  Remley  fam- 
ily is  of  English  lineage  and  dates  its  origin 
in  America  to  the  time  of  William  Penn. 
The  grandmother  of  our  subject  in  the 
maternal  line  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mar- 
garet Penn  and  was  a  relative  of  the 
celebrated  family  to  which  the  celebrated  phi- 
lanthropist and  pioneer,  ^^'iIliam  Penn,  be- 
longed. On  removing  to  Illinois  George 
McClenathan  settled  in  Catlin  township 
where  he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in 
farming,  being  one  of  the  successful  agri- 
culturists of  his  community.  He  died  in  Octo- 
ber, i8q6,  and  his  wife  passed  away  on  the 
22d  of  April,  1900,  both  being  buried  in  Oak 
Ridge  cemeter}'.  near  Catlin.  In  their  family 
were  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
now  living. 

C.  V.  McClenathan,  the  eleven tli  in  order 
of  birth,  attended  the  common  schools  in 
his  early  youth  and  afterward  pursued  his 
studies  in  a  college  in  the  west.     On  attain- 


ing his  majority  he  went  to  the  Sunflower 
state,  locating  in  Wichita,  where  he  re- 
mained for  eight  years.  There  he  entered 
the  Kansas  National  Bank,  in  the  mortgage 
and  loan  department,  and  afterward  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  loan  business  of  that 
institution.  \Micn  he  had  spent  eight  years 
in  the  west  he  returned  to  Danville  and  here 
he  became  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  this 
city,  acting  in  that  capacity  until  the  institu- 
tion was  converted  into  the  Danville  Nation- 
al Bank,  on  the  ist  of  June,  1901.  He  has 
since  been  cashier  of  the  new  enterprise  and 
one  of  the  directoi's,  and  not  a  little  of  the 
success  of  the  business  is  due  to  his  thorough 
understanding  of  banking  and  his  capable 
control  of  the  affairs  of  the  institution. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  1895.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clenathan was  united  in  marriage  to  Alice 
Mcintosh,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Mcintosh,  who  is  now  living 
in  this  city.  Their  home  has  been  blessed 
with  one  child,  Margaret  Penn.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clenathan is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  po- 
litical circles  he  is  an  earnest  supporter  of 
the  Democracy,  and  in  1900  he  was  the  only 
candidate  on  the  Democratic  ticket  who  won 
election,  he  being  chosen  l)y  popular  suffrage 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture. He  was  re-elected  in  1902  and  was 
made  chairman  of  the  joint  committee  on 
penal  and  reformatory  institutions  and  la- 
bor and  industrial  affairs,  being  the  only 
Democratic  chairman  in  the  house.  He  also 
served  on  the  committee  on  banks  and  bank- 
ing, was  the  father  of  the  kidnap  bill,  and 
was  a  verv  active  member  of  the  house. 
He  has  made  a  close  study  of  all  questions 
which  are  to  the  statesman  and  man  of  af- 
fairs of  vital  interest  to  the  state  and  nation, 
and  he  gives  his  conscientious  support  to  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'j95 


principles  for  wliicli  lie  labors.  He  stands 
to-day  one  of  the  respected  and  highly  es- 
teemed residents  of  the  county  of  his  nativ- 
ity. His  friends  are  legion,  as  his  genial 
courtesy  and  kindly  bearing  are  calculated  to 
win  confidence  which  his  sterling  integrity 
and  unquestioned  candor  serve  to  maintain. 


SIMON  CALLAHAN. 

In  1852  there  came  to  Vermilion  county 
Simeon  Callahan  and  throughout  his  long 
residence  here,  covering  a  period  of  almost 
half  a  centrury,  he  was  numbered  among 
the  active  business  men  of  Danville,  as  well 
as  one  of  its  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
citizens.  A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born 
near  Dayton,  that  state,  on  the  nth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1827,  his  parents  being  William  and 
Rachel  (Voris)  Callahan,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  respectively. 
For  a  few  years  the  father  matle  his  home 
near  Circleville,  Ohio,  and  from  there  re- 
moved to  Perr_\s\ille,  Indiana,  where  he 
worked  at  the  potter's  trade  for  several 
years.  He  next  came  to  Vermilion  county, 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Georgetown  town- 
ship, where  he  continued  to  follow  the  same 
occupation  for  some  years.  He  next  ran  a 
dray  line  in  Danville  and  continued  that 
business  until  old  age  compelled  his  retire- 
ment. The  last  twenty-six  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  the  home  of  our  subject  and  al- 
though well  advanced  in  years  he  was  still  a 
hale  and  hearty  man,  never  missing  a  meal 
during  that  entire  time.  He  died  in  1885 
having  passed  the  ninetieth  milestone  on 
life!s  journey.  He  was  the  father  of  four 
children,  namely :  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Rufus  Havens,  and  both  are  now  deceased ; 
Manuel,  also  deceased;  Simeon,  our  subject; 


and  Cliarloile.  wife  of  Alexander  Havens, 
a  resident  of  Bloomiiigton,  Illinois. 

During  his  boyhood  and  youth  Simeon 
Callahan  obtained  but  a  limited  education  as 
his  mother  died  when  he  was  only  twelve 
years  old  and  he  then  Ijegan  to  assist  his  fa- 
ther in  the  support  of  the  family.  At  first 
he  worked  in  the  woolen  mills  of  Coles  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  for  several  years  and  then 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  in  both  Perrysville  and  Lebanon, 
Indiana. 

While  at  the  latter  place  Mr.  Callahan 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rachel 
Piles,  of  Lebaniin,  wlio  died  a  year  later, 
and  the  only  child  born  of  this  union  died 
in  infancy  unnamed.  In  1852  he  came  to 
Danville,  where  he  continued  to  work  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  for  some  }ears,  and  on  the 
9th  of  May,  1854,  he  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Mitty  A. 
Morgan,  who  was  liorn  in  Georgetown 
township,  this  county,  February  17,  1831. 
Her  parents.  John  H.  and  Catherine  (Mor- 
gan) r\lorgan,  were  both  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, but  were  married  in  Kentucky,  and 
from  that  state  came  to  Illinois  in  1830,  be- 
ing numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
\'ermilion  countv,  where  they  located  when 
the  Indians  were  still  numerous  in  this  re- 
gion and  most  of  the  land  was  still  in  its 
primitive  condition.  Settling  in  George- 
town township,  Mr.  Morgan  there  worked 
at  the  blacksniith's  trade  for  a  few  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Danville,  being  the  first 
and  only  blacksmith  in  the  city  at  that  time. 
Thoroughlv  upright  and  relial)le,  he  was 
known  to  everyone  as  "Honest  John."  He 
continued  to  work  at  his  trade  here  until  the 
death  of  his  wife  in  1864,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  Ci\il  war  he  went  to  Oregon  with  a 
son,  remaining  on  the  Pacific  coast  three 
years.     He  then  spent  a  short  time  in  Dan- 


996 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ville,  after  wliich  he  returned  to  Salem,  Ore- 
gon, where  lie  died  in  1874  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-tive  years,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  son_,  William  O.  Mor- 
gan, served  for  five  years  in  the  Union  army 
during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  is  now 
living  retired  with  Mrs.  Callahan  in  Dan- 
ville. Another  son  and  two  daughters  make 
their  home  in  Oregon.  There  ai'e  probably 
no  families  better  known  to  the  early  set- 
tlers of  \'ermilion  county  than  the  Calla- 
hans  and  Morgans,  or  are  held  in  higher  es- 
teem. 

Unto  Air.  and  Mrs.  Callahan  were  bom 
three  children :  John  W'ilHam,  the  oldest,  re- 
sides at  home  with  his  mother  and  is  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  Danville,  where  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  fire  department;  Thomas 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year  and  nine  months ; 
and  Charlie  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

After  working-  at  the  carpenter's  trade 
for  several  years  in  partnership  with  a  ]\Ir. 
Jones,  Mr.  Callahan  retired  from  that  busi- 
ness and  like  his  father  embarked  in  the  dray- 
ing  business,  buying  the  Danville  dray  line 
which  he  conducted  until  life's  labors  were 
ended  in  death.  On  Christmas  day  of  1893 
he  contracted  a  severe  cold  which  finally  re- 
sulted in  his  death  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1894,  Throughout  life  he  supported  the  Re- 
publican party,  but  never  cared  for  public 
office.  During  his  younger  years  he  was 
connected  with  the  [Masonic  fraternity  but 
afterward  with.drew  from  that  organization 
and  joined  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  being  a  member  of  the  lodge  at 
Danville  when  called  to  the  world  beyond. 
He  was  an  earnest  and  consistent  member 
of  the  First  Alethodist  Episcopal  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs  and  he  had  the 
confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact,  either  in  business  or  so- 
cial life.     In  business  affairs  he  met  with  a 


well  merited  success  and  was  able  to  leaxe 
his  family  in  comfortable  circumstances. 
Besides  her  pleasant  home  at  Xo.  5  East 
Aladison  street.  Mrs.  Callahan  owns  a  fine 
residence  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and 
North  Hazel  streets,  which  was  erected  by 
her  husband  in  1884.  He  also  assisted  in 
buildin.g  many  other  of  the  early  residences 
of  the  cit}',  and  was  long  numbered  among 
the  representative  business  men  of  Danville. 


B.  F.  LEONARD. 


B.  F.  Leonard,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Potomac,  was  throughout  his 
acti\e  business  career  connected  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  Agriculture  is  the  foun- 
dation of  all  prosperity  and  more  than  a 
century  ago  George  \\'ashington  said  it  was 
the  most  useful  and  honorable  occupation  to 
which  man  can  devote  his  energies.  Mr. 
Leonard,  long  connected  with  farming"  inter- 
ests, has  been  a  resident  of  ^'ermilion  county 
since  October  10.  1855.  In  fact,  that  was 
his  natal  day  and  he  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  families  here.  His  father, 
William  J.  Leonard,  was  bom  in  [Marion 
county.  Kentucky,  in  1823,  and  was  a  son  of 
Tames  Leonard.  The  family  is  of  German 
origin  and  was  founded  in  Kentucky  at  an 
early  day.  James  Leonard  remo\ed  with  his 
familv  to  Illinois  and  became  one  of  the 
early  pioneer  settlers  of  A'emiilion  county. 
Here  ^^'i!liam  J.  Leonard  was  reared  and  ed- 
ucated and  was  trained  to  methods  of  indus- 
tn-  and  economy  upon  the  home  farm.  He 
was  married  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  to 
Sarah  Cronkhite,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
was  reared  in  the  Hoosier  state.  Mr.  Leon- 
ard had  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  ?\liddlefork  township  and  this  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


997 


broke  and  fenced,  developing-  an  excellent 
farm  whose  well  tilled  fields  returned  to  him 
an  excellent  income.  He  afterward  traded 
that  for  another  farm  in  Ross  township  and 
spent  his  last  days  there,  d}-ing  about  1866. 
His  wife  survi\-ed  him  for  a  few  years  and 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  the  autumn  of 
1872. 

Xo  event  01  special  importance  occurred 
to  vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  B.  F. 
Leonard  in  his  youth.  The  common  schools 
afforded  him  his  edncationl  privileges  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  started  out  in 
life,  working  in  a  wagon  shop.  He  learned 
the  trade  in  Rossville  and  followed  that  pur- 
suit for  several  years.  An  important  e\-ent 
in  his  life  occurred  on  the  14th  of  INIarch, 
187S.  when,  in  Aiiddlefork  township,  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Emma  J.  Swisher,  a 
nati\-e  of  that  township  and  a  daughter  of 
Harrison  Swisher,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  county.  They  Ijegan  their  domestic 
routine  ui^on  a  rented  farm  which  ]\Ir.  Lei:in- 
ard  cultivated  for  a  few  years  and  then 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  which  he  began 
to  further  improve.  He  built  a  house  antl 
barn  there  ruul  later  he  extended  the  Ixiunda- 
ries  of  his  place  by  the  additional  pur- 
chase of  eighty  acres.  On  that  tract  he  car- 
ried on  general  farming  until  1900,  when 
he  rented  his  land  and  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember took  up  his  abode  in  Potomac,  where 
he  purchased  a  lot  and  erected  a  residence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Zetta  Ann,  the  wife  of  Charles  \'ill- 
ers,  a  farmer  of  Ross  township :  Rosella, 
Cora  B.  and  Alva,  who  are  still  with  their 
parents.  The  family  is  one  of  pronfinence 
in  the  comnnmity,  enjoying  the  high  regard 
of  many  friends  here.  In  his  political  \ic\\s 
Mr.  Leonard  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but 
he  now  supports  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Prohibition  party.     He  and  his  family 


are  identified  with  the  United  Brethren 
church  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  No  other  home  has  he 
known  than  N'ermilion  county  and  the  local- 
itv  mav  !)e  glad  to  numljcr  him  among  its 
native  sons  because  he  has  always  been  loyal 
to  its  interests,  has  been  in  touch  with  the 
work  of  progress  and  improvement  and  has 
been  identified  with  development  and  up- 
building'. His  friends  esteem  him  for  the 
possession  of  those  qualities  of  u])right  man- 
hood which  in  c\er_\'  land  and  in  e\ery  clime 
comm;ni<l  resijcct  and  confidence. 


T.  HOWARD    SPANG. 

T.  Howard  Spang  is  ])r<ipriet(ir  of  the 
\\'estfield  Roller  Mills  and  of  the  lumber- 
yard in  this  place.  Here  he  has  carried  on 
business  for  two  years  and  has  already 
gained  a  creditalile  position  in  ])ublic  regard 
as  a  reliable  and  enter]M'ising  business  man. 
He  is  a  nati\-e  of  Butler  county,  Pennsyl- 
\ania.  born  January  jo,  1874.  and  is  a  son 
of  J.  R.  and  Margaret  Spang.  'J'he  fannly 
history  is  mentioned  in  connection  with  the 
sketch  of  his  brother,  C.  B.  Spang,  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work. 

After  coming  to  this  county  the  subject 
of  this  review  began  working  in  a  flour- 
mill  in  Georgetown  and  in  1870  he  went  to 
North  Towanda,  New  York,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  milling  for  six  months.  He  then 
returned  to  Georgetown  and  subsccjuently  he 
went  to  Allerton,  Illinois,  where  he  con- 
ducted a  grain  elevator  for  four  years.  On 
the  ex]>iration  of  that  period  he  again  went 
to  (jcorgetown,  where  he  worked  with  his 
brother  in  a  fi<:inrmill  for  a  year.  In  July, 
iqoo,  he  came  to  \\'estville  and  erected  the 
Westville  Roller  Mills,  which  he  has  since 


998 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


operated.  He  also  buys  and  ships  grain  and 
botli  branches  of  his  business  are  proving' 
profitable.  His  mill  is  equipped  with  the  lat- 
est roller  process  machinery  and  the  flour 
which  he  manufactures  is  of  a  high  grade, 
therefore  finding  a  ready  sale  on  the  market. 
Mr.  Spang  also  is  a  carpenter  and  contrac- 
tor and  does  some  business  in  that  line.  In 
connection  with  his  mother  and  brother,  in 
Georgetown,  he  is  also  carrying  on  the  lum- 
beryard at  Westville,  having  charge  of  the 
business. 

Mr.  Spang  was  united  in  marrage  to 
Miss  Lula  Kilgore,  a  native  of  \'emiili()u 
county  and  a  daughter  of  Robert  Kilgore.  a 
retired  farmer  now  living  in  Georgetown. 
One  child  graces  this  marriage  to  whom  they 
have  given  the  name  of  Kenneth.  Mr.  Spang 
is  a  Repuljlican  in  his  political  views  but 
the  honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  no 
attraction  for  him.  Socially  he  is  identified 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  hold  membership  in  tlie  r^Iethodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Georgetown.  ]\lr. 
Spang  is  a  young  man  possessed  of  energy, 
enterprise  and  laudable  ambition  and,  brook- 
ing no  obstacles  whicli  can  be  overcome  by 
determined  purpose  and  honorable  effort,  he 
is  steadily  working  his  way  upward  to  a 
very  creditable  and  gratifying  position  in 
the  business  world,  having  already  attained 
success  which  many  an  older  man  might  well 

envy. 

»  » » 


H.  S.  BABCOCK,  .M.  D. 

Among  the  practitioners  of  medicine  in 
Danville  worthy  of  public  patronage  by 
reason  of  thorough  understanding  of  the 
science  of  medicine  and  devotion  to  the  pro- 


fession, is  Dr.  H.  S.  Babcock,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  Warren  county, 
August  26,  1869.  His  father,  Joseph  F. 
Babcock,  was  also  born  in  that  county  and 
after  .arriving  at  years  of  maturity  was  mar- 
ried there  to  Jennie  Gibson,  likewise  born 
in  that  locality.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lum- 
ber merchant,  but  for  some  time  lived  in 
the  city  of  Warren  and  at  the  present  time 
is  filling  the  office  of  chief  of  police.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, while  socially  he  is  connected  with 
the  Knig'hts  of  the  Maccabees,  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  entitled  to 
membership  in  the  last  named  organization 
through  service  in  the  Civil  war,  for  in  1864 
he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for  aid 
and  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union.  He 
belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member  and  they 
are  highly  esteemed  people  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  make  their  home.  In 
their  family  were  but  two  children,  the 
Doctor's  sister  being  Dr.  ^Margaret  ^laloy, 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Earl  Maloy,  of  Lincoln, 
Illinois.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  Chicago, 
and  is  engaged  in  practice. 

In  the  district  schools  of  Conewanago 
township,  \\'arren  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Dr.  Babcock  ])ursued  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation and  later  studied  in  the  grade  schools 
and  in  the  academy  of  \\'^arren,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Subsequently  he  matriculated  in  the 
Uni\-ersity  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  the  medical  de- 
partment with  the  class  of  1891.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  a  practitioner  of  Ver- 
milion county,  locating  first  in  Higginsville. 
^^"hen  the  railroad  was  built  through  the 
locality,  the  town  of  Jamesburg  was  estab- 
lished and  Dr.  Babcock  opened  his  office  at 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


999 


that  place,  where  he  remained  for  ten  and 
a  half  years.  Then,  seeking  a  wider  tield 
of  labor,  he  came  to  Danville,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  enjoying  a  growing-  practice 
which  has  demonstrated  his  skill  in  the  suc- 
cessful handling  of  many  important  cases. 
On  the  24th  of  December,  1891,  in 
Chicago.  Illinois,  the  Doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Mabel  Buck,  who  was  born  in 
Chebo}gan,  Michigan,  on  Christmas  day  of 
1873,  a  daughter  of  Moses  and'  Borredell 
(Greenwood)  Buck,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Maine,  the  ntother  having  been 
born  in  Abbott.  The_\"  were  married  in  the 
Pine  Tree  state  and  the  father  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  there,  subsequently  re- 
moving to  Michigan,  where  he  continued 
in  the  same  line  of  business  activity.  A 
Democrat  in  his  politicel  views,  he  was 
recognized  as  a  prominent  member  of  the 
party  in  his  community,  held  a  number  of 
political  offices  and  wrote  many  articles  for 
the  press  setting  forth  his  views  upon  po- 
litical questions.  He  had  decided  opinions 
and  a  forcible  way  of  expressing  them  and 
his  influence  in  behalf  of  the  Democracy 
was  far-reaching.  His  death  occured  in 
Cheboygan,  in  February,  1898,  and  his 
widow  is  still  living  there.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children,  all  of  whom  survive, 
namely :  Ainsley.  who  when  last  heard  from 
was  in  South  Africa;  Edward,  who  follows 
farming  in  Cheboygan,  ^Michigan;  Horace, 
who  resides  in  St.  Johnsville,  New  York ; 
Lucy,  the  wife  of  Collins  Cameron,  of 
Lewiston,  Michigan:  ]\Iahel.  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Babcock ;  Charles,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
publishing  business  in  Chicago;  Samuel, 
who  is  connected  with  a  newspaper  agency 
of  Chicago ;  and  Mary,  who  formerly  taught 
in  the  public  schools  at  Allerton,  Illinois, 
but  is  now  in  Cheboygan,  Michigan.  The 
home  of  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  has  been 

40 


blessed  with  two  interesting  children  :  Jennie 
May,  who  was  born  December  8,  1893;  and 
Joseph  Henry,  born  June  10,  1896. 

Dr.  Babcock  was  made  a  manber  of  the- 
Masonic  fraternity  in  Potomac,  Illinois, 
about  1897,  and  is  a  valued  representative 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Modern 
W'ootlmcn  of  America,  the  Court  of  Honor, 
the  Royal  Circle  and  the  Fraternal  Tribune. 
He  has  been  examiner  for  a  number  of  in- 
surance companies  and  he  has  been  county 
physician  and  surgeon  for  Blount  township 
for  nine  years.  He  belongs  to  the  Vermilion 
County  Medical  Society,  the  State  Medical 
Society  and  the  American  ■Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  thus  he  keeps  in  touch  with  the 
advanced  thought  which  marks  the  progress, 
of  the  medical  fraternity  toward  perfection. 
He  Ijelongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
ciiurch  and  exercises  the  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  party.  Having 
a  -wide  acquaintance  in  Vermilion  county  the 
friendship  of  many  has  been  freely  accorded 
him  in  recognition  of  a  genial  manner  and. 
kindly  disposition. 


LUD\TG   ERIKSON. 

Ludvig  Erikson,  who  is  one  of  the  ener- 
getic and  thrifty  fanners  of  Butler  township, 
has  a  valuable  property  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  section  9.  This  is  well  im- 
proved and  equipped  with  all  modern  ac- 
cessories and  conveniences.  From  the  spring, 
of  1869  to  the  present  time  Mr.  Erikson  has 
been  a  resident  of  Vermilion  county  and  the 
kingdom  of  Sweden  has  furnished  no  better 
citizen  in  the  new  world.  He  was  born  on 
the  8th  of  July,  1851,  in  Sweden,  a  son  of 
Gustaf  Erikson,  who  was  bom  in  tlic  same 
country  and  was  a  soldier  there  being  con- 


lOOO 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


nected  with  the  standing  army  for  some 
time.  In  1869.  accompanied  by  his  family. 
he  bade  adieu  to  his  friends  and  native  land 
and  sailed  for  the  new  world,  settling  in 
Paxton.  Illinois,  where  he  died  about  1889. 
His  wife  passed  away  in  1900.  In  their 
family  were  three  sons  and  three  daugliters  : 
Alfred,  who  is  a  resident  of  Sweden :  Lud- 
vig,  of  this  review:  Otto,  a  resident  of 
Rankin;  Fredricka,  who  is  also  living  in 
Sweden ;  Johanna,  the  wife  of  Fred  Johnson, 
of  that  countiy ;  and  Ida,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  eight  years. 

The  subject  of  this  review  spent  the  tirst 
eighteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his 
nativity  and  acquired  a  fair  common-school 
education  in  his  native  tongue,  but  his 
knowledge  of  the  English  language  has  been 
acquired  without  the  aid  of  teachers  since 
his  arrival  in  Illinois.  He  crossed  the  briny 
deep  in  1869  and  came  direct  to  this  state. 
locating  in  Paxton.  He  was  first  employed 
in  the  town  of  Rankin,  in  \'ermilion  county, 
and  for  a  time  he  worked  for  W.  A.  Rankin. 
now  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of 
Onarga,  Illinois,  continuing  in  his  employ 
for  four  years.  He  then  rented  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  which  he  continued  to  cultivate 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1882.  having 
acquired  sufficient  capital  through  his  earnest 
labor  and  careful  management,  he  purchased 
the  farm  upon  which  he  is  now  residing. 
At  that  time  but  few  improvements  had  been 
made  upon  the  place,  but  now  after  twenty 
years  he  has  a  very  valuable  property  sup- 
plied with  all  modern  equipments  and  ac- 
cessories. He  has  erected  a  nice  frame 
residence,  a  large  barn,  granary  and  other 
outbuildings.  He  has  a  fine  orchard,  in- 
cluding a  great  variety  of  fruits  and  he  has 
planted  shade  and  ornamental  trees  around 
his  home,  giving  it  a  most  attractive  and 
pleasing  appearance.     Tiling  has  added  to 


the  proeluctiveness  of  his  fields  and  the  fences 
thereon  and  e\erything  about  the  place  are 
kept  in  good  repair.  He  raises  the  cereals 
best  adai>ted  to  the  soil  and  climate  and  in 
connection  with  his  work  has  been  engaged 
in  the  raising  and  feeding  of  cattle,  feeding 
about  a  car-load  of  cattle  each  year  and  also 
selling  a  large  number  of  hogs  annually.  In 
connection  with  nine  others  he  formed  a 
company  for  the  importation  and  breeding 
of  thoroughbred  Percheron  and  Shire  horses 
and  he  now  owns  two  valuable  imported 
stallions,  which  he  keeps  for  breeding 
purposes. 

Mr.  F.rikson  was  married  in  Vermilion 
county  in  February.  1879,  to  Matilda  Gus- 
tafson.  a  nati\e  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  the 
new  world  when  a  maiden  of  twelve  sum- 
mers and  located  in  Vermilion  county.  Six 
chiklren  have  blessed  this  union :  Edward, 
Alice.  Oscar  and  Esther,  all  of  whom  are 
yet  untler  the  parental  roof:  Alma,  who  died 
at  one  year :  ami  Annie,  at  the  age  of  eight 
years. and  three  months. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Erikson  is  a 
stanch  and  earnest  Republican  and  in  1876 
cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Ruther- 
ford B.  Hayes,  while  for  each  presidential 
nominee  of  the  Republican  party  since  that 
time  he  has  deposited  his  ballot.  He  was 
elected  and  served  for  nine  consecutive  years 
as  commissioner  of  highways  and  for  six 
years  previous  to  that  time  was  overseer  of 
the  roads,  proving  a  competent  officer. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  re- 
lations with  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church 
at  Rankin.  Illinois,  and  were  reared  in  that 
faith.  The  hope  that  led  Mr.  Erikson  to 
seek  a  home  in  the  new  world  has  been  more 
than  realized.  He  found  the  business  op- 
portunities he  sought  here  and  through  the 
exercise  of  marked  industry  and  enterprise 
he   has   steadily   worked   his   way   upward. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lOOI 


He  has  been  a  witness  of  inucli  of  the  growth 
and  inipro\ement  of  the  county,  which  he 
has  seen  transformed  from  a  swampy  dis- 
trict into  a  riciily  cuhi\ate<I  rci^ion.  In  early 
days  he  saw  iierds  of  as  many  as  twenty- 
five  deer  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  many 
wolves  were  killed,  while  wild  game  of 
various  kinds  furnished  the  pioneer  table 
with  meat  and  frontier  conditions  were 
prevalent  and  made  the  task  of  developing  a 
farm  somewhat  arduous,  but  with  charac- 
teristic energies  and  determination  Mr. 
Erikson  continued  his  work  and  as  the  years 
have  passed  he  has  won  a  most  creditable 
position  among  the  successful  farmers  of 
Butler  township. 


LYCURGUS  BALDWIN. 

Lycurgus  Baldwin,  who  follows  farm- 
ing, was  born  in  Dallas  county,  Iowa,  on 
the  1st  of  May,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Lucinda  (Standfield)  Baldwin.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  Brown  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  children 
all  of  whom  are  now  deceased  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  brother  and  one  sister.  He 
was  born  May  10,  1830,  and  is  still  living, 
his  home  being  in  Ridgefarm.  When  eight 
years  of  age  he  accfimpanied  his  parents  on 
their  removal  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  a 
year  or  two  later  he  came  to  Illinois.  In 
1848  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lucinda 
Standfield.  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Standfield, 
of  Elwood  township,  and  in  1857  they  re- 
moved to  Dallas  county.  Iowa,  where  Mr. 
Baldwin  engaged  in  farming  until  1S64. 
He  then  returned  to  Illinois,  settling  at 
Ridgefarm.  where  Ixith  he  and  his  wife  are 
still  living.  The  Standfields  also  had  a  large 
familv,  and  two  of  the  sons,  brotiiers  of  Mrs. 


Baldwin,  were  veterans  of  the  Civil  war. 
Unto  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born 
six  children :  James  R.,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Georgetown,  who  has  fi\e  children; 
Darius  T.,  deceased;  Lycurgus,  of  this  re- 
view ;  George,  an  agriculturist  of  Ridge- 
farm, who  has  one  child;  Mary,  who  is 
living  with  her  parents;  and  Elmer,  who 
li\es  at  Ridgefarm  and  has  seven  children. 

Lycurgus  Baldwin  was  early  trained  to 
the  work  of  field  and  meadow  in  his  youth 
assisting  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
old  homestead.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  on  the  30th  of  August, 
1S82,  he  made  preparation  for  having  a 
home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss 
Florence  M.  Rardin,  a  daughter  of  Nelson 
and  Elizabeth  (Petit)  Rardin,  of  Edgar 
county,  Illinois.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation  and  had  a  large  family,  having 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  li\-ing  with  the  exception  of  one.  Mrs. 
Baldwin  was  born  in  January,  1861,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  By  her 
marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Mabel  E.,  now  nineteen  years 
of  age,  was  married  August  10,  1902,  to 
Alfonso  Wright,  a  teacher  of  Ridgefarm. 
Frederick,  eighteen  years  of  age.  Nelson,  a 
youth  of  thirteen,  and  Russell,  a  little  lad  of 
three  summers,  are  with  their  parents. 

Mr.  Baldwin  is  a  devoted  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  is  also  connected 
with  the  iNlodern  Woodmen  of  America. 
In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  Republican,  do- 
ing all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth 
and  insure  the  success  of  his  party.  He  has 
tlu-ee  times  served  as  commissioner  of  his 
township  and  is  now  holding  that  office,  the 
duties  of  which  he  discharges  with  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity.  He  is  a  temperate,  honor- 
able gentleman,  a  loyal  citizen,  and  enjoys 
a   high  reputation  in  all  the  walks  of  life. 


I002 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


JAMES  GEORGE  SHEDD. 

James  George  Shedd,  now  deceased,  was 
born  in  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  on  the  23d 
of  June,  1S42,  his  parents  being  Henry  and 
Letitia  Shedd,  who  were  New  England  peo- 
ple. In  their  family  were  five  children  and 
like  the  other  members  of  the  household  the 
subject  of  this  review  acquired  his  early 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  county. 
He  afterward  continued  his  studies  in  the 
A\'estern  Reserve  College  where  he  was 
graduated  and  thus  well  equipped  by  thor- 
ough mental  training  for  life's  responsible 
duties  he  entered  upon  a  work  which  made 
him  a  \-aluable  factor  in  society. 

In  early  manhood  -\Ir.  Shedd  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Helen  Leseure,  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  27th  of 
June.  1872.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
Prosper  and  Elizabeth  Leseure,  who  were 
prominent  and  influential  sitizens  of  Dan- 
ville. Her  father  was  a  native  of  Nancy, 
France,  born  on  the  26th  of  May,  1820,  and 
when  a  lad  of  ten  years  he  came  to  America. 
L^nto  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Shedd  was  born  one  son, 
George  Carroll,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Danville  on  the  9th  of  December,  1880,  and 
who  died  on  the  loth  of  November,  1885. 

Shortly  before  his  marriage  Mr.  Shedd 
became  a  resident  of  Danville,  accepting  a 
position  as  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
this  place.  Under  his  direction  education 
made  marked  advances  here.  Hitherto  the 
schools  had  not  been  graded,  but  he  accom- 
plished this  important  work  and  made  many 
marked  improvements  in  the  system  of  teach- 
ing,— improvements  which  formed  a  solid 
basis  for  further  development  and  progress 
in  this  line.  He  also  spent  two  years  in 
Macomb,  Illinois,  as  superintendent  of  the 
schools  there.  For  nine  years  he  was 
superintendent  in  Danville  and  then  putting 


aside  his  work  in  connection  with  educa- 
tional interests  he  turned  his  attention  to 
tlie  lumber  business,  forming  a  partnership 
with  George  B.  Yeomans,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Yeomans  &  Shedd.  With  this 
enterprise  he  was  connected  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  The  new  firm  prospered  in 
their  undertakings,  the  business  growing 
until  it  reached  extensive  proportions  and  the 
sales  annually  returned  a  good  profit  to  the 
owners.      Mr.    Shedd    had    purchased    his 

■  father-in-law's  interest  in  the  lumljer  busi- 
ness and  in  the  control  of  his  new  affairs 
he  displayed  marked  energy^  capable  man- 
agement and  keen  discernment. 

In  his  political  views  ]\Ir.  Shedd  was  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  took  a  deep  and 
active  interest  in  the  success  and  welfare  of 
the  party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  was  a  man 
of  marked  literary  tastes  and  scholarly  at- 
tainments, whose  broad  reading  and  wide 
investigation  gained  him  a  knowledge  sel- 
dom seen  in  men  devoted  to  commercial  in- 
terests. I\Iany  of  his  most  pleasant  hours 
were  spent  in  the  companionship  of  his 
btioks  and  he  regarded  as  among  his  dearest 
friends  the  master  minds  of  present  and  past 
ages.  He  held  membership  in  the  Presby- 
terian, church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belongs, 
taking  an  active  part  in  its  work.  On  the 
5th  of  November,  1896,  IMr.  Shedd  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  and  was  buried  in 
Spring  Hill  cemetery.  For  many  years  he 
was  regarded  as  a  prominent  and  influential 
resident  of  Danville.  He  left  the  impress 
of  his  individuality  upon  its  intellectual  de- 
^•elopment  as  well  as  upon  its  commercial 
history.  His  was  an  irreproachable  life  and 
one  \\hose  influence  was  ever  for  g'ood  and 
for  progress.  He  drew  to  himself  many 
friends  whose  regard  was  strengthened  as 

their  acquaintance  increased  and  the  years 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1003 


passed  by.  His  loss  was  therefore  widely 
and  deeply  felt  and  his  memory  is  still  en- 
shrined in  the  hearts  of  manv  who  knew  him. 


GEORGE  \V.  HEXRY. 

George  W.  Henry,  familarily  known  as 
"Uncle  George,"  is  among  the  honored  and 
prominent  settlers  of  \'ermiIion  cc:)nnty. 
He  was  bom  in  Ohio,  May  8,  1827,  and  is 
a  son  of  Michael  and  Margaret  (Pinker- 
son)  Henry.  His  father  went  to  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  when  George  was  a  year 
old,  making  the  journey  in  a  covered  wagon 
drawn  by  three  yoke  of  oxen.  He  died 
when  George  was  seven  years  of  age.  When 
the  family  went  to  Indiana  it  was  wild  and 
unim]irove(.l  and  they  were  in  the  midst  of 
the  Indians,  three  hundred  of  them  being 
encamped  in  front  of  the  log  cabin  home. 
His  father  traded  with  the  Indians  for  coats 
and  other  articles.  At  this  time  in  the  early 
frontier  da}-s  there  were  more  deer  than 
sheep  to  be  seen  in  the  locality,  and  w'ild 
hogs  and  prairie  and  timber  wolves  were 
very  plentiful.  George  W.  Henry  is  one  of 
a  family  of  nine  children.  He  was  early 
left  without  a  father  and  lived  for  a  short 
time  with  his  brother  David.  After  that 
he  went  to  reside  with  a  Mr.  Dawson.  He 
began  life  without  any  capital,  and  worked 
with  diligence.  He  worked  by  the  month 
until  his  twenty-third  year,  receiving  at  an 
early  day  eight  dollars  per  month.  He  has 
a  mowing  machine  which  he  has  operated 
for  forty-two  years  and  during  this  time 
has  cut  fi\^e  thousand  acres  of  grain.  In 
Indiana  he  worked  for  Ebenezer  Lucas. 

In  Indiana  Mr.  Henry  married  Sarah 
Ann  Spickard.  They  had  one  child,  Hes- 
ter, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  weeks,  and 


the  wife  and  mother  also  passed  away.  ^Ir. 
Henry  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
Ijeing  with  Emmrilla  Tajdor,  who  was  born 
in  \\'arren  county,  Indiana,  Octolier  29, 
1832.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Matilda  (Leonard)  Taylor,  the  latter  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky  and  the  former  of  \'ir- 
ginia.  This  marriage  took  place  on  the  2d 
of  December,  1852,  and  the  union  was 
blessed  with  eight  children:  George  M. 
married  Eliza  Watson  and  the\-  had  se\'en 
children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Their 
home  is  in  Lyon  county,  Iowa.  'E.  L.  mar- 
ried 'SI.  A.  Bird,  and  lives  near  jNIarshtield, 
Indiana.  They  are  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  yet  living". 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  James  Allison,  of  Dan- 
ville, and  has  eight  children.  Ira  M.,  now 
deceased,  married  Minerva  \\'atson,  and  they 
had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  still  survive- 
His  home  was  near  INIarshfield,  Indiana, 
Polly  Amanda  tlied  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
James  ^\'iIliam  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
months.  Jennie  Belle  is  the  wife  of  Fred 
Starr  and  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  still 
sur\-ive.  Mrs.  Henry  was  reared  on  the  Illi- 
nois side  at  Stateline,  coming  from  Indiana 
with  her  parents  when  about  a  }'ear  old.  She 
has  seen  the  wolves  so  thick  that  she  feared 
they  would  come  into  her  fatlier"s  home, 
which  was  a  log  cabin  witli  no  glass  in  the 
windows  and  a  stick  chimney.  She  is  the 
oldest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  She  has 
many  times  been  to  her  neighbors  to  borrow 
tire  with  which  to  start  their  tire.  She  remem- 
bers many  incidents  of  pioneer  days  which 
would  be  of  interest  to  our  readers,  would 
space  permit.  She  would  ride  on  horseI)ack 
to  the  town,  for  at  those  times  buggies  were 
not  in  use.  Her  father  would  shear  the 
sheep,  then  wash  the  wool,  have  it  carded 
and  mother  and  daughters  would  spin  it  and 
weave  it.  making  their  homespun  clothing. 


1004 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Mr.  Henry  is  the  only  surviving-  niemter 
of  a  family  of  nine  children.  He  also  has 
one  half  brother.  Alex  Henry,  of  Ambia,  In- 
diana. The  family  record  is  as  follows : 
Margaret,  who  was  the  wife  of  William  Mc- 
Gahon;  Christian,  whom  Mr.  Henry  has 
not  seen  since  he  was  six  years  of  age ;  David, 
who  died  in  Dakota;  Michael;  Mrs.  Ann 
l.eniminy  ;  Robert  Henry ;  George  \V. ;  and 
William  P. 

JNlr.  Henry  began  farming  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana.  The  first  plowing  which 
he  did  was  with  the  wooden  mold  board  and 
strap  plow.  He  next  plowed  with  a 
single  shovel  and  cut  his  grain  with  a  reap 
hook  sickle  and  now  owns  a  reap  hook  of 
pioneer  days,  or  a  sickle  mowing  scythe.  He 
came  Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  in  1853, 
and  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  he 
purchased  at  seven  dollars  per  acre.  When 
liis  father's  estate  was  settled  he  received 
four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  With  this 
and  what  he  had  accumulated  he  paid  for  his 
present  farm,  which  was  fenced  and  partly 
under  .cultivation,  a  portion  being  plowed, 
but  all  around  was  wild  prairie.  On  this 
land  the  Peacock  plow  was  at  first  the  only 
kind  with  which  he  scoured  the  prairies. 
Then  he  had  a  shovel  plow,  and  also  the 
Springfield  plow.  In  this  primitive  period 
there  was  no  kerosene  and  he  has  read  by  the 
light  of  the  prairie  fires.  Thev  burned  hickory 
bark  and  dip  candles  for  lighting,  and  used  a 
crane  over  the  fire  place  before  stoves  came 
into  existence!  When  Mr.  Henry  and  his 
wife  settled  on  their  present  place  wild  game 
of  all  kinds  was  very  plentiful.  Deer,  turk- 
eys, cranes,  ducks,  geese  and  prairie  chickens 
were  to  be  had  in  abundance,  and  the  tables 
of  the  pioneers  were  loaded  with  delectable 
food,  such  as  would  delight  the  epicure  of 
the  present  day.  Many  a  time  Mr.  Henry 
assisted  his  mother  to  spin  the  wool,  and  all 


of  the  wool  so  spun  was  woven  at  home  into 
clothing  for  the  family.  The  nearest  trad- 
ing point  to  their  home  was  Danville.  In 
the  early  days  the  produce  from  his  farm 
Mr.  Henry  hauled  to  Covington,  Indiana. 
He  made  one  trip  to  Chicago  when  a  boy, 
with  his  brother  David,  in  a  wagon  drawn 
by  oxen  and  loaded  with  eight  barrels  of 
pork.  They  had  to  pass  over  many  sloughs 
and  camped  out  at  night  on  the  prairies,  sur- 
rounded by  howling  wolves.  Mr.  Henry's 
present  farm  comprises  three  hundred  acres 
on  section  28,  Newell  township.  Here  he 
has  for  years  carried  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  and  through  his  industry  has 
acc|uired  a  comfortable  competence,  his  well 
tilled  fields  and  substantial  home  and  build- 
ings indicating  the  enterprises  and  thrift  of 
the  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mrs.  Henry  is  an 
earnest  worker  therein  and  Mr.  Henry  lias 
been  a  member  since  he  was  fifteen  years  of 
age.  joining  the  church  in  Newell  township. 
He  has  been  class  leader,  steward  and  Sun- 
day-school superintendent  and  at  present  is 
acting  as  trustee.  He  has  been  identified 
with  the  erection  of  nearly  all  the  churches 
of  Newell  township,  and  the  first  one  built  at 
Myersville.  Church  service  was  held  at  his 
home  before  the  church  was  built,  and  later 
at  the  schoolhouse,  and  they  had  to  use  the 
wood  thrown  into  the  firqilace  as  a  light. 
Since  his  arrival  in  this  community  Mr. 
Henry  has  taken  a  deep  and  active  interest 
in  Christian  work  and  advancement,  mani- 
festing his  love  for  the  Master,  and  many  a 
one  has  been  helped  and  inspired  to  better 
deeds  through  his  influence.  He  has  ever 
been  interested  in  the  cause  of  education. 
He  helped  to  build  the  first  school  in  his 
neighborhood  and  many  other  schools.  He 
is  now  living  a  retired  life,  having  rented 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1005 


nearly  all  his  land,  and  he  well  merits  the 
enjoyment  of  his  present  peaceful  life.  In 
politics  Air.  Henry  is  a  Democrat,  believing 
firmly  in  the  principles  of  the  party  to  which 
he  lends  his  support. 

We  trust  that  in  the  lines  of  this  sketch 
we  have  plainly  set  forth  the  beautiful  spirit 
which  has  ever  permeated  the  life  of  Mr. 
Henry  and  which  has  made  him  honored  and 
revered  in  tiie  community  where  he  makes 
his  home.  From  the  efforts  of  such  worthy 
pioneers  has  resulted  the  prosperity  whicli 
\'ermilion  county  enjoys  and  Mr.  and  Airs. 
Henry  are  citizens  well  worthy  of  mention 
in  this  history.  At  a  funeral  service  held 
at  State  Line  City,  a  certain  song  was  re- 
(|uested.  and  the  only  one  who  remembered 
the  song  was  "L'ncle  George."  He  sang  it 
over  the  phone,  at  a  distance  of  nine  miles, 
to  the  satisfaction  and  comfort  of  the  friends 
and  relatives.  By  such  acts  as  these  he  has 
endeared  himself  to  a  large  circle  of  friemls. 
Just  before  their  return  to  Kansas  L'ncle 
Aaron  Taylor  and  his  family  were  at  Mr. 
Henry's  on  Thanksgiving  day  and  requested 
him  to  sing  the  song  once  more  which  he 
obligingly  did. 


WILLIAM  J.  AXKER. 

\\"hen  si.xteen  years  of  age  William  J. 
Anker  Iiegan  business  in  the  line  to  which  he 
yet  de\otes  his  energies.  He  is  now  a  well 
known  and  successful  florist  of  Danville,  car- 
rying on  a  retail  business  at  314  North  Jack- 
son street,  which  is  bringing  to  him  gratify- 
ing success.  He  was  born  about  a  mile  east 
of  the  city  on  the  23d  of  January,  1872,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Sophia  (Kanock) 
Anker,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many.     They   were   married,   however,    in 


Danville.  The  father  made  a  specialty  of 
market  ganlening  and  from  the  time  when 
he  took  up  his  abode  here  he  remained  con- 
tinuously a  resident  of  Vermilion  ctnmty 
until  his  death.  This  covered  a  period  of 
thirty-four  years,  for  he  arrived  here  in  1863 
and  it  was  in  i8()7  that  he  passed  away.  His 
wife  departed  this  life  June  18,  1893.  In 
their  family  were  seven  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living — Martha,  Albert,  Charles  and 
\\  illiam  J.  Charles  is  conducting  a  bakery 
and  confectionery  establishment  at  Catlin, 
Illinois,  and  Albert  is  connected  with  the 
Kellyville  Coal  Company. 

In  the  common  schools  of  this  city  Will- 
iam J.  Anker  ac(|uired  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation and  later  he  pursued  a  business  course 
in  the  \'an  Buskirk  Commercial  College.  At 
the  age  of  sixteen  he  became  connected  with 
the  work  of  cultivating  flowers.  He  built 
a  greenhouse  and  thus  opened  the  establish- 
ment whicli  he  has  since  conducted  with  in- 
creasing success,  his  trade  continually  grow- 
ing as  the  years  pass.  He  has  made  a  close 
and  tiiorough  study  of  the  best  methods  of 
cultivating  fancy  flowers  and  has  a  compre- 
hensive and  accurate  knowledge  of  this 
branch  of  industry.  For  fifteen  years  he  lias 
now  carried  on  business.  His  greenhouses 
are  well  equipped  with  all  modern  accessories 
needed  in  this  line  and  he  produces  some  of 
the  finest  floral  specimens  ever  seen  in  Dan- 
ville or  the  surrounding  country.  He  large- 
ly sells  to  the  local  trade  yet  his  shipments 
a.re  quite  extensive  and  this  branch  of  his 
business  is  constantly  increasing  in  volume. 

On  the  i6th  of  July,  1893,  Mr.  Anker 
was  married  in  Danville  to  Martha  Pries, 
who  was  born  on  the  state  line.  March  25, 
1873.  and  is  an  ailopted  daughter  of  Christ 
Pries.  Her  father's  name  was  Henry  Schau- 
berger.  Her  mother  died  during  her  infancy 
and  the  little  daughter  was  then  adopted  by 


'ibo6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


INIr.  Pries.  By  her  marriage  she  has  become 
the  mother  of  two  children,  but  Helena,  born 
"March  15,  1895,  "^^'^^  September  i.  1899.  at 
the  age  of  four  years  and  six  montlis.  The 
living  daughter,  Esther,  was  born  March  11, 
1900.  i\Ir.  Anker  owns  his  home  in  Dan- 
ville and  also  some  business  property  in  this 
<:ity.  He  belongs  to  the  Danville  Local 
Musicians  Association.  Xo.  90,  and  was 
formerly  connected  with  the  Danville  Odd 
Fellows  Band.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
-German  Lutheran  church.  His  entire  life 
lias  been  passed  in  this  city  or  its  immediate 
vicinity  and  he  is  \-ery  widely  known  to 
many  residents  of  \'erniilion  county  with 
whom  he  has  had  either  social  or  business 
■relations.  He  has  won  due  recognition  of 
■labor  in  trade  circles  and  has  gained  many 
friends  in  social  life  by  reason  of  the  sterl- 
ing traits  of  his  character,  which  commend 
liim  to  the  I'egard  and  good  will  of  all  witli 
"whom  he  has  been  associated. 


LE\\'IS    C.    ^lESSXER. 

I'hough  the  life  of  Lewis  C.  ]\Iessner 
has  been  one  rather  of  modest  reserve  than 
of  ambitious  self-seeking,  he  has  shown  him- 
self the  peer  of  the  leading  men  of  Vermilion 
"county  whose  efforts  and  mental  talents 
ha\-e  won  for  them  success  and  who  have 
pushed  forward  the  wheels  of  progress  and 
have  contributed  to  the  upbuilding  of  their 
respective  communities.  !Mr.  ]\Iessner  has 
hot  sought  to  figure  prominently  before  his 
fellow  men  in  a  political  way  but  has  so 
directed  his  energies  in  the  private  walks  of 
life  that  his  labors  have  been  of  benefit  to 
his  fellow  men,  while  bringing  to  him  his 
individual  success.  For  many  years  he 
jpracticed  medicine,  was  also  connected  with 


mercantile  enterprises  in  Potomac  and  is 
now  a  representative  of  its  banking  interests. 

Dr.  Messner  was  born  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio.  December  i^.  1844,  a  son  of  William 
and  Anna  (  Hagerty)  Messner.  The  Mess- 
ner family  is  of  German  origin  but  was 
founded  in  America  at  an  early  day. 
\\"i!liam  Messner  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Darke 
county.  Ohio,  whence  he  afterward  remo\-ed 
to  Muncie.  Indiana.  For  many  years  he 
was  a  resident  of  Jo  Daviess  county,  Illinois, 
but  eventually  returned  to  Warren  county, 
Indiana,  where  his  last  years  were  passed, 
but  he  died  in  Potomac,  Illinois,  while 
visiting  in  the  home  of  our  subject.  A 
physician  by  profession,  he  practiced  success- 
fully both  in  Illinois  and  Indiana,  doing 
much  for  the  alleviation  of  human  suffering 
in  the  communities  in  which  he  lived.  His 
wife  has  also  departed  this  life.  They  were 
the  parents  af  ten  children,  of  whom  three 
are  living. 

Lewis  C.  Messner  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  various  removals  and  ac- 
quired the  greater  part  of  his  literary 
etlucation  in  the  schools  of  Jo  Daviess 
county.  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
left  school  and  began  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Elizabeth.  Illinois,  being  thus  employed  for 
fi\e  years,  during  which  time  he  earned  the 
money  necessary  for  a  college  course. 
Determining  to  engage  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  he  pursued  his  first  course  of 
lectures  in  the  winter  of  1865-6  and  in  the 
latter  year  came  to  Potomac,  where  he 
practiced  until  1871.  He  then  became  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago 
and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1S72.  Return- 
ing to  Potomac  he  practiced  successfully  for 
seventeen  years,  enjoying  a  large  patronage 
indicative  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  his 
skill  and  ability.     On  retiring  from  the  pro- 


UNiVERoliy  CF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1009 


fession  Dr.  Messner  devoted  liis  attention 
to  liis  mercantile  interests,  which  he  had 
previousl}'  estabHshed.  He  was  the  owner 
of  a  general  merchantile  store  which  he 
began  to  enlarge  and  extend  in  scope  after 
ceasing  his  professional  labors  and  later  he 
associated  his  son  with  him  under  the  firm 
name  of  L.  C.  Messner  &  Son,  this  relation- 
ship being  maintained  until  1901,  when  the 
Doctor  disposed  of  his  mercantile  interests. 
In  18S2,  in  connection  with  John  Smith,  he 
established  the  Bank  of  Marysville.  at 
Potomac,  and  for  fifteen  years  these  gentle- 
men were  in  partnership,  since  which  time 
Dr.  Alessner  has  been  alone  in  the  banking 
business,  which  he  has  conducted  success- 
fully, this  being  one  of  the  strong  financial 
institutions  in  this  part  of  the  county.  He 
has  made  a  close  and  thorough  study  of 
whatever  work  has  claimed  his  attention. 
\\'hile  practicing  his  profession  he  kept  in 
touch  with  the  advancement  continually 
being  made  by  the  medical  fraternity  and  in 
his  mercantile  and  banking  methods  he  is 
systematic  and  progressive.  In  addition  to 
his  other  interests  he  is  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Vermilion  county, 
and  associated  with  L.  D.  Lane  he  estab- 
lished the  ]\Iessner  &  Lane  Bank  of  Hen- 
ning. 

In  1866  Lewis  C.  Messner  was  married 
to  ^lary  Drummond  and  unto  them  were 
born  two  children:  William  C.  who  is  en- 
gaged in  banking  and  merchandising  in 
Jamaica,  \'ermilion  county:  and  Xellie  M., 
wife  of  C.  G.  Layton,  of  Potomac.  In  1873 
Dr.  Messner  wedded  Maria  J.  Clarke  and 
their  only  child  died  in  infancy.  In  June. 
1899,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Messner 
and  Jennie  Johnston,  who  died  March  27, 
1903,  leaving  a  baby  boy,  Lewis  Clifton,  Jr., 
born  February  6,   1903, 

Fraternally  Mr.  Messner  is  a  member  of 


the  Masonic  lodge  of  Potomac  and  he  is  a 
member  and  trustee  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  In  politics  a  Republican,  he  has 
long  been  an  active  worker  in  the  ranks  of 
the  party  and  in  1875  he  was  appointed 
school  treasurer  of  township  21.  range  13, 
and  has  held  the  oftice  continuously  since. 
Plans  con.ducive  to  the  general  good  re- 
ceive his  endorsement,  measures  for  the  pub- 
lic benefit  are  given  his  hearty  aid.  At  the 
same  time  he  has  carrietl  on  his  pri\-ate 
business  interests  with  such  energy  that  he 
has  attained  a  place  among  the  most  suc- 
cessful men  of  his  adopted  city. 


J.  M.  WRAY. 

J.  }il.  W'ra}-  was  born  in  Oakwood  town- 
ship. October  14,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  An- 
drew J.  an'd  Ellen  (Smith)  ^\'ray,  the  form- 
er a  native  of  Indiana  and  the  latter  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  father  was  born  in  1825  and 
was  a  son  of  \\'illiam  and  Abigail  (Pass- 
more)  ^^'ray,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
The  Smith  family  was  early  established  in 
Co\'ington.  Indiana,  and  on  the  24tli  of  De- 
cember, 1848,  Ellen  Smith  gave  her  hand  in 
marriage  to  Andrew  J.  Wray,  with  whom 
she  removed  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  in  1853- 
In  their  famil\'  were  nine  children  five  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity.  The  three 
eldest  were  born  in  Fountain  county.  Indiana, 
but  ]\Iary.  the  first  born,  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are:  ]\[rs.  Letitia  Barnhart.  of 
this  county,  and  William,  a  butcher  of  Fith- 
ian  township.  In  their  family  were  also 
twins  who  died  in  infancy  and  the  others 
were:  J.  M. ;  Mrs.  Eliza  \\'ray  and  An- 
drew of  Oakwood  townsliip:  and  .M)igail, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Andrew  L  ^^■rav  is  a  blacksmith  by  occu- 


lOIO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


pation,  following  tliat  pursuit  in  Fountain 
county,  Indiana,  in  early  life.  In  1853  he 
came  to  \'erniilion  county  and  here  pre- 
empted land,  purchasing  his  first  quarter  sec- 
tion for  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents  per 
acre.  He  afterwartl  bought  a  forty  acre 
tract  at  twelve  and  one-half  cents  per  acre, 
it  being  entered  as  swamp  land.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  section  26.  Oakwood  township,  and 
is  now  under  cultivation  being  the  property 
of  the  subject  of  this  review.  Its  value  has 
greatly  increased,  for  it  is  to-day  worth  one 
hundred  and  tweiity-ti\e  dollars  per  acre. 
When  Andrew  J.  W'ray  arri\ed  in  Vermilion 
county,  Danville,  then  a  little  village,  was 
surrounded  by  tracts  of  unbroken  prairie  and 
the  work  of  progress  and  improvement  had 
scarcely  been  begun  here.  He  drove  his 
stock  to  market  at  Chicago  and  prices  were 
very  low  compared  to  those  paid  at  the  pre- 
sent time.  The  country  was  full  of  wild 
game,  including  deer,  and  wolves  were  fre- 
quently killed.  ]\rr.  W'ray  was  a  great  hunt- 
er and  often  returned  to  his  home  with  his 
horse  covered  with  furs  and  pelts  of  animals 
he  had  captured,  many  of  which  were  mink. 
The  first  home  of  the  family  was  a  one-story 
log  house  containing  two  rooms  and  it  was 
in  this  pioneer  cabin  that  all  of  the  children 
were  born  except  the  first  three.  Mr.  W'ray 
lived  upon  the  home  farm  until  1898  and 
during  that  time  placed  it  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  planted  an  orchard  and  added 
all  modern  improvements  and  accessories. 
He  put  in  the  first  tiling  used  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  thus  reclaimed  land  that  had  hither- 
to been  uncultivable.  He  also  built  a  good 
two-story  residence  upon  his  farm.     At  the 


time  of  the  breaking-  out  of  the  C: 


i'ar  he 


offered  his  services  to  the  government  but 
was  not  accepted  because  of  his  eyesight. 
Later,  however,  he  was  drafted  but  not  de- 
siring to  go  at  that  time  he  paiil  one  hundred 


dollars  to  a  substitute.  He  was  one  of  the 
standard  bearers  of  the  Republican  part}-  and 
a  member  of  the  Alethodist  church. 

While  hei'  husband  was  engaged  in  the 
work  of  field  and  meadow  Mrs.  Wray  per- 
formed the  duties  of  the  household  and  the 
equipments  of  the  home  were  equally  pri- 
mitive with  those  of  the  field.  She  remem- 
bers to  ha\'e  seen  the  fires  built  with  flint 
and  tow  and  she  often  spun  and  wove  the 
materials  used  for  clothing  by  the  family. 
She  was  born  April  16,  1826.  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Asa  and  Jane  (Finkland)  Smith, 
both  of  whom  were  nati\-es  of  Kentucky. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children  but  Mrs. 
Wray  was  the  only  child  at  the  time  of  the 
removal  of  the  parents  from  Kentucky  to 
Indiana.  She  can  remember  when  corn  sold 
for  twelve  and  one-half  cents  per  bushel  and 
when  other  farm  produce  brought  equally 
low  prices.  In  order  to  assist  in  securing  a 
comfortable  competence  she  spun  and  wove 
cloth  used  in  making  the  garments  for  the 
family.  Air.  Wray  hauled  the  timber  from 
Covington,  Indiana,  to  build  his  first  house, 
o.xen  being  used  in  the  place  of  horses.  Fre- 
quently the  family  made  their  way  to  church 
in  a  wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  I\lrs.  Wray  driv- 
ing a  yoke  herself.  She  is  a  most  estimable 
lady,  a  worthy  representative  of  a  high  type 
of  pioneer  women,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

J.  M.  Wray,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  had  but  limited  educational  privi- 
leges. In  the  summer  months  he  had  to  herd 
cattle  upon  the  prairie  and  in  the  winter 
season  cared  for  the  stock  in  the  field,  being 
thus  engaged  between  the  ages  of  seven  and 
sixteen  years.  He  then  learned  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter  and  was  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building  for  twenty  years,  or  until  July, 
1902.  when  he  returned  to  the  old  homestead 
farm  and  is  now  actively  engaged  in  agri- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lOl  I 


cultural  work  upon  the  land  which  he  plowed 
when  but  eight  years  of  age.  He  first  used 
an  old  twelve-inch  plow  and  cut  his  grain 
with  a  cradle.  Later  the  rake  was  brought 
into  use  and  in  coiu"se  of  time  improved  ma- 
chinery was  secured  and  greatly  facilitated 
the  work  of  the  farm.  He  has  witnessed  the 
entire  de\'elopment  and  growth  of  the  county 
from  an  uncultivated  prairie  to  its  splendid 
condition  of  the  present  time.  He  lived  here 
at  a  perioil  when  it  was  necessary  to  go  five 
miles  in  order  to  enjoy  educational  privileges, 
but  his  father  was  a  friend  of  the  schools 
and  aided  in  building  four  different  school- 
houses  and  now  within  a  half-mile  of  the 
old  homestead  is  a  substantial  brick  school 
building,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars,  and  the  new- 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  built  at  a  cost 
of  twenty-six  hundred  dollars,  is  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  Mr.  Wray's  home. 

On  the  1 2th  of  July,  1874,  before  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age.  Air.  Wray  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Emma  Brunner,  who  was 
born  June  17,  1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Alatilda  (Dephendahl)  Brunner. 
She  obtained  good  educational  privileges  and 
taught  her  husband  how  to  read  and  write, 
for  he  had  not  learned  to  do  those  things 
when  he  was  married.  Seven  children  have 
been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wray  :  Anna, 
now  deceased:  Elizabeth  J.,  of  Oklahoma; 
Andrew  D.  and  Sarah  I.,  who  have  passed 
away;  Lettie  and  Rettie.  twins  Avho  are  at 
home:  and  Emil,  deceased.  Mrs.  Wray  died 
at  the  l)irth  of  this  child  who  lived  to  be  but 
five  months  old.  Elizabeth,  the  second  mem- 
ber of  the  family,  is  tlie  wife  of  Andrew 
Rookstod.  who  is  living  in  Cleveland,  Okla- 
homa.    They  have  one  chikl,  Ardus. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wray  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  owns  forty  acres  of  the  old 
home  tract  and  is  now  successfully  engaged 


in  farming,  having  a  good  home,  supplied 
with  all  modern  ec]uipments  and  in  keeping 
with  the  edvanced  ideas  of  farming  of  the 
present  day. 


W.  C.  JOHNSON. 

With  a  clear  conception  of  both  the  difii- 
culties  and  possibilities  for  the  development 
and  improvement  of  the  city  through  the 
medium  of  real-estate  transactions,  W.  C. 
Johnson,  a  practical  business  man  with  keen 
foresight  and  executive  ability,  has  laid  out 
the  Oak  Lawn  addition  to  Danville  and  is  to- 
day the  manager  of  the  Danville  Improve- 
ment Association.  Through  his  (jperations 
in  real  estate  he  has  not  only  promoted  his 
own  success  but  has  done  much  for  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  city,  con- 
trolling improvements  in  the  Oak  Lawn  ad- 
dition in  a  way  to  make  it  a  valuable  exten- 
sion to  the  city's  borders. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  born  in  Richmond, 
Kentucky,  December  28,  1858,  and  is  a  son 
of  R.  H.  and  Susan  (Goodloe)  Johnson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Covington,  Indiana,  and 
the  latter  of  Frankfort.  Kentucky.  They 
were  married  in  Richmond  of  the  latter  state 
and  the  father  engaged  in  editing  and  pub- 
lishing the  Richmond  Messenger.  .\t  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  for  service 
ami  after  the  close  of  hostilities  he  came  to 
Danxille,  Illinois,  in  1866.  Here  he  be- 
came editor  of  the  Danville  Plaindealer,  con- 
tinuing his  connection  with  that  paper  for  a 
number  of  years,  after  which  he  became  a 
representative  of  the  Danville  Times.  He 
next  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Danville 
News,  owning  a  part  of  that  paper,  but  after 
nine  years  he  sold  his  interest  and  became  a 
partner  in  the  Danville  Commercial,  con- 
.tinuing  the  publication  of  that  journal  until 


IOI2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


he  retired  permanently  from  the  newspaper 
field.  Ahout  1898  he  was  elected  coroner 
of  \^ermilion  county  and  is  filling  that  office 
at  the  present  time.  An  active  worker  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Republican  party  he  puts 
forth  every  effort  to  promote  its  growth  and 
insure  its  success.  At  one  time  he  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd 
Fellows  Societies,  but  takes  no  active  part  in 
lodge  work  at  the  present  time.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  hold  memliership  in  the  First 
Christian  church. 

W.  C.  Johnson  pursued  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  Richmond  and  afterward  of 
■Danville,  but  has  been  largely  self-educated 
in  the  school  of  experience,  for  at  the  early 
age  of  thirteen  years  he  began  earning  his 
own  living  as  "devil"  in  the  News  printing 
office.  For  eight  years  he  was  employed 
in  different  departments  of  that  printing 
office,  serving  his  apprenticeship  as  a  com- 
positor, and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  entered 
the  government  service  as  assistant  post- 
master of  Danville,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  acceptably  for  eight  and  one-half 
years.  His  next  step  in  the  business  world 
was  as  a  merchant  and  until  1899  he  con- 
tinued his  connection  with  trade,  but  since 
that  time  has  operated  in  real  estate  and 
loans.  As  stated  above,  in  conjunction 
\vith  the  Hon.  George  T.  Buckingham,  he 
laid  out  Oak  Lawn  addition  to  the  city,  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres, 
and  this  he  has  rapidly  platted,  it  proving 
one  of  the  valuable  additions  to  Danville. 
Aside  from  being  manager  of  the  Danville 
Improvement  Association  he  has  other  busi- 
ness interests,  being  the  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  Western  Silica  Company. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1882,  in  this  city, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Johnson  and 
Ida  Ah'ers,  who  was  bom  in  Carey,  Ohio, 
in  November,  1859.  a  daughter  of  Leonard 


and  Susan  (Green wait)  Myers.  In  1899 
Mr.  Johnson  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  7th  of  Feb- 
ruary of  that  year,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Spring  Hill  cemetery.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them  :  ]\Ieta,  Helen  and  Philip 
and  Clinton,  twins. 

Fraternally  connected  with  the  Masons, 
Air.  Johnson  was  raised  in  Danville  Lodge 
in  1882,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  Athels- 
tan  Commandery.  K.  T.  He  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  to  the  Mod- 
ern ^^'oodmen  of  America,  and  is  exalted 
ruler  in  the  Elks  Lodge  of  this  place.  A 
strong  advocate  of  the  political  principles 
constituting  the  platform  of  the  Republican 
part}-,  his  influence  is  gi\en  for  its  support 
and  he  is  now  serving  as  assessor  and  collect- 
or of  Danville  township,  yet  he  has  never 
lieen  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  energ'ies  to 
his  business  affairs  which  capably  controlled 
have  brought  to  him  creditable  success. 


JOSEPH  WERXER. 

Joseph  ^^'emer  is  well  known  in  Danville, 
where  he  is  now  serving  as  alderman,  and  as 
a  representative  of  the  business  interests  of 
the  city  he  is  eng-aged  in  the  manufacture  ot 
cigars.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has 
resided  in  Danville,  his  birth  having  here 
occurred  February  17.  1863.  He  is  a  son 
of  Leopold  and  Johanna  (Myers)  Werner, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany  and 
came  to  America  in  the  year  of  1S56.  settling 
first  in  Stamford.  Connecticut,  where  the 
father  was  employed  in  a  foundry  for  a  few 
years.  He  then  came  west,  establishing  his 
home  in  Covington.  Indiana,  where  he  de- 
voted his  energies  to  the  pork-packing  busi- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1013 


ness  for  several  years.  His  next  removal 
brought  him  to  Danville  and  here  he  contin- 
ued pork-jjacking  until  a  few  years  had  gone 
by,  when  he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Xewell  township  and  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  that  business  claiming  his  attention 
until  his  demise,  which  occurred  in  Septem- 
ber. 1S98.  His  widow  still  survives  him 
and  resides  on  the  old  family  homestead  in 
Newell  township.  This  worthy  couple  were 
the  parents  of  five  children  :  Teresa,  the 
wife  of  John  M.  Conlin.  who  is  foreman  of 
the  Commercial  office,  of  Danville;  August, 
who  operates  the  home  farm  in  Newell  town- 
ship :  Catherine,  who  resides  with  her  moth- 
er ;  Adolph.  who  is  employed  by  the  Consoli- 
dated Ice  Company  of  Chicago ;  and  Joseph, 
of  this  re\iew. 

Like  the  other  members  of  the  family 
Joseph  \\'erner  pursued  his  education  in  the 
school  near  his  home  and  then  began  work- 
ing for  Joseph  McAuliffe  in  a  cigar  factory 
of  Danville.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  em- 
ployed in  different  cigar  factories,  and  in 
18S9  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, establishing  a  manufactory  at  No. 
305  South  street,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained. He  employs  a  number  of  ex- 
perienced workmen  and  manufactures  sev- 
eral kinds  of  high  grade  cigars,  selling  most- 
ly to  the  local  trade.  His  business  has 
reached  profiitable  proportions  and  in  the 
enterprise  which  he  established  thirteen  years 
ago  he  is  finding  a  good  source  of  income. 

Mr.  Werner  was  married  to  Miss  ]\Iary 
Carey,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter 
of  Patrick  and  Mary  Carey,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Four  children  have  been  born 
unto  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Carl,  Mar- 
garet, Catherine  an.d  Elizabeth. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Werner  has 
always  been  an  earnest  Democrat,  keeping 
well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day  and 


taking  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
Democracy.  He  has  served  as  an  alderman 
of  Danville  for  the  past  ten  years  and  at  the 
present  time  is  liolding  the  office.  Progress, 
reform  and  improvement  have  been  the 
causes  for  which  he  has  labored  in  his  official 
position  and  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  city 
have  not  been  without  desirable  result.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Alodern  Wood- 
men of  Danville,  with  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters,  and  with  the  Cigarmakers"  Lhiion 
No.  So.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  meml)ers 
of  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  church  of  Danville, 
and  they  reside  at  No.  419  Commercial  street, 
where  the  hospitality  of  their  home  is  greatly 
enioved  bv  their  many  friends. 


JOSEPH  BAIRD. 

More  than  one-third  of  a  century  ago 
Joseph  Baird  became  a  resident  of  \>rmilion 
county  and  has  since  been  a  representative  of 
its  agricultural  interests.  He  has  \vitnessed 
much  of  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
county  within  this  period  and  has  ever  mani- 
fested a  deep  and  acti\-e  interest  in  measures 
pretaining  to  the  general  good.  His  life, 
though  cjuietly  passed,  has  been  characterized 
by  all  that  is  honorable  and  straightforward 
in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow  men  and  he 
therefore  commands  the  respect  and  confi- 
tlence  of  those  with  wIumu  he  has  been 
associated. 

Mr.  Baird  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  November  15,  1825,  and  comes  of  a 
family  of  Irish  lineage,  his  paternal  grand- 
father, John  Baird,  having  been  born  on 
the  Emeraild  isle,  whence  he  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  the  new  world.  Thomas  Baird, 
the  father,  was  a  native  of  Ohio  and  after 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Sus- 


I0I4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


an  Hughes,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. She  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Hughes,  for  whom  our  subject  was  named, 
and  who  was  a  stonemason  by  trade.  The 
wedding  of  Thomas  Baird  and  Susan 
Hughes  was  celebrated  in  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  began  domestic  life,  the 
father  devoting  his  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  Subsequently  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Brown  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained imtil  his  death,  which  occurred  about 
i860.  His  wife  survived  him  for  only  a 
brief  period,  passing  away  in  1862.  at  which 
time  she  was  laid  to  rest  by  his  side  in  Rail- 
road cemetery,  of  Brown  county.  In  his 
political  views  Thomas  Baird  was  a  stanch 
Democrat,  unfaltering  in  his  support  of  jhe 
principles  in  which  he  believed  and  lx)th  he 
and  his  wife  were  loyal  and  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  In  their  fami- 
ly were  eight  children :  John,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years ;  Mary  Jane, 
who  wedded  J.  Runalds.  a  resident  of  Ne- 
braska ;  Joseph ;  Frank,  who  married  Agnes 
Jordan  and  after  her  death  wedded  Sallie 
Ann  Baldwin,  but  both  he  and  his  second 
wife  died  in  Champaign,  Illinois ;  George. 
W'ho  was  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army  in  the 
Civil  war  and  died  from  the  effects  of  his 
military  service;  Thomas,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years:  Katie  Ann.  who  died 
at  the  age  of  ten  years;  and  J.  S..  who 
wedded  Julia  Sparks  and  after  her  death 
married  Rella  Neville.  His  second  wife  died 
and  he  then  married  Mrs.  Smith,  making 
his  home  near  Indianapolis.  Indiana. 

Joseph  Baird  pursued  his  education  in 
subscription  schools.  He  was  first  a  student 
at  Briar  Red  school  in  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
the  little  temple  of  learning  being  built  of 
hewed  logs  and  supplied  with  slab  seats 
which  rested  upon  wooden  pegs.  He  \x- 
came  an  expert  at  making  goose  quill  pens 


and  he  mastered  the  elementary  branches  of 
learning  there  taught.  Later  he  continued 
his  education  in  the  Koppel  school,  which 
was  also  conducted  on  the  subscription  plan. 
Through  the  winter  months  he  there  pur- 
sued his  studies  while  in  the  summer  months 
he  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen,  however,  he  put  aside  his 
text-books  altogether  and  thereafter  his 
knowledge  was  broadened  through  reading, 
experience  and  observation.  Learning  the 
blacksmith's  trade  he  followed  that  pursuit 
in  Brown  county.  Ohio,  for  a  time  and  subse- 
quently removed  to  Ripley  in  L'nion  town- 
ship near  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  where  he  secured 
employment  at  his  trade. 

While  residing  in  that  locality  Mr.  Baird 
sought  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey  and  wedded  iliss  Elizabeth  Ann 
Baldwin,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  she  sur- 
\i\-ed  for  only  a  few  years,  passing  away  in 
1857.  In  1859  Mr.  Baird  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Lucinda 
W'yckoff,  who  died  in  i860.  In  1863  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Mary  Neal,  who  is  now 
living  with  him  in  this  county.  In  the  year 
1865  Joseph  Baird  came  to  ^^ermilion  coun- 
ty. Illinois,  establishing  his  home  upon  a 
farm  which  he  cultivated  for  some  time.  He 
then  sold  that  property  and  removed  to  Fair- 
mount.  Later,  however,  he  rented  a  farm 
and  is  now  living  in  Catlin  township,  super- 
intending his  agricultural  interests.  His 
sons,  George.  Frank  and  Smiley,  had  all 
come  to  \'ermilion  county  several  years  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  father  and.  purchasing 
land  here,  had  become  well-to-do. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Baird  had  six 
children :  Thomas,  now  deceased,  married 
IMartha  Jones  and  his  widow  resides  with 
her  two  sons  in  Fairmount.  George,  the 
second  of  the  family,  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.     Sarah   Tane  is  the  deceased 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1015 


wife  of  Henry  Browning  who  married  again 
and  lived  in  ^'ance  township,  \'ennihon 
connty.  but  botli  he  and  liis  second  wife  ha\o 
also  passed  away.  Frank  is  also  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Smiley  married 
Hattie  Browning  by  whom  he  has  five  chil- 
dren and  they  reside  upon  a  farm  at  Homer. 
Charles,  the  young'est  child  of  this  marriage, 
tiled  at  the  age  of  four  years.  The  children 
lx)m  unto  Air.  Baird  and  his  present  wife 
were  two  in  number,  but  only  one  is  now 
living,  Samuel  J.,  who  married  Etta  Allison 
and  resides  with  his  father  upon  the  farm  in 
Catlin  township.  He  has  two  daughters. 
In  his  political  views  Joseph  Baird  is  in- 
dependent. He  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issites  of  the  day,  but  gives  his 
vote  in  support  of  men  and  measures  rather 
than  of  party.  While  living  in  Ohio  he 
served  as  super\-isor  for  four  terms,  but  he 
has  ne\er  I)een  an  office  seeker,  preferring 
that  his  time  and  attention  should  be  given 
to  his  business  interests.  His  life  record 
now  co\-ers  sevaity-seven  years  and  there  is 
much  in  his  career  that  is  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. Industrious  and  energetic  he  has 
lalxired  earnestly  for  the  welfare  of  his  fami- 
ly and  in  all  business  relations  has  been  found 
honorable  and  trustworthy.  In  matters  of 
citizenship  he  is  public-spirited  and  progres- 
sive, withholding  his  support  trom  no  mea- 
sure which  he  has  belie\-ed  would  pro\-e  of 
general  good.  During  his  residence  in  Ver- 
milion county  he  has  become  widely  known 
and  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact  entertain  for  him  high  regard. 


BYROX  E.  CROXKHITE. 

Byron  E.  Cronkhite  is  a  well  known  man- 
ufacturer of  Rossville  and  for  fortv  years  he 
was  enrolled  among  the  wide-awake  and  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  Vermilion  countv.  still 


owning  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  val- 
uable lanil  which  lies  in  Ross  and  Grant 
townships.  From  the  spring  of  i860  he  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county  and  his  fidelity 
to  the  duties  of  a  pul)lic  and  private  life  has 
been  the  salient  element  in  winning  for  him 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  men. 
'Sh:  Cronkhite  was  born  in  \\'arren  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  a  son  of  Sidney  Cronkhite, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  New  York,  in  1808. 
Levi  Cronkhite,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  a  native  of  the  Empire  state 
and  was  of  German  descent,  the  family  hav- 
ing been  established  in  Xew  York  at  a  very 
early  day  by  emigrants  from  the  fatherland. 
About  1813  he  removed  to  Ohio  and  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  that  state,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  about  1828. 
He  then  went  to  Warren  county,  Indiana, 
settling  near  the  present  town  of  3ilarshfield, 
wliere  he  purchased  land  and  de\e]oped  an 
extensixe  farm  in  connection  with  his  broth- 
ers. Sidney  Cronkhite  was  a  tall  young 
man  of  eighteen  years  when  the  family  locat- 
ed in  the  Hoosier  state.  As  a  companion 
and  helpmate  for  life  journey  he  later 
chose  Cornelia  Tillotson,  who  was  born  in 
X'ew  Y'ork  and  was  a  daughter  of  Luther 
Tillotson,  another  early  settler  of  Warren 
county.  Indiana.  Sidney  Cronkhite  be- 
came an  extensix'e  farmer  there.  He 
worked  early  anil  late  in  order  to  improve 
the  fields  and  raise  good  crops  and  in  course 
of  time  became  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm, 
upon  which  he  reard  his  family.  There  lie 
also  spent  his  last  years,  passing  away  in 
1875.  His  wife  had  died  about  1843  and  he 
had  afterward  married  again.  By  the  first 
marriage  there  were  four  children  :  Priscil- 
la,  the  wife  of  Mansfield  Reece,  a  farmer  of 
Rice  county,  Kansas:  John  \\'.,  who  died  in 
1872:  Byron  E.,  of  this  review:  and  Levi 
M..  who  resides  in  Grant  township. 


ioi6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


In   \\'arren   county,   Indiana,   Byron   E. 
Cronkhite  spent  tlie  days  of  his  childhood 
upon  his  father's  farm  and  at  tlie  usual  age  he 
entered  tlie  common  schools,  there  pursuing 
his  studies.     He  remained  on  the  home  place 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority  and  in  the 
fall  of  1850  he  came  to  ^'ermillion  county. 
Illinois.     Here  he  spent  a  short  time  but  did 
not  locate  permanently  until  the  spring  of 
i860.     He  first  leased  a  tract  of  land,  broke 
the  fields  and  further  improved  the  property. 
Later  he  purchased  land  and  added  to  his 
original  purchase  from  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  increased,  so  that  he  now 
owns  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  the  great- 
er part  of  which  is  contained  in  one  tract. 
He  has  erected  two  good  houses  and  two 
sets  of  farm  buildings,  has  planted  orchards, 
has  laid  many  rods  of  tiling  and  has  thus 
made    substantial    improvements    upon    his 
land,  which  he  has  converted  into  valuable 
farms.     He  also  engaged  successfully  in  rais" 
ing  and  feeding  stock,  but  for  several  years 
he  has  rented  his  land,  while  he  makes  his 
home  in  Rossville.     He  came  to  the  town  in 
the  winter  of  1902  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  novelties.      He  has  gotten 
out  several  important  patents  on  devices  of 
his   own   invention,    including   a  plasterer's 
trestle  and  also  a  grain  separator.     Both  are 
valuable  pieces  of  mechanism  and  are  des- 
tined to  have  a  large  sale  in  the  business 
world.      He    established    a   tile    factory    in 
Grant  township  in  1883  and  was  engaged  in 
its  operation  until  1888,  making  tile  in  order 
to  transform  the  swampy  land  into  produc- 
tive fields.  Mr.  Cronkhite  is  one  of  the  direct- 
ors and  stockholders  in  The  Fairweight  Scale 
Company,    of   Danville.      He   has   twenty- 
seven  acres  just  outside  the  corporate  limits 
of  that  city,  of  which  he  has  set  off  nine  acres 
on  which  the  company  is  going  to  erect  a 
factory,  the  rest  being  laid  off  in  town  lots. 


Mr.  Cronkhite  is  a  prominent  Mason,  be- 
longing to  the  blue  lodge  and  chapter.  He 
votes  independently  at  local  elections,  regard- 
ing only  the  capability  of  the  candidates. 
His  first  presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  Ab- 
raham Lincoln  in  i860  and  for  some  years 
thereafter  he  was  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  A  self-made  man,  he  deserves 
much  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished. 
As  the  years  passed  he  prospered  in  his  work 
of  improving  his  farm  and  his  extensive 
landed  possessions  are  the  visible  evidence  of 
his  life  of  industry,  thrift  and  enteiprise. 


W.  W.  DULEY, 


\\'.  \Y.  Duley.  a  real-estate  and  collecting 
agent  of  Hoopeston,  who  is  also  filling  the 
position  of  justice  of  the  peace,  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  22d  of 
May,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  Duley 
who  was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  an  enterprising  farmer. 
The  subject  of  this  review  comes  of  Irish 
lineage.  His  great-grandfather  in  the  pa- 
ternal line  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  isle, 
spelled  his  name  Dooley,  and  became  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  the  new  world. 
Hiram  Duley  was  the  owner  of  considerable 
land  in  Kentucky  and  successfully  carried  on 
farming  throughout  the  years  of  his  busi- 
ness career.  He  died,  however,  in  1842, 
when  the  subject  of  this  review  was  but  five 
years  of  age.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sophia  Northcott,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish lineage.  She  is  still  living  in  Kentucky 
at  the  old  home  place,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
two  years.  After  the  death  of  Rev.  Hiram 
Duley  she  married  his  brother,  Charles  Z. 
Duley,  who  died  several  years  ago.  Our 
subject  had  two  brothers  and  one  sister  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1017 


one  of  the  brothers  and  tlie  sister  are  yet  hv- 
ing.  namely:  Benjamin  Z..  wlio  resides  in 
Cato.  Arkansas,  and  Airs.  Martha  Siiields. 
wliose  home  is  in  Ludlow,  Missouri. 

Upon  the  home  farm  \V.  W.  Duley  \vas 
reared.  He  received  but  limited  educational 
])ri\ileges  in  the  schools  of  Kentucky  and  ;it 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  lett  home, 
after  w  hich  he  conducted  a  steam  sawmill  in 
the  mountains.  He  thus  made  a  fair  start 
in  life,  successfully  conducting  this  enter- 
prise for  three  years.  In  i8(k»  he  came  to 
Vermilion  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  ami  worked  until  the 
time  of  his  enlistment  for  service  as  a  defend- 
er of  the  L'nion  in  the  Civil  war.  It  was  on 
the  1st  of  September,  i86r,  that  he  was  en- 
rolled among-  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  C, 
Thirty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  E.  B.  Payne  and  Colo- 
nel Charles  Black.  Pie  served  under  (Gen- 
erals Fremont,  Curtis,  Schofield  antl  Herron, 
with  the  Army  of  the  Frontier,  being  en- 
gaged in  duty  in  Arkansas,  Missouri  and 
Indian  Territory.  He  assisted  in  the  cap- 
ture of  a  part  of  QuantrelTs  band  at  Silver 
Creek,  Missouri,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Pea  Ridge  and  Sugar  Creek,  Arkansas,  antl 
Newtonia  and  Neosha,  Missouri.  .\t  the 
battle  of  Pea  Ridge  he  was  wounded  in  the 
knee,  and  still  carries  the  bullet  there,  but  has 
sufYereil  no  inconvenience  from  his  wound. 
At  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas, 
however,  he  was  shot  in  the  thigh  and  this 
to  some  extent  has  interferred  in  the  use  of 
the  limb.  The  government  now  gives  him 
a  pension  of  eight  dollars  per  month.  He 
served  as  a  private  and  on  account  of  his 
Wdund  was  honorably  discharged  at  Spring- 
field, Missouri,  returning  to  his  home  in  \'er- 
milion  county  about  the  ist  of  April,  1863. 

Through  the  following  year  Mr.  Duley 
engaged  in  no  work,  recui)erating  from  his 

41 


wounds  and  his  army  experience.  He  then 
began  handling  horses,  buying  and  selling  a 
number  of  stallions,  and  a  year  later  he  re- 
turned his  attention  to  farming,  which  lie 
continued  until  1891.  In  1872  he  purchased 
one  huntlred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  seven 
miles  southeast  of  Hoopeston,  there  making 
his  home  until  1883,  when  he  went  west  to 
Soutli  Dakiita  and  secured  a  claim  of  govern- 
ment land.  He  had  three  rights  under  the 
law  and  thus  obtained  four  hundred  acres. 
For  six  years  he  remained  in  that  state,  after 
which  he  sold  a  part  of  his  land  and  mort- 
gagetl  part,  and  returned  to  Grant  township, 
\'ermilion  county.  He  lost  everything  he 
had  in  Soutli  Dakota  because  of  three  suc- 
cessive failures  of  crops,  having  undertaken 
to  farm  in  the  new  country  when  the  land 
was  not  adapted  for  that  purpose.  For  two 
years  after  his  return  Mr.  Duley  engaged  in 
farming  the  land  of  C.  A.  Allen.  In  i8gi 
he  came  to  Hoopeston,  entering  the  emi)Ioy 
of  the  Illinois  Can  Company,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years  in  the  yard  and  on 
the  farm  during  the  summer  seasons.  He 
was  then  elected  jvistice  of  the  peace  in  1897, 
and  in  1901  he  was  re-elected,  so  that  he  is 
now  serving  a  second  term.  His  decisions 
are  fair  and  impartial,  being  based  upon  legal 
principles  and  the  equity  of  the  case.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  real-estate  operations  and  in 
making  collections. 

In  Bath  county,  Kentucky,  in  1864,  Mr. 
Duley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Letitia 
W^ilson,  who  was  born  in  Indiana.  She  had 
one  IjHither  who  is  yet  living,  George  T. 
Wilson,  a  farmer  of  Grant  township.  For 
about  fifteen  years  he  was  foreman  of  the 
Illinois  Can  Company,  being  the  field 
manager  during  the  crop  season  and  also 
acting  as  overseer  for  the  delivery  of  the 
corn  to  the  factory  during  the  canning  seas- 
on.    In  190J  Mr.  Duley  was  called  u])on  to 


ioi8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


mourn  tlie  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  tlie 
7th  of  July  of  that  year,  her  demise  greatly 
regretted,  hecause  she  possessed  many  excel- 
lent (lualities  which  endeared  her  to  a  large 
circle  of  friends.  She  left  three  children : 
Ina  M.,  the  wife  of  J-  ^^'■  Ogden.  who  is  a 
mail  agent  on  the  \\'ahash  Railroad ;  George, 
who  is  with  his  father  in  business ;  and  John, 
who  married  Frances  Fernald.  of  Hoopeston. 
He  is  a  tra\eling-  salesman  representing  a 
Louisville  house,  and  makes  his  home  in 
Hoopeston. 

In  his  political  views  ]\lr.  Duley  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican  and  for  five  years  was  town- 
ship constable.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  for  nearly  forty 
years  has  been  a  memljer  of  the  Christian 
church.  Having  long  resided  in  this  locality, 
his  acquaintance  is  very  wide  and  he  enjoys 
the  favorable  regard  of  many  with  whom  he 
has  been  brovght  in  contact. 


FRANK  A.  GIDDIXGS. 

Frank  A.  Giddings  was  born  in  Danville 
May  6,  1868.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
William  Giddings.  a  native  of  Bedfortlshire. 
England,  in  which  place  he  was  reared  and 
married.  He  learned  the  trade  of  wagon- 
making  in  that  country  and  in  1837  sailed 
from  London  to  the  new  world,  coming 
direct  to  Danville  by  way  of  the  lakes,  the 
canal  and  thence  by  team  to  his  destination. 
He  first  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman, 
but  as  .soon  as  he  had  saved  enough  he  pur- 
chased his  employers  business  and  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and  plows, 
constructing  the  latter  with  wooden  mold 
boards,  but  later  manufacturing  steel  plows. 
He  also  continued  the  manufacture  of  wag- 
ons and  carriages,  building  up  an  extensive 
business,  which  he  continued  up  to  the  time 


of  his  death  in  1875.  He  married  Miss  Caro- 
line Kitchener,  who  died  in  1874.  Their 
son,  Jiilm  W.  Giddings.  became  the  father 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Danville 
and  became  associated  in  business  with  his 
father  and  for  many  years  continued  in  the 
manufacture  of  wagons  and  plows.  He 
also  established  a  heavy  hardware  business 
now  conducted  by  his  son,  Frank,  entering 
into  partnership  with  James  A.  Patterson, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Giddings  &  Patter- 
son in  1879.  The  firm  of  J.  W.  Giddings 
&  Son  became  successors  to  the  original  firm 
in  1894  and  in  1900  the  father  sold  his  in- 
terest to  his  son.  J.  W.  Giddings  has  since 
been  engaged  in  agricultural  implement 
business  at  Xd'.  1 1  Hazel  street  and  thus  for 
many  year  he  has  continued  an  active  factor 
in  commercial  life  in  Danville  and  his  bus- 
iness atYairs  have  contributed  largely  to  the 
commercial  upbuilding  of  the  city.  In  1867 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Samantha 
McKee.  who  was  born  in  Georgetown,  Illi- 
nois, and  they  have  two  children,  Frank  A. 
and  William  E.,  the  latter  connected  with 
the  Danville  fire  department. 

In  his  youth  Frank  A.  Giddings  attended 
the  schools  of  Danville  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  entered  his  father's  establishment, 
becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  heavy 
hardware  business  in  every  detail.  He  con- 
tinued as  an  employe  until  1890.  when  he 
went  west  to  W'ashington.  there  remaining 
until  the  fall  of  1891.  when  he  returned  to 
this  city  and  again  entered  his  father's  store. 
In  1894  he  purchased  a  partial  interest  in 
the  business  which  was  conducted  under 
the  firm  name  of  J.  W.  GicUlings  &  Son 
until  I  goo.  when  I'rank  A.  Gidding's  became 
sole  proprietor.  He  has  since  conducted  the 
enterprise  with  constantly  increasing  suc- 
cess. He  handles  everything  in  the  line  of 
blacksmith's    and    wagon-maker's    supplies. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


10 1 9 


doing  botli  a  wholesale  and  retail  business, 
covering  eastern  Illinois  and  western  In- 
diana. His  house  sustains  an  excellent 
reputation  because  of  its  conformity  to  com- 
mercial ethics  and  its  proprietor  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  business  circles. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1891,  Frank 
A.  Giddings  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  F. 
DuBois.  of  State  Line,  Indiana,  a  daughter 
of  Frank  G.  DuBois,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Warren  county,  Indiana.  Her 
father  died  in  1901  and  his  w-idow,  who 
lx3re  the  maiden  name  of  Caroline  L.  H. 
Kent,  is  now  living  with  Mr.  and  ^Irs. 
Giddings.  A  son.  Frank  J.,  biirn  September 
24,  1892,  adds  life  and  light  h>  the  Gid- 
dings household. 

Fraternally  Mr.  Giddings  is  connected 
with  the  Damascus  Lodge,  Xo.  84,  K.  P.. 
and  politically  he  is  a  Republican.  Success 
and  failure  lie  ec[ui-distant  from  every  in- 
dividual at  the  outest  of  his  career  and  it 
depends  upon  the  man  in  what  direction 
his  progress  shall  be  made.  Biography  has 
proven  again  and  again  that  success  is  not 
a  matter  of  genius  or  of  circumstance,  but 
the  outcome  of  clear  judgment,  experience 
and  close  application  and.  realizing  this 
fact.  Frank  A.  Giddings  has  so  directed  his 
energies  that  to-day  he  is  in  control  of  the 
business  enterprise  of  importance  that  classes 
him  among  the  substantial  residents  of  his 
native  citv. 


JOHN  A.  LITTLER. 

John  .\.  Littler  is  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  Ci\il  war  and  one  who  has  been 
active  in  public  affairs  in  Potomac  and  \'er- 
milion  countv.  He  has  resided  in  this  town 
twenty-three  years  and  is  numbered  among 
the  old  settlers  of  the  county,  where  he  has 


made  his  home  since  1840.  He  was  jjorn 
near  London,  Ohio,  April  22.  1838,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  Littler,  who  was  married  in 
that  state  to  Cordelia  Radcliffe.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  mechanic,  a  carpenter 
and  joiner  by  trade,  engaging  in  building 
operations  during  his  early  life.  In  1840 
he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Vermil- 
ion county,  and  from  the  governiuent  he 
entered  land  which  he  broke  and  cultivated, 
de\eloping  there  a  good  farm  near  Muncie 
Upon  that  place  he  reared  his  family  and 
spent  his  last  years,  his  death  occurring  in 
i86-|.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a  few 
years,  passing  away  in  1868.  To  this 
worthy  couple  were  born  five  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  years  of 
maturity,  although  John  A.  and  Cyrus  R. 
are  now  the  only  ones  living. 

John  A.  Littler  spent  his  boyhood  days 
upon  the  old  home  farm.  No  event  of 
special  importance  occurred  to  vary  for  him 
the  routine  of  farm  life  during  his  youth. 
The  common  schools  afforded  him  his  ed- 
ucational privileges  and  his  training  in  the 
work  of  field  and  meadow  was  received  under 
his  father,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  had  reached  man's  estate.  He  afterward 
worked  at  the  trade  of  carpentering  and 
building,  doing  business  as  a  contractor  for 
a  few  years.  When  the  country  Ijecame  in- 
volved in  Civil  war  and  it  was  seen  that 
hostilities  would  prubabl}'  CDUtinue  for  a 
long  period  he  resolved  to  aid  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  L'nion  and  enlisted  in  Aug'ust, 
1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  Seventy- 
sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  with  which  he  went 
to  the  south.  The  regiment  was  attached 
to  the  Western  .\rmy  and  he  participated 
in  the  siege  of  \'icksburg  and  the  capture 
of  that  city.  Later  he  was  in  the  battle  of 
Black  River  Bridge. and  Jackson  and  was 
on    detailed    service    for    six    months.      He 


1020 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


then  rejoined  liis  regiment  at  Xew  Orleans 
and  was  afterward  in  the  engagement  at 
Mobile  and  at  Fort  Blakely.  Later  he  was 
sent  to  Texas  and  was  mustered  out  at 
Galveston,  that  state,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  the  north  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  Chicago  in  1865. 

Immediately  afterward  Mr.  Littler  re- 
turned to  his  iiome  and  when  he  had  some- 
what recuperated  from  the  ill  effects  oc- 
casioned by  the  hardships  of  war  he  en- 
gaged again  in  constructing  and  building  for 
a  few  years,  after  which  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  grain  business  in  Fithian,  be- 
ing one  of  the  first  to  locate  in  that  town. 
There  he  carried  on  business  for  about  six 
years,  after  which  he  established  his  home 
in  IVIuncie,  where  he  was  connected  with 
the  grain  trade  for  two  years.  In  1879  '""^ 
came  to  Potomac  and  here  entered  the  rail- 
road employ  as  a  station  agent,  acting  in 
that  capacity  for  eighteen  years,  during 
which  time  he  had  charge  of  the  business 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 

Mr.  Littler  was  married  in  this  county 
alKiut  1868  to  Mary  A.  Copeland.  a  native 
of  Illinois,  reared  and  educated  in  this 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  Hamilton  Cope- 
land,  who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  here. 
They  now  have  two  children,  Fanny  and 
Lulu  L.  The  former  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
E.  Judy,  a  farmer  of  ^'ermilion  countv.  bv 
whom  she  has  three  children.  The  latter 
is  the  wife  of  Elmer  R.  Kirkhart,  now  of 
Asheville,  North  Carolina.  The  family  has 
long  been  a  prominent  one  in  the  community, 
the  members  of  the  household  occupying 
an  enviable  position  in  the  regard  of  their 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

A  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
views,  Mr.  Littler  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Stephai  A,  Douglas,  the  "little 
giant"  of  Illinois,  in  i860.    In  1864  he  voted 


for  Abraham  Lincoln,  being  then  home  on 
a  furlough,  and  since  that  time  has  given 
his  loyalty  to  the  presidential  nominees  of 
the  Democracy.  While  a  resident  of  Fith- 
ian he  was  elected  assessor  of  Oakwood 
township  and  later  justice  of  the  peace, 
serving  in  the  latter  position  for  three  years, 
wheri  he  resignied  preparatory  to  remov- 
ing to  Potomac.  Here  he  has  also  served  for 
one  term  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  is  now 
serving  his  second  year  as  police  magistrate. 
He  has  likewise  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  of  Potomac,  serving  in  that  capacity 
at  the  time  the  present  school  building  was 
erecleil. 

A  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
he  was  made  a  Mason  in  Olive  Branch 
Lodge  at  Danville,  and  later  became  a  char- 
ter member  of  Potomac  Lodge,  in  which  he 
has  filled  all  the  offices.  He  is  a  past  master 
and  is  likewise  the  present  master,  having 
served  in  the  position  for  a  number  of  terms. 
He  has  also  represented  the  lodge  in  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state  on  several  occasions. 
His  name  is  likewise  on  the  membership  roll 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
in  which  he  has  filletl  all  the  chairs  and 
is  a  past  grand,  while  for  three  terms  he 
has  represented  the  subordinate  lodge  and 
the  grand  lodge  at  Springfield.  He  and  his 
wife  became  members  of  the  Order  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  but  she  is  now  demitted.  ]\Ir. 
Littler  is  likewise  connected  with  the  Re- 
bekah  degree  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  with  the  Grand  Army 
Pdst.  in  which  he  was  a  commander.  Many 
of  the  residents  of  \ermilion  county  have 
long  remained  within  its  borders,  but  among 
those  who  have  had  their  residence  here  from 
an  early  day,  none  have  been  more  loyal  to 
its  interests  or  taken  a  more  active  part  in 
its  progress.  Sixty-two  years  have  passed 
since  his  arrival  and  he  is  justly  regarded 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I02I 


as  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens  whose 
worth  is  widely  known  and  acknowledged. 
On  the  field  of  battle  he  was  a  valorous 
soldier  and  in  times  of  peace  he  is  equally 
faithful  to  his  country. 


JOHN  McFARLAXD. 

John  McFarland  is  the  owner  and 
operator  of  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres,  situatetl  on  section 
II,  Oakwood  township.  He  was  born  in 
Somerset  county.  Pennsylvania.  July  15th 
1818,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Lavton)  AicFarland.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  his  mother  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  marrietl  in  the  Key- . 
stone  state  and  there  the  father  followed 
farming.  From  there  they  remo\-ed  to  Bel- 
mont county.  Ohio,  settling  near  Henrys- 
burg,  where  they  resided  for  twenty  years. 
They  came  to  \'ermilion  county.  Illinois,  in 
1S59,  their  son  John  having  located  here 
on  the  farm  he  now  owns,  in  1856.  The 
father  and  mother  made  their  home  with 
their  son  John  until  their  death.  The  father 
died  in  i86j.  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years 
and  the  mother  died  in  Ohio,  in  1854. 
John  McFarland.  Sr.,  was  a  memlier  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  in  politics  was  a 
^\'hig.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812  and 
fought  at  Fort  2\[eigs.  with  Generals  Har- 
rison and  Johnson.  He  shot  Tecumseh, 
the  Indian  chief,  at  the  same  time  General 
Johnson's  fatal  shot  was  fired.  Johnson 
always  divided  the  honor  of  killing  the 
Indian  chief  with  Mr.  McFarland.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  lived  and  died 
in  Scotland,  whence  Ins  four  sons.  John  and 
three  brothers,  came  to  America. 

John  McFarland  of  this  review  was  one 


of  a  family  of  seven  toys  and  five  girls, 
only  one  now  living.  Jane,  the  widow 
of  Charles  Turner,  who  makes  her  home 
with  Mr.  McFarland.  In  the  district  schools 
of  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Mc- 
Farland received  his  early  education.  The 
"temple  of  learning"  was  a  log  cabin,  with- 
out any  floor,  with  poles  for  seats  and  with 
holes  cut  for  windows  which  were  cox'cred 
with  oiled  paper  and  fastened  by  pegs.  His 
training  in  educational  work  would  con- 
tinue through  three  months  in  the  winter 
season.  The  remainder  of  his  time  was 
spent  in  work  on  the  farm,  where  he  labored 
with  his  father  and  brothers,  and  their  la- 
bors resulted  in  making  the  frontier  home 
a  pleasant  and  comfortable  one.  Mr.  Mc- 
Farland only  received  three  terms  of  school- 
ing. The  fireplace  of  the  school  was  eight 
feet  across,  was  made  of  rock  and  mud  and 
would  burn  logs  eight  feet  in  length.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to  reach  the 
plow  handles  he  i^lowed  in  the  fields.  He 
also  chopped  timber  and  remained  with  his 
father  until  after  he  was  old  enough  to  vote. 
He  then  came  to  Sandusky.  Ohio,  and  hired 
out  to  Mr.  Holderman.  receiving  a  salary 
of  six  dollars  per  month.  He  next  went 
to  Warren  county.  Pennsylvania,  and  from 
there  went  to  Indiana,  working  for  a  Mr. 
Johnson.  He  then  purchased  three  boats, 
which  he  loaded  with  corn,  but  as  the  river 
was  verv  hish  all  three  of  the  i)oats  were 
lost. 

AI)out  1847,  ''1  Warren  county,  Indiana, 
Mr.  McFarland  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza- 
ijeth  Oxford,  who  was  torn  near  Perrys- 
ville.  Warren  county,  Indiana.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Abraham  Oxford.  Her 
mother  was  a  Miss  Davidson,  and  they 
were  married  in  Ohio.  The  father  followed 
farming  throughout  his  active  career  and  in 
politics  was  a  Republican.     Mrs.  McFarland 


I022 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


was  a  member  of  a  family  of  three  boys 
and  four  girls.  She  died  in  1854.  and  in 
1857  Mr.  McFarland  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Henrietta 
(Catlin)  Dalby,  who  was  born  near  Chilli- 
cothe.  Ohio.  November  15,  1821.  She  was 
reared  in  \'incennes.  Indiana.  Her  mother 
had  two  brothers,  Aaron  and  Arnold,  who 
were  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Her  father  was  Daniel  Catlin,  a  native  of 
New  York,  who  married  Annie  Brown,  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  Thev  were  married 
near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  where  they  lived  for 
a  time,  and  then  settled  on  a  farm  at  Evans- 
ville,  Indiana.  Later  they  went  to  Prince- 
ton, Indiana.  From  there  they  removed 
to  Illinoiss,  where  they  remained  for  two 
years.  They  then  returned  to  Princeton, 
Indiana,  where  tliey  remained  for  fifteen 
years,  removing  thence  to  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, where  they  made  their  home  until 
their  deatli.  The  father  died  about  1850, 
and  the  mother  about  1S4S.  Thev  were 
both  members  of  the  Baptist  church  and  he 
was  a  Republican.  They  were  parents  of 
nine  children. 

By  his  first  marriage  Mr.  ]\IcFarland 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  reached 
years  of  maturity.  Elijah,  now  deceased, 
married  Lena  Chester.  His  widow  resides 
in  Oakwood  township,  with  her  six  children. 
Newton,  also  deceased,  married  Alice  Mead, 
who  resides  in  Oakwood  township  and  has 
one  child.  Rachel  is  the  wife  of  Asa  Knox, 
of  Danville,  and  they  have  one  child. 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  Orin  Stoker,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Kansas,  and  they  have  three  children. 
Unto  Mr.  ]iIcFarland  and  his  second  wife 
were  born  two  children  who  are  now  living. 
Elmira  is  the  wife  of  Zeno  Stylings.  They 
have  two  daughters  and  reside  in  Fair- 
mount,  Illinois.  Emma  became  the  wife  of 
John  Littler.     After  his  death  she  married 


William  Weaver.  By  the  first  marriage  she 
has  one  son,  and  by  the  second  marriage 
has  three  daughters,  living.  Mrs.  McFar- 
land  by  her  first  marriage  with  Mr.  Dalby, 
became  the  mother  of  four  children  who  are 
living.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  \'incent 
Hayes,  resides  in  Champaign  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  five  children.  \\'illiam  mar- 
ried Alice  Smith.  After  her  deatli  he  mar- 
ried Ella  \Miitiker.  He  had  two  children 
by  his  first  union  and  four  by  his  second, 
and  is  now  a  resident  of  Oakwood  town- 
ship. ]\Iary  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  John  T. 
Ellis  and  resides  near  \'andalia,  Illinois. 
They  have  three  sons.  Julia  Frances  is  the 
widow  of  Edward  Littler,  residing  in 
IMuncie.  Illinois,  and  has  two  children. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  McFarland 
remained  in  Indiana  until  about  1855,  when 
he  came  to  Vermilion  county  and  bought 
his  j)resent  farm  from  the  heirs  who  owned 
it.  He  has  resided  here  continuously  since 
and  his  large  farm  is  a  model  one  of  neat- 
ness and  thrift.  He  has  a  large  and  com- 
fortable residence  and  good  barns  and  leads 
a  quiet,  pleasant  life  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 
AMien  he  came  to  X'ermilion  county,  land 
was  worth  ten  dollars  per  acre.  He  paid 
fifteen  dollars  per  acre  for  his  farm,  which 
had  been  partly  cultivated,  but  he  has  tiled 
and  improved  it  until  it  does  not  seein  the 
same  place.  At  that  early  day  Danville  had 
a  population  of  twelve  hundred.  He  and 
his  partner,  Mr.  Perbasco,  bought  all  the 
hogs  on  the  Wyantlotte  preserves  and  drove 
them  from  Sandusky,  Ohio,  to  Baltimore, 
over  the  mountains,  a  distance  of  five  hun- 
dred miles,  and  sold  the  twenty-five  hun- 
dred hogs  in  a  bunch.  Sometimes  they  had 
to  sew  moccasins  on  the  feet  of  the  hogs 
so  they  could  travel,  as  their  feet  would  be 
completely  worn  out.     This  was  before  Mr. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1023 


McFarland  came  to  Illinois.  Mrs.  McFar- 
land  has  also  many  interesting"  reminiscen- 
ces to  tell  of  former  days — the  days  of  the 
cotton  gin.  spinning  wheels  and  primitive 
times  when  there  were  no  matches.  She 
says  in  those  early  days  they  could  not  huy 
a  sifter  to  sift  their  meal.  This  difficulty 
was  obviated  by  punching  holes  in  a  piece 
of  calf-skin  and  spreading  or  stretching  it 
on  a  hickory  hoop.  The  pioneers  of  those 
days  knew  what  it  was  to  be  deprived  of 
necessities  which  are  so  common  to  our  ad- 
\anced  state  of  civilization  of  to-day  that 
we  scarcely  notice  them.  Mr.  McFarland 
is  a  hale  and  hearty  old  gentleman  of 
eighty-four  years,  and  his  wife  is  also  a 
genial  and  kindly  lady  who  has  had  many 
interesting  experiences  of  frontier  life.  Mr. 
McFarland  has  held  all  the  offices  of  his 
township.  He  and  his  wife  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  ami  in  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Republican.  Honored  and  highly 
respected  people  of  the  community,  they 
enjoy  the  regard  of  many  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


ALPHEUS    CRUZAX. 

.Mpheus  Cruzan  is  a  well  known  con- 
tractor in  street  paving,  concrete  construc- 
tion and  cement  walks  at  Danville.  He  de- 
serves mention  as  one  of  the  leading  rep- 
resentatives of  industrial  interests  here,  and 
although  yet  a  young  man,  his  knowledge 
and  enterprise  have  already  brought  him  a 
comfortable  competence. 

Mr.  Cruzan  was  born  in  Manchester, 
Ohio,  in  1866.  His  father,  R.  S.  Cruzan, 
was  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  in  early  life 
followed  farming,  in  the  vicinity  of  Man- 
chester, Ohio,  where  he  owned  considerable 
land.      In    1867   he  left   that  place  and  re- 


moved to  Cynthiana,  Kentucky,  where  he 
continued  to  make  his  home  until  1880, 
which  was  the  year  of  his  arrival  in  Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky.  Throughout  his  business 
career  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza 
Jane  Conner,  and  was  a  native  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state.  They  became  the  parents  of 
three  children,  but  the  two  sisters  of  our 
subject  are  now  deceased. 

Alpheus  Cruzan.  having  acquired  his 
early  education  in  the  common  schools,  later 
continued  his  studies  in  the  Central  Uni- 
versity, at  Richmond,  where  he  pursued  a 
general  course.  He  afterward  engaged  in 
bookkeeping  for  several  years,  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  followed  the  same  profes- 
sion subsequent  to  his  remcn'al  to  Danville, 
in  1889,  being  for  three  years  connected 
with  the  Golden  Rule  store  in  that  capacity. 
In  1892  he  left  Danville  and  went  to  Lex- 
ington, Kentuck}-,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  with  his  father  under 
tlie  firm  style  of  the  Cruzan  Lumber  Cam- 
pany.  lieing  a  third  owner  in  the  enterprise. 
For  three  years  he  was  associated  with  that 
business  and  then  again  came  to  Danville, 
where  he  aided  in  organizing  and  putting 
in  operation  the  Danville  Telephone  Com- 
pany. It  was  a  stock  company,  incorpo- 
rated, and  Mr.  Cruzan  was  chosen  treasurer 
and  director,  serving  in  those  capacites  for 
abiiiit  fi\'e  vears.  .\t  mie  time  he  owned  a 
controling  interest  but  disposed  of  his  tele- 
phone business  in  1900.  He  then  took  up 
contracting  in  street  i)aving  and  cement 
construction,  the  business  being  now  car- 
ried on  under  the  name  of  Alpheus  Cruzan. 
He  is  engaged  in  concrete  construction  in 
paxing.  grading,  excavating  and  in  con- 
structing sewers,  and  his  annual  business 
amounts  to  al)out  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars.     He  employs  on  an  average  of  fifty 


1024 


THE    BIOGRAPHICA'L    RECORD 


people  (luring-  the  busy  season,  working  five 
crews  in  his  concrete  construction.  His 
patronage  comes  from  a  wide  territory  in- 
chuling  Chicago.  Clinton,  Lafayette.  Indi- 
ana, Detroit  and  Adrian  Michigan,  and 
Danville.  The  i)aving  is  done  in  brick, 
granite  lid  and  concrete.  The  work  is  of  an 
enduring  quality  and  has  therefore  given 
general  satisfaction. 

In  this  city,  in  1892,  Mr.  Cruzan  wedded 
Georgiana  Forbes,  of  Danville,  and  unto 
them  have  been  born  four  children :  Georgi- 
ana, Margaret  Mansfield.  Elizabeth  and 
Roberta  Simpson.  Mrs.  Cruzan's  parents 
are  both  deceased  but  her  stepmother.  Mrs. 
Catherine  S.  Forbes,  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject  and  his  wife.  Mrs.  Cruzan  has 
a  half-Ijrother,  C.  \\'.  Forbes,  of  Danville. 

In  his  social  athliations  Alpheus  Cruzan 
is  connected  with  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks,  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias and  the  Court  of  Honor.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  souglit 
or  desired  office,  serving  only  for  one  term 
as  city  alderman.  His  home  is  at  No.  107 
West  North  street.  He  has  made  good  use 
of  his  opportunities,  and  has  prospered  from 
year  to  vear.  has  conducted  all  business 
matters  carefully  and  successfully  and  in 
all  his  acts  dis])lays  an  aptitude  for  success- 
ful management.  His  manner  is  kindly  and 
genial  and  to  this  perhaps,  as  well  as  to 
his  business  ability  is  due  his  creditable 
standinsf  in  the  social  and  business  world. 


SAMUEL  WATERS  ALLERTON. 

One  of  the  largest  lande^wners  in  \'er- 
milion  county  and  founder  of  the  town  bear- 
ing his  name,  but  who  makes  his  home  in 
Chicago,  is  Samuel  W.  Allerton,  who  traces 


his  ancestry  to  Isaac  Allerton,  who  came 
over  in  the  Mayflower  in  1620.  Isaac  Al- 
lerton was  a  nati\c  of  England  and  was 
born  between  the  years  1583  and  1585,  the 
exact  date  being  unknown.  He  resided  in 
London  for  some  time  prior  to  his  removal 
to  Holland  in  i6oq.  It  is  generally  admitted 
that  he  was  the  wealthiest  of  all  the  Pil- 
grims and  was  one  of  the  few  among  them 
to  whose  names  Bradford  and  other  con- 
temporaneous writers  always  gave  the  pre- 
fix "JNIr."  which  in  those  days  was  used  as 
an  index  of  superior  family  or  respectabil- 
ity. He  was  also  one  of  the  three  upon 
whom  the  pri\-ilege  of  citizenship  was  con- 
ferred by  the  city  of  Leyden.  his  associates 
in  this  honor  Ijeing  William  Bradford,  aft- 
erward governor  of  the  Plymouth  colony, 
and  Degory  F'riest.  his  brother-in-law.  He 
was  first  married  in  the  city  of  Leyden.  No- 
vember 4.  lOii.  to  Mary  Norris,  of  New- 
bury. England,  and  at  the  time  of  the  sail- 
ing of  the  Ma\'flower  he  had  four  children. 
His  wife  died  February  25,  1621.  In  1626 
he  married  Fear  Brewster,  daughter  of  El- 
der William  Brewster.  She  was  a  woman 
of  pleasing  appearance  and  of  pious  dispo- 
sition and  was  the  mother  of  Isaac  Allerton. 
the  second  of  that  name,  from  whom  the  Al- 
lerton familv  is  descendetl.  She  died  in 
1634.  while  his  death  occurred  in  1659. 

Samuel  W.  Allerton  is  of  the  ninth  gen- 
eration from  Isaac  Allerton.  of  whom  men- 
tion has  just  been  made.  He  was  born  at 
Amenia.  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  and 
is  a  son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Hannah  {  Hurd) 
Allerton.  the  former  also  being  a  native  of 
.\menia.  born  December  5,  1775.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Hannah  Hurd  March 
26.  1 80S.  She  was  born  in  South  Dover. 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  and  was  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Rebecca 
(Phillips)   Hurd.  her  father  being  an  exten- 


W^M^/7^    /V^- 


C  l^- 


^-    liUKOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1027 


sive  farmer  and  stock-dealer  in  Amenia. 
By  this  union  there  were  nine  children,  eight 
ot  whom  were  living  in  January.  1899.  at 
a  comliined  age  of  over  six  hundred  and 
thirty  }ears.  In  his  early  life  the  father  uf 
our  subject  studied  for  the  meilical  profes- 
sion hut  changing  his  mind  he  learned  the 
tailor's  trade  and  became  a  merchant  tailor, 
while  at  the  same  time  he  carried  on  a  coun- 
try store.  In  1828  he  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters in  building  a  woolen  mill  and  estab- 
lisliing  a  factory.  In  consequence  of  the  re- 
duction of  the  tariff  in  1833  nearly  all  the 
manufactories  in  Xew  England  were  ruined, 
and  Mr.  Allerton  lost  nearly  all  his  fcnlune. 
In  1837  he  went  west  to  Iowa  with  the  hope 
of  building  up  his  fortune  but  was  taken 
sick  and  returned  to  his  eastern  home.  In 
1842  he  removed  to  Yates  county.  Xew 
York,  where  he  rented  a  farm,  and  in  1848 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Wayne  county,  in  tlie 
same  state,  where  he  lived  the  remainder 
of  liis  life.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  in- 
tegrity, was  a  L'ni\'ersalist  in  religious  be- 
lief, and  li\ed  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety- 
nine  years  and  eight  months. 

Samuel  Waters  Allerton,  our  subject, 
was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  his  father 
failed  in  business,  at  which  time  he  receix'ed 
an  impression  which  has  influenced  his  noble 
life.  While  the  sheriff  was  selling  his  fa- 
ther's property,  his  mother  shed  tears  when 
twi.)  horses  which  had  I>een  highh"  jirii^ed 
were  sold.  Putting  his  arms  around  his 
mother's  neck  he  told  her  that  he  would  l)e 
a  man  and  provide  for  her.  In  after  life 
he  kept  his  ])romise.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  the  nine  children  and  lived  in  Amenia  un- 
til he  was  fourteen  years  of  age.  but  com- 
menced to  work  for  himself  when  he  was 
twehe  years  old.  In  1842  he  went  to  Yates 
county  with  his  parents  and  remained  with 
them  until  they  had  saved  enough   money 


to  buy  a  farm  in  Wayne  county.  With  his 
bn;ther  Henry,  he  then  rentetl  a  farm  and 
made  fifteen  hundred  tlollars.  which  they 
invested  in  a  farm  in  Wavne  C(.nun\'.  lea\'- 
ing  still  three  thousand  dollars  unpaid. 

Renting  another  farm  Mr.  Allerton  be- 
gan its  culti\ation  and  at  the  end  of  three 
years  had  saved  thirty-two  hundred  dol- 
lars. He  then  went  to  Newark  where  he 
worked  with  his  brothers  on  their  farm  and 
traded  in  a  small  wav  in  livestock  in  W'ayne 
county.  On  his  return  from  Albany  and 
New  \'ork.  where  he  had  gone  with  some 
stock,  he  said  to  his  brother  Henry :  "I  be- 
lic\-e  I  know  as  nuich  as  the  dealers  I  met 
and  as  we  now  ha\e  the  farm  paid  for  and 
three  thousand  dollars  in  money.  I  will  set- 
tle with  you,  you  taking  the  farm  and  I  tak- 
ing the  money."  His  brother  replied:  "If 
you  continue  as  you  are  in  a  few  years  you 
will  own  the  best  farm  in  the  country,  but 
if  you  wish  to  try  the  lixestock  business,  all 
right,  we  will  settle  on  this  basis.  This  is 
all  the  advice  I  have  to  give  you.  You  will 
run  across  smart  and  tricky  men,  but  they 
alwavs  die  poor.  .Make  a  n.-mie  and  char- 
acter for  yourself  antl  you  are  sure  to  win." 

The  first  hundred  cattle  Samuel  bought 
after  dissohing  jiartnershij)  with  his  broth- 
er, he  sold  in  New  '^'ork  at  a  loss  of  seven 
hundred  dollars.  This  made  him  sick  but 
calling  on  an  elderlv  uncle  who  had  made 
a  success  in  life,  he  was  told  by  his  uncle, 
"My  boy,  you  are  pretty  sick,  but  don't  lose 
your  courage.  I  never  found  but  one  dead 
sin^e  thing,  and  that  was  hoeing  corn  at  fifty 
cents  ])er  dav.  If  you  make  luc^iey  you  nuist 
sometimes  lose  it.     Try  it  over." 

.About  this  time  women  had  burned  a 
number  of  bridges  on  the  Erie  Railroad  be- 
cause the  trains  would  not  stop  for  dinner. 
doing  to  Erie.  Mr.  Allerton  purchased  one 
hundred  head  of  cattle  which  he  shipped  to 


1028 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Xew  York  over  tlic  Erie  Railroad,  and 
which  on  account  of  the  burned  bridges  had 
to  be  unloaded  ani.1  dri\cn  to  Dunkirk,  where 
they  were  reshipped.  On  his  arrival  he 
found  the  market  short  on  cattle,  and  his 
venture  netted  him  three  thousand  dollars, 
which  gave  him  new  courage.  He  then 
drifted  west  and  for  one  year  fed  and  raised 
cattle  in  I'ulton  county,  Illinois.  The  finan- 
cial panic  which  swept  over  the  country  at 
that  time  wiped  out  all  the  capital  he  had, 
and  becoming  ill  he  concluded  that  he  could 
not  stand  the  western  climate.  Returning 
east,  he  bought  an  interest  in  a  store  with 
his  brother  in  Newark,  Xew  York,  and  for 
a  short  time  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
Selling  goods,  liowever.  was  not  agreeable 
to  him,  as  he  desired  to  deal  on  a  larger 
scale. 

While  residing  in  Illinois  he  had  met  a 
daughter  of  Astor  C.  Thompson,  of  Fulton 
county,  that  state.  Having  regained  his 
health,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and, 
gathering  the  money  he  had  left  and  bor- 
rowing five  thousand  dollars,  he  came  west, 
the  young  lady  in  Fulton  county  being  the 
principal  attraction.  On  his  arrival  there 
he  traded  a  little,  Init  in  ^^larch,  iS6o,  he  re- 
turnetl  to  Chicago,  which  has  since  contin- 
ued to  be  his  home.  On  the  ist  of  July, 
t86o.  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Pamilla  M.  Thompson,  at  Peoria.  Illinois, 
and  with  his  young  bride  returned  to  Chi- 
cago, "where  the  world  turned  around  every 
twenty-four  hoin"s,'"  and  which  was  the 
proper  place  in  which  to  trade. 

On  going  to  Chicago.  Mr.  Allerton  com- 
menced to  buy  anil  sell  livestock  in  a  small 
way.  there  being  then  no  general  market  in 
the  city  except  for  a  short  time  during  the 
winter.  Shippers  generally  took  their  live- 
stock to  the  eastern  markets.  About  this 
lime  there  was  a  decided  break  in  the  Chi- 


cago m.nrket.  ami  ^Ir.  Allerton  desired  to 
buy.  but  ha\ing  formed  no  connection  with 
anv  l)ank  there,  the  ((uestion  was  how  to  get 
money.  Among  his  few  acquaintances  in 
Chicago  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Tobey, 
whom  he  asked  to  take  him  to  a  bank  and 
identify  him.  Mr.  Tobey  was  willing  to  do 
this  but  he  said  that  he  could  not  guarantee 
anything.  He  was  assured  by  Ivlr.  Allerton 
that  he  iinlv  wished  to  be  identified  and  that 
he  would  arrange  the  Ijalance.  He  was  taken 
to  the  bank  of  George  Smith  and,  on  being 
introduced,  said  to  Mr.  Willard,  "If  I  pay 
for  three  telegrams,  one  to  Halstead.  Cham- 
berlain &  Company,  asking  if  they  will  pay 
my  draft;  one  to  your  own  correspondent, 
to  ascertain  if  Halstead,  Chamberlain  & 
Company  are  all  right ;  and  one  to  my  own 
bank  to  assure  you  that  I  am  all  right,  can 
I  come  down  to-morrow  and  sell  you  a  sight 
draft?"  He  replied  "Yes."  'Sir.  Allerton 
went  back  to  the  stockyards  and  bought  all 
the  hogs  in  the  market  and  went  down  with 
a  draft  for  eighty  thousand  dollars,  asking 
I\!r.  AN'illartl  if  he  had  received  replies  to 
his  telegrams.  His  answer  was  that  he  had 
and  that  the  replies  were  favorable.  Mr. 
Allerton  handed  him  the  draft  and  was  told 
that  he  could  not  iliscount  so  large  a  draft 
on  telegrams  and  that  lie  had  supposed  that 
he  would  not  want  more  than  five  thousand 
dollars.  Mr.  Allerton  said,  "You  know  Mr. 
Tobey  and  you  certainly  do  not  think  that 
he  would  introduce  a  thief  to  you." 

Mr.  Willard.  however,  would  not  dis- 
count the  draft  anil  Mr.  Allerton  found  him- 
self in  a  position  where  he  must  have  the 
money  but  what  to  do  he  did  not  know. 
Leaving  the  bank,  he  accidentally  met  a  man 
from  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  asked  him 
if  he  was  acquainted  with  any  banks  in  Chi- 
cago, and  was  told  that  he  knew  Aikens  & 
Norton.     He  was  taken  to  them  and  intro- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1029 


(hiced  Mr.  .\ikens  looked  o\er  tlie  tele- 
grams and  signified  his  willingness  to  com- 
ply with  Mr.  Allerton's  request,  hut  that  he 
would  have  to  charg-e  one  per  cent,  for  the 
use  of  the  money,  in  tliis  way  Mr.  Aller- 
ton  hecanie  a  customer  of  Aikens  &  Norton. 
The  Civil  war  broke  out  and  the  nation 
needed  money.  Congress  passed  the  nation- 
al bank  act,  issuing  bonds  to  secure  the  cir- 
culation. This  was  regarded  hy  Mr.  Aller- 
ton  as  a  step  in  the  right  direction  toward 
a  national  currency,  as  the  nation  had  never 
liad  anything  but  "red  dog"  and  "bob- 
tailed"  currency.  To  start  a  national  bank 
would  aid  the  g\>vernment  and  give  the  pei.v 
ple  uniform  currency,  but  for  some  reason 
the  people  seemed  slow  to  start  national 
banks.  Mr.  Allerton  asked  Mr.  Aikens  why 
he  did  not  start  one  and  was  answered,  "be- 
cause he  feared  he  could  not  get  the  stock 
taken."  Mr.  Allerton  .said  that  he.  with  five 
other  men.  would  take  ten  thousand  dollars 
each.  In  this  w'ay  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Chicago,  one  of  the  strongest  financial 
institutions  in  the  country,  was  started. 

By  his  union  witli  I'amilla  Thonip- 
.son  two  children  were  born.  Kate  Bennett, 
born  June  10,  1863.  mawied  Dr.  Francis 
Sydney  Papin,  October  14,  1885,  and  after 
his  death  married  Hugo  R.  Johnson.  Rob- 
ert Henry  was  horn  March  20.  1873.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  and  Mr.  Al- 
lerton later  married  her  sister,  Agnes  C. 
Thompson,  the  marriage  ceretuony  being 
solemnized  !March  15,  1882.  They  now  re- 
side in  a  beautiful  home  on  Prairie  avenue, 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Allerton  has  been  a  very  successful 
business  man  and  is  well  known  throughout 
the  state  and  nation.  He  wrote  the  first  let- 
ter published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune  in  fa- 
vor of  organizing  the  Union  Stockyards,  so 
as  to  liring  all  buyers  and  sellers  together, 


which  has  matle  it  the  greatest  livestock 
market  in  the  world  and  also  made  Chicago 
a  money  center.  He  always  had  the  desire 
to  own  a  farm  when  he  succeeded  in  accum- 
ulating enough  money.  His  desire  has  cer- 
tainly been  gratified,  and  he  is  to-day  one  of 
the  largest  farmers  in  the  country  who  culti- 
vates his  own  land,  cultivating  about  forty 
thousand  acres  in  the  very  best  manner.  He 
is  said  to  have  a  hobby  for  purchasing  poor- 
Iv  ])rodiicti\e  lands  ;md  by  cultivation 
"makes  them  blossom  as  a  rose."  He  has 
large  interests  in  ranches  and  gold  mines 
aiid  has  lands  in  Dakota,  Nebra.ska,  Iowa, 
llliniiis.  Indiana.  Ohio.  Pennsylvania  and 
New  York,  and  has  always  l)een  interested 
in  the  livestock  trade  and  continues  to  ship 
livestock  to  New  York  and  England. 

^fr.  Allerton  received  his  early  political 
education  from  Henry  Clay  and  Horace 
Greeley,  antl  has  always  been  a  strong  be- 
liever in  a  protective  tarift'  and  free  schools. 
He  remembers  that  in  the  campaign  of 
T844,  when  Henry  Clay  was  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency,  the  issue  was  "Shall  we  put 
a  tarift'  on  iron  and  inaugurate  free  schools?" 
The  Democrats  said  that  "a  tariff  would 
Ijuild  up  home  monopolies  and  free  schools 
would  be  a  burden  and  a  tax  on  the  people." 
Clav  replied  "Give  the  people  free  schools 
so  as  to  increase  their  intelligence,  their  en- 
ergy and  industry,  and  home  competition 
would  reduce  the  price  of  iron."  It  was 
then  one  hundred  dollars  a  ti.m.  Remem- 
bering the  words  of  Henry  Clay  antl  believ- 
ing the  free  school  system  has  made  this 
great  natii)n.  Mr.  Allerton  hv  giving  the 
land,  has  had  school  houses  built  on  each 
of  his  farms.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
part}-  he  has  been  a  stalwart  Republican  and 
has  Ijeen  mentioned  and  his  election  advo- 
cated bv  some  of  the  best  newspapers  and 
best  citizens  of  the  state  for  the  high  office 


I030 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  L'nited  States  senator.  That  he  would 
honor  the  office  and  people  of  the  state  goes 
without  question.  He  once  ran  for  mayor 
of  Chicago  in  the  interests  of  civil  service 
with  no  pledges  to  any  one.  His  desire  was 
to  give  the  city  an  honest,  clean  adminis- 
tration. The  office  would  have  been  no 
honor  to  him  but  he  would  have  honored 
the  office.  It  was  his  intention  to  employ 
the  best  engineers  in  the  country  to  settle 
the  vexed  question  of  engineering  and  in 
all  departments  of  the  city  government  to 
put  the  right  man  in  the  right  place,  irre- 
specti\e  of  politics.  He  carried  the  north 
division  of  the  city  and  the  other  intelligent 
wards  but  was  beaten  by  a  sharp  political 
trick  of  his  opponent. 

Mr.  Allerton  believes  that  all  men  should 
trv  to  lead  a  successful  life:  this  he  owes  to 
himself,  his  friends  and  his  people.  He  be- 
lieves that  young  men  to-day  have  better 
opportunities  for  advancement  than  when 
he  was  a  boy.  and  that  they  have  better 
teachers  and  better  schools.  Labor  is  higher 
and  the  necessities  of  life  are  cheaper,  and 
therefore  the  opportunities  are  much  great- 
er for  success.  His  life  is  certainly  an  oli- 
ject  lesson  for  the  young  men  of  to-day. 
and  he  certainly  deserves  all  the  honor 
wiiich  he  recei\es. 


JOHN  \\'.  CLIXGAX. 

Among  the  best,  most  energetic  ami 
enterprising  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Georgetown  township,  is  John  W.  Clingan, 
whose  landed  possessions  also  extend  into 
Catlin  townshi])  and  his  property  interests 
comprise  se\eral  business  houses  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Georgetown.  He  is  widely  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leadine:  citizens  of  the 


southern  part  of  the  county.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Danville  township,  November  i6, 
1853,  his  parents  being  James  S.  and  Elvira 
(Olehy)  Clingan,  the  former  a  native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Vermilion  county, 
Illinois.  \\'illiam  Clingan,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  also  born  in  the  Buckeye 
state  and  in  the  year  1844  emigrated  west- 
ward to  this  county,  settling  in  Danville 
township,  where  he  cleared  a  tract  of  land. 
making  it  cultivable.  He  there  carried  on 
the  work  of  general  farming  for  two  years, 
when  hi^  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death 
in  1846.  The  father  of  our  subject  also  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Dan\-i]le  township,  be- 
ing thus  interested  in  business  affairs  here 
until  1867.  when  he  removed  to  Catlin 
township.  There  he  secured  a  farm  which 
he  owned  and  operated  for  several  years 
and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
nio\-ed  to  the  village  of  Westville,  there 
living  retired  until  he  too  was  called  to  his 
final  home  in  August,  1898.  His  wife  still 
survives  him  and  }-et  resides  in  Westville. 
Tliev  were  the  parents  of  four  children, 
namely:  John  \\'. :  Dennis  R.,  a  farmer  who 
resides  on  the  old  home  place  in  Catlin 
township:  Mary  E..  who  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years:  and  Luther  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Etta  Graves  and  is  a  farmer  of  George- 
town township. 

At  the  usual  age  'Sir.  Clingan  entered 
the  common  schools,  where  he  gained  a 
good  knowledge  of  the  branches  of  learning 
usually  taught  in  such  institutions.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  a  commercial  school  at 
Danville.  Illinois,  and  was  thus  prepared 
for  the  duties  of  business  life,  being  grad- 
uated in  that  institution  with  the  class  of 
1876.  He  wedded  :\Iiss  Mary  E.  Xesbitt, 
also  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  daughter 
of  William  R.  X'esbitt.  who  was  an  early 
settler  here  and  is  now  deceased.     The  home 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1031 


of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clingan  has  been  blessed 
witli  two  children :  D.  Albert  and  Edna  E. 

When  our  subject  had  completetl  his 
education  he  began  teaching-  school,  being 
eniploved  in  the  vicinity  of  Danville  and  of 
Westville  for  sixteen  years.  His  educa- 
tional work  was  acceptable  in  the  districts 
where  his  services  were  secured  for  he  had 
marked  ability  in  imparting  to  others  the 
knowletlge  which  he  had  acquired.  He  also 
maintained  discipline  and  thus  became 
widely  known  as  a  capable  and  successful 
teacher.  When  si.xteen  years  had  passed 
he  settled  upon  his  present  farm  which  is 
known  as  tlie  old  Hiram  Gibson  place,  lo- 
cated on  section  24,  Georgetown  township. 
He  likewise  owns  a  good  farm  in  Catlin 
township,  having-  altogether  two  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Here 
he  carries  on  general  farming-  and  stock- 
raising  and  the  fields  annually  return  to  him 
good  har\ests,  while  in  his  pasture  or  feed- 
lots  are  found  some  of  the  most  fashionable 
Poland  China  hogs.  If  one  would  examine 
into  his  life  record  to  learn  the  secret  of  his 
success  it  will  be  found  that  he  has  prospered 
because  he  has  worked  unremittingly,  pay- 
ing close  attention  to  his  farm  duties  and 
giving  careful  thought  to  the  management 
of  his  fields.  Thus  he  has  prospered  and 
as  his  financial  resources  have  increased  he 
has  made  judicious  investments  in  town  as 
well  as  farm  property.  He  now  owns  three 
good  business  houses  in  Georgetown,  which 
are  now  occupied  by  a  grocery,  a  meat  mar- 
ket and  a  drug  store.  Mr.  Clingan  has 
never  been  an  office  seeker  nor  has  he  held 
office.  He  has.  howe\-er,  always  voted  with 
tlie  Democratic  party.  He  and  his  wife 
and  children  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Fairview  and  they  have 
warm  friends  in  the  county.  Reading, 
experience  and  investigation  have  made  Mr. 


Clingan  a  well  informed  man  and  his  men- 
tality and  genuineness,  combrned  with  his 
social  nature,  render  him  a  popular  and 
companionable  gentleman.  So  well  has  he 
prospered  in  his  work  that  he  expects  soon 
to  put  aside  his  farming  interests  and  live 

retired. 

■»  »  » 

JOSEPH  SMITH. 

Joseph  Smith,  deceased,  was  numl:)cred 
among  the  honored  pioneers  of  \^ermilion 
coimty,  having  located  here  in  183 1,  and  for 
man.y  years  he  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Danville.  His 
early  home  was  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  for  he  was  born  in  Worcestershire, 
England,  August  i,  1819,  his  parents  being 
also  natives  of  that  country.  In  1831  the 
father  brought  the  family  to  the  United 
States  and  after  spending  a  short  time  in 
Elmira,  New  York,  they  came  west,  stop- 
ping first  at  what  is  now  Chicago,  but  there 
was  no  city  there  at  that  time.  Later  in  the 
same  year  he  proceeded  to  \'ermilion  county 
and  purchased  a  small  farm  near  Potomac, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  a  few  years,  and  then  removed  to  Myers- 
ville,  this  county,  and  took  charge  of  the 
Myersville  fiour  mill,  which  was  an  old  water 
null.  After  running  the  same  for  several 
vears  Mr.  Smith  l^ecame  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville and  forming  a  partnership  with  a  Mr. 
Tincher  they  purchased  a  llour  and  hominy 
mill,  which  they  at  once  commenced  to  oper- 
ate, but  Mr.  Tincher  soon  sold  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Smith  and  a  Mr.  Giddings  and  the  busi- 
ness was  afterward  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  Smith  S,'  Giddings  for  'several  years 
or  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Smith. 

Joseph  Smith  was  atout  twelve  years  of 
age   when   he  accompanied   his   parents   on 


I032 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


their  emigration  to  America,  and  he  had 
only  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation. He  was  first  married  in  Southport. 
New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Warmley.  who 
died  in  ^lyersville,  Ilinois,  and  of  the  three 
children  born  of  that  union  only  one  is  living : 
Frank,  a  prominent  Horist  of  Danville.  In 
1862  Mr.  Smith  wedded  Mrs.  Susan  J. 
(Kuykendall)  Fo.x,  a  native  of  \'irginia. 
born  February  14,  1833.  Her  father.  Luke 
Kuykendall,  removed  from  tlie  Old  Domin- 
ion to  Illinois  in  1854  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Vermilion  county,  where  he  followed 
farming  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  By  his  second  marriage  ]Mr.  Smith 
had  four  children,  as  follows :  Bertha  J.  is 
now  the  widow  of  Jesse  L.  Holloway  of  this 
count3%  who  was  a  passenger  conductor  on 
the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad  and  later  on 
the  Monon  route,  running  between  Lafay- 
ette, Indiana,  and  Chicago,  and  he  was 
found  dead  beside  the  track  August  21,  1901. 
probably  the  result  of  an  accident.  Mrs. 
Holloway  is  now  living  with  her  mother  in 
Danville.  Katherine  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  public  schools  of  Danville  for  several 
years  and  is  now  the  wife  of  C.  L.  Thomp- 
son of  Lamar,  Colorado.  Clinton  is  a  trav- 
eling salesman  for  the  Rumford  Baking 
Powder  Company.  Willie  died  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  years. 

Like  his  father  Mr.  Smith  of  this  review 
learned  the  milling  business  in  his  youth,  and 
after  coming  to  Danville  he  purchased  a  flour 
mill  which  he  continued  to  operate  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  also  dealt 
some  in  real  estate  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  owned  considerable  property  in  Dan- 
ville, but  his  widow  has  lately  disposed  of 
the  last  of  the  estate  with  the  exception  of 
the  beautiful  home  at  No.  412  \\'est  North 
street,  where  she  and  her  daughter  now  re- 
side.    At  one  time  Mr.    Smith   owned  the 


property  which  has  since  l>een  converted  into 
the  Danville  Public  Library.  During  his 
active  business  career  he  attended  strictly  to 
his  own  affairs  and  became  a  very  success- 
ful man.  After  a  useful  and  well  spent  life 
he  passed  away  on  the  8th  of  March,  1894, 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Politically  he  was  a  pronounced  Republican, 
but  was  never  an  office  seeker  though  he  took 
a  commendable  interest  in  the  success  of  his 
party.  He  faithfully  performed  his  duties 
of  citizenship  and  his  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  progress  of  the  community  never  abated. 
Becoming  widely  and  favorably  known,  he 
made  many  friends  and  his  death  was  a  loss 
to  the  entire  communitv. 


FRED  L.  DAVIS. 


The  agricultural  interests  of  Vermilion 
county  are  \\ell  represented  by  Fred  L.  Dav- 
is, a  prominent  young  farmer  of  Vance 
township.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  Davis, 
whose  name  appears  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
luuc.  He  was  born  ilay  24,  1876,  in  \'ance 
township,  and  from  childhood  became  fami- 
liar with  the  work  of  the  farm.  He  attend- 
ed the  district  schools  of  the  township  and 
later  in  Fairmount.  Illinois.  After  putting- 
aside  his  text-books  he  assisted  his  father  on 
the  home  farm  where  he  has  since  remained. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  on  sections  7  and  18, 
which  is  all  well  improved  and  valuable  land. 
He  has  a  good,  comfortable  home,  and  all 
the  conveniences  of  a  model  farm  are  his. 
On  the  15th  of  February,  1899.  in  Fair- 
mount,  Illinois,  Mr.  Davis  was  united  in 
marriage  to  ]^Iiss  Essie  Carrington,  who  was 
born  near  Jamaica,  Illinois,  September  6, 
1879.     She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


'033 


Marv  L.  (Busby)  Carrington.  the  latter  a 
daughter  of  I.  N.  Busby,  who  is  now  bving 
in  Fainnount.  William  Carrington  was  a 
nati\e  of  Jmliana  and  was  marrietl  in  \*er- 
niilion  county,  Illinois.  After  his  marriage 
lie  located  in  Indianola.  now  Jamaica,  town- 
ship. Here  he  purchased  land  and  remained 
until  1890,  when  he  retired  from  active  life 
and  removed  to  Fairmonnt,  Illinois.  In  that 
town  he  purchased  city  property.  During 
the  summer  of  1902,  he  visited  in  Colorado. 
He  is  a  wealthy  man  hax'ing  extensive  landed 
interests.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  in  his  political  views 
is  a  Republican.  l)ut  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired office.  Mrs.  Davis  is  one  of  a  family 
of  three  children.  Edward  is  engaged  in 
the  furniture  Imsiness  in  Fainnount,  Illi- 
nois. He  married  Stella  Davis.  Harvey  is 
married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  \'ance 
township.  He  has  one  child,  Grace.  Essie 
is  the  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  review. 

Mr.  Da\-is  is  one  of  the  energetic  and  am- 
bitious agriculturists  of  \'ance  township. 
He  gives  careful  attention  to  the  manage- 
ment of  his  farm  and  his  well  tilled  fields  are 
the  result  of  his  labor.  He  is  public  spirited 
and  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  communi- 
ty. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Court  of  Honor  and  they  attend  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  In  politics  he  sup- 
ports the  Democratic  party  and  he  is  well 
and   favorablv  known  in  \'ermilion  countv. 


R.  A.  SHORT. 


R.  A.  Short  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
and  loan  business  controlling  extensive  oper- 
ations in  this  line.  He  was  born  in  \'er- 
milion  county.  September  14.  1836,  but  dur- 
ing much  of  his  life  has  made  his  home  in 


the  city  of  Dan\-ille.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Xancy  .\nu  (,Lanham)  Short,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  \'irginia.  The  father 
was  born  in  Loudoun  county  and  in  1S30 
came  tti  Illinois  settling  in  \'ermilion  county. 
His  wife  came  about  the  same  time,  travel- 
ing with  a  colonv  that  established  homes  in 
the  west.  Mr.  Short  was  a  well  educated 
man  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  near 
^laneeleys  Mill,  and  in  public  office  he  ren- 
dered to  his  fellow  citizens  efficient  and 
valued  service.  In  his  political  affiliations 
he  was  first  a  Whig  and  after  the  dissolu- 
tion of  that  party  he  joined  the  new  Repub- 
lican party,  on  which  ticket  he  was  elected 
the  second  county  clerk  of  Vermilion  county. 
For  twelve  years  he  continued  to  fill  that 
position  in  a  most  credital>Ie  and  acceptable 
manner  and  then  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  which  he  followed  for  a  few  years, 
when  he  was  struck  by  lightning  and  thus 
disabled  for  further  business  cares  he  retired 
to  private  life,  spending-  his  last  days  in 
I'"airmount,  where  he  died  al)out  1877.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  had  passed  away  in 
1849  and  Air.  Short  had  married  \'irginia 
Lanham,  who  though  of  the  same  name  was 
not  a  relative  of  his  first  wife.  She  died  in 
1870.  With  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
Mr.  Short  held  membership  and  was  actively 
identified  with  the  organization.  The  sttb- 
ject  of  this  review  was  one  of  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  three  daughters.  James,  one  of 
the  sons,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Kene- 
saw  Moimtain  wiiile  serving  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  the  other  brother  who  has  passed  away 
was  Colmore,  who  was  killed  by  the  same 
lightning  bolt  that  injured  the  father.  The 
surviving  members  of  the  family  are  Jolm  ,C., 
who  resides  in  Xew  York :  R.  .\. :  .\le.x- 
ander  C  who  makes  his  home  in  Los  Gatos. 
California;  Thomas,  of  Danville;  and  Clara, 


1034 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  wife  of  Elias  Holiday,  a  resident  of  Los 
Gatos,  California,  at  the  present  time  al- 
though their  marriage  was  celebrated  in 
Fairmount.  Illinois. 

In  the  public  schools  of  \^ermilion  county 
R.  A.  Short  began  his  education  which  was 
completed  by  his  graduation  in  the  Danville 
Seminary  with  the  class  of  1858.  From  that 
time  forward  he  has  been  a  factor  in  business 
life  in  this  city.  He  first  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  with  which  he  was  connected 
for  twelve  years  and  then  entered  the  dry- 
goods  trade  as  the  seinor  member  of  the  firm 
of  R.  A.  Short  &  Company,  their  store  be- 
ing conducted  with  profit  until  1893.  when 
Mr.  Short  retired.  Indolence  and  idleness, 
however,  are  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature 
and  he  could  not  long  content  himself  with- 
out business  cares,  so  that  he  soon  began  op- 
erating in  real  estate  and  has  since  carried 
on  btisiness  as  a  real-estate,  insurance,  invest- 
ment and  loan  agent.  During  this  period 
he  has  controlled  many  important  negotia- 
tions along  those  lines  and  has  bought  and 
sold  much  \aluable  property — in  fact  his 
business  is  to-day  very  extensive  and,  being 
capably  controlled,  brings  to  him  a  very 
gratifying  income. 

On  the  30th  of  September.  1859.  in  this 
city,  Mr.  Short  was  married  to  Emily  W. 
Murdock.  whose  birth  occurred  near  Lafa- 
yette, Indiana,  January  2^.  1838,  her  parents 
being  John  and  Jane  (Sterling)  Murdock, 
lx)th  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  were  there  reared  and  married.  The 
father,  a  farmer  by  occupation,  took  up  his 
abode  in  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  upon 
his  removal  to  the  west  and  there  remained 
until  his  death.  He  voted  with  the  Democ- 
racy and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Short  was  one  of 
a  family  of  two  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
but  of  this  number  only  five  are  now  living: 


Mary,  the  widow  of  Asa  Partlow  and  a  resi- 
dent of  Danville;  Ann,  who  is  the  widow  of 
Henry  Olds  and  makes  her  home  in  Detroit, 
Michigan :  ^Irs.  Lizzie  Scott,  who  is  also  a 
widow  and  resides  in  Oxford,  Indiana ;  Mrs. 
Short :  and  Ellen,  the  wife  of  Charles  R. 
A'ance.  of  Los  Angeles,  California.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Short  has  been  blessed 
with  six  children,  four  of  whom  survive : 
Lewis,  who  married  Laura  Grant,  of  Dan- 
ville, and  is  now  a  professor  in  the  Illinois 
University  at  Champaign :  Lillian,  who  is  a 
teacher  in  the  schools  of  Rogers  Park,  a  sub- 
urb of  Chicago:  William  yi..  a  lawyer  of 
Fort  \\'orth,  Texas :  and  \\'alter.  who  is 
teller  in  the  Citizens  National  Bank,  at 
Evanston.  Illinois. 

Study  and  investigation  concerning  the 
issues  and  questions  of  the  day  have  led  Mr. 
Short  to  give  his  approval  and  support  to  the 
measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  he  has 
never  been  an  office  seeker.  Holding  mem- 
bership in  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  he  ser\-ed  for  many  years  as  one  of  its 
trustees  and  has  always  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  whatever  has  tended  to  benefit  his 
community,  co-operating  in  a  large  measure 
in  movements  for  general  good  and  for 
progression. 


B.  F.  McELHAXEY. 

B.  F.  McElhaney,  who  is  engaged  in 
blacksmithing  and  in  dealing  in  fine  horses, 
is  a  well  known  resident  of  Hoopeston,  but 
he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  especially  among 
he  owners  of  fine  trotting  and  pacing  stock 
throughout  A'ermilion  county.  He  was  bom 
in  this  county  on  the  2d  of  December.  1861, 
at  his  father's  home  in  Ross  township,  his 
parents  lieing  Elijah  and  Matilda  (Smith) 
McElhanev.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1035 


Kentucky  and  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
The  father  died  in  1S96  and  the  mother  is 
stiU  hving,  her  home  being  now  in  Jordan 
township,  Warren  county,  huhana,  where 
she  has  lived  since  1874.  In  the  family 
were  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  namely  : 
B.  F.,  Charles  L.,  Elizabeth,  Joseph.  Mrs. 
Nancy  Harris  and  Mrs.  Mary  Cole. 

Mr.  ^IcElhaney  obtained  his  education 
in  the  old  fashioned  country  schools  and  was 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Ross  town- 
ship, Vermilion  county,  until  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Indiana,  He  herded  cattle 
upon  the  prairies  here  when  there  were  but 
few  settlements,  and  can  remember  when  the 
old  city  of  Stateline  was  a  better  town  than 
Danville  is  to-day.  With  the  exception  of 
alx)ut  ten  years  he  has  resided  continuously 
in  \"ermilion  comity.  In  1879,  ^"^^^  for  O"^ 
year,  he  engaged  in  farming,  after  which  he 
entered  a  blacksmith  shop  in  Stateline.  there 
learning  his  trade.  After  four  years  spent 
at  that  place  he  remo\ed  to  ]\Iarshtield.  In- 
diana, where  he  remained  for  seven  years  and 
in  1888  took  up  his  abode  in  Potomac,  Illi- 
nois. In  1892  he  located  in  Ambia,  Indiana, 
and  the  following  year  he  came  to  Hoopes- 
ton.  The  first  year  he  worked  in  the  ma- 
chine shop  of  Thomas  Woolverton.  In 
Marshfield,  Indiana,  he  owned  and  conduct- 
ed a  shop  and  in  1894  he  built  his  present 
shop  in  Hoopeston  where  he  has  since  been 
doing  a  general  blacksmithing  business,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  fancy  horseshoeing.  He 
does  all  the  track  shoeing  for  this  part  of  tlie 
county  and  during  the  season  of  1902  he 
shod  about  thirty  track  horses.  He  has  an 
excellent  reputation  as  a  practical  horse- 
shoer  and  he  employs  from  one  to  three  men 
in  his  shop.  He  oversees  all  of  the  work 
done  therein  and  to  some  extent  performs 
part  of  the  labor.  He  has  raised  and  bred 
fine  horses    for  speed  and  is  now  preparing 

42 


for  the  track  a  grandson  of  Axtel,  four  years 
okl.  He  also  has  three  other  speed  horses 
and  after  training  them  for  a  time  he  sells 
them  to  well  known  buyers.  He  always 
does  his  own  training  and  has  been  a  hard 
working  business  man  who  well  merits  the 
success  which  has  come  to  him. 

On  the  lotli  of  February,  1880,  in  Jord- 
an township,  Warren  county,  Indiana,  Mr. 
AIcElhaney  was  married  to  Ella  Evans.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  Virginia  and  beainie 
early  settlers  of  Warren  county,  her  father, 
David  Evans,  taking  up  his  abode  on  the 
wild  prairie,  where  he  owned  about  seven 
hnudred  acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1S82.  In  1886  Mr. 
McElhaney  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife  who  died  in  June  of  that 
year  in  Marshfield,  Indiana.  They  were  the 
parents  of  three  children,  but  two  died  in 
infancy.  Amott  Owen  died  August  16, 
1898,  at  the  age  of  tifteen  years.  Mr.  Mc- 
Elhaney was  again  nwrried  on  the  i6tli  of 
December,  1888,  in  Potomac,  Illinois,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Dora  Pretti- 
nian,  who  was  born  in  Middlefork  township, 
\"eniiilion  county,  in  1861,  and  was  the 
widow  of  Neil  Prettiman.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  ]\[cElhaney  is  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican, but  has  had  neither  time  nor  inclina- 
tion to  seek  public  office,  his  attention  being 
devoted  untiringly  to  his  business  affairs,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  creditable  and  ■ 
signal  success. 


JOHN  H.  JOHNSON. 

I'arming  and  real  estate  interests  claim 
the  time  and  attention  of  John  H.  Johnson, 
who  resides  in  Rankin  and  who  owns  and 
operates  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres 
of  well  improved  land  adjoining  the  town. 


1036 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


He  is  a  native  of  Denmark,  born  on  the  8th 
of  Sejjtember,  1844,  and  when  a  young  man 
of  eigliteen  years  he  came  to  the  new  world 
to  seek  in  its  broader  opportunities  the  ad- 
vancement whicli  lie  desired  to  gain  in  busi- 
ness life.  He  had  attended  school  in  his 
native  country,  but  here  he  found  himself  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land  unfamiliar  with 
the  language  and  customs  of  the  people. 
He  possessed,  however,  strong  determina- 
tion and  upon  this  quality  he  has  builded  his 
pi"osperity.  It  was  in  the  year  1862  that  he 
sailed  for  Xew  York  but  he  did  not  tarry 
long  in  the  eastern  metropolis,  making  his 
way  at  once  to  Wisconsin.  There  he  worked 
on  a  farm  for  about  two  years,  after  which 
he  went  to  Michigan  and  was  employed  in 
the  pineries  of  the  latter  state.  After  three 
or  four  years  spent  in  Michigan  he  came  to 
Illinois  in  1868.  locating  in  X'ermilion  coun- 
ty, but  soon  afterward  he  began  work  on  a 
farm  in  Champaign  county.  His  father  and 
brother-in-law  also  became  residents  of  Illi- 
nois in  the  same  year,  purchasing  land  and 
locating  near  Rankin  in  Butler  township. 

In  1870  John  H.  Johnson  began  to  fann 
his  father's  property,  which  he  continued  to 
cultivate  for  a  number  of  years,  caring  for 
his  parents  through  their  declining  days. 
Both  his  father  and  mother  died  in  Chicago.- 
the  former  while  visiting  a  daughter  in  that 
city  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His 
wife  survived  him  and  died  in  Chicago  in 
1895.  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  When 
they  had  passed  away  the  estate  was  equally 
divided  among  the  heirs.  After  the  death 
of  his  parents  John  H.  Johnson  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  upon  which  he 
continues  farming.  Subsequently  he  bought 
other  land  and  he  now  has  five  hundred  and 
thirty -five  acres,  divided  into  three  farms. 
Subsequently  he  became  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres,  where  he  now 


resides,  adjoining  the  town  of  Rankin.  For 
the  past  twelve  or  fourteen  years  he  has 
rented  most  of  his  land,  giving  his  attention 
to  the  home  place  and  to  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. For  about  eight  years'  he  has  operated 
in  land  and  is  a  well  known  real  estate  dealer 
of  this  section  of  the  county,  having  negoti- 
ated some  \ery  important  property  transfers. 

In  1879  in  this  county  Mr.  Johnson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Anderson, 
a  native  of  Denmark,  who  was  reared  and 
educated  there  and  when  a  young  lady  came 
to  America.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children:  Charles  \\'.,  Peter 
Elmer,  Martin  H.  and  Emma  Linda. 

Politically.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican, who  believes  in  expansion,  in 
sound  money  and  the  protection  of  Ameri- 
can industries.  Xo  native  son  of  this  land 
is  more  loyal  to  its  interests  and  welfare  than 
is  this  adopted  citizen  of  the  new  world.  He 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James  A. 
Garfield  and  has  since  supported  each  can- 
didate of  the  party  for  the  presidency.  He 
has  never  desired  nor  would  he  hold  ottice. 
He  is  deeply  interested,  however,  in  every- 
thing pretaining  to  the  general  good  and 
co-operates  in  many  measures  for  the  benefit 
of  the  community.  He  was  one  of  the  pro- 
moters of  the  \'ermilion  county  hospital, 
making  a  liberal  subscription  to  the  institu- 
tion of  which  he  is  now  serving  as  a  director. 
He  has  e\ery  reason  to  be  proud  of  his  con- 
nection with  the  work  for  the  hospital  is  a 
most  commendable  enterprise  of  the  county 
and  one  which  reflects  credit  upon  the  hu- 
mane spirit  of  A'ermilion's  citizens.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  were  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  faith.  They  have  worked  together 
as  the  years  have  passed  and  their  united 
efi'orts  have  resulted  in  bringing  to  them 
splendid  and  creditable  success.  Although 
he  came  to  America  a  poor  young  man  with 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1037 


no  means  Mr.  Jolinson  is  now  the  owner  of 
two  large  and  valuable  farms,  aggregating 
six  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres  and  this  is 
due  to  his  marked  industry  and  the  assistance 
of  his  estimable  wife.  The_\-  ha\e  a  large 
circle  of  friends  in  this  locality  and  their 
pleasant  home  is  noted   for  its   hospitality. 


AUGUSTUS  S.  ZERSE. 

Augustus  S.  Zerse  was  well  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Danville  and  to  the  county  offi- 
cials, for,  for  seven  years,  he  was  a  clerk  of 
the  courthouse.  A  man  of  genuine  worth 
and  of  many  qualities  which  endeared  him 
to  his  friends,  his  death  was  deeply  mourned 
and  his  memory  is  yet  cherished  by  those 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  A  native  of 
Germany,  he  w-as  Ijorn  on  the  ist  of  August, 
1841,  his  parents  being  Dr.  William  F.  and 
Catherine  Zerse,  b<:)th  of  whom  were  natixes 
of  Gennany.  The  father  was  a  graduate 
of  a  medical  college,  completing  his  course 
in  Heidelburg  University  and  after  coming 
to  America  he  practiced  in  New  York  city 
for  fourteen  years  with  good  success.  He 
then  went  to  Michigan,  locating  in  Jackson, 
\\here  he  remained  in  practice  for  a  short 
time  and  then  remo\-ed  to  Lafayette,  Indiana, 
where  he  also  prosecuted  his  profession. 
Later  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Centralia,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  practiced  with  success  and 
also  engaged  in  farming  at  Johansliurg.  near 
Centralia.  He  practiced  in  the  two  towns 
and  carried  on  his  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  death.  His  widow  now  resides  in  Xash- 
ville.  Illinois. 

-Augustus  S.  Zerse  was  the  only  member 
of  the  family  that  came  to  \'ermili()n  countv. 
In  early  life  he  was  brought  by  his  parents 
to  America  and  w'as  educated  in  the  German 
and   grammar  schools   of   New   York   citv. 


He  also  attended  school  in  Jackson.  Michi- 
gan, and  thus  acquired  a  good  education. 
Later  he  went  to  Attica,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  salesman  in  a  dry-goods 
store  for  several  years,  \\hile  he  was  there 
located  the  war  broke  out  and  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  enlisting  as  a 
meml>er  of  Company  H,  Seventy-second  In- 
diana Infantry,  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain Hanna  and  Colonel  Miller.  This  com- 
pany participated  in  a  number  of  important 
engagements,  lint  Mr.  Zerse  was  never  in- 
jured during  the  war.  However,  he  was 
taken  ill  and  was  in  the  hospital  at  Gallatin, 
Tennessee,  for  some  time.  He  was  made  a 
steward  of  the  hospital  there  and  acting  in 
that  capacity  until  his  discharge  he  rendered 
faithful  duty  to  his  country  in  that  manner 
as  well  as  upon  the  field  of  battle.  His 
widow  now  owns  a  Bible  which  was  pre- 
.■^ented  to  her  husband  tor  goou  work  while 
in  the  hospital  and  it  is  a  cherished  memento 
of  his  armv  experience. 

After  his  discharge  Mr.  Zerse  settled  in 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  and  notion  business  for  a  short  time, 
when  his  store  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the 
22d  of  Februar\-.  1864.  He  then  went  to 
Urbana.  Illinois,  where  he  entered  into  part- 
nership with  his  brother  and  again  began 
dealing  in  jewelry  and  notions,  conducting 
the  business  with  success  for  several  years. 
During  that  time  he  also  ow-ned  a  store  in 
Champaigii.  Illinois. 

While  in  the  latter  city,  in  1865.  Mr. 
Zerse  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella 
M.  Wilson,  a  native  of  Warrenville.  Illinois^ 
born  in  1846,  and  a  daughter  of  James  M. 
and  Anna  M.  (  Lindsey)  Wilson,  the  former 
a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  New 
Jersey.  During  the  greater  ])art  of  their 
lives,  however,  they  were  residents  of  Illi- 
nois.    In  earlv  life  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  farm- 


1038 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


er,  but  later  was  an  inventor  and  manufac- 
turer. He  built  a  large  shop  at  Urbana  Illi- 
nois and  carried  on  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Wilson  &  Parks,  manufacturers  of 
all  kinds  of  farm  implements.  He  was  also 
engaged  in  that  line  of  business  at  Wauke- 
gan,  Illinois.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  how- 
ever, are  now  deceased.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Zerse  were  born  eig^ht  children :  Xorman, 
who  married  Georgia  Shefflebotham.  is  now 
a  bookkeeper  in  Elkhart,  Indiana.  Clarence 
A.  is  a  physician  and  druggist  carr\-ing  on 
business  in  Danville,  Illinois.  Mabel  is  at 
home  and  is  the  money  order  clerk  at  the 
postofiice.  Maude  is  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city.  Pearl  is  occupying  the 
position  of  registry  clerk  in  the  postoffice  of 
Danville.  Dorothy  is  the  wife  of  F.  F. 
Moresby,  a  receiving  clerk  for  Annour  & 
Company,  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  Fred- 
erick M.  is  foreman  in  the  employ  of  the 
Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  St.  Elmo.  Illinois.  Florence  Ger- 
trude is  still  with  her  mother. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Zerse  removed 
from  Champaign.  Illinois,  to  Red  Bud,  this 
state,  where  for  five  years  he  occupied  the 
position  of  agent  for  the  Cairo  &  St  Louis 
— the  Xarrow  Gauge — Railroad  Company. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  went  to 
Attica,  Indiana,  where  he  was  employed  as 
a  clerk  for  a  time  and  then  removed  to  Hed- 
rick,  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  gene- 
ral merchandising.  He  also  bought  and 
shipped  grain  at  that  place  for  several  years. 
Subsequently  he  came  to  Danville  and  was 
almost  continuously  from  that  time  forward 
connected  with  official  service  here.  Im- 
mediately after  his  arrival  he  was  made  tax- 
clerk  at  the  courthouse,  for  a  few  years  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity,  during  which  time  he 
purchased  a  grocery  store  on  North  Vermil- 
ion street,  in  Danville,  hiring  some  one  to 


take  charge  of  it.  P^or  three  years  he  held 
the  position  of  truant  officer,  serving  in  that 
capacity  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
a  prominent  and  successful  business  man  of 
this  city  and  a  most  loyal  and  capable  official, 
so  that  over  the  record  of  his  public  life  and 
his  pri\ate  career  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
wrong  or  suspicion  of  evil.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  was  a  stalwart  Republican  and 
e\"er  kept  \\ell  informed  on  the  questions  and 
issues  of  the  day.  He  belonged  to  Kenesaw 
Post.  G.  A.  R.,  of  Danville  and  to  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Baptist  church  and  in  that  faith  died  on  the 
1 5th  of  April.  1891,  leaving  to  his  family  an 
untamishd  name.  His  life  had  been  one  of 
acti\ity,  characterized  by  a  genial  manner,  a 
kindly  disposition  and  earnest  purpose.  He 
was  highly  esteemed  for  his  rectitude  of  char- 
acter, and  his  probity  was  above  question. 
There  were  in  his  life  many  characteristics 
worthy  of  emulation  and  he  fully  merited  the 
confidence  which  was  so  uniformly  given 
him  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  ]Mrs.  Zerse 
and  her  children  are  devoted  manbers  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  with  her  two  daughters 
she  resides  at  her  beautiful  home  at  Xo.  40S 
Oak  street. 


\V.  VIXTOX  LAXE. 

It  is  the  purpose  and  has  been  of  this 
work  to  record  the  history  of  the  men  who 
have  been  prominent  in  the  development  and 
progress  of  \'ermilion  county  along  lines  of 
material,  intellectual  and  moral  upbuilding. 
W.  Vinton  Lane  is  a  citizen  whose  influence 
has  ever  been  for  good  along  all  of  these 
lines.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life  upon 
a  farm  of  forty  acres  on  section  29.  Blount 
township,  and  well  does  he  merit  this  rest 
for  his  has  been  an  active  and  noble  career 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1039 


and  he  has  borne  no  unimportant  part  in  the 
work  of  improvement  and  advancement. 

He  was  born  in  Alliens  county,  Ohio, 
■November  12,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Lemuel 
and  Orpha  (Gibbs)  Lane,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsyivania  and  the  latter  of  \'er- 
mont.  The  father  died  in  Ohio,  while  the 
mother  spent  her  last  day  in  Kansas.  In  the 
family  were  seventeen  children,  thirteen  of 
whom  reached  years  of  maturity,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  review  being  the  twelfth  in  order 
of  birth.  He  acquired  his  education  partly 
in  a  subscription  school  held  in  a  log  build- 
ing which  was  seated  with  slab  benches  and 
heated  by  an  immense  fireplace,  the  scholars 
furnishing  the  wood  used  for  fuel.  One  of 
the  logs  from  the  side  of  the  building  had 
been  torn  out  and  the  aperture  co\ered  with 
greased  paper,  through  which  the  liglit  was 
admitted  into  the  room. 

]\Ir.  Lane  of  this  review  was  reared  upon 
the  home  farm  and  lived  in  Ohio  until  eigh- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Vermil- 
ion county,  Illinois,  and  began  work  by  the 
month  for  ten  dollars  per  month.  The  fare 
in  the  pioneer  home  was  largely  corn  bread 
and  mush  for  breakfast  and  dinner,  with 
plenty  of  milk.  He  worked  in  this  way  for 
about  eight  months  and  afterward  was  em- 
ployed bv  Jolm  Goodwin  at  elexen  dollars 
per  month.  He  then  made  a  trip  to  Ohio, 
where  he  secured  work  for  ten  dollars  per 
month.  He  made  the  journey  on  foot,  tak- 
ing with  him  a  drove  of  cattle,  and  in  his 
native  state  he  was  in  his  father's  employ  for 
about  a  year.  He  then  returned  to  this  coun- 
ty. His  first  trip  to  the  west  had  Ijeen  made 
on  horseback,  riding  his  brother's  horse. 
After  his  return  he  worked  for  J^nies  Good- 
win, of  Warren  county,  Indiana,  for  thir- 
teen dollars  per  month,  continuing  in  his 
emplov  for  two  years,  after  which  he  spent 
some  time  in  a  sawmill.     On  leaving  that 


place  he  removed  to  Knox  county,  Illinois, 
remaining  with  his  brother  for  a  year  and 
then  returned.  It  was  alx)ut  this  time  that 
Mr.  Lane  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sarah 
Jane  Crawford,  who  was  born  in  .\thens 
county,  Ohio,  August  11,  1833,  a  daughter 
of  Josiah  and  Hannah  (Walters)  Crawford, 
who  were  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county,  com- 
ing here  when  Mrs.  Lane  was  but  fi\e  years 
of  age. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their 
domestic  life  with  one  hundred  and  ninety 
acres  of  prairie  and  timber  land.  He  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  farming-  and  with  char- 
acteristic energv  carried  (ju  the  work  of  de- 
veloping and  improving  his  property.  His 
first  iiome  was  a  little  house  fourteen  by  si.K- 
teen  feet,  and  was  located  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
north  of  his  present  hinne.  The  first  land 
which  he  purchased  comprised  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres,  which  he  acquired  by  having 
bought  an  old  land  warrant.  He  afterward 
sold  eighty  acres  of  that  and  later  he  bought 
a  tract  of  ninety  acres  and  another  of  forty 
acres,  some  of  which  was  fenced.  For  his 
first  land  he  paid  about  one  dollar  per  acre 
and  for  the  remamder  about  six  dollars  per 
acre.  Danville,  which  was  then  his  trad- 
ing point,  was  a  mere  village.  He  contin- 
ued his  farming  and  stock-raising  in  the 
early  pioneer  times,  experiencing  all  the  ditii- 
culties  incident  to  the  establishment  of  a 
home  on  the  frontier.  Xearly  all  of  the  cloth- 
ing used  in  his  father's  family  was  home 
made,  the  cloth  being  spun  from  fiax  in  the 
summer  and  wo\en  in  the  winter.  'J'he 
shoes,  too.  were  home  made,  r'ire  was  start- 
ed with  fiint  and  tow,  or  else  a  member  of  the 
family  would  go  to  a  neighbor's  liome  in 
order  to  get  a  little  fire  with  which  to  light 
one  in  the  family  fireplace.  The  houses  and 
churches  were  lighted  by  candles  and  Mrs. 
Lane  was  among  the  girls  who,  on  attending 


1040 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


meeting-  would  carry  their  shoes  upon  their 
arms,  putting  them  on  just  before  service 
and  removing  them  after  church  was  over, 
going  liome  barefooted.  Mr.  Lane  well  re- 
members the  first  buggy  that  was  introduced 
into  the  neighborhood,  and  the  first  cook- 
stove  which  he  e\er  saw.  His  farm  imple- 
ments were  crude  compared  with  the  highly 
improved  ones  of  the  present  day.  He  used 
a  single  shoxel  plijw.  cut  his  grain  with  a 
sickel  and  afterward  with  a  cradle. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  was 
blessed  with  six  children :  Lemuel  married 
a  Miss  Wilson  and  after  her  death  wedded 
Anna  Goodwin,  by  whom  he  has  two  chil- 
dren. Josiah  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
A.  W.  wedded  Mary  Lewis  and  has  six  chil- 
dren. Benjamin,  of  California,  married 
Catherine  Young  and  has  five  children. 
Cooper  married  Ida  Radebaugh  and  has  one 
child.  One  member  of  the  family  died  in 
infancy. 

Mr.  Lane  served  as  road  commissioner 
for  two  terms  and  as  school  director  for 
many  years.  When  fifty-two  years  of  age  he 
joined  the  Free  Methodist  church,  with 
which  he  has  since  been  closely  identified,  tak- 
ing an  active  and  helpful  part  in  its  work  as 
classleader.  He  has  ser\ed  as  trustee  of  the 
church  located  in  Blount  township  and  is 
filling  that  oftice  at  the  present  time.  His 
wife  is  serving  as  steward  and  is  greatly  in- 
terested in  Sunday-school  work,  and  a  life 
of  industry  and  enterprise  has  brought  to 
our  subject  success  in  his  business  affairs. 
He  added  to  his  possessions  as  the  years 
l);issed  until  he  became  the  owner  of  eight 
hundred  acres,  which  he  has  since  divided 
among  his  children  retaining  only  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  This  is  all  pasture 
land  with  the  exception  of  twenty  acres.  He 
has  visited  Danville  when  there  was  but  one 
or  two  stores  in  the  \-illage  and  he  has  seen 


all  of  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  Mrs. 
Lane  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 
four  of  whom  are  yet  living,  of  whom  she 
is  the  eldest,  while  our  subject  and  his  broth- 
er R.  H.  Lane  are  now  the  only  survivors  of 
the  large  pioneer  family  of  seventeen  chil- 
dren. This  worthy  couple  have  long 
resided  in  Vermilion  county,  witnessing 
its  development  from  pioneer  times  when 
tlie  i)rairic  was  covered  with  wild  grasses, 
and  when  there  were  also  many  prairie 
wolves,  while  the  less  harmful  prairie 
chickens,  cranes,  turkeys,  ducks  and  geese 
were  to  be  had  in  abunilance.  It  was  neces- 
sary at  night,  however,  to  fasten  all  of  their 
stock  up  for  protection,  and  the  young  corn 
h.ad  to  be  guarded  from  the  crows.  There 
were  many  difticulties  and  hardships  to  be 
borne,  yet  there  were  many  pleasures  to  be 
enjoyed  and  from  pioneer  time  down  to  the 
present  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  have  been 
numbered  among  the  valued  citizens  of  this 
community.  In  politics  he  is  a  Prohibition- 
ist, believing  firmly  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance and  in  every  measure  calculated  to  up- 
lift humanity  and  advance  morality  among 
his  fellow  men. 

R.  H.  Lane,  the  surviving  Ijrother  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Vinton  county,  Ohio, 
March  19,  1832,  and  in  the  year  1865  he 
came  to  this  county  in  company  with  his 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
Bruner.  Her  parents  were  John  and  Nancy 
Bruner,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  Mrs.  Lane  was 
born  Inly  g,  1832.  She  was  to  her  husband 
for  nianv  vears  a  faithful  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  jotu'uey,  but  she  died  May 
12,  1894.   In  the  family  were  four  children. 

Before  leaving  Ohio  R.  H.  Lane  joined 
the  Union  soldiers  that  started  out  to  check 
the  advance  of  Morgan  into  Ohio.  For  al- 
most forty  years,  howe\er,  he  has  been  iden-- 
ified    with    \'ermilion    countv   and    has   de- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1041 


veloped  a  rtiie  farm.  He  tirst  lived  in  a  log 
house,  but  as  time  has  passed  lie  has  erected 
a  substantial  residence  and  many  good  build- 
ings upon  his  farm  and  to-day  he  is  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land  across 
which  there  are  fine  driveways  and  all  mod- 
em equipments.  The  place  is  nicely  located 
and  everything  is  neat  and  attractive  in  ap- 
pearance. In  politics  R.  H.  Lane  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  is  regarded  as  a  substantial  and 
representative  pioneer  citizen  of  X'ermilion 
county. 

•  »  » 

B.  S.  RICE. 

Sound  judgment  combined  with  fine 
ability  in  mechanical  lines  has  enabled  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  a  well  known  re- 
sident of  Hoopeston,  Illinois,  to  obtain  a 
substantial  success  in  life.  He  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  his  birth  having  occurred  near  De- 
catur, that  state.  September  16.  1862.  and  he 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Melissa  (  Kennedy) 
Rice.  His  father  was  bom  in  Indiana  and 
is  descended  from  an  old  Pennsyhania  Ger- 
man fann'ly,  but  the  mother  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  on  the  maternal  side  is  of  Irish 
lineage.  Since  1872  they  have  made  their 
home  in  Goodland,  Indiana,  and  are  mun- 
liered  among  the  highly  respected  citizens  of 
that  place.  After  following  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade  for  a  third  of  a  centiu'v  the 
father  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  enjoying 
a  well  earned  rest.  In  his  family  are  seven 
children  :  S.  T..  a  resident  of  Pittsburg, 
Kansas ;  B.  S. ;  David,  of  Golden,  Colorado ; 
James  W.,  of  Hoopeston.  Illinois:  W.  A.,  of 
Goodland,  Indiana:  Lulu,  wife  of  Ira  Pink- 
er, principal  uf  the  schools  of  Paragon.  In- 
diana; Myrtle,  wife  of  Walter  Peckham : 
and  Ethel,  wife  of  Leonard  Tullis.  of  Ren- 
sslear,  Indiana. 


During  his  boyhood  B.  S.  Rice  accom- 
jianietl  his  parents  on  their  remo\al  to  Good- 
land.  Indiana,  and  after  completing  his  ed- 
ucation in  the  schools  of  that  place  he  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade,  serving  a  four  years' 
apprenticeship.  He  continued  to  work  at 
his  trade  in  Goodland  for  eighteen  months 
tiiereafter,  or  until  1S90,  when  he  went  to 
Chicago  antl  spent  three  years  in  that  city  at 
the  same  occupation.  At  the  end  of  that 
])criod  he  removed  to  Danville,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  in  the  employ  of  William 
Ryan  four  years,  and  then  came  to  Ho(jpes- 
ton,  where  lie  worked  for  Mr.  McElhaney 
one  year.  In  February,  i8q8,  he  purchased 
his  present  shop  and  has  since  engaged  in 
business  on  his  own  account  with  marked 
success.  He  is  an  expert  horse-shoer  and 
up  to  the  present  year,  1903,  he  has  always 
made  a  specialty  of  scientific  horse-shoeing, 
having  shod  many  fine  race  horses.  He 
does  much  expert  hand  work  in  his  line  and 
has  built  up  an  excellent  trade  since  becom- 
ing a  factor  in  business  circles  of  Hoopeston. 

At  Kentland.  Indiana,  January  7,  1886, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Rice  and 
Miss  Josephine  (iinan.  who  was  torn  near 
Lockport.  Illinois,  in  1864.  Her  parents, 
James  and  Marv  (iinan.  were  both  natives 
of  Ireland,  but  were  married  in  Lockport, 
Illinois,  having  come  to  America  when 
young.  The  father  died  in  the  fall  of  1900, 
but  the  mother  is  still  living  and  now  makes 
her  home  in  Brook,  Indiana.  Their  chil- 
ilren  were  Maggie,  Xellie,  Josephine,  Kate, 
Delia,  Elizabeth,  Florence.  John  and  David, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living.  There  was 
ne\er  a  death  in  the  fann'ly  until  the  father 
passed  away.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  have  three 
children,  namely:  Clarence,  born  in  June, 
1885:  Esther,  born  IMarch  21  1901  ;  and 
1  larry.  b(im  in  Deceml^er,  1902.  The  fami- 
ly   have   a   pleasant   home  on   Washington 


I042 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


avenue,  where  Mr.  Rice  erected  a  nice  eight- 
rooin  house  with  basement,  in  1901,  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  dollars,  and  also  built 
a  barn.  His  political  support  is  given  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  religious  faith  he  is 
a  Catholic.  He  is  the  present  venerable  con- 
sul of  Hoope.ston  Camp,  No.  257,  M.  \\".  A., 
and  he  is  also  an  honored  member  of  the 
Home  Circle. 


WILLIAM  J.   CALHOUX. 

i  William  J.  Calhoun  was  born  October  5, 
1848.  at  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania.  He 
spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in  what  is 
known  as  the  ISIahoning  valley  on  the  border 
line  <3f  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  His  father 
was  Robert  Calhoun,  who  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  He  belonged  by  descent  to 
the  Scotch  clan  of  Colquhon.  one  branch  of 
which  emigrated  to  Ireland,  from  which  the 
Calhouns  of  America  descended.  Robert 
Calhoun  married  Sarah  Knox,  who  was 
also  of  the  same  racial  descent.  Her  father 
was  James  Knox,  who.  for  many  years,  was 
an  officer  in  the  English  army,  but  emigrated 
to  the  United  States  and  located  at  Pitts- 
burg. His  father,  the  great-grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Captain  John 
Knox,  an  officer  in  the  English  army,  who 
participated  in  the  French  and  English  wars, 
and  was  the  author  of  what  is  known  as 
"Knox's  Diary."'  which  is  a  history  of 
and  narration  of  the  author's  experience  in 
these  wars,  and  is  referred  to  frequently  by 
Parkman  and  other  students  and  writers 
upon  that  period. 

Robert  Calhoun  was  a  merchant  in  his 
early  life,  but  breaking  down  in  health  re- 
tired to  a  farm,  near  Youngstown,  Ohio, 
wdiere  he  died  in  March.   1866.     His  wife 


previously  died  in  1858  at  IMt.  Jackson, 
Pentisylvania. 

\\  .  J.  Calhoun  in  1864.  while  the  civil 
war  was  in  progress,  ran  away  from  home, 
and  after  two  rejections  on  account  of  his 
youth,  finally  succeeded  in  enlisting  in  the 
armv  and  became  a  member  of  the  Nine- 
teenth Ohio  X'olunteer  Infantry,  commanded 
by  Colonel  Manderson,  lately  L'nited  States 
senator  from   Nebraska. 

On  returning  home  after  his  discharge  by 
reason  of  the  termination  of  the  war  he  en- 
tered the  L'nion  Seminary,  at  Poland, 
?^Iahoning  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a 
student  for  three  years.  This  was  the  same 
institution  at  which  President  McKinley  re- 
ceived most,  if  not  all,  of  his  education.  It 
was  there  Mr.  Calhoun  became  acquainted 
with  the  late  president  and  the  members  of 
his  family. 

Mr.  Calhoun  came  to  Illinois  in  the 
spring  of  1869.  He  first  located  in  Areola, 
Douglas  county,  wliere  resided  his  mother's 
sister,  the  wife  of  Dr.  F.  B.  Henry.  He 
taught  school,  worked  on  the  farm,  and 
finally  eineretl  ui)on  the  study  of  law.  He 
remoxeil  to  Danville  in  ]\Iarch,  1874,  and 
completed  his  studies  under  the  tuition  and 
direction  of  Hon.  J.  B.  Mann.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  January,  i'875,  and  im- 
mediately entered  into  partnership  with  ]\Ir. 
^lann,  forming  the  firm  of  Mann  &  Calhoun, 
which  firm  afterwards  became  Mann,  Cal- 
hiiun  1^-  Frazier.  and,  in  its  time  was  one 
of  the  liest  known  law  firms  in  Eastern  Illi- 
nois. 

Mr.  Calhoun  married  Alice  D.  Harmon 
December  28.  1875.  To  them  two  children 
were  'norn,  ]\Iarian  Calhoun  and  Corrinne 
Calhoun.  The  latter  was  married,  October 
7,  1902.  to  W.  H.  Gray.  Jr.,  of  Boston,  and 
now  resides  in  that  citv. 


LC^.QaU.4nAA-K 


L  Y 

C.     ,..£ 
UNiVERSiTY  OF  ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1045 


jNTr.  Calhoun  was  elected  in  tlie  tall  of 
1882  to  the  general  assemljly  of  Illinois,  antl 
in  the  autumn  of  1884  he  was  elected 
state's  attorney  of  Vermilion  county.  In 
the  fall  of  1889  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Judge  \[.  W.  Thompsoon,  now  circuit 
judge  of  Vermilion  county,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Calhoun  &   Thompson. 

In  1892  he  was  appointed  general  attor- 
ney for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Rail- 
roal  Company,  and  had  charge  of  that  com- 
pan}-'s  litigation  al(.>ng  its  entire  line  of  road. 
His  local  otSce  in  Danville  was  maintained 
inconjunction  with  H.  M.  Steely,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Calhoun  &  Steely. 

For  over  eight  years  he  took  no  part  in 
politics,  rarely  attended  a  primary  or  con- 
vention, made  no  speeches,  but  gave  up  his 
whole  time  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  1896  came  on  the  campaign  for  the  nom- 
ination of  a  candidate  for  president  as  the 
nominee  of  the  Republican  party.  William 
McKinley  was  one  of  the  leading  candi- 
dates. He  was  a  favorite  with  the  great 
mass  of  the  people,  1)ut  the  politicians  for 
the  most  part  were  against  him. 

Mr.  Calhoun's  early  acquaintance  with 
Mr.  McKinley  aroused  his  interest  in  his  be- 
half. With  all  his  heart  and  soul  he  threw 
himself  into  that  campaign.  It  was  a  ter- 
rific battle  in  Illinois,  and  the  state  conven- 
tion of  1896  was  one  of  the  memorable  con- 
ventions in  the  history  of  the  state.  It  ex- 
cited interest  throughout  the  nation,  for  it 
was  generally  conceded  that  if  Illinois  went 
for  ^IcKinley.  the  latter's  fight  was  won. 
Mr.  Calhoun  headed  his  delegation  from 
Vermilion  county,  and  was  selected  as  the 
manager  or  leader  of  the  McKinley  forces 
on  the  floor  of  the  convention.  For  three 
days  the  convention  was  in  session,  and  re- 
sulted in  a  triumph  for  the  McKinley  forces. 


Soon  after  the  inauguration  of  President 
McKinley.  the  aggra\ated  condition  in  Cuba 
threatened  the  relations  between  the  United 
States  and  Si)ain.     Among  other  incidents 
of  that  troublesome  period  was  the  arrest 
and  imprisonment  by  the  Spanish  authorities 
of  one  Dr.  Ruiz  as  an  alleged  revolutionist. 
He  was  imprisoned  in  one  of  the  Guanabacoa 
near  Havana.     He  was  found  one  morning 
in  a  dyi!ig  condition,  with  his  head  badly 
bruised.     General  Fitzhugh  Lee  was  consul 
general  at  Hawina.     He  complained  to  the 
go\ermnent  of  the  United  States  that  Dr. 
Ruiz   was  a   naturalized   American   citizen, 
and  that  he  had  been  foully  dealt  with.    Com- 
munications   concerning    the    circumstances 
attending  the  death  1  )f  Ruiz  were  had  between 
the  United  States  antl  Spanish  governments. 
It  resulted  in  an  agreement  between  the  two 
governments  that  a  commission  should  be 
appointed   to   investigate  the  circumstances 
attending    Dr.    Ruiz    death.      The    Spanish 
government  appointed  as  its  commissioner 
Senor     Congosta.    and    the   United    States, 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee.     The  president  ap- 
pointed Air.  Calhoun  as  special  counsel  to 
the  American  commission,  and  went  to  Ha- 
vana in  the  latter  part  of  May,  1897.  and  was 
there  lor  sevral  weeks  attending  the  com- 
mission and  assisting  in   the  investigation. 
'Jdie  Spanish  authorities  claimed  that  Ruiz 
committed    suicide    by    butting    his    head 
against   the   iron    door   which   inclosed    his 
cell,  causing  congestion  of  the  brain,  from 
which   he  died.      The  commission   made  its 
rei)ort  to  both  governments.    An  award  was 
allowed  by  the  Spanish  government  in  favor 
of  the  widow  ami  children  of  the  deceased 
because    personallv.    whate\er    might    have 
been  the  cause  of  his  death,  he  had  been  com- 
mitted and  held  in  prison  contrary  to  the 
terms   of   the  existing  treaty  between   the 


1046 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAJ.    RECORD 


Spanish  goveninient  and  the  United  States. 
But  before  the  award  was  paid,  the  Main 
was  blown  up.  tlie  war  with  Spain  ensued, 
and  the  unfortunate  family  of  Ruiz  never 
recovered  anything. 

Mr.  Calhoun  upon  his  return  from  Cuba 
was  tendered  the  position  of  comptroller  of 
tlie  treasury  by  the  president,  but  he  de- 
clined it,  and  returned  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  May,  1898,  he  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
mission to  succeed  Colonel  William  R.  Mor- 
rison, whose  term  had  expired.  He  re- 
mained on  the  commisison  until  October, 
i89<.),  wlien  he  resigned  to  move  to  Chicago 
:>nd  enter  the  law  firm  of  Pam.  Calhoun  & 
Glennon.  He  has  resided  in  Chicago  ever 
since.  His  wife  dietl  August  27,  i8g8.  He 
is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law, 
and  he  and  the  firm  with  which  he  is  con- 
nected, is  associated  with  many  of  the  large 
commercial  interests  of  the  countrv. 


STACK Y  MILLER. 

Stacey  Miller  was  a  successful  busniess 
man  who  started  out  in  life  for  himself  with- 
out capital,  but  who.  through  perseverance, 
determination  antl  energy,  accumulated  a 
handsome  competence  and  was  numbered 
among  the  prosperous  residents  of  Danville. 
Born  in  the  fatherland,  his  birth  occurred  in 
Duenneger.  on  the  6th  of  January,  1837. 
His  parents  were  Stacey  and  Susanna 
(Meyer)  MiHer,  also  natives  of  Gernjany. 
and  bidding  adieu  to  that  country  and  to 
their  friends  there  they  sailed  for  America, 
taking  up  their  abode  in  Montezuma,  Illinois.- 
There  the  father  first  worked  as  a  laborer 
and  aiterward  he  engaged  in  the  meat  busi- 


ness, being  employetl  in  the  butcher's  trade 
in  Montezuma  until  he  was  called  to  his 
final  rest.  His  widow  afterward  lived  with 
her  children  and  died  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter  in  Terre  Haute,  Luliana.  Five  of 
tlie  children  are  yet  living,  Ijeing  residents 
of  Indiana  and  Kentucky  and  Illinois. 

To  the  public  school  system  of  his  native 
land  Stacey  Midler  was  indebted  for  the 
educational  privileges  which  he  enjoyed.  A 
year  after  the  emigration  of  his  father  to  the 
new  world  he,  too,  bade  adieu  to  friends  in 
his  native  country  and  sailed  for  the  L'nited 
States,  joining  his  parents  in  Montezuma, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  then  married  in  that 
place  to  ^liss  Louise  Blakely,  a  native  of 
W'ittenburg.  Germany,  torn  on  the 
27th  of  September,  1838.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Louise  (Scheifely)  Blakely, 
who  were  born  in  the  fatherland  and  came 
to  America  during  the  early  girlhood  of  Mrs. 
Miller.  They  first  settled  in  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  the  father  was  employed  as  a 
laborer  for  a  few  years.  He  then  removed 
with  his  family  to  Covington.  Indiana,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death.  His 
wife  also  passed  away  in  that  place.  The 
home  of  'Sir.  and  Mrs.  Miller  was  blessed 
with  seven  children :  Catherine,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years ;  Joseph,  a  bartender 
residing  in  Danville;  Louise,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Hildebresh,  who  is  proprietor  of  a 
saloon  in  Danville:  Odelia,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy: Sophia,  the  wife  of  Gus  Flick,  who 
is  foreman  of  the  Danville  Brewery,  of  this 
city:  Stacey.  who  is  a  bartender  and  also 
lives  in  Danville;  and  Clarence,  who  is  at 
home  with  his  mother. 

After'  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stacey  Miller  tiuik  up  their  abode  in  Coving- 
ton, Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged  in  team- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1047 


ing  until  1870.  He  then  came  to  this  city 
and  purchased  a  saloon  and  restaurant  on 
Main  street,  conducting  the  dual  husiness  for 
three  vears.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold 
his  restaurant  ami  purchasetl  another  saloon 
on  ^lain  street,  being  thus  engaged  in  the 
retail  liquor  business  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  accorded  a 
lilieral  patronage  and  his  annual  sales  i"e- 
turned  to  him  an  excellent  income.  He 
always  attended  strictlv  to  business  and  bis 
close  application  and  energy  brought  to  him 
a  gratifying  degree  of  success.  He  passed 
a  way  May  ir,  1898,  his  death  being  widely 
mourneil  because  he  bad  won  many  friends 
in  the  city. 

In  his  political  views  he  was  a  Democrat 
and  fraternally  he  was  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Improvetl  Order  of  Foresters,  both  of  Dan- 
ville. In  bis  religious  faith  he  was  a 
Catholic,  while  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
(lerman  Lutheran  church  of  this  city.  Mrs. 
Miller  was  left  in  very  comfortable  circum- 
stances by  her  husband,  and  she  now  owns 
a  beautiful  residence  at  612  Wayne  street, 
where  she  and  her  youngest  S(in  now  live. 
She  also  owns  two  nice  store  buildings  on 
Main  street,  which  are  rented,  and  her  pro- 
perty interests  likewise  include  an  addition 
to  Danville  of  five  acres  on  Perryville  avenue, 
w  hicb  is  becoming  valuable  property  and  will 
doubtless  bring  to  her  a  good  financial  re- 
turn when  she  desires  to  sell. 


ELLIS  .\n\MS. 


Ellis  Adams  was  born  in  Sussex  county, 
New  Jersey.  September  25,  181 7.  His 
father  was  Joseph  Adams,  at  one  time  county 
judge  of  Sussex  county,  and  his  mother  was 


[Margaret  Post  (if  the  same  county.  He 
worketl  on  a  farm  and  helped  in  the  mill 
during  the  summer,  getting  .some  schooling 
during  the  winter,  until  be  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  clerked  in  a  country 
store  for  one  year.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  accepted  a  ckMis^bip  in  Xewburg  cm  the 
Hud.son  river,  sixty  miles  from  New  York 
city,  remaining  with  the  firm  of  William 
O.  Mailler  &  Company  for  four  years. 

At  this  time  be  began  to  feel  the  neetl 
of  a  better  education,  so  resigning  his  clerk- 
ship, he  began  attending  an  academy  at 
Florida,  Orange  county,  New  York.  After 
six  months  of  academy  wnrk  the  principal 
told  him  if  be  was  still  sure  be  was  going 
to  be  a  merchant  that  the  academy  work 
was  not  suited  to  his  needs.  Acting  on  the 
advice,  he  reported  to  the  firm  for  whom  he 
formerly  clerked  at  Xewburg,  New  York. 
One  of  the  firm  took  him  to  New  York  city 
and  introduced  and  gave  him  a  recommend- 
ation to  the  firm  of  C.  W.  iS;  1.  T.  Moore  & 
Company,  wholesale  dry  goods.  He  was 
soon  considered  one  of  the  l>est  clerks  and 
was  getting  on  nicely  with  the  work  for 
which  he  seemed  to  have  a  natural  ai)titude, 
when  he  received  word  from  home  that  his 
father  bad  solil  his  farm,  stock  etc..  with 
the  avowed  intention  of  mo\ing  to  the  Rock 
river  country  in  Illinois,  and  wished  him  to 
go  with  them,  to  the  then  (so  called)  far 
west.  His  mother's  entreaties,  added  to  the 
rest  of  the  families"  wishes,  finally  led  him 
to  make  the  promise  they  wished,  though  to 
give  up  a  line  position  that  was  suited  to  liim 
in  every  way,  was  a  \ery  bard  thing  to  do. 
His  emplovcrs  were  \'ery  kind  to  him  and, 
although  they  were  sure  the  change  was  a 
bad  one  for  bis  future,  they  would  not  ad- 
vise him  against  what  they  knew  would  be 
against  the  wishes  of  his  parents.  He  had 
made  a  very  short  visit  home  and  had  re- 


1048 


THE   BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


turned  to  fill  his  position  until  everything 
was   ready   for  the  moving  of  the   family. 
when  he  recei\ed  a  message  from  his  father 
to  meet  him  at  once  at  the  merchant's  house 
in  the  city.    On  going  to  the  hotel  his  father 
met  him  and  told  him  all  of  the  plans  were 
changed.     He  hatl  just  returned   from  the 
south  and  while  there  had  purchased  a  plan- 
tation near  Spottsyhania  Court  House.     He 
told  his  father  he  did  not  wish  to  go  south, 
had  never  made  any  promise  to  go  south  and 
he  felt  fully  assured  the  move  \\-as  a  \-ery 
bad  one  for  all  of  them.     He  also  pleaded 
against  the  giving-  up  of  a  lucrati\-e  position. 
with  every  chance  for  promotion,  to  go  and 
live  on   that   poor   Virginia   land,   with   no 
show  for  more  than  a  bare  living.     But  his 
father's  persuasions  and  his  mother  finally 
saying  she  would  not  go  unless  he  did  caused 
him  to  yield  and  he  reluctantly  consenteil. 
At  the  appointed  time  he  took  a  steamer  on 
the  Hudson  river  for  Xewburg,  a  distance 
of  sixty  miles,  then  g.  stage  for  forty  miles 
southwest    for   home.      Here    he   found   all 
hurry  and  preparation  for  the  move.     Part 
went  in  wagons  and  part  in  public  con\ey- 
ance  on  account  of  there  being  no  railroad 
to  Washington  city.     At  Washington,  they 
took  a  steamer  on  the  Potomac  to  Acqua 
creek,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.     From  there 
they  took  a  stage  for  all  of  them  who  were 
not  driving  wagons,  to  Fredericksburg,  \'ir- 
ginia.     They  were  then  fifteen  miles  from 
the  plantation  which  had  been  bought.    Here 
they  found  a  very  pleasant  and  \\e\\  located 
plantation.     There  was  a  number  of  good 
cabins,  a  nice  house,  with  plenty  of  room, 
large  stables  and  abundance  of  fruit.     But 
in  the  fall  the  whole  family  were  taken  down 
with  bilious  fever  and  had  a  verv  serious 
time,  but  all  finally  recmered  excepting  Mr. 
Howell,  his  sister  .\nn's  husband,  who  was 
buried  under  the  shade  of  two  persimmon 


trees,  where  afterward  were  buried  our  sub- 
ject's father,  mother  and  sister.  Twenty- 
six  years  afterward  he  was  there  and  had  a 
new  fence  built  around  the  graves. 

Mr.  Adams'  experience  on  a  \'irginia 
farm  was  not  a  satisfactory^  one.  The  soil 
was  too  poor  for  anything  but  fruit  and  of 
this  there  was  always  an  abundance.  He 
found  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  up  the 
fertility  of  the  land  and  make  it  pay  the  ex- 
pense. Knowing  \'irginia  was  no  place  for 
him.  he  planned  to  go  away  from  home  again 
but  finally  yielding  to  the  wishes  of  his 
mother,  he  made  her  a  final  promise  not  to 
leave  home  until  after  her  death.  She  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  In  speaking 
of  this  period  of  his  life,  he  always  said  he 
had  never  fell  sorry  he  had  remained  at  home 
to  please  his  mother  and  sisters,  although 
from  a  financial  view  it  was  five  years  of 
wasted  time.  During  the  time  he  made  his 
home  in  \'irginia.  his  sister  Sarah  married 
James  W.  Howard,  who  is  well  and  favor- 
ably known  to  many  of  the  people  of  Fair- 
mount.  His  sister  Eleanor  married  Robert 
Chewning.  She  died  three  years  later.  His 
sister  Ann.  during  the  same  period  becaine 
engaged  to  Samuel  King,  his  future  wife's 
brother.  Ellis  Adams  was  married  to 
Amanda  R.  King,  of  Philadelphia,  Pennsyl- 
vania. December  5,  1844.  His  father's 
family  mo\ed  to  the  north  again  in  1845, 
having  lost  about  all  they  had. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Adams  went  to 
work  for  a  Mr.  Reeves  of  Goshen,  Orange 
county,  Xew  ^'ork,  with  whom  he  remained 
two  years.  Mr.  Reeves  did  a  general  busi- 
ness in  almost  every  line:  drv  goods,  gro- 
ceries, iron,  western  flour,  Ixiught  and  sold 
grain  and  liquor.  He  told  Mr.  Reeves  he 
would  handle  an}thing  he  had  except  liquor 
and  he  was  never  asked  to  touch  that  while 
he  was  there.     Bet\>re  his  first  vear's  work 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1049 


■was  over  he  was  often  sent  to  Xew  York 
to  Iniy  goods  for  the  lirm.  His  son,  I'rank 
K.  Adams,  was  born  in  Goshen,  Orange 
county.  Xew  York.  July  3.  1S46.  He  re- 
mained witli  Mr.  Reeves  for  two  years  and 
then  went  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness for  himself  at  L'nionxille.  Orange 
countv,  Xew  York,  tifteen  miles  from 
(joshen,  and  was  in  business  there  for  tifteen 
vears.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  sold  off 
e\'erything  and  prepared  to  go  west.  At 
tliis  time  his  old  employer,  Mr.  Reeves,  went 
to  Unionville  and  made  him  an  offer  of 
one-half  his  large  business  and  place  him  in 
charge  of  it.  but  as  he  had  made  all  his 
arrangements  to  go  west  he  refused  the  oft'er 
in  spite  of  its  being  a  fine  business  opening. 
He  had  always  done  a  big  and  lucrative 
business  in  Unionville  and  had  become  tired 
of  so  much  confinement  and  concluded  to  go 
west  and  buy  a  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1S56,  he 
packed  his  xalise  and  paid  a  short  visit  to  his 
brother-in-law,  P.  R.  Davis  who  lived  in 
I'airmount,  Illinois.  He  was  much  pleased 
with  the  country  and  bought  a  piece  of  land 
of  Samuel  Daugherty.  and  went  home  again 
by  way  of  Chicago  and  Niagara  Falls.  He 
wrote  his  wife  what  he  had  done  and  when 
he  was  coming  home,  etc.  He  then  went 
im  home,  made  a  short  stay,  went  on  to 
New  York  city  attended  to  some  business 
and  was  back  home  again  before  the  letter 
reached  his  home. 

In  1857  he  closed  out  everything  and 
came  west  with  his  family.  J.  W.  Howard 
and  family  coming  with  him".  His  family 
at  this  time  consisted  of  his  daughter.  Anna 
M.,  and  son  G.  Clarence  Adams.  His  oldest 
son,  Frank  K.  was  in  Conneticut  attending 
school  and  did  not  come  west  until  the  next 
year.  Himself  and  family  boarded  for  the 
summer  at  the  home  of  P.  R.  Davis,  and  in 
the    fall   went   back   to   their   eastern   home 


again  to  spend  the  winter.  He  found  the 
goods  at  the  home  as  they  had  left  them,  all 
in  good  order.  But  all  the  family  were  in 
bad  condition  physically  frnm  the  effects  of 
chills  and  fever.  All  had  yellow  skin  and 
fe\-er  blisters  all  over  their  mouths.  There 
were  manv  of  his  friends  wlio  were  anxious 
to  hear  what  he  thought  of  that  part  of  the 
west  but  when  they  saw  his  condition  not 
one  of  them  cared  to  hear  about  it.  At  first 
none  of  the  familv  wanted  to  go  back  west 
but  as  soon  as  they  were  well  they  all 
changed  their  minds  and  were  anxious  to 
return.  He  sold  everything  off  he  could  not 
take  with  him  antl  mo\ed  to  Fairmount, 
Illinois.  On  reaching  there  he  boug'ht  the 
house  built  by  John  Harvey,  on  the  corner 
of  Court  and  High  streets.  Two  years  af- 
terward he  built  the  house  in  which  he  lived 
for  so  many  years.  The  house  was  later  cut 
in  two  parts  by  George  Junkerman  and 
moved  on  two  lots  he  owned  in  the  east 
part  of  town.  Ed.  Carrington  now  owns 
the  lots  and  has  built  upon  them  and  lives 
there. 

At  alx'^ut  this  time  Dr.  Cou,  of  Homer, 
brought  a  stock  of  dry  goods  to  Fairmount 
and  Mr.  Adams  bought  a  half  interest  in 
them  in  order  to  give  his  son  Frank  some- 
thing to  do.  ^Making  this  purchase  it  kept 
him  in  the  trade  for  a  number  of  years  but 
lie  found  he  was  not  suited  for  a  western 
merchant,  and  turned  the  business  over  to 
his  son  Frank,  who  had  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  He  came  west  to  get 
a  farm  and  always  kept  that  end  in  view. 
He  kept  buying  land  until  he  had  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  in  one  liody. 

Mr.  Adams  sent  his  daughter  Anna  to 
school  at  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  for  a  year  and 
then  for  a  year  to  a  female  boarding  school 
at  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where  she  com- 
pleted her  education.     In  1870  he  sent  his 


I050 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


son  Clarence  to  the  State  L'niversity  at 
Cliani])aigii,  lie  being  then  fifteen  years  of 
age.  He  passed  a  very  creditable  exami- 
nation and  was  admitted  to  the  freshman 
jear.  He  had  attended  for  three  years  and 
a  term  when  he  died.  A  peculiar  chain  of 
circumstances  prevented  his  son  Clarence 
from  completing  his  course.  Soon  after 
this  Mr.  Adams  rented  or  sold  his  property 
in  Fairmount  and  removed  to  Champaign. 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  twelve  years. 
His  daughter  Anna  was  married  in  Cham- 
paign to  Stanley  L.  Conklin,  of  that  place. 
This  was  in  1S74.  While  in  Champaign 
his  wife,  Amanda  R..  became  helpless  from 
the  effects  of  rheumatism  and  had  to  be 
moved  by  the  aid  of  a  wheel  chair.  The 
rheumatism  also  settled  in  her  eyes  and  de- 
fied the  skill  of  the  best  oculists  and  on  the 
return  of  the  family  to  Fairmount  in  1887 
she  becam.e  entirely  blind.  When  she  found 
she  was  certainly  going  blind  she  wished  to 
return  to  Fairmount  and  it  was  done.  Mr. 
Adams  lived  in  Fairmount  from  1882  to 
1886.  Then  himself  and  wife  went  to  live 
with  his  daughter  Anna,  in  Columbus, 
Kansas.  His  daughter's  husband  was  in  the 
banking  business  at  that  place.  They  lived 
there  one  year,  Mr.  Adams  having  spent  four 
months  of  that  time  with  his  son  Clarence 
at  his  home  in  Fairmount,  Illinois.  At  the 
end  of  the  year  his  son-in-law  sold  out  his 
banking  business  and  made  preparations  to 
move  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  Mr.  Adams 
then  concluded  he  was  as  far  west  as  he 
wanted  to  be  and  came  back  to  Fairmount 
and  moved  into  the  house  now  occupied  by 
George  Junkerman.  His  son  Clarence  was 
now  living  on  the  farm.  His  wife,  Amanda 
R.,  died  in  Fairmount,  Illinois.  September 
3,  1889.  -After  her  death  he  divided  his 
time  between  his  daughter  and  son.  being 
with    his    daucrhter    during:   the   winters    at 


Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and  his  summers 
with  his  son  Clarence  at  Fairmount.  He 
ilied  at  Kansas  City,  on  November  11,  1891. 


HEXRY  DAMS. 


Henry  Davis,  a  farmer  of  \'ance  town- 
ship. \'ermilion  coimty,  was  born  in  this 
county  May  5,  1841,  a  son  of  William  Davis, 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  \^ermilion  coun- 
ty. The  latter  was  a  nati\-e  of  Ohio  and  de- 
scended from  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  He  be- 
came a  large  landowner  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, having  two  thousand  acres.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Hayes,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  to 
them  «ere  born  ten  cliildren,  Henrv  being 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 

Henry  Davis  received  his  education  in  an 
old  log  schoolhouse  and  remained  at  home 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  24th  of  December,  1863,  to  Miss 
Xancy  Cox,  \\ho  dietl  October  24,  1874. 
He  was  married  a  second  time  to  Rebecca  E. 
Baird.  on  the  7th  of  Septembr,  1875.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them:  Fred  L.,  Grace 
Elizabeth  and  Sarah  Mabel.  Mrs.  Reljecca 
E.  (Baird)  Davis  died  July  18,  1883.  :\Ir. 
Davis  was  again  married  April  5,  1 881.  to 
Miss  M.  Belle  Pemberton. 

Mr.  Davis  has  always  engaged  in  farm- 
ing with  exception  of  one  year  spait  in  the 
grocery  trade  at  Fairmount  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  stock-raising  in 
connection  with  general  farming.  Politic- 
allv  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  served  as  high- 
wav  commissioner  many  years  and  as  school 
director.  For  several  years  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  \'ermilion  County  Agricultural 
and  Mechanical  Association.  He  also  served 
as  a  member  of  the  toard  of  directors  of 
the  Fair  Association  and  as  crop  reporter 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1051 


for  the  agricultural  department  at  Spring- 
field. He  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic- 
Central  Committee  for  years  and  active  in 
church  work,  both  he  and  his  wife  being 
members  of  the  Baptist  clun-cli. 


:\[rRRY  J.  BUTTERFIELD. 

Since  1880  ^Ir.  Bntteriield  has  been 
identified  with  industrial  interests  of  Dan- 
\-ille.  Many  important  contracts  liave  been 
awarded  him  and  his  skill  and  enterprise 
have  gained  for  him  a  leading  position 
among  representative  and  successful  business 
men  of  this  place. 

Mr.  Butterfield  was  born  in  Saltsburg. 
Pennsyh'ania.  April  12,  1850,  a  son  of 
Clarke  and  Elizabeth  (Caldwell)  Butter- 
field.  The  father  died  in  1877  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight  years  and  the  mother  died  when 
our  subject  was  only  nine  months  old. 
leaving  three  children :  Margaret,  the  wife 
of  W.  S.  Ray,  of  Iowa;  Rebecca,  the  wife 
of  Xesbett  Gallagher,  of  Delphi.  Indiana : 
and  Murry  J.,  of  this  review. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred 
to  vary  the  routine  of  life  for  Murry  J. 
Butterfield  through  his  early  youth,  which 
was  spent  in  (ireensl)U)\g,  Pennsyhania.  His 
time  was  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  lads 
of  that  period.  He  enjoyed  the  pleasures 
of  the  play  ground  and  performed  the  duties 
of  the  school  room,  pursuing  his  education 
in  Greensburg.  When  yet  a  boy  he  went 
to  Oil  City,  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania. 
His  parents  objected  to  his  leaving  home  at 
so  early  an  age  and  therefore  to  provide  for 
his  own  support  he  secured  work  at  tamping 
ties  on  the  railroad  ami  thus  he  gained  the 
money  with  which  to  make  his  present  busi- 
ness  venture.      After   leaving   the   parental 


roof  in  1865  he  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  went  to  Mt.  Pleasant,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  tlience  to  Pittsburg,  remaining 
in  the  last  place  from  the  fall  of  1869  to  1875, 
at  which  time  he  removed  to  Osceola,  Penn- 
syh'ania. and  took  charge  of  the  planing 
mill  for  the  firm  of  Walker  Brothers,  be- 
ing associated  with  that  enterprise  for  two 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
remi)\-ed  to  .\ltoona.  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
enipioved  in  the  railway  shops  until  the 
spring  of  1880,  when  he  came  to  Danville. 
Illinois,  and  worked  for  IMoore  &  Coy.  At 
a  later  day  he  became  a  partner  of  David 
Lichliter,  as  a  member  of  the  tirm  of  Butter- 
field &  Lichliter,  contractors  and  builders. 
This  connection  was  maintained  until  i88(), 
when  the  firm  dissolved  partnership  and  Mr, 
Butterfield  c.irried  on  the  business  for  him- 
self in  the' same  line.  In  that  year,  however, 
he  went  to  Los  Angeles,  California,  where 
he  remainetl  for  a  time,  working  at  his  trade, 
but  he  concluded  to  locate  permanently  in 
Dan\-ille  and  returned  to  this  city  in  1888, 
In  the  intervening  perioil  he  has  prospered 
in  iiis  liusiness  undertakings,  lie  has  se- 
cured and  executed  some  large  contracts  for 
Ijuilding  coal  mines,  elevator  machines,  the 
Gregg  elevator,  the  Delong  grain  elevator 
and  also  one  at  Perrysville.  Indiana.  lie 
built  the  Catlin  mines,  the  Hammond  mines 
and  has  also  erecteil  many  of  the  leading 
and  fine  buildings  of  Danville.  He  has  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  builder's  art  in 
all  its  departments,  his  skill  arising  from 
practical  experience  and  fmm  a  thorough 
understanding  of  the  great  mechanical  prin- 
ciples which  are  closely  connected  with  this 
industry. 

In  1877  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Butterfield  and  .Miss  Lydia  ^I.  Ilugus.  who 
was  born  in  Delmont,  Pennsylvania,  August 
4,  1846,  her  parents  being  Henry  and  Sarah 


IOS2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


(W'aganian)    llugus.  (Hie  of  the  represent- 
ative families   of   that   place.      Her  mother 
died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years, 
and  she  recently  received  the  sad  news  of 
her  fathers  death,  he  having  passed  away 
at  his  home  at  l>lmont.  March  18,  1902.  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-three  years  and 
ten  months.     Of  his  six  children  those  who 
sur\i\e  him  are  Mrs.  Butterfield,  who  is  the 
eldest  of  the  family;  Clara  J.,  wife  of  Joseph 
Wolf,    of    Carlisle.    Pennsylvania:    Ella,    a 
prominent    school    teacher    of    Greensburg, 
Pennsyhania ;   and    George,   who    has   been 
twice  n:arried.     He  is  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Westmoreland  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  served  as  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools   for  eight  years,  having 
five  hundred  schools  under  his  supervision. 
He  finished  the  common-school  course  when 
only  twelve  years  of  age,  and  began  teach- 
ing  when    quite   young,    soon    becoming    a 
most    proficient    and    successful    educator. 
jMrs.  Butterfield  completed  her  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Delmont,  Penns}-lvania, 
and   to-day  presides   with   gracious   dignity 
over  her  pleasant  home  at  1121  Oak  street, 
Danville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butterfield  have  four 
children:  Ella  Myrtle,  Henry  Hugus,  Sarah 
Elizabeth  and  Slurry  Clarke.  Ella  AI.  mar- 
ried O.  R.  Gray,  a  telegraph  operator  for 
the  Big  Four  Railroad,  and  they  have  one 
child.  \\'arren  Murry  Gray,  named  for  his 
grandfather.  Sarah  E.  is  now  the  wife  of 
\\"illiam  Meyers  and  has  one  child,  Charles 
Meyers.  Richard  married  Minnie  Zimmer- 
man and  has  three  children.  In  1901  Mr. 
Butterfield  erected  in  one  of  the  best  resi- 
dence districts  of  Danville — a  recent  ad- 
dition on  Oak  street— a  ver}-  handsome  and 
attractive  home  in  which  the  familv  now 
reside.  They  have  many  friends  in  the  city 
and  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  social  circles 


in  which  they  move.  Merit  and  ability  have 
gained  for  Mr.  Butterfield  a  creditable  po- 
sition and  his  influence  is  broadly  felt  in 
industrial  circles.  His  life  has  been  open  to 
his  fellow  citizens  and  his  business  methods 
and  career  will  bear  the  closest  investigation. 


EIJ  S.  SPERRY. 


The    Sperrv    family   \vas   established   in 
Xew  England  at  an  early  day.    The  paternal 
grandfather   of   our    subject    was    Wallace 
Sperry.  who  was  born  in  Connecticut.     He 
wedded  Sarah  Watkins,  who  came  of  an  old 
familv  of  Maryland.     In  an  early  day  the 
grandparents    of    our    subject    remo\-ed    to 
Warren    county,    Ohio,    and    there    Orrin 
Sperry,  the  fatlier,  was  born  September  4, 
1828,  being  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in 
the  family  of  nine  children.     He  was  but 
two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to 
A'ermilion  county,  Illinois,  arriving  in  1830 
the  family  settling  near  Higginsville.      He 
obtained   a   practical   education   in   the  dis- 
trict schools  and  after  reaching  man's  estate 
he  purchased  a  ^Mexican  land  warrant  for 
which  he  paid  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
Through  this  means  he  acquired  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  20,  and 
by  thrift  and  good  management  he  acquired 
fi\e  hundred  and  nine  acres  of  valuable  land 
which  through  his  untiring  industry  became 
a    most   excellent   farm   well   tiled   and   im- 
proved,   with    good    substantial    buildings, 
although  the  county  was  a  veritable  wilder- 
ness \\hen  he  arrived  here.    The  surface  of 
the  laml  was  cut  up  with  sloughs  and  ponds. 
He  lived  to  see  a  wonderful  transformation. 
The    prairie    wolves,    wild    turkeys,    geese, 
cranes  and  prairie  chickens  as  well  as  deer 
were  all  dri^"en  westward,  to  be  replaced  by 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


•053 


the  domestic  animals  of  the  farm.  Orrin 
Sperry  passed  through  aU  of  the  hardships 
and  trials  of  pioneer  life  and  always  bore 
his  part  in  the  upbuilding  and  development 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  He  was  a  re- 
spected and  worthy  citizen  whose  name  is 
inscribed  upon  the  roll  of  honored  pioneers. 
He  was  twice  married.  On  the  23d  ot 
September,  1852,  he  wedded  ^lary  Stewart, 
a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Charlotte  Stewart,  who  with 
their  family  emigrated  to  this  county.  Xine 
children  were  born  unto  Air.  and  }klrs. 
Sperry,  of  whom  four  reached  maturity, 
namely  :  Eli :  Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Wesley  Smitli.  a  son  of  George  G.  Smith: 
Asa.  deceased :  and  Eben.  The  last  named 
married  Libbie  Sutton  and  after  her  death 
married  Julia  Slaughter.  The  others  of  the 
family  who  have  passed  away  were  quite 
young-  at  the  time  of  their  eleath,  being 
named :  William  A.,  Charles  F.,  Clarissa  J.. 
George  M.  and  Jessie  G.  On  the  the  30th  of 
.\ugust,  1883,  the  father  wedded  Ellen 
Cosat,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Xancy 
Wood,  and  tlie  widow  of  Perry  C.  Cosat. 
Mr.  Sperry  was  a  man  of  excellent 
qualities  and  genuine  worth,  a  good 
manager  in  business,  thrifty  and  enter- 
I)rising,  and  ever  honorable  and  straight- 
forward. He  was  a  devoted  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  and  in  politics  an 
earnest  Republican.  He  passed  from  this 
life  in  August,  1803,  leaving  an  untarnished 
name  to  his  family. 

Eli  S.  Sperry  was  born  in  Blount  town- 
shi]).  August  14,  1853,  and  was  here  reared 
upon  the  home  farm.  His  priniru-)-  educa- 
tion. ac(juired  in  the  district  schools,  was 
supplemented  by  several  terms  of  study  in 
Green  Hill  Seminary  of  Warren  county. 
Indiana.  In  the  meantime  he  engaged  in 
teaciiing  in  the  district  schools  for  two  terms 
43 


and  has  since  taught  for  several  terms,  hold- 
ing high  grade  certihcates.  He  was  married 
Dcceiuber  27,.  1879,  to  Serelda  L.  Johnson, 
who  was  born  in  Irocpiois  county,  Illinois, 
December  15,  1855,  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  of  the  children  of  .Vlfred  C.  and  Mary 
A.  (Bodda)  Johnson.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Columbus,  Ohio,  her  mother  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mrs.  Sperr}-  was  also  educated  in  the 
district  schools  and  in  Green  Hill  Seminary 
and  taught  school  for  several  terms  in  her 
native  C(.iunty.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  daughters,  j\Iaude 
C.  and  Mary  Ethel,  who  are  young  ladies 
of  superior  culture  and  intelligence.  Hav- 
ing completed  the  common-school  course 
they  are  now  students  in  W'estfield  College 
of  Clark  county,  Illinois,  l)oth  pursuing  phil- 
osophical and  Biblical  normal  courses.  They 
are  able  writers  and  both  liave  acted  as  presi- 
dent of  the  literary  society  of  the  college  and 
have  had  the  honor  of  addressing  the  college 
at  the  time  of  its  closing  exercises,  Maude 
having  written  and  delivered  a  paper  on 
"Devotion  to  pin'pose,"  and  Ethel  upon 
"The  power  of  sympathy,"  both  addresses 
being  eloquently  renilered.  Mrs.  .Sperry  has 
also  reared  her  nephew.  Palmer  A.  Rush, 
whose  mother  died  when  he  was  but  two 
weeks  old,  gix'ing  the  baby  to  her  sister.  Al- 
though he  has  never  been  legally  adopteil  he 
has  been  reared  as  a  member  of  the  family 
and  is  now  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  com- 
pleted the  district  school  coiu-sc  and,  lea\ing 
the  high  school  of  Westfield  in  his  senior 
year,  he  is  now  in  the  freshman  class  in  the 
Westfield  College.  Mr.  Sperry  is  acting  as 
guardian  for  the  Chapman  heirs,  grandchil- 
dren of  John  W.  Goodwine. 

Throughout  his  business  career  Mr.  Sper- 
ry has  been  cngage<l  in  gener.al  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  carries  a  good  grade  of 
registered  shorthorns  and  other  high  grades 


IOS4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  various  kinds  of  stock.  He  sells  quite 
extensively  to  shippers,  disposing-  of  about 
two  carloads  per  year.  When  he  located  on 
his  present  farm  on  section  29.  Blount  town- 
ship, it  was  little  cultivated.  He  has  tiled 
the  place,  comprising  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  and  has  made  it  a  very  rich  and  pro- 
ductive tract,  being  now  regarded  as  one  of 
the  leading,  progressive  and  practical  agri- 
culturists of  his  community.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  have  assisted  materially  in  the  up- 
building of  the  community  and  also  have 
taken  active  parts  in  promoting  the  cause  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  ]\Ir.  Sperry 
erected  a  house  of  worship,  but  it  was  blown 
away  in  a  tornado.  His  wife  has  been  very 
zealous  in  Sunday-school  work  and  both  are 
known  as  earnest  Christian  people,  com- 
manding uniform  confidence  and  respect. 
Mr.  Sperry  votes  the  Republican  ticket,  but 
has  never  Ijeen  an  aspirant  for  office,  preferr- 
ing to  give  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs  which  have  been  honorably  and 
creditably  conducted  and  have  been  the 
means  of  gaining  for  him  desirable  pros- 
perity. 


DAVID  BEARD. 

The  name  of  Davitl  Beard  is  one  which 
was  familiar  to  early  pioneer  settlers  as  well 
as  to  later  day  residents  of  Danville,  because 
he  became  a  resident  of  this  city  in  1855. 
Great  changes  have  been  wrought  by  time 
and  man  since  then.  There  was  but  one 
brick  house  in  the  city,  and  but  few  frame 
dwellings,  the  majority  of  the  homes  being 
log  structures,  at  the  time  of  his  arrival. 

Mr.  Beard  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born 
in  1821.  His  parents,  John  and  Ellen  Beard. 
were  likewise  natives  of  the  Emerald  isle, 
where  they  spent  their  entire  lives,  the  father 


devoting  his  energies  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits. A  common-school  education  was 
affonled  to  our  subject  in  the  land  of  his 
birth,  and  under  the  parental  roof  he  was 
reared.  In  1847  he  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  Ireland,  to  Miss  Mary  Graham,  a  nati\-e 
of  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  born  on  the 
26th  of  August,  1826.  Her  parents  were 
John  and  Ann  (  McGee)  Graham,  both  born 
in  Ireland  where  they  lived  until  called  to  the 
home  beyond.  Her  father  devoted  his  ener- 
gies to  agricultural  pursuits  and  to  the  mill- 
ing business,  and  had  valuable  business  in- 
terests there,  owning  a  very  large  farm  and 
operating  two  gristmills.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beard  was  blessed  with  two 
children:  Maggie,  who  was  born  in  Brook- 
lyn, Xew  York,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Geeler.  a  resident  of  Dan\-ille;  and  John, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  Brooklyn  and  was 
married  in  this  city  to  Miss  Hattie  Myers. 
They  ha\-e  a  beautiful  home  at  Xo.  415 
South  street  in  Danville  and  Mr.  Beard  is 
one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders 
of  this  cit}\  and  a  very  prominent  and  in- 
fluential man.  He  has  been  mayor  of  Dan- 
ville for  two  terms  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  pulilic  aft'airs,  which  have  had  marked 
influence  upiin  the  develiipment  and  jirogress 
of  this  city.  Honored  and  respected  by  all, 
he  well  deserves  public  recognition  which  has 
come  to  him  in  an  oflicial  way. 

David  Beard  of  this  review  was  the  only 
member  of  the  father's  family  that  ever  came 
to  -\merica.  In  1848,  accompanied  by  his 
yoiuig  wife,  he  sailed  for  the  new  world,  the 
vessel  on  which  they  took  passage  dropping 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  city  after 
a  voyage  of  five  weeks.  He  sailed  March 
25.  and  landed  May  2.  There  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  laborer  for  a  time  and  he  after- 
ward acted  as  a  clerk  in  stores  in  Xew  York 
and  in  Brooklyn,  being  thus  eng'aged  for  si.x 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


10S5 


years.  On  the  expiration  nf  that  period  he 
came  direct  to  Danville  and  was  among  its 
tirst  settlers.  Here  he  secured  work  as  a 
laborer  in  the  stone  quarry  and  soon  after- 
ward he  purchased  a  halt  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness, and  it  was  not  long  before  he  owned 
the  whole  plant.  He  furnished  the  stone 
and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  many  of  the 
principal  stone  business  blocks  and  resi- 
dences here,  building  many  of  the  fine  homes 
which  now  belong  to  the  bankers  and  other 
men  of  wealth  of  Danville.  His  business 
was  prosecuted  energetically  and  success- 
fully until  1864.  when  his  health  began  to  fail 
and  with  the  handsome  competence  that  he 
had  acc|uired  through,  his  enterprising  efforts 
he  retired  from  business  life  and  during  the 
last  twenty  years  of  his  earthly  existence  he 
was  not  associated  with  any  liusiness  under- 
taking sa\'e  the  supervision  of  his  inxest- 
ments. 

Mr.  Beard  was  never  an  office  seeker,  but 
was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  politics  and  al- 
ways cast  his  ballot  for  the  men  and  measures 
of  that  party.  He  held  membership  in  the 
Catholic  church,  to  which  is  wife  also  be- 
longs, and  was  very  generous  in  support  of 
the  cause.  He  gained  a  wide  acc|uaintance 
in  Danville,  where  he  was  highly  esteemed 
because  of  his  straightforwardness  in  busi- 
ness, his  reliability  in  citizenshii)  and  his 
devotion  to  his  family  and  friends.  He  de- 
parted this  life  July  7,  1883.  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  had  been  connected  with 
the  city  from  pioneer  times  and  as  Danville 
grew  and  expanded  he  ever  maintained  his 
place  in  the  ranks  of  the  leading  men  who 
were  dex'oted  to  the  general  good  and  who 
awaken  uniform  esteem  and  confidence  l)y 
lives  of  uprightness  and  honesty.  Like  her 
husband  Mrs.  Beard  is  a  devoted  Catholic. 
She  finds  a  pleasant  home  with  her  son  at 
No.  415  South  street  and  she  is  the  owner 


considerable  valuable  [)roperty  in  Danville, 
including  a  general  mercantile  store,  a 
butcher  shop  on  South  street,  two  residences 
on  Jackson  street,  a  residence  on  Green  street 
and  also  other  xalualile  realty  which  returns 
to  her  a  good  income  and  supplies  her  wnth 
all  of  the  comforts  and  many  of  the  luxuries 
of  life. 


J.  \V.   MILLER. 

J.  W.  }ililler,  who  is  serving  as  mayor  of 
Sidell  and  is  a  business  man  of  prominence, 
has  through  almost  one-third  of  a  century 
lived  in  this  portion  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  neighboring  state  of  Indiana,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  [Montgomery  coun- 
ty, on  the  13th  of  April,  1848.  His  father, 
Abraham  Miller,  was  born  in  1799.  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Miller,  an 
early  settler  of  that  state.  Reared  to  man- 
hood there,  Abraham  ]\Iiller  was  married  in 
Kentucky  and  later  removed  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Montgomery  county  among  its 
early  settlers,  who  laid  the  foundation  for 
its  later  de\'elopment  and  progress.  He 
cleared  a  tract  of  land  and  opened  up  a  farm, 
making  it  a  good  property.  There  he  lost 
his  first  wife  and  later  he  married  Miss  Mary- 
Jane  Briggs,  a  native  of  the  Hoosier  state. 
Subsequentl}-  he  removed  to  TipiJecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  and  afterward  to  Warren 
county,  that  state,  where  he  remained  for 
some  years.  He  next  came  to  Illinois  iti 
company  with  his  son.  J.  W".  Miller  of  this 
review,  arriving  in  the  year  187J.  Here  he 
spent  his  remaining  days,  but  be  was  not 
long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his 
death  occurring  in  1873,  when  he  was  sev- 
enty-four years  of  age.  His  son.  J.  W. 
Miller,  cared  fur  him  throughoiu  his  declin- 
ofin  ye.'irs.  thus  repaying  him  fur  the  parental 


ios6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


attention  which  he  had  received  in  his  youth. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  Indiana, 
when  the  son  was  a  child  of  two  years,  pass- 
ing away  in  1850. 

J.  \\'.  Glider  was  reared  to  manliood  in 
Warren  county,  Indiana,  enjoying  but  few 
privileges  in  his  youth  for  his  boyhood  was  a 
period  of  toil.  His  educational  privileges 
were  meager  and  when  a  mere  lad  of  thirteen 
years  he  began  labor  as  a  farm  hand  bv  the 
month,  giving  his  earnings  for  the  support  of 
his  father  and  the  family.  He  was  employed 
by  the  month  for  about  fourteen  years  in 
Warren  and  Tippecanoe  counties,  remaining 
in  the  service  of  one  man  on  the  old  Cherry 
farm  in  Tippecanoe  county  seven  years. 
This  fact  certainly  indicates  how  faithful  he 
was  to  duty  and  that  he  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence of  his  employer  to  an  unusal  degree. 

In  1870  ;Mr.  [Miller  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  A'ermilion  county  and  here 
through  the  succeeding  fall  and  winter  he 
worked  upon  a  farm.  He  was  married  here 
on  the  19th  of  December,  1871,  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Alarsh,  who  was  torn  and  reared  in 
this  county,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Marsh, 
one  of  the  first  settlers  here.  Her  father  was 
a  most  loyal  and  patriotic  citizen  and  served 
his  country  faithfully  in  the  ^Mexican  war 
and  also  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Miller  returned 
to  Indiana,  working  a  farm  on  shares  in 
Warren  county  for  one  year.  In  February, 
1872,  however,  he  again  came  to  Illinois  and 
rented  a  farm  near  Fairmount.  For  five 
j'ears  he  continued  to  operate  this  land  and 
then  made  his  first  purchase,  becoming  the 
owner  of  forty-three  acres  near  Georgetown. 
No  improvements  had  been  made  upon  that 
place,  but  he  built  a  small  house  and  began 
to  farm  his  property.  He  also  rented  other 
land  adjacent  to  his  own  home  and  subse- 
quently he  sold  his  first  farm  and  bought  a 


tract  of  eighty  acres  on  which  some  improve- 
ments had  been  made.  Taking  up  his  abode 
there  he  continued  its  cultivation  for  seven 
years.  This  he  sold  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Sidell  township,  six 
miles  from  the  town  of  Sidell.  On  this  place 
were  but  \ery  few  improvements.  He  built 
a  good  house  and  fenced  and  tiled  the  farm. 
He  also  erected  a  substantial  barn  and  out- 
buildings and  for  six  years  successfully  car- 
ried on  farming  at  that  place.  He  afterward 
purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  acres 
adjoining  Sidell  on  the  south  and  there  he 
erected  an  attractive  residence  and  commodi- 
ous barns  and  made  other  substantial  im- 
provements, which  constitute  this  a  valuable 
farm.  The  year  after  locating  on  this  prop- 
ertv  he  sold  the  old  home  place  and  contin- 
ued to  cultivate  and  improve  his  place  ad- 
joining Sidell  until  1900,  when  he  disposed 
of  this,  although  he  maintained  possession 
for  another  year.  He  then  bought  a  resi- 
dence in  the  village,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  Not  only  has  he  successfully  car- 
ried on  cultivation  of  crops  but  since  1875 
he  has  made  a  business  of  buying,  selling  and 
shipping  horses  and  mules,  following  that 
for  twenty  years.  He  afterward  begiui 
breeding  and  dealing  in  standard  bred  horses 
and  he  has  shipped  many  fine  horses  and 
made  extensive  sales.  Some  years  ago  he 
established  a  grocery  business  in  Sidell.  car- 
rving  on  that  enterprise  with  success  for  five 
years.  In  1888  he  l^egan  dealing  in  farm 
implements  and  machines  and  in  connection 
with  this  line  he  also  handles  buggies  and 
wagons.  He  has  built  up  a  good  trade  and 
has  gained  an  excellent  reputation  for  fair 
dealing.  His  sales  are  now  quite  exteiisixe 
and  as  an  enterpising  tnerchant  ]\Ir.  Miller 
is  well  known.  He  was  also  one  of  the  pro- 
moters of  the  Sidell  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation,  served   as   its   president   for  nine 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1057 


years  and  is  now  its  vice  president.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  ^^rs.  Miller  was  blesseci 
with  six  chikh'en,  foin"  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing: Eddie  L.,  Claude  T.,  Clemma  and  Ada 
May.  yiv.  Miller  lost  his  first  wife  in  Sep- 
tember. 1890,  and  she  was  laid  to  rest  in  In- 
dianola  cemetery  amid  the  deep  regret  of  her 
many  friends.  In  October,  1891,  Mr.  Mil- 
ler was  joined  in  wedlock  to  I'^annie  M. 
Michener,  who  was  born  in  this  county  and 
is  a  daughter  of  W.  W.  Michener,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  here.  There  are  three  children 
by  tin's  union:  Mildred,  Russell  and 
Genevieve. 

Politically  Mr.  AJiller  was  formerly  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party,  but  for 
some  years  has  given  his  support  to  the  Pro- 
hibition party  and  cast  the  first  Prohibition 
vote  in  Sidell  township.  He  is  the  first  Pro- 
hibition mayor  ever  in  the  town  and  is  prov- 
ing a  most  capable  ofticer,  although  he  has 
never  been  an  oflnce  seeker,  content  to  do  his 
dut_\-  as  a  private  citizen.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  one 
of  its  earnest  and  effective  workers,  while 
for  some  years  he  served  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school.  Socially  he  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  iModern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  was  chairman  of  the  building  committee 
under  whose  direction  the  Odd  Fellows  hall 
was  erected.  He  built  the  second  house  in 
Sidell,  and  has  labored  effectively  for  the 
material  upbuilding  and  improvement  of  this 
place  and  for  the  entire  county.  He  aided 
in  develi^ping  three  farms  here  and  his  work 
has  been  effective  and  far-reaching.  He  is 
indeed  a  public  spirited  and  progressive  citi- 
zen and  his  name  is  now  on  the  roll  of  those 
who  have  been  foremost  in  promoting  the 
public  activity  of  this  section  of  the  state. 
He  owns  three  brick  houses  in  Sidell.  has 
built  two  good  business  blocks  there.    A  man 


of  tried  integrity  and  worth  his  word  is  as 

good  as  any  bond  and  he  is  most  faithful  in 

meeting  any  obligation  or  fulfilling  the  terms 

of  a  contract.     It  is  said  that  if  J.  W.  Miller 

enters  into  an  agreement  he  ne\er  fails  in 

the  fulfillment  of  his  part  of  it.  but  ;dway.s 

stands  honoraljly  by  his  ]5osition.     He  is  a 

representati\e  man  of  strong  purpose,  known 

and  honored  bv  all  with  whc)m  he  comes  in 

contact. 

•-•-• 

MASOX  ^I.  WRIGHT. 

Mason  ]\I.  Wright  was  born  December 
15.  1832.  in  Wilmington.  Ohio,  a  son  of 
Potter  and  Teressa  Wright.  His  father, 
a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  went  to  Ohio  at' 
an  early  day.  By  trade  he  was  a  millwright 
and  followed  that  Ijusiness  througliout  his 
entire  career.  There  the  gerater  part  of  his 
family  remained,  living  in  that  locality  for 
years,  as  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  the  community.  Tliere  were  fi\e  brothers 
and  one  sister  in  the  family,  including 
George  Wright,  of  Chicago.  Those  deceased 
are:  Horatio,  Mason  M..  Horace,  James, 
Henry  and  Cynthia.  The  family  were  of 
the  Episcopalian  faith.  The  father  died  lie- 
fore  the  marriage  (^f  our  subject,  and  his 
mother,  surviving  her  husband  tV^r  a  number 
of  years,  has  also  passed  away,  lx)th  de])art- 
ing  this  life  in  Worthington.  Ohio,  where 
they  were  married. 

Mason  'SI.  Wright  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-one  or  twenty-two 
years  of  age  and  then  went  to  Xoblesville. 
Here  he  engag^ed  in  merchandising  for  a  feu- 
years  and  from  Xoblesville  he  went  to  Marys- 
\-ille,  Illinois,  continuing  there  for  some  years 
His  next  place  of  residence  was  Higginsville, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time  and  then 
selling  his  property  and  the  dry-goods  busi- 


1058 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ness  wliich  lie  had  there  conducted  he  came 
to  Danville  in  1S68.  Here  Mr.  Wright  be- 
came connected  with  a  pri\ate  banking  busi- 
ness in  partnership  with  John  C.  Short. 
When  two  or  three  years  had  passed  he  pur- 
chased a  mill  owned  by  Mr.  Henderson  and 
at  this  time  gave  the  plant  the  name  of  the 
I)an\ille  Mills.  Untler  his  supervision  this 
industry  became  an  important  factor  of  the 
city.  He  continually  enlarged  it.  increasing 
his  facilities  from  time  to  time  in  order  to 
meet  the  growing  demands  of  his  trade.  He 
also  built  a  hominy  mill  and  to  this  business 
he  devoted  his  energies  until  his  death.  He 
furnished  employment  to  a  number  of  work- 
men, so  that  the  enterprise  was  of  value  to 
the  community  as  well  as  to  himself.  The 
product  of  the  mill  was  shipped  as  well  as 
sold  to  the  home  market,  and  annually  the 
enterprise  returned  to  him  a  good  income. 
Mr.  Wright  was  likewise  interested  in  the 
real-estate  business  to  some  extent. 

On  the  19th  of  September.  1869,  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  our  subject  and 
Mrs.  Anna  E.  Forbes,  a  native  of  Newark. 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mar- 
garet (Davis)  Robinson,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  The  father  was  a  mer- 
chant, following  that  pursuit  until  called  to 
his  final  rest,  his  death  occurring  during  the 
early  girlhood  of  ^Irs.  Wright.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  four  daughters  and  one  son :  Mrs. 
John  T.  Short.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Webster.  Mrs. 
V.  L.  Hawes  and  iNIrs.  Wright,  all  of  whom 
are  living,  and  Edward  who  has  passed 
away.  The  year  1852  witnessed  the  arrival 
of  the  family  in  Danville,  and  the  following 
year  the  father's  death  occurred.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  has  been 
blessed  with  the  following  children  :  George 
M..  a  resident  of  Danville,  who  is  conduct- 
ing a  milling  business.  Gene\ieve  M.  and 
Judson  M.,  all  of  Danville. 


In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wright  was  a 
Republican  and  while  he  kept  well  informed 
on  the  issues  of  the  day.  he  never  took  an 
active  part  in  political  work  or  sought  office. 
He  was  of  a  most  retiring  disposition  and  of 
a  most  earnest  nature,  strong,  self-reliant 
and  liel])fu].  He  was  devoted  to  his  family 
and  his  business, — these  largely  claiming  his 
attention.  He  held  friendship  inviolable  and 
home  ties  sacred,  and  thus  he  endeared  him- 
self to  all  with  whom  he  kad  social  relations. 
Coming  to  the  west  with  little  capital,  he 
sought  in  the  broad  business  opportunities 
of  the  developing  state  of  Illinois  room  for 
his  business  affairs  he  won  a  high  measure 
of  success.  His  name.  too.  was  synonymous 
with  honorable  dealing  and  his  integritv 
stood  as  an  unquestioned  fact  in  his  career. 


JACKSOX  CRO:\IWELL. 

For  a  half  century  Jackson  Cromwell 
has  been  a  resident  of  \'ermilion  county, 
and  he  is  numbered  among  the  honored 
pioneers  who  have  laid  the  foundation  for 
the  present  progress  and  prosperity  which  it 
enjoys.  He  was  born  in  Union  couiitv.  In- 
diana, Deceml>er  13,  1S33.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Rachel  Cromwell,  natives  of 
Maryland  an.d  Kentucky,  respectively.  They 
were  married  in  Union  county,  Indiana, 
where  the  father  carried  on  farming  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1835.  The  mother 
then  became  the  wife  of  Solomon  Harness,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
They  removed  to  Carroll  county,  Indiana, 
where  ^Ir.  Harness  died  in  1852.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Whig.  The  mother  then  re- 
moved to  \'ermilion  county.  Illinois,  where 
she  resided  for  four  years,  after  which  she 
removed  to  Polk  countv.  Missouri,  and  there 


/O-  o^^^^2sr?<2.^u-^^^^>T^ 


\  .^  nw 


UMlVERuiVY   Of   ILLINOIS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1063 


is  recognized  as  a  controlling'  force  in 
business,  political  and  social  life.  His  birth 
occurred  on  liis  father's  farm  near  Dan\ille. 
Illinois,  Xovcrnber  13.  1865,  and  he  yet  re- 
tains a  deep  interest  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity and  has  many  friends  there  who  re- 
joice in  his  ad\ancenient.  It  is  therefore 
meet  that  mention  of  one  of  her  eminent 
sons  should  lie  made  in  this  volume. 

At  the  usual  age  Mr.  Thompson  entered 
the  common  country  schools  and  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  he  lived  the  life 
of  the  ordinary  country  boy,  occupied  with 
the  (hities  of  the  fields  through  the  summer 
months  and  continuing  his  studies  in  the 
winter  seasons.  During  his  last  winter  upon 
the  farm,  in  connection  with  an  older  broth- 
er, he  hauled  logs  with  an  ox-team.  Xot 
wishing  to  follow  an  agricultural  life,  how- 
ever, he  went  to  Danville  and  entered  the 
Eastern  Illinois  College.  His  older  brother 
was  then  in  law  school  and  as  the  father 
could  not  afford  to  send  both  of  his  sons  to 
school  John  R.  paid  for  his  tuition  by  clerk- 
ing in  the  store  of  Charles  H.  Hacker  nn 
Saturdays  and  caring  for  his  employer's 
horses  during  the  week.  For  two  years  he 
remained  a  student  in  the  Danville  Normal 
school  and  after  his  graduation  in  the  class 
of  1F83.  he  obtained  a  teacher's  certificate 
and  for  three  years  taught  in  the  country 
schools.  He  also  engaged  in  clerking  for 
two  years  in  Dan\-ille,  but  was  gradually 
advancing  and  making  for  himself  a  recoril 
in  the  business  world  and  his  next  step  was 
to  open  a  little  general  mercantile  establish- 
ment of  his  own  in  the  village  of  Fithian. 
He  was  likewise  appointed  postmaster  at 
that  place  and  continued  to  make  his  home 
there  until  the  fall  of  1891,  when  he  came 
to  Chicago. 

Since  his  arri\al  in  this  city  his  success 
in  business  has  been  uniform  and  rapid,  and 


to-day  there  are  few  names  more  widely 
known  in  the  business  circles  of  Chicago 
than  that  of  Jchn  R.  Thompson.  He  first 
opened  a  small  restaurant  at  Xo.  397  State 
street  and  from  this  nucleus  has  grown  his 
present  extensi\e  Ijusiness.  The  financial 
])anic  oi  1893  followeil,  but  he  managed  to 
so  conduct  his  affairs  that  he  weathered  the 
storm  and  soon  found  favorable  opportuni- 
ty fur  increasing  his  enterprise.  In  1896- 
7-8  he  o]iened  three  new  restaurants,  and 
now  in  1903  he  has  ten  restaurants,  advan- 
tageously situated  in  the  down  town  dis- 
trict, where  daily  meals  are  furnished  to 
thousands  of  jieoijle.  and  in  return  he  re- 
cei\-es  a  splendid  annual  income.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  restaurants  he  has  a  wholesale 
hijuse  at  X'o.  38  and  40  State  street,  occu- 
pying the  entire  four  floors  and  basement. 
This  has  a  supply  department  from  which 
he  dailv  sends  out  supplies  of  every  descrip- 
tion to  his  restaurants,  including  meats,  gro- 
ceries, vegetables,  silver  ware,  linen  and  ta- 
ble utensils.  He  also  does  a  wholesale  busi- 
ness in  supplying  other  restaurants,  hotels 
and  dining  cars.  He  likewise  owns  and  op- 
erates his  ice  plant,  and  it  will  thus  be  seen 
is  managing  a  business  of  great  magnitude. 
His  employes  now  number  five  hundred. 
Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of  his  business 
career,  but  he  who  reads  between  the  lines 
will  have  learned  of  the  executive  force, 
keen  foresight,  marked  energy  and  inde- 
fatigable industrv  upon  which  his  success 
is  based. 

Before  remo\'ing  to  Chicago  Air. 
Thompson  was  married,  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1891,  to  Miss  Rose  Holloway,  of 
Georgetown.  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Captain 
Ci.  W.  Hollow  ;iy.  ;i  pioneer  resilient  of  \"er- 
milion  county,  and  they  have  two  children — • 
fohn  R.,  Jr.,  and  Ruth  E.  Theirs  is  a  beau- 
tiful home  at  4415  (n-and  Boulevard.     Both 


I064 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  house  and  barn  are  built  of  blue  Betlfonl 
rock.  There  is  an  extensive  lawn  around 
the  house,  which  in  its  furnishings  is  sup- 
plied with  all  that  wealth  can  secure  and  re- 
fined taste  suggest,  while  bowlings  alleys, 
billard  rooms  and  shooting  gallery  afford 
many  pleasureable  hours  to  the  guests  of 
the  household.  Mr.  Thompson  finds  one  of 
his  chief  sources  of  recreation  and  pleasure 
in  drixing  and  is  the  owner  of  some  of  the 
fine*;t  specimens  of  the  noble  steed  to  be 
found  in  the  country.  He  has  a  real  love 
for  his  horses  antl  in  driving  them  over  the 
speedways  of  the  city  for  the  pleasure  of 
testing  their  pijwers.  he  always  prefers  to 
handle  the  reins  himself  rather  than  to 
trust  his  horses  to  the  care  of  a  paid  dri\-er. 
Racing  for  pleasure  upon  the  snow  courses 
of  Chicago  has  won  him  many  notable  vic- 
tories. He  has  reason  to  be  very  proud  of 
his  pacer  \'an  Duzen  and  of  his  horse  Saul, 
who  have  won  in  many  heats  and  are  well 
known  to  all  frequenters  of  the  boulevard 
and  park  speedways  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Thompson  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Gentlemen's  Driving  Club  and  is  a  member 
of  most  all  of  the  leading  social  clubs  of  the 
city,  including  the  Union  League,  the  Wash- 
ington P'ark,  the  Colonial,  and  the  Wood- 
lawn  Park  Club.  He  is  also  a  thirty-second 
degree  Alason.  belonging  to  Hesperia  Lodge. 
St.  Bernard  Commandery  and  (Oriental  Con- 
sistory. He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors of  the  Christendom,  a  magazine  ed- 
ited by  Dr.  Harper  of  the  Chicago  L^niver- 
sity,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  many  meas- 
lu^es  for  the  welfare  of  the  city,  being  a  co- 
operant  factor  along  various  lines  for  the 
public  good.  He  holds  decided  opinion, 
which  he  expresses  fearlessly  but  never  ag- 
gressively. In  1902.  associated  with  other 
prominent  luen.  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  con- 
tinuing the    public    schools  through  a  ten 


months'  term,  and  his  influence  is  ever  on 
the  side  of  progress  and  upbuilding.  A 
leading  Republican,  his  opinions  carry 
weight  in  the  councils  of  his  party  in  Chi- 
cago and  in  1903  he  was  prominently  spoken 
of  as  the  candidate  for  mayor,  receiving  the 
endorsement  of  his  own  ward  and  of  many 
political  and  personal  friends  throughout 
the  city.  He  has  however  never  been  a  pol- 
itician in  the  usual  sense  of  the  term,  nor 
has  he  sought  office.  His  friends,  knowing 
that  his  political  record  was  clear  and  that 
his  business  ability  was  of  the  highest  order, 
beliex'ed  that  he  would  show  the  same  capa- 
bility in  managing  the  affairs  of  the  city, 
but  his  aspirations  were  not  in  that  direc- 
tion and  he  became  a  supporter  of  John  M. 
Harlan.  There  arose  during  the  campaign 
a  movement  which  originated  in  a  joke,  but 
which  became  a  potent  element  in  the  can- 
\'ass.  Some  prominent  men  met  in  a  dcnvn 
town  office  and  in  a  spirit  of  fun  organized 
with  fifteen  members  what  they  called  the 
Strap-Hangers  League.  This  came  about 
through  a  discussion  of  the  overcrowded 
condition  of  the  street  cars,  necessitating 
standing  in  the  aisles,  hanging  on  to  straps. 
".\  seat  for  every  strap  hanger — at  least  oc- 
casionally" was  adopted  as  the  platform  of 
the  league.  To  carry  out  the  joke  fifty  thou- 
sand buttons  were  ordered,  on  which  were 
the  wortls  :  "Strap-Hangers  League.  More 
Seats.  Harlan."  and  these  were  given  to  all 
who  applied.  The  original  number  was  soon 
exhausted  and  fifty  thousand  more  were 
ordered,  and  the  "joke"  became  an  influence 
in  the  politics  of  the  campaign,  the  influence 
of  which  is  incalculable,  showing  public 
feeling  upon  the  question. 

^Ir.  Thompson  is  yet  a  young  man.  with 
much  of  his  history  yet  to  be  written,  but 
he  has  already  made  for  himself  a  place  in 
the  political,  social  and  business  world  that 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1065 


eiilitles  liim  to  promience  among  tlie  leading 
men  of  Chicago.  \'ermiIion  county  has  rea- 
son to  be  proud  of  this,  her  native  son.  and 
it  is  with  pleasure  we  present  his  history  to 
our  readers.  In  manner  he  is  genial  and  un- 
ostentatious and  the  accumulati(^n  of  wealth 
has  ne\cr  affected  his  treatment  of  the  less 
fortunate  friends  of  his  earlier  years. 
Standing  to-day  at  the  head  of  one  of  the 
leading  business  enterprises  of  its  kind  in 
the  Cduntrv,  exerting  an  inlluence  in  public 
affairs  in  Chicago  of  marked  force,  it  is  not 
ditticult  to  prophesy  that  Mr.  Thompson 
might  attain  to  almost  any  position  that  he 
might  desire,  but  his  ambition  seems  to  be 
in  the  line  of  business  and  he  regards  his 
other  interests  as  side  issues,  with(~iut  which 
no  life  can  be  well  rounded,  no  charac- 
ter well  balanced  and  yet  they  have  never 
drawn  his  attention  from  the  chief  aim  of 
his  life.  He  has  found  that  success  is  ambi- 
tion's answer. 

*-•-• 

G.  B.  JOXES.  D.  V.  S. 

Dr.  G.  B.  Jones,  of  Sidell.  is  the  assistant 
state  veterinary  and  during  the  past  seven 
years  he  has  practiceil  his  profession  in  \'er- 
milion  county  with  marked  success.  He 
started  out  in  life  a  poor  man  without  cap- 
ital, and  the  rounds  of  the  ladder  on  which  he 
has  climl)ed  have  been  determinatiim,  inilus- 
try.  close  application  and  ability.  He  is  a 
native  son  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curre<l  near  Paris,  in  Edgar  county,  Octo- 
ber 28,  i86-|.  His  father,  Lewis  Jones,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Green  county,  Kentucky, 
his  natal  day  being  in  September,  183^. 
Judge  George  Jones,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Blue 
Grass  state  and  served  his  country  as  a  sol- 


dier in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Lewis  Jones, 
the  Doctor's  father,  was  reared  in  Kentucky, 
and  when  a  young  man  came  to  Uhnois. 
settling  on  Big  creek  in  h^dgar  county  where 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Eliza 
Shields,  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  William 
Shields,  a  promitient  and  inllueutial  resident 
of  that  county  who  served  for  a  number  of 
years  in  the  state  legislature  and  left  the  deep 
impress  of  his  individuality  upon  many  of 
the  laws  enacted  during  that  iicrind.  He  was 
also  a  luinister  oi  the  Ba]:)tist  church  and  a 
man  of  marked  inducnce  whose  labors 
proved  of  benefit  to  his  fellow  men  along 
many  lines  of  ])rogress  and  improvement  as 
well  as  of  moral  de\'eloi)ment.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Jones  turned  his  attention  to 
farming  in  h^dgar  countv  and  to-da\'  he  owns 
and  operates  a  x-aluable  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  there,  which  is  well 
improved,  being  ecjuipped  with  all  mudern 
accessories  and  conveniences.  In  connection 
with  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  he  is  also 
successfully  engaged  in  stock-raising,  and 
both  branches  of  his  business  retin-n  to  him 
a  good  income.  In  the  family  were  twelve 
children,  ten  of  w  horn  reached  mature  years 
while  nine  are  yet  living,  including  four  sons. 
The  eldest  son  is  Dr.  W.  S.  Jones,  a  medical 
l)ractitioner  residing  in  Redmon,  Illinois. 
George  B.  is  the  second  son  of  the  family. 
Ira  L.  grew  to  mature  years,  married,  and  at 
his  death  left  a  \\i<liiw  and  child.  The 
vounger  sons  oi  the  Jones  family  were  James 
and  Frank.  All  of  the  childreji  were  well 
educated  and  three  daughters  and  two  sons 
w  ere  teachers  at  one  time. 

Dr.  G.  B.  Jones,  of  this  review,  entered 
the  common  schools  at  the  age  of  six  years, 
and  after  completing  his  preliminary  course 
there,  became  a  student  in  the  Northern  In- 
diana Xormal  School  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the  class 


io66 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  1888.  Later,  lie  engaged  in  teacliing  for 
several  years,  and  for  four  terms  was  prin- 
cipal of  the  high  school  at  Pleasant  Hill. 
Illinois.  In  the  practice  of  the  profession 
he  met  with  success,  imparting  readily  and 
clearly  to  others  the  knowledge  he  had  ac- 
quired, proving  a  competent  educator.  Later 
he  took  up  the  study  of  veterinar}'  surgery. 
being  a  student  in  Toronto,  Canada,  where 
is  located  the  most  complete  and  best 
equipi)ed  school  of  the  kind  on  the  continent. 
He  completed  his  course  there  in  the  spring 
of  1894,  after  which  he  came  to  Sidell,  per- 
manently locating  here.  He  took  up  his 
abode  among  strangers  and  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  win  public  confidence  as  well  as 
to  establish  his  re]3utation  fur  capability  in 
his  chosen  field  of  endeavor.  He  not  only 
began  life  for  himself  empty-handed,  but 
he  was  several  hundred  dollars  in  debt  when 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  present 
profession.  He  has.  however,  worked  up 
an  excellent  business,  extending  for  miles  in 
every  direction,  antl  in  the  spring  of  igoi  he 
was  appointed  assistant  state  veterinary, 
which  is  a  life  appointment  and  is  conferred 
only  in  recognition  of  superior  merit  and 
ability.  P)y  reading  and  investigation  the 
Doctor  has  continually  broadened  his  knowl- 
edge concerning  veterinary  surgery,  and  his 
efforts  have  been  attended  with  a  marked 
degree  of  success. 

On  the  6th  of  March.  1895.  in  Terre 
Haute.  Indiana,  the  Doctor  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Etta  Mapes,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois.  At  an 
early  age,  however,  she  was  left  an  orphan. 
and  found  a  home  in  Terre  Haute,  Indiana, 
where  she  lived  for  a  number  of  years.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Cyrus  Mapes,  who  was  an 
early  settler  of  Edgar  county,  and  there  spent 
nnich  of  his  life,  dying  during  the  earlv  girl- 
hood of  Mrs.  Jones,     liy  their  marriage  our 


subject  and  his  wife  have  become  the  parents 
of  two  children.  Howard  L.,  born  December 
I.  1897.  and  George  C,  born  November  11, 
1899. 

Socially  the  Doctor  is  connected  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  having 
been  made  a  member  in  Paris  Lodge.  In 
politics  he  is  an  earnest  Democrat  and  cast 
his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Grover  Clev- 
land.  In  local  elections,  however,  he  votes 
independently.  He  was  elected  and  served 
for  two  terms  as  president  of  the  board  of 
aldermen  and  for  two  years  was  president  of 
the  school  bi  mrd.  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
resigned.  He  has  frequently  been  a  dele- 
gate to  numerous  congressional  and  county 
conventions  antl  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
state  convention.  He  jiurchased  ten  acres 
of  land  adjoining  the  corporate  limits  of 
Sidell  and  Ijuilt  thereon  a  veterinary  hospital 
for  the  care  of  sick  horses.  He  also  has  a 
residence  block  in  the  city  and  has  a  neat  and 
attractive  home.  The  Doctor  is  a  man  of 
strong  mentality,  firm  purpose  and  marked 
enterprise — qualities  which  have  been  essen- 
tial elements  in  winning  him  success.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  public-spirited,  and  local  ad- 
vancement and  natii;inal  jirogress  are  both 
causes  dear  to  his  heart.  He  certainly  de- 
serves great  credit  for  what  he  has  accom- 
plished, both  in  a  financial  and  professional 
way.  and  among  the  representattive  men  of 
\'ermilion  countv.  lie  is  numbered. 


THOMAS  PERRY. 


Thomas  Perry,  who  is  well  known  in 
\'erniilion  county  as  a  representati\-e  of  its 
agricultural  interests,  was  born  in  Bedford- 
shire, England.  May  30.  1832,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Perrv.     When  a  voung 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1067 


man  of  eigliteen  years  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  with  Abraham  Mann,  Sr., 
and  worked  for  that  gentleman  for  eiglit  dol- 
lars per  mmuh  through  the  succeeding  six 
rears.  He  afterward  followed  \'arious  oc- 
cupations, including  brick-making  antl  fann 
■work,  commaniling  higher  wages  as  his  effi- 
ciency increased  with  his  growing  years. 
^\'hen  he  arrived  in  this  county  all  was  new 
and  wild,  much  of  the  prairie  being  still  un- 
settled, not  a  furrow  having  lieen  tiu-ued  up- 
on many  an  acre.  He  first  assisted  in  break- 
ing- the  prairie  and  cutting  down  the  forest 
trees,  clearing  the  land  for  cultivation.  He 
first  took  up  his  aliode  near  the  ])resent  site 
of  Rossxille,  althottgh  the  town  had  not  lieen 
established  at  that  time.  He  was  employed 
by  others  for  about  six  years  and  then,  in 
partnership  with  a  Air.  Purser,  he  engaged 
in  brick-making,  carrying  on  that  business 
for  two  years.  He  next  purchased  his  pres- 
ent farm  when  it  was  covered  with  timber 
and  hazel-brush.  He  cleared  this,  placing  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  about 
1887  he  erected  thereon  a  very  substantial 
and  attractive  frame  residence.  Here  he  is 
living  with  his  niece,  Aliss  Sarah  Perry,  who 
is  acting  as  his  housekee])er.  He  had  one 
brother,  Joseph  Perry,  who  was  drafted  near 
the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  but  he  hail  pro- 
ceeded no  further  than  Spring-field  when  his 
death  occurred.  The  father  of  our  subject 
died  in  \'erniilion  countv  and  both  he  and 
his  son  Henry  were  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Rossville.  The  mother  afterward  re- 
turned to  England,  where  she  died,  lea\ing 
our  subject  the  only  survivor  of  the  family. 
The  year  of  his  parents'  emigration  to  this 
county  was  in  the  '50s. 

At  one  time  Thomas  Perry  visited  Cali- 
fornia for  his  health,  and  has  twice  visited 
England  but  returning  he  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent homestead  farm,  on  section  31,  Newell 


township.  He  has  made  many  rails  used 
in  fences  here  and  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  in  business,  acquiring  a  com- 
petence through  bis  own  energy.  He  has 
used  the  single  sho\el  [ilow  and  the  single 
line  harness.  j\lan\'  a  time  has  he  dropped 
com  bv  hand  and  bound  wheat  by  hand. 
He  can  remember  the  times  when  goods 
were  hauled  from  Attica,  Covington  and 
Perr}-s\ille,  because  there  were  no  markets 
(if  aiiv  consequence  in  this  portion  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Periy  has  seen  and  heard  much 
of  the  pioneer  life.  He  can  remember  the 
days  when  fires  were  made  Iiy  striking  tlint 
and  thus  lighting  tow,  also  when  two  or 
three  people  would  ride  on  the  back  of  one 
horse  to  chiu'ch.  He  has  been  in  the  county 
for  fiftv  vears  and  has  therefore  lived  t(.)  see 
it  developed  from  primitive  conditions  to 
its  present  prosperity,  has  seen  the  wild  lands 
transformed  into  splendid  farms,  while  good 
hiimes  have  been  built  and  all  the  evidences 
of  a  modern  civilization  have  been  in- 
troduced. 


VICTOR  LESEURE. 

For  many  years  a  leading  and  intlucntial 
bttsiness  man  of  Danville,  X'ictor  Leseure 
contributed  to  the  material  upbuilding  of  the 
citv  and  his  influence  was  ever  for  good 
along  other  lines  of  ])rogress  and  improve- 
ment. He  took  up  his  abode  here  in  the 
vear  185 1  and  through  thirty-one  years  he 
was  identified  with  the  city's  growth  and  wel- 
fare. A  native  of  Xancy,  France,  his  birth 
occurred  in  1813.  His  parents  were  Pierre 
and  .A^nne  (Desiree)  Leseure,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  France,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing.  He  resided  in 
that  country  until  ^^^;>,.  when  he  brought 
his  family  to  the  new  world,  making  a  settle- 


io68 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


ment  near  Ccningtoii.  Kentucky,  where  lie 
lived  for  a  number  of  years.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Clark  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained for  several  years,  and  on  the  expira- 
tion of  that  ])erio(l  he  came  to  \"ermilion 
county,  settlint;-  upon  a  farm  south  of  Dan- 
ville, in  Danville  township.  There  both  he 
and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining  days.  Of 
their  children  some  died  in  France  and  Ed- 
ward is  now  the  only  one  living.  He  resides 
in  Damille  and  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  work. 

Victor  I.esetire  was  about  twenty  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  the  new  world  with 
his  parents.  He  had  acquired  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country.  Here 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  B.  Mc- 
Donald, of  Vermilion  county,  who  died  in 
the  year  1S72.  Fi\-e  children  were 
born  unto  them:  Catlierine,  now  the  wife 
of  Charles  T.  Yoemans,  of  Danville;  C. 
Frank,  who  married  Jennie  Sidell,  of  the 
same  city,  and  is  now  deceased ;  Lotiise,  the 
wife  of  W.  K.  Palmer,  of  New  Rochelle. 
New  York;  Minnette,  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Elliott,  of  Danville;  and  Caroline,  who  died 
in  childhood.  In  1879  Mr.  Lesure  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  ( Smith )  McDonald,  a  sister-in-law 
of  his  first  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  \'ir- 
ginia,  and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Susan 
(Hunsicker)  Smith,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Old  Dominion  and  became  early  set- 
tlers of  Vermilion  county,  Indiana,  taking 
u])  their  abode  upon  a  farm  near  Perrysville 
where  they  reniaine<l  until  called  to  their 
final  rest. 

After  coming  to  \'ermilion  county  Mr. 
Leseure  of  this  re\ie\v  established  a  dry- 
goods  store  in  Danville  and  conducted  a  re- 
tail business  for  several  years  with  success. 
He  then  became  a  partner  in  tlie  Danville 
Gas  AN'orks,  continuing  in  that  l)usiness  until 


his  demise.  He  was  a  man  of  energy,  keen 
foresight  and  reliability,  and  his  sound  judg- 
ment and  perseverance  enabled  him  to"  carry 
forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  undertook.  He  never  soug'ht  or  desired 
ofhce,  Ijut  was  stanch  Republican  in  politics 
and  belie\ed  lirml_\-  in  the  principles  of  the 
party.  He  died  .August  9,  1882,  and  thus 
passed  awav  a  business  man  of  worth  whose 
name  had  become  a  synonym  for  integrity 
and  probity  of  character.  Mrs.  Leseure  is 
a  memlier  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Dan\ille  and  the  family  is  a  prominent  one 
in  this  city,  its  members  occupying  a  very 
enxiable  position  in  social  circles.  Mrs. 
Leseure  now  owns  a  nice  home  at  No.  220 
North  street  and  her  property  interest  also 
inchules  a  business  block -on  Alain  street. 


F.  AT.  GUSTIN. 

F.  AI.  Gustin.  who  is  proprietor  of  a 
boarding  and  liveiy  stable  in  Danville,  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  August  22, 
1849,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  B.  and  Elizabeth 
(  Dearth )  Gustin.  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  the  father's  birth  occurring  in 
Warren  county,  that  state.  He  died  in 
Aliami  county,  Indiana,  in  1884.  while  the 
mother  is  living  in  Peru,  that  state,  with  her 
children :  William  H.,  Elbert  Rush,  and 
Edward  C.  The  other  memljer  of  the  fami- 
Iv  and  the  elilest  is  Air.  Gustin  of  this  review. 
The  fourth  child.  Cassius  O.,  who  was  also 
a  resident  of  Peru,  Indiana,  died  December 
13,  1902. 

F.  M.  Gustin  pursued  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Aliami  county.  Indi- 
ana, to  which  place  his  parents  removed  dur- 
ing his  early  youth.  He  engaged  in  farm 
work   uiKin   the  old    family   homestead  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1069 


after  starting-  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
devoted  his  energies  to  the  same  pursuit, 
beingf  a  well  known  agriculturist  of  Miami 
cuuntv  for  twenty-one  years.  He  t)wne(l 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich  land 
in  Miami  and  Howard  counties  and  its  cul- 
ti\ation  resulted  in  bringing  to  hini  rich  har- 
vests. In  1889  he  purchased  a  half  interest 
in  a  liverv  barn  here  and  in  1892  became  sole 
proprietor.  In  1900  he  erected  a  new  addi- 
tion tt)  his  liarn.  His  lot  has  a  frontage  of 
seventy-four  and  a  half  feet.  He  removed 
to  the  city  in  1891  and  has  resided  here  con- 
tinuously since.  His  home  is  at  No.  15 
Franklin  street  and  he  also  has  pmperty 
at  No.  915  Vermilion  street. 

Mr.  Gustin  was  married  in  Peru.  Indiana, 
in  1873,  to  Miss  Alice  C.  Ausfahl,  wlm  was 
born  in  Miami  county,  Indiana,  in  1852.  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Ausfahl,  a  retired  farm- 
er of  Howard  county,  Indiana,  now  deceased, 
who  was  Ijorn  in  Ciermany  and  came  to 
America  when  thirteen  years  of  age.  He 
receivetl  an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
lanil  and  took  up  the  study  of  English  in  the 
United  States,  acquiring  an  excellent  edu- 
cation. He  settled  in  northern  Ohio  and 
about  1 8-1 5  removed  to  Miami  county,  huli- 
ana,  wliere  he  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, becoming  one  of  the  large  landowners 
of  that  part  of  the  state.  He  was  quite 
prominent  in  jnililic  affairs,  was  ])rogressi\e 
and  cnlcr[)rising  and  his  laljors  proveil  of 
\-alue  in  ])romoting  the  general  welfare.  In 
his  political  support  he  was  a  stalwart  Dem- 
ocrat, deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  his 
party.  He  died  March  13.  1903,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  both  interred  in  the  Paw 
Paw  cemetery,  Miami  county,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Gustin  has  three  sisters  and  one  brnther, 
namely:  Joseph  R.,  Mrs.  .\ddie  Mattox, 
Mrs.  Emma  Woodworth  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Main,   Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gustin  have  been 


born  three  children  :  Louis  \'.,  who  mar- 
ried Dorothy  Hanna,  is  now  connected  with 
an  undertaking  firm  of  Chicago.  Ralph  E., 
who  is  engaged  in  a  similar  business,  mar- 
ried Myrtle  Cla])p  of  Chicago,  in  which  city 
they  reside.  Clarence  M.  is  his  father's  as- 
sistant in  business. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Gustin  is 
a  Republican  and  in  1880  he  served  as  asses- 
sor of  Richland  township,  Miami  county. 
Indiana.  In  1884  he  was  re-elected  to  that 
oflice.  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  state 
that  any  one  was  ever  chosen  to  that  position 
for  four  years,  the  law  just  having  been 
passed  giving  the  assessors  a  four  years' 
term.  He  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  has  filled  all  the  chairs  in 
the  local  lodge;  belongs  to  Marsh  Encamp- 
ment; to  the  Militant  Rank.  Canton  No.  11, 
and  to  Mercy  Lodge.  No.  -jz.  Order  of  Re- 
bekahs.  His  name  is  also  on  the  membership 
roll  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  No. 
234;  Protective  League,  No.  147;  Loyal 
American  League.  No.  144:  and  his  wife  is 
identified  with  the  Royal  Neighbors,  the 
Protective  League  and  the  Reljekahs.  He 
also  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  is  a  citizen  who  manifests  a 
tleep  interest  in  everything  i>ertaining  to 
pul)lic  progress  and  the  general  good. 


H.  C.  POWELL.  :\I.  D. 

Fortunate  is  the  man  who  has  back  of 
him  an  ancestr_\-  honorable  and  distinguished 
and  h.appy  is  he  if  his  lines  of  life  are  cast 
in  harmony  therewith.  In  appearance,  in 
talents  and  in  character  Dr.  H.  C.  Powell 
is  a  worthy  scion  of  his  race.  He  comes  of 
a  family  that,  long  established  in  .\merica, 
has  been  prominent  in  affairs  effecting  the 


lO/O 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


welare  of  the  nation — a  family  noteil.  also. 
for  intellectual  strength,  for  keen  research. 
and  investigation  and  in  connection  with  the 
medical  frateriiity  representatives  of  the 
name  have  done  imjiortant  work. 

Dr.  Powell  was  liorn  in  Montgomery 
county.  Indiana,  near  Crawfordsville.  June 
lo,  1840.  and  is  a  son  of  Hiram  and  Ann 
(Krevlich)  Powell.  The  Powells  come  of 
English  ancestry.  Oner  R.  Powell,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  ]May 
17,  1 77 1,  amid  the  Saddleback  Moimtains 
of  Orange  county.  N'irginia.  and  because  of 
his  great  fleetness  of  foot  he  was  chosen  to 
act  as  a  spv  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
One  of  the  representatives  of  the  name. 
Professor  W.  Byrd  Powell,  M.  D.  .  has  at- 
tained distinction  as  a  prominent  physician 
and  is  a  writer  upon  topics  of  great  interest 
to  the  medical  science.  In  our  subject's 
library  is  a  work  from  his  pen  called  The 
Natural  History  of  the  Human  Tempera- 
ments; their  laws  in  relation  to  marriage 
and  fatal  consequences  of  their  violation  to 
progeny.  Hiram  Powell,  the  father  of  the 
Doctor,  was  born  in  Kenton  county.  Ken- 
tucky, in  1800,  and  after  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity  was  married  in  that  state  to  Ann 
Kreylich,  who  was  also  born  in  Kentucky. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  England,  who, 
on  emigrating  to  America,  settled  first  in 
Orange  county,  A'irginia.  After  his  mar- 
riage in  Kenton  county.  Kentucky,  Hiram 
Powell  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and, 
rcmo\-ing  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana. 
lie  there  carried  on  the  same  pursuit,  yet 
his  attention  was  not  given  entirely  to  the 
work  of  tilling  the  soil.  He  was  a  man  of 
excellent  intellectual  endowments,  a  schol- 
arly man  and  of  broad  reading.  He  practiced 
law  successfully  to  some  extent,  was  a 
splendid  mathematician  and  a  successful 
educator.   From  1828  until  1864  he  remain- 


ed in  Montgomery  county.  Indiana,  and  then 
removed  to  Boone  county,  where  he  was 
prominent  in  public  affairs,  serving  as  presi- 
dent of  the  school  board  of  Thorntown, 
Indiana,  and  also  as  city  alderman.  His 
labors  in  business  life  brought  to  him  a 
comfortable  competence  so  that  in  his  later 
vears  he  was  enabled  to  live  in  retirement 
and  vet  enjoy  all  the  comforts  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life.  A  faithful  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  society,  he  took  a  very  deep 
interest  in  its  work  and  held  many  of  its 
offices,  while  in  the  Republican  party  he  was 
politically  known  as  an  earnest  advocate  of 
the  principles  in  which  he  believed.  He 
passed  awav  in  1880.  in  the  eightieth  year 
of  his  age.  and  the  mother  of  our  subject  died 
in  1833.  The  father  was  again  married. 
By  the  first  union  there  were  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity, 
while  those  still  living  are:Jacob,  a  resident 
of  Waynetown,  Indiana ;  Mary,  the  widow 
of  J.  T.  Blackburn  and  a  resident  of  Dan- 
ville: Lucinda.  the  wife  of  H.  Pottinger,  of 
Danville ;  H.  C. :  and  Adaline.  the  widow  of 
Talbin  Fletcher  and  a  resident  of  India- 
napolis. Milton  B.  served  for  three  years  in 
the  Tenth  Kentucky  Infantry  during  the 
Civil  war,  holding  the  rank  of  coi-poral. 
He  returned  home  in  a  crippled  condition 
and  tinallv  succumbed  to  his  injuries,  dying 
at  Thorntown,  Indiana. 

Dr.  Powell  began  his  education  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  Montgomen,'  comity, 
Indiana,  and  later  attended  the  public 
schools  and  the  \\'esleyan  Academy  of  his 
native  count}-,  where  he  was  prepared  for 
more  ad\-ancetl  etlucational  work.  He  then 
entered  Bloomingdale  College  and  subse- 
quently came  to  Illinois  as  a  student  in  the 
State  University  at  Champaign.  Having 
determined  t<i  make  the  practice  of  medicine 
his  life  work,  he  matriculated  in  the  Eclectic 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 07 1 


Medical  Institute,  in  which  he  was  graduated 
in  January,  1874,  after  wliicli  he  practiced 
for  a  short  time  in  hoth  IncHana  and  Ken- 
tucky, but  in  1875  located  in  Dan\ille,  where 
lie  has  since  remained  with  the  exception  of 
six  years  spent  in  Paris,  Illinois,  and  a  short 
period  in  Thorntown,  Indiana.  Nature  en- 
dowed him  with  strong  intellectual  force, 
which  he  has  utilized  in  a  careful  preparation 
for  his  chosen  calling.  He  is  continually 
broadening  his  knowledge  by  research  and 
investigation  and  his  efforts  have  been  of 
value  in  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived 
as  a  representati\e  of  the  healing  art. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1878,  in  Kenton 
county,  Kentucky,  Dr.  Powell  was  married 
to  Miss  Rosa  Rich,  who  was  born  in  that 
county,  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  the  state.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Powell 
were  Samuel  and  R.  (Kreylich)  Rich,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  where 
tlicy  were  reared,  cducateil  and  marrietl,  and 
residetl  there  until  called  to  the  home  beyond. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  was 
a  Republican  in  political  belief,  antl  a  Baptist 
in  religious  faith.  In  1852  he  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died 
leaving  two  daughters.  ]\Irs.  Powell  and 
Catherine,  the  latter  the  wife  of  John 
Leathers,,  who  is  sheriff  of  Kenton  county, 
Kentucky,  residing  in  Covington.  Mr.  Rich 
married  Miss  Ashbrook.  of  Covington,  and 
his  death  occurred  in  the  vear  1895. 

Dr.  Powell  is  a  firm  belie\'er  in  the 
principles  of  the  Republican  jiarty,  but  has 
never  liecn  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  being 
an  active  worker  as  a  seeker  of  political 
preferment.  He  was  made  a  Mason  at 
\\'aynetown,  Indiana,  and  has  since  affiliated 
with  the  craft.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
44 


state  board  of  health  while  residing  in  Paris, 
Illinois,  and  has  ever  made  a  close  and  care- 
ful study  of  liis  profession,  having  broad 
human  sympathy  and  a  love  of  scientific  re- 
search without  which  a  physician  can  never 
attain  the  highest  success.  For  a  nuniljer 
of  years  he  has  enjoyed  a  high  reputation  as 
a  leading  member  of  the  profession  in  Dan- 
\illc  and  a  lilieral  jjatronage  has  been  ac- 
corded him. 

*  « » 

FRED  H.  JOHXSOX. 

Fred  H.  Johnson,  a  leading  clothier  of 
W'estville,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
for  six  years  and  in  that  time  he  has  built 
up  a  lucrative  business,  resulting  in  his  in- 
di\'idual  success  and  also  promoting  the 
general  achancement  of  the  town  liy  con- 
tributing to  its  mercantile  interests.  Mr. 
Johnson  was  born  in  Quebec,  Canada,  May 
2;}.  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and 
Minnie  C.  (Coulby)  Johnson,  the  former 
born  in  Christiana,  Norway,  in  1835,  while 
the  mother's  liirth  occurred  in  Oueliec  in 
1838.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight 
chiklren,  of  whom  four  died  in  infancy. 
Those  still  survi\ing  are:  William  H.,  who 
is  the  proprietor  of  drug  stores  in  Kennedy 
and  Hallock,  Minnesota:  Christopher  J., 
Jr..  who  is  connected  with  Di.idson.  Fisher 
&  Company,  wdio  conduct  a  wholesale  har- 
ness and  saddlery  business  in  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota:  Fred  H.,  of  this  review-  and 
Hilda,  who  resides  with  her  ])arents  in 
Minnea])olis.  Minnesota.  The  parents  of 
this  family  removed  to  Minneapolis  from 
Montreal.  Canada,  in  November,  1884.  The 
father  has  filled  the  office  of  consul  for  the 
Netherlands  and  vice-consul  for  Norway 
and  Sweden.  He  is  now  acting  in  the 
capacity    of    tra\'eling    inspector     for    the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Diiliith  Inspection  Bureau,  of  Duluth  and 
I^Iinneapolis,  and  resides  in  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen.  ]-"red  H.  Johnson 
became  a  clerk  for  Hood.  Mackenroe  & 
Company,  of  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he 
continued  for  two  years  and  was  then  pro- 
moted to  a  position  as  salesman  on  tlie  road, 
becoming  the  youngest  salesman  traveling 
in  their  employ.  He  followed  this  occupa- 
tion for  five  years,  when  the  firm  with  whom 
he  was  employed  went  out  of  business  and 
Johnson  therefore  went  to  Minneapolis, 
there  entering  the  employ  of  the  Palace 
Clothiers,  ^^'ith  this  firm  he  remained  for 
a  period  of  two  and  one-half  years.  He  then 
went  to  Chicage.  accepting-  a  position  with 
Joseph  Pels  Company,  in  the  capacity  of 
traveling  salesman.  He  continued  in  this 
position  for  about  two  years,  when  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Air.  Cline.  of  Danville. 
Illinois,  who  was  anxious  to  secure  the 
services  of  another  French  salesman  who 
could  also  speak  good  English  and  Dutch. 
These  qualifications  Mr.  Johnson  possessed 
and  he  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Mr. 
Cline  which  he  continued  for  four  years. 
He  then  decided  that  W'estville  offered  good 
business  opportunities  where  a  wideawake, 
ambitious  and  enterprising  business  man 
could  open  an  up-to-date  establishment  in 
the  clothing  line  with  good  success.  He  re- 
signed his  position  with  Mr.  Cline  and  soon 
afterward  established  a  business  of  his  own 
jn  the  Odd  Fellows  Building  in  \^'estville. 
fitting  it  up  with  a  large  and  complete  line 
of  clothing  and  gent's  furnishing  goods. 
Here  he  conducted  his  business  successfully 
for  some  time,  but  he  is  now  located  in  more 
commodious  quarters  on  Xorth  State  street. 
He  enjoys  a  liljeral  patronage,  because  his 
goods  are  neat,  stylish  and  well  and  durably 
made.      He  is  a   popular   merchant,   as   he 


always  desires  to  please  his  customers  and 
treat  them  with  strict  fairness  and  honesty. 

On  January  12,  1895.  -^^r.  Johnson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Xellie  F.  Shane, 
a  daughter  of  George  and  iNIary  (Sheft'er) 
Shane,  the  father  born  in  Switzerland  in 
1836  and  the  mother  born  in  Alsace  Loraine, 
Germany,  in  1833.  This  couple  came  to 
America  in  1S50  and  located  first  in  Roches- 
ter, Xew  York,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  the  Xinth 'Heavy 
Artillery  and  served  throughout  the  war. 
Three  of  his  brothers  and  two  sons  also 
enlisted  at  the  same  time  and  also  served 
throughout  the  war,  thus  nobly  defending 
the  cause  of  the  L'nion  at  the  time  when  its 
preservation  was  threatened.  Only  nine 
men  of  Mr.  Shane's  company  returned. 
After  the  war  was  ended  Air.  Shane  with 
his  family  remo\ed  to  Kalamazoo.  Michi- 
gan, where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness and  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  with  whom  he  is  associ- 
ated in  the  relations  of  life.  He  and  his 
wife  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children, 
six  of  whom  have  gone  to  the  home  beyond, 
while  seven  survive  as  follows:  George,  \\'ill 
John  and  Leo,  all  residents  of  Kalamazoo. 
Michig'an :  Lewis,  a  policeman  of  Chicago; 
Ed.  of  Lyons,  Xew  York,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming,  stock-raising  and  fruit 
growing:  and  Airs.  Johnson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  are  both  active 
members  of  the  Catholic  church.  Mrs. 
Johnson  having  charge  of  the  Sunday- 
school  with  an  attendance  of  about  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  children.  When  she  first 
came  to  \^'estville  there  was  no  Sunday- 
school  and  in  a  short  time  by  making  a 
canvass  she  secured  an  attendance  at  first 
of  sixty,  who  met  at  her  home,  but  the  num- 
ber grew  \erv  rapidly  and  they  were  obliged 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1073 


to  liold  the  Sunday-school  in  the  !)asement  of 
the  cliurcli.  Mrs.  Johnson  also  has  charg'e 
of  attending  to  the  altar.  She  and  her 
hushand  are  earnest  Christians  and  do  all 
in  their  power  to  promote  the  cause  of  the 
church.  In  his  political  affiliations  Tvlr. 
Johnson  is  a  stanch  Republican.  Inn  has 
never  sought  or  desired  office,  preferring  to 
devote  his  attention  to  his  business  affairs. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Westville, 
to  the  Foresters,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  to 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  of  West- 
ville. He  and  his  wife  are  numbered  among 
the  leading  and  influential  residents  of  West- 
ville, where  they  are  valued  for  their  excel- 
lent traits  of  character  and  their  g"enuine 
worth. 


J.  A.  COX. 


J.  A.  Cox  is  a  progressive  and  enter- 
prising merchant  of  Fairmount.  Illinois, 
and  is  one  of  Indiana's  native  sons,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Parke  county,  that  state, 
December  18,  185 1.  He  is  a  son  of  Alfred 
and  Elizabeth  (Hocket)  Co.x,  the  former 
a  native  of  Indiana  and  the  latter  of  North 
Carolina.  His  mother  came  to  Indiana 
when  two  years  of  age  and  was  there  reared 
and  married.  The  father  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  was  also  a  caipenter  and  contractor. 
After  their  marriage  they  located  in  Parke 
county.  Indiana,  and  in  1875  removed 
frcim  there  to  \'ermilion  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  are  now  living,  Mr.  Co.x  being 
retired  from  active  life.  He  is  a  memlier 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  in 
politics  is  a  Republican.  The  Cox  family 
are  of  English  extraction,  while  the  mater- 
nal ancestors  were  of  Scotch  lineage.  .\11 
were  Quakers,  and  Allen  Co.x,  the  grand- 


father of  our  subject,  was  an  ekler  of  the 
(Juaker  church. 

J.  A.  Cox  was  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children,  three  girls  and  two  boys,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living,  the  subject  of 
this  review  being  the  eldest.  Jennie  re- 
sides with  her  ])arents  and  C.  W.  is  engaged 
in  business  in  Fairmount.  Mr.  Cox  at- 
tended school  at  Annapolis,  Indiana.  The 
family  then  removed  to  Fountain  county, 
that  state,  and  there  he  continued  his  studies. 
On  the  remo\-al  of  his  parents  to  \'ermilion 
county.  Illinois,  he  accompanied  them  and 
later  engaged  in  farming  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  began  clerking  for  S.  W. 
Co.x,  at  Fairmount,  in  whose  employ  he 
remained  for  two  years.  He  then  \\-orked 
for  Charles  Tilton,  on  a  salary,  later  having 
a  one-third  interest  in  the  business,  and  in 
189 1  he  and  his  brother  ])urchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Tilton.  In  August,  1900, 
Mr.  Cox  became  sole  owner  of  the  business, 
buying  out  his  brother's  interest,  and  he 
is  now  conducting  it  alone.  He  has  a 
(Inuhle  dejiartment  store.  He  carries  a 
large  stock  of  well  selected  goods  and  re- 
cei\-es  a  liberal  patronage  on  account  of  the 
grade  of  goods  carried  and  the  fair  dealing 
of  the  owner. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1880,  at  Fair- 
mount.  Illinois.  Mr.  Cox  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Sanili  Bradway.  \\-ho  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  Illinois,  December  8,  1856. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
P>radway,  both  natives  of  New  Jersey. 
Thev  were  married  in  that  state  and  came 
west,  settling  in  Georgetown,  Illinois.  The 
father  died  in  1876  and  the  mother  in 
.August,  1900.  They  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  in  politics 
he  was  a  Republican.  Mr.  Cox's  first  wife 
was  a  member  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
three  of  whtmi  are  now  living:  Dr.  C.  F., 


I074 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  Abingdon,  Illinois:  James,  of  Poplar 
Blufif,  Missouri;  and  Alice,  the  wife  of  Dr. 
O.  F.  Odbert,  of  Indianola,  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Cox  died  at  San  Antonio.  Texas,  April  17, 

1899.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  children: 
Ethel  E.,  Edna  M..  Frank  A.,  Sarah  Hazel 
and  Gordon  D.,  who  is  now  attending  school 
at  Fairmount. 

At  Indianapolis,   Indiana,  February    14, 

1900,  Mr.  Cox  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Xettie  B.  Green, 
who  was  born  in  Rising  Sun.  Indiana, 
November  11,  1 859.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Jane  (Garrett)  Green, 
W'ho  were  married  and  resided  in  Indiana. 
The  father  died  at  Zionsville.  that  state,  in 
1892.  The  mother  and  family  then  re- 
moved to  Indianapolis,  where  the  mother 
died  in  January.  1901.  ?\Ir.  Green  was  a 
memljer  of  the  Christian  church,  was  con- 
nected fraternally  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  in  politics  was  a 
Republican.  In  his  family  were  five  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  now  living:  Xettie 
B.,  now  Mrs.  Cox :  Annie,  of  Indianapolis ; 
and  Charles,  of  Oxford,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Cox  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episco])al  church,  being-  one  of  the  trustees. 
also  recording  steward,  which  positions  he 
has  filled  for  many  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  Fairmount  Lodge,  Xo.  590.  A.  F.  &  A. 
M. ;  Damascus  Lodge,  Xo.  84,  K.  P. :  the 
Knights  of  the  Glol)e;  the  ^lodern  Wood- 
men of  America;  and  the  Ben  Hur  Lodge. 
In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
has  held  all  the  township  offices.  He  was 
supervisor  for  four  years,  township  clerk 
for  se\en  years  and  for  a  number  of  years 
was  an  alderman  in  Fairmount.  For  over 
a  (|uarter  of  a  century  he  has  l>een  identified 
with  the  interests  of  Fairmount  and  he  is 
to-day  one  of  its  most  highly  respected 
citizens.     In  the  mercantile  business  he  has 


met  with  success  and  has  incidentally  con- 
tributed to  the  development  and  prosperity 
of  tlie  citv. 


JAMES  JUMXALL. 

James  Juvinall  is  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  \'ermilion  county,  who  through  many 
years  has  been  a  witness  of  progress  and 
improvement  here.  He  was  born  in  Pilot 
township  in  1835.  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Alary  (James)  Juvinall,  who  were  born, 
reared  and  married  in  Ohio.  In  1827  they 
emigrated  westward  to  Vermilion  county, 
tra\eling  in  a  prairie  schooner,  a  big  covered 
wagon  in  which  the  family  and  the  house- 
hold goods  were  carried.  Andrew  Juvinall 
became  well  known  in  this  portion  of  the 
state.  He  went  with  breaking  teams  for 
three  successive  years  to  Wisconsin  and 
after  breaking  prairie  through  the  suiumer 
months  would  return  home  in  the  fall.  He 
was  thus  identified  with  the  growth  and 
pioneer  development  of  that  state  as  well 
as  of  Illinois.  Although  he  came  to  this 
count}-  empty  handed  he  was  in  comfortable 
circumstances  at  the  time  of  his  death.  By 
his  marriage  to  Mary  James  were  born 
seven  children,  the  eldest  being  the  subject 
of  this  review.  The  others  are :  Austin, 
Mrs.  D.  M.  Wvman,  and  Andrew.  Those 
who  have  passetl  away  are:  John.  Amy  and 
David,  all  of  whom  reached  mature  years, 
were  married  and  reared  families  of  their 
own. 

James  Juvinall.  whose  name  introduces 
this  record,  obtained  his  education  in  a  sub- 
scription school  which  convened  in  a  log 
building,  supplied  with  slab  benches  and  an 
immense  fire  place.  There  was  a  long  writ- 
ing desk  made  by  laying  a  plank  upon  wood- 
en pins  driven  into  the  wall.     Light  was  ad- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1075 


mitted  into  the  room  through  greased  paper 
which  co^•ered  an  aperture  made  by  remov- 
ing one  of  the  logs  from  the  side  of  the  build- 
ing. Mr.  JuxinaJl  remembers  how  the  In- 
dians iield  meetings  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
upon  which  they  li\ed.  His  father  had  en- 
tered land  from  the  go\'ernnienl  at  one  dullar 
and  twenty-live  cents  per  acre.  He  felled 
the  forest  trees  and  broke  the  prairie.  Our 
subject  also  assisted  in  breaking  prairie  until 
he  reached  his  twenty-third  year.  There 
were  many  prairie  wolves  in  the  county  in 
these  early  days  and  they  would  often  come 
into  the  very  door-yard  of  tlie  pioneer  homes 
and  their  howling  would  scare  the  dogs 
away.  Mr.  Juvinall  frequently  set  traps  to 
catch  these  wolves.  Deer  roamed  over  the 
prairies  while  turkeys  and  other  game  were 
very  plentiful,  furnishing  many  a  meal  for 
the  early  settlers.  I\Ir.  Juvinall's  father  aided 
in  hauling  the  first  goods  from  the  boat  to 
the  first  ])lank  store  erected  in  Chicago.  He 
forded  rivers  with  his  o.x  teams  and  oftai 
journeyed  to  Chicago,  when  that  was  the 
trading  point  for  the  early  settlers.  Danville 
at  that  time  being  but  a  village  and  furnish- 
ing little  opportunities  for  trade.  Upon  the 
home  farm  James  Juvinall  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  and  assistetd  in  its 
cultivation  and  development.  He  was  mar- 
ried March  6.  1S58.  to  Eliza  J.  Abbott, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Ohio,  November  22, 
1839,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Xancy  (Og- 
den)  Abbott,  who  became  pioneer  settlers  of 
\'ermilion  countv.  Ten  children  were  born 
unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  of  whom  six 
are  living:  Henry,  who  married  Esther 
Conlev  of  this  cotmty:  Mrs.  J.  H.  Smalley, 
of  Danville;  Ed,  who  wedded  Mattie  Good- 
win, a  daughter  of  John  Goodwin  of  \'ermil- 
ion  county;  D.  IM.,  who  married  Helen 
Goodwin,  a  sister  of  his  brother's  wife;  Mrs. 
Robert  Rodgers,  of  Collison,  Illinois;    and 


Mrs.  ]\Iaude  Smith  of  Jamesburg.  The  de- 
ceased are :  Matthew,  Andrew  and  Mary 
Belle,  all  of  whom  died  in  childhood. 

]\Ir.  Ju\inall  began  farming  \\ith  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  in  Pilot 
township  and  later  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Bloimt  township. 
He  has  owned  about  three  hundred  acres  at 
one  time  but  has  met  some  reverses  in  life. 
Renting  his  farm  in  Blount  township  he  re- 
mo\-ed  to  Danxillc  aliout  i8qj  and  there 
formed  partnership  in  the  implement  busi- 
ness \\hich  he  conducted  for  a  few  years. 
Later  he  took  up  his  al)o(le  in  Denmark, 
where  he  resided  for  a  year  and  then  pur- 
chased his  present  home  in  Blount  township, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired.  The  history 
of  pioneer  life  in  X'ermilion  county  is  fa- 
miliar to  him.  }{e  can  relate  many 
interesting  incidents  concerning  the  early 
davs  anil  the  customs  of  the  settlers. 
It  seems  hardly  possil)le  to  realize  now 
that  within  his  memory  the  old  fiint  and 
tow  were  used  in  building  fires  and  if  these 
materials  were  not  to  be  had  they  would  go 
to  a  neighbors  and  borrow  fire,  for  matches 
had  not  then  been  placed  upon  the  market. 
I\Ir.  Juvinall  at  one  time  knew  nearly  every 
one  living  upon  the  main  road  between  Dan- 
ville and  Chicago  outside  the  villages.  He 
has  often  plowed  with  a  wooden  mold  Ijoard 
and  cut  grain  with  a  sickle,  ])lanted  com  by 
hand  and  bound  his  wheat  by  hand,  hut  as 
the  vears  have  progressed  he  has  kept  abreast 
with  modern  ]irogress  and  improvement. 
Driving  an  ox  team  in  an  early  day  he  fre- 
quently visited  Chicago  with  a  load  of  ap- 
ples and  returned  with  provisions,  camping 
along  the  wayside  at  night — such  a  trip 
often  required  ten  days.  He  has  sold  corn 
at  eight  cents  per  bushel  in  the  market  of 
Danville.  Xo  man  has  taken  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  progress  and  improvement  and  his 


1076 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


efforts  liave  been  beneficial  in  behalf  of  the 
general  good  along  many  lines.  He  has 
long  l)een  active  in  missionary  work  and  for 
forty  years  he  has  served  as  a  class  leader  in 
the  Methodist  church  of  which  he  is  a  de- 
voted and  consistent  member. 


TAMES  DAVISON. 


James  Da\'ison  is  one  of  Hoopeston's 
highly  respected  citizens,  whose  useful  and 
well  si)ent  life  has  not  only  gained  for  him 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow  men  but  has  also 
secured  for  him  a  comfortable  competence 
which  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all  business 
cares  and  spend  his  declining  days  in  ease 
and  retirement. 

A  nati\e  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Davison 
was  born  in  Pittsburg.  Allegheny  county, 
March  10,  1815,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Cunningham)  Davison,  in  whose 
family  were  four  children,  our  subject  being 
the  youngest  of  the  family  and  only  one  now 
lix'ing.  He  was  only  six  months  old  at  the 
tlcath  of  his  father.  He  was  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  the  mother  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny county.  Pennsylvania,  of  Irish  parent- 
age. After  the  death  of  her  first  husband 
■  she  married  a  ]\Ir.  Love  and  botli  are  now- 
deceased. 

W'iien  about  six  years  of  age  Mr.  Davi- 
son went  to  live  with  an  uncle  in  the  coun- 
try and  remained  with  him  until  he  was 
seventeen,  his  education  being  acquired  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
He  then  returned  to  Pittsburg,  where  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  attended 
night  school,  and  on  leaving  there  in  1841 
he  went  to  Cincinnti,  where  he  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  for  about  sixteen  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  removed 
to  Ann  Arbor.  Michigan,  that  his  children 


might  attend  the  State  University  there,  five 
of  them  being  students  in  that  institution. 
During  the  five  years  of  his  residence  there 
Mr.  Davison  was  associated  with  another 
gentleman  in  the  manufacture  of  fulling 
soap.  The  following  three  years  were  spent 
in  L'tica,  Ohio,  and  in  i88r  he  came  to 
Hoopeston,  Illinois,  and  purchased  a  ten 
acre  tract  of  land  just  east  of  the  corpora- 
tion limits,  which  he  later  platted,  half  of  the 
amount  being  laid  out  in  town  lots.  Twenty- 
four  of  these  he  has  since  sold  and  still  owns 
three  and  a  half  acres,  on  which  is  a  nice 
home,  orchard  and  grove.  During  his  resi- 
dence here  he  has  lived  in  honorable  retire- 
ment from  business  cares  and  now^  lives  with 
his  son-in-law,  T.  G.  Adams,  who  owns  the 
old  home  place. 

At  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  in  1844,  ^Ir.  Davi- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary 
Crary.  a  native  of  that  city,  who  died  on 
the  26th  of  August,  1893,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  were  married  with  the  ex- 
ception of  George  M.,  an  Episcopal  minister 
of  New  Orleans.  The  eldest,  Jar.ies  Ed- 
ward, is  now  deceased,  having  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years.  Although  quite 
young  during  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the 
one  hundred  day  service  as  a  private  and 
served  the  term  of  his  enlistment.  He  was 
afterward  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania.  The  other 
members  of  the  family  are :  C.  Francis. 
who  is  engaged  in  business  at  Bluffton,  In- 
diana, as  a  shipper  of  hay  and  grain;  Del- 
bert  L.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Chicago 
Law  school  and  is  now  engaged  in  farming  at 
Rolla,  Missouri ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  E.  T. 
Hastings,  a  shoe  dealer  of  Fort  Recovery. 
Ohio:  and  Ida  Florence,  wife  of  T.  G. 
Adams,  a  lumljer  dealer  of  Hoopeston.  Mr. 
Davison  also  has  twelve  grandchildren  and 
four  great-e'randchildren. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1077 


In  1898  lie  visited  Pittsburg,  and  again 

in   1902,  he  spent  two  months  in  the  east 

where  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed. 

He  lias  been  an  active  and  earnest  member 

of    tlie    United    Presbyterian    church    since 

1844  and  served  as  an  elder  for  nearly  forty 

years.     His   wife  was  also  connected  with 

the  same  church  and  was  a  most  estimable 

lady.     His  life  has  Ijeen  manly,  his  actions 

sincere  and  his  example  is  well  worthy  of 

emulation. 

*  »  » 

MRS.  MARY  J.   BLAIR. 

.Mr^^.  Mar\-  J.  Blair,  \\ho  is  now  residing 
in  Danville,  is  the  widow  of  William  G. 
Blair,  who  belonged  to  one  of  the  early  fami- 
lies of  \'ermilion  county.  He  was  a  native 
of  Xewell  township,  born  on  the  24th  of 
December.  1855.  His  parents  were  Joseph- 
ns  and  Jnda  (Clapp)  Blair,  the  former  a 
native  of  Vermilion  county.  Illinois,  and  the 
latter  of  North  Carolina.  The  grandfather 
of  Mr.  Blair  removed  to  this  county  at  a 
very  early  epoch  in  its  de\-elopment.  settling 
in  Xewell  township  when  the  wnrk  of  pro- 
gress and  improvement  seemed  scarcely  be- 
gun in  this  part  of  the  state.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  also  devoting  a  part  of 
his  time  to  surveying.  Josephus  Blair  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation  and  established  his 
home  in  Xewell  township,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  for  many  years,  be- 
ing recognized  as  a  leading  agriculturist  of 
iiis  community.  He  died  upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm  and  his  wife  in  Blount  township. 

W  illiam  G.  Blair  acquired  a  common 
school  education  in  Xewell  township  and 
was  early  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and 
economy  upon  his  father's  farm,  thus  gain- 
ing practical  experience  in  a  work  which  he 
followed  thri)Ughout  his  own  business  career. 


He  was  married  in  his  native  township  to 
Miss  Mary  J.  McMillin.  whose  birth  oc- 
ciu'red  in  the  same  township,  February  26, 
1853,  her  parents  being  Harvey  and  Cathe- 
rine (Guthrie)  McMillin,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  but  came  to  Illinois  in 
1827.  They  settled  in  X'ewell  township,  Ver- 
milion county,  casting  in  their  lot  with  its 
earh'  pioneers  when  much  of  the  land  waS 
still  in  the  possession  of  the  government, 
when  the  Indians  were  yet  frequent  \isitors 
of  the  neighborhooil  and  when  deer  and 
other  kinds  of  wild  game  abounded.  They 
went  through  all  the  experiences  and  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life  and  assisted  in  the  pri- 
n.iitive  development  of  the  county.  Mr.  Mc- 
Millen  devoted  his  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits  and  developed  a  farm  upon  which 
he  and  his  wife  remained  until  called  to  the 
home  beyond.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Blair  was  blessed  with  two  children, 
Homer  H.  and  Ora  ]M.,  both  of  whom  are 
with  their  mother. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  Blair'  began 
farming  upon  the  old  homestead  in  Xewell 
township,  where  he  retnained  for  several 
vears.  He  then  remoxed  to  a  farm  in  Blount 
township,  where  he  continued  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil  tmtil  his  life's  labors  were 
ended  in  death.  He  placed  his  land  in  a  rich 
and  aral:)le  condition  and  added  to  his  place 
modern  improxcments  and  substantial  and 
convenient  equipments.  He  was  for  thir- 
teen years  school  treasurer  and  for  four 
years  he  ser\-ed  as  tax  collector  in  Blount 
township,  discharging  his  duties  with 
marked  fidelity  and  ])romptness.  In  his  po- 
litical \iews  he  was  an  earnest  Republican. 

Since  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Blair  has  removed  to  Danville  and  purchased 
property  where  she  now  resides  at  No.  1502 
X'orth  X'ermilion  street.  She  also  owns  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  five  acres  in  Blount 


lO/S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


townsliip  wliich  she  rents,  and  a  tract  of 
forty  acres  in  Newell  township.  She  is  a 
memljer  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  clnuch 
of  Danville  and  a  lady  whose  many  excellent 
traits  of  heart  and  mind  have  endeared  her 
to  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


KEVILI.E  A.  COLLINS. 

Among  the  progressive  and  enterprising 
yotmg  business  man  of  \'ermilion  county  is 
Neville  A.  Collins  who  is  now  conducting 
the  l-"u!ton  meat  market  in  Dannlle.  He 
Avas  born  in  Elk  Grove,  Kansas,  near  Inde- 
pendence, May  12,  lS/I.  His  grandparents 
were  George  V.'.  and  Jane  (Todd)  Collins, 
both  nati\-es  of  ■Maryland,  in  which  state 
they  were  reared  and  married.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
six  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Henry  T., 
ofCatlin:  William  F.,  of  Oklalioma;  John 
W.,  of  Potomac.  Illinois;  Mrs.  J.  C.  Selby, 
of  Catlin:  Mrs.  I.  B.  Pulliam.  whose 
husband  is  a  Methodist  minister  of  Chanute, 
Kansas;  and  George  E.,  of  Catlin.  It  was 
in  the  '50s  that  the  grandfather  of  our  suli- 
ject  came  to  \'ermili(in  ci unity  settling  two 
and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Fairmount 
on  a  farm  amid  pioneer  surroundings.  He 
engaged  in  general  mercantile  pursuits  deal- 
ing quite  largely  in  stock  and  feeding  and 
shijjping  on  a  scale  that  brought  to  him  a 
good  financial  return. 

Henry  T.  Collins,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, acquired  his  education  in  the  primitive 
schools  of  Indiana  and  in  Depauw  L'nivers- 
ity  of  Greencastle,  Indiana.  He  was  ambi- 
tious to  advance  and  his  earnest  labor  and 
sterling  pur]xxse  were  the  foundation  upon 
which  he  builded  bis  success.  He  followed 
various  occupations  in  order  to  obtain  his 


college  education  and  thus  showed  forth  the 
elemental  strength  of  bis  character.  After 
a  seven  years'  course  he  was  graduated  as  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  with  high  honors,  in 
1 88 1.  His  first  charge  w'as  on  the  Tuscola 
circuit.  He  preached  continuously  at  vari- 
ous points  from  1881  until  1900  when,  be- 
cause of  faijing  health,  he  was  obliged  to 
retire  and  I?  now  on  the  supernumerary  list. 
He  Vras  married  in  \'ance  township.  Yev- 
milion  county.  Illinois,  to  Miss  Mary  E. 
Neville,  a  native  of  X'irginia  and  a  daughter 
of  G.  N.  and  Mary  ,S.  (Throckmorton) 
Ne\ille.  of  West  \'irginia.  ^Mrs.  Collins 
was  born  in  that  state  and  by  her  marriage 
became  the  mother  of  but  one  child,  Neville 
A.,  of  this  review. 

Our  subject  obtained  his  early  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Illinois  and  com- 
pleted bis  course  of  study  in  the  college  at 
Carlinville.  this  state.  He  then  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Jacksonville  &  St.  Louis  Rail- 
road Company  under  E.\\\  Clifford,  who  was 
general  agent,  and  began  learning  telegra- 
pbv  as  well  as  the  other  business  connected 
with  the  management  of  the  railroad  office. 
In  seven  months  he  was  given  a  night  posi- 
tion at  ^'irden.  Illinois,  as  telegraph  oper- 
ator and  served  continuously  in  that  capacity 
in  this  state  for  fi\e  years.  He  then  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road Companv  anil  spent  four  years  in  the 
northwest  at  different  points  in  ^Montana 
and  on  the  Pacific  coast.  He  continued 
business  as  a  telegraph  operator  until  1894, 
when  he  went  to  Perkins  county,  in  south- 
western Nebraska,  and  there  became  con- 
nected with  ranch  life.  He  took  into  the 
county  the  first  bunch  of  cattle  that  was  ever 
\\-intered  there  on  buffalo  grass.  For  se\en 
years  he  lived  the  life  of  a  cowboy,  being 
thus  eng^aged  until  looi,  wdien  he  sold  his 
stock  at  public  sale  and  with  the  good  sum 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1079 


of  money  wliicli  he  had  won  tlmiugli  his 
labors  here  and  witli  the  excellent  knowl- 
edge of  the  good  points  of  stock  obtained 
through  his  efforts  as  a  ranchman,  he  came 
to  Vermilion  county  arri\'ing  on  the  oth  of 
July,  1901.  He  removed  his  family  to  Cat- 
lin  and  there  opened  an  excellent  meat  mar- 
ket which  he  conducted  tmtil  1903.  when  he 
purchased  the  Fulton  market  in  Danville, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home.  He  was 
also  engaged  in  buying  and  dealing  in  live- 
stock. In  his  new  enterprises  he  prospered 
to  a  \ery  gratifying  degree  and  extended  the 
field  of  his  labors  by  purchasing  another 
meat  market  in  Fairmount  which  he  sold  on 
his  rem(:>\'al  tn  Dan\'ille. 

One  of  the  pleasant  events  of  Mr.  Col- 
lins' sojourn  in  the  west  was  his  marriage  on 
the  6th  of  September.  1892.  to  Miss  Olive 
M.  Leney,  who  was  Ijorn  in  Ogden,  Illinois. 
.Vpril  22,  1873.  and  is  the  seventh  in  a  fami- 
ly of  ten  children  whose  parents  were  John 
W.  and  Margaret  (Poage)  Leney.  the  form- 
er a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  the 
latter  of  Champaign  county.  Illinois.  Mrs. 
Collins  was  etlucated  in  Champaign  Uni- 
versity which  she  left  during  her  senior  year. 
She  is  an  accomplisheil  elocutionist  and  mu- 
sician and  her  reputation  as  a  reader  extends 
beyond  the  county  in  which  she  makes  her 
home.  L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  have 
been  born  four  children:  Paul.  Esther  M., 
Jewel  McCabe  and  Olive  M.  The  last 
named  died  in  infancy.  The  others  arc 
aged  nine,  seven,  and  five  years,  respectively. 
Our  subject  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Methodist  church,  and  Mrs.  Collins 
takes  a  very  active  interest  in  the  work  of 
the  church  and  is  a  woman  who  is  greatly 
valued  because  of  her  many  good  deeds  and 
her  kindness  of  heart.  She  presides  with 
gracious  hospitality  over  a  pleasant  home 
and   her  abilitv  as   a   musician   and   reader 


make  her  a  favorite'  in  social  circles.  Mr. 
Collins  is  well  known  as  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  at  Catlin,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a  Republican.  In  addition  to 
his  two  places  of  business  he  owned  his 
residence  property  in  the  northeastern  part 
of  Catlin.  Although  a  young  man  he  has 
accomplished  much  in  his  business  career, 
being  quick  to  note  opportunity  and  to  utilize 
it.  He  is  always  discriminating  in  judg- 
ment and  he  carries  forward  to  successful 
completion  whatever  he  undertakes. 


AMBROSE  B.  JUDY. 

Fifty-one  years  have  come  and  gone 
since  Ambrose  B.  Judy  took  up  his  abode  in 
\'ermiIion  county  and  through  all  this  long 
period  he  has  not  only  l)een  an  eye-witness 
of  the  development  and  improvement  here 
but  has  assisted  in  advancing  many  measures 
for  the  general  good.  A  farm  of  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  valuable  land  is  proof  that  his 
life  has  been  an  industrious  and  enterprising 
one.  His  valuable  farming  interests  are  lo- 
cated in  Middlefork  township,  his  home  lac- 
ing on  section  2 1 . 

A  native  of  \'irginia  Mr.  Judy  was  born 
in  Hardy  county.  July  31.  1842.  and  is  of 
Swiss  descent,  tracing  his  ancestry  liack  to 
Martin  Judy,  who  came  from  Basel.  Switzer- 
land The  familv  name  was  evidently 
changed  after  coming  to  this  country  as  on 
investigation  it  has  been  found  that  there 
are  no  Swiss  of  that  name  in  the  cantons  of 
Basel  and  Zirch.  and  the  name  is  undoubted- 
ly deri\ed  from  the  Swiss  Tschudi  of  Tschu- 
dy.  which  are  different  spellings  of  the  same 
name.  It  is  believed  that  the  people  in 
Basel  who  spell  their  name  Tschudi  are  de- 
scended from  the  same  stock  as  the  Glarus 


io8o 


THE  .BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Tsclnulis,  there  being  a  close  similarity  in 
the  Christian  names  in  each  section  and  also 
in  America.  A  genealogical  record  pul)- 
lished  in  1854  traces  several  branches  of  the 
Glarus  Tschudi  to  Basel,  where  many  of 
their  descendants  are  still  living.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  great  antiquity  and  according  to  this 
genealogv'  the  descent  is  traced  back  to  John 
or  Johann  Schudi  or  Tschudi,  who  was 
knighted  1)\'  Ludw  ig  111  in  the  year  906.  He 
was  at  that  time  mayor  or  governor  of  the 
little  canton  of  Glarus.  which  office  contin- 
ued to  be  held  in  unbroken  succession  by  the 
family  until  X256.  After  the  canton  gained 
its  political  freedom  and  its  chief  magistracy 
became  elective,  a  I'schudi  was  often  chosen 
to  this  office.  The  family  played  an  im- 
portant \)i\vt  when  Swiss  freedom  was  won, 
its  members  being  particularly  active  and 
influential  on  the  side  of  freedom.  During 
the  Reformation  they  were  divided,  some 
going  over  to  the  Protestants,  while  others 
remained  Catholics.  In  a  worldly  way  the 
Catholic  branch  seemed  to  posper  more  than 
the  other.  In  Spain,  Italy,  Austria  and 
France  there  are  branches  which  attained  to 
considerable  eminence,  some  being  members 
of  the  lesser  nobilitv  in  their  respective  coun- 
tries. During  the  many  years  of  its  ex- 
istence in  Switzerland  the  family  spread 
throughout  the  various  cantons  and  some  of 
its  members  attained  to  considerable  promi- 
nence. .\t  various  times  when  Switzerland 
was  furnishing  soldiers  to  other  European 
countries,  many  Tschudis  took  service  in 
these  foreign  armies  and  in  some  cases  they 
arose  to  high  if  not  the  highest  rank  as 
generals.  The  family  also  attained  distinc- 
tion in  the  field  of  letters  as  well  as  of  arms. 
Aegidius  or  Giles  Tschudi  in  the  sixteenth 
centun^  wrote  the  Chronicles  of  Switzerland, 
which  work  is  of  so  great  a  value  that  it  has 
Avon  for  him  the  title  of  "Father  of  Swiss 


Historv."  In  1838  John  Jacob  Tschudi 
started  with  his  ship  on  a  voyage  of  scien- 
tific exploration,  intending  to  go  around 
the  world,  but  the  vessel  was  wrecked  on 
the  coast  of  Peru,  and  he  remained  quite 
awhile  there,  writing  a  book  of  much  value 
on  its  natural  history.  "Animal  Life  in  the 
j\lps"  is  a  much  prized  book  which  was 
written  by  another  member  of  the  family, 
Friedrich  Tschudi.  The  catalogue  of  the 
library  of  Glarus  cijntains  entries  under 
the  names  of  eighteen  different  members 
of  the  family  and  in  the  same  library  may 
be  found  the  manuscripts  of  many  un- 
published books  and  sketches  which  were 
written  by  Aegidus  or  other  Tschudis.  One 
of  these  is  a  three  volume  history  of  the 
Tschudi  family  from  900  to  1501.  ^lany 
of  the  Tschudis  have  been  clergymen,  some 
ranking  well  in  the  Catholic  hierarchy  and 
others  distinguishing  themselves  as  Protest- 
ant pastors.  Among  the  latter  was  \'alen- 
tine  Tschudi,  at  whose  ordination  the  re- 
former Swingle  preached  the  sermon,  which 
is  sometimes  accounted  the  beginning  of  the 
reformation  in  Switzerland.  Others  of  the 
name  made  places  for  themselves  outside  of 
Switzerland,  one  being  vice  ruler  of  Sicily 
for  a  short  time ;  another  a  general  at  Na- 
ples, who  suffered  severe  imprisonment  under 
Napoleon  rather  than  betray  his  trust ;  yet 
another  a  celebrated  manufacturer  of  harp- 
sichords, who  in  the  eighteenth  century  sup- 
plied royal  mansions  with  musical  instru- 
ments from  his  London  shops ;  and  one  who 
was  for  some  time  secretary  of  the  Acaileni}- 
of  Science  at  St.  Peterburg.  Whether  the 
members  of  the  family  are  found  in  the  high 
or  low  walks  of  life  there  are  certain  charac- 
teristics which  appear  frequentlv  enough  to 
constitute  a  type.  Pre-eminent  among  these 
are  kindliness  and  service  to  others ;  gentle- 
ness in  the  home;    fidelity  to  principles;    a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1081 


tendency  t(.)  religion :  fair-mindedness  in 
jiulg'ment :  a  gift  fur  peace  making:  and  as 
a  rule,  alertness  and  breadth  of  view.  The 
family  since  coming  to  America  has  held 
an  honorable  if  not  a  foremost  place  among 
the  plain  people.  Its  members  as  a  rule  liave 
been  well-to-do  farmers,  with  an  occasional 
merchant  or  tradesman,  and  there  have  also 
been  a  few  teachers,  lawyers,  clergymen  and 
ofticers  of  lower  rank  in  the  army.  The 
American  Judys  are  generally  sober,  honest, 
industrious,  kind-hearted,  peaceable  and  re- 
ligious, and  are  also  strikingly  free  from  in- 
sanity, consumption,  etc. 

Martin  Judy  came  to  this  country  from 
Basel,  Switzerland,  landing  in  Philadelphia 
in  1769  and  settled  t)n  the  south  branch  of 
the  Potomac  river  in  \'irginia.  In  his  fami- 
ly were  ten  children  who  reached  maturity, 
namely :  Martin,  John,  Jacob,  Samuel, 
W'inepark.  David,  Henry.  Elizabeth,  Katha- 
rine and  Xancy.  ]\Iost  of  these  remo\-e(l 
from  \'irginia  to  Kentucky,  but  the  branch  to 
which  Ambrose  B.  Judy  belongs  remained 
in  the  Old  Dominion. 

Nicholas  Judy,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Hardy 
county,  Virginia,  and  when  he  had  arriveil 
at  years  of  maturity  h.e  wedded  Mary  .\. 
Skidmore,  who  was  als(T  a  native  of  that 
state  and  a  daugher  of  Andrew  Skidmore, 
another  pioneer  settler  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
Nicholas  Judy  followed  farming  in  the  coun- 
ty of  his  nativity  for  many  years  after  his 
marriage.  .All  of  his  seventeen  children 
were  born  there  and  all  but  four  of  this  num- 
ber grew  to  miture  years.  In  1851  the 
father  cuiie  west  to  lliinois.  driving  across 
the  counti-y  with  teams,  lie  purchased  land 
in  Middlefork  township,  X'ennilion  county, 
owning  nearly  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
which  he  cultivated  until  his  death  in  1853. 
His  wife  sur\i\-cd  him   for  more  than   four 


tlecades,  passing  away  in  this  county  in 
1897,  at  the  ripe  old  ag'e  of  more  than  ninety- 
one  years.  They  had  ten  .sons  and 
four  daughters  who  reached  years  of  maturi- 
ty •  Jehu,  of  Iro(|uois  county,  Illinois:  An- 
drew, who  came  to  Illinois  about  1848  and 
died  in  1850;  Isaac,  of  \^crmilion  county; 
William,  who  is  living-  a  retired  life  in 
Potomac;  (iabriel,  a  farmer  of  Middlefork 
township;  Ambrose  B.,  of  this  review:  John 
\\'..  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and 
ga\-e  his  life  in  defense  of  the  old  flag,  being 
killetl  at  th^  battle  of  Franklin,  'i'ennessee. 
November  30,  1864;  Edward,  who  is  lix'ing 
in  the  state  of  Washington ;  Samuel,  a  resi- 
dent of  Jefferson.  Greene  county,  Iowa; 
George  A.,  who  was  killed  by  a  runaway 
team  when  a  young  man ;  Rebecca,  who  died 
in  early  womanhood ;  Elizabeth,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Eli  Hornbeck,  of  Middlefork 
township  and  died  here,  leaving  a  daughter, 
now  the  wife  of  Scott  Johnson,  a  lumber 
merchant  of  Rankin,  Illinois ;  Eve  Maude. 
who  married  Wallace  Bodley  and  like  her 
husband  is  deceased ;  and  Nancy  Margaret, 
the  wife  of  Howell  Davis,  of  Urbana, 
Illinois. 

Ambrose  B.  Judy  was  only  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  removed  to  Vermilion  county- 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
in  the  Danville  high  school,  which  he  attend- 
ed for  two  or  three  terms.  In  Februaiy. 
1864.  he  responded  t(j  his  country's  call  for 
aid  and  joined  Company  E,  of  the  hifty-first 
Illinois  Infantry,  going  to  the  south  with  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  was  in  many 
important  engagements,  including  the  bat- 
tles of  Rocky  P'ace  Ridge,  at  Buzzard's 
Roost,  Resaca  and  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
in  which  he  was  under  fire  almost  every  flay 
for  nearly  four  months.  He  was  also  in  the 
battles  of  New  Hope  Church  ;uid  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  the  battles  of  Atlanta  and   [ones- 


I082 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


boro.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  Chatta- 
nooga, marching  thence  into  Alabama  and 
spending  several  weeks  in  Tennessee.  With 
his  command  he  met  the  forces  of  General 
Hood  in  battle  at  Columbia  and  at  Spring 
Hill.  He  then  went  to  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
while  on  the  15th  and  i6th  of  December 
he  was  a  participant  in  the  capture  of  Nash- 
ville, which  practically  destroyed  Hood's 
army.  Mr.  Judy  followed  his  command  into 
Alabama  and  later  was  sent  into  eastern 
Tennessee  to  Blue  Springs,  near  Greenville. 
After  the  surrender  of  General  Lee's  amiy 
he  returned  to  Nashville,  where  he  remained 
until  about  the  middle  of  June,  when  he  pro- 
ceeded by  train  to  Johnsonville.  Tennessee, 
thence  by  boat  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  down 
the  river  to  New  Orleans,  being  encamjjed 
at  that  place  for  over  a  month,  spending  the 
4th  of  July,  1865,  there.  Later  the  regi- 
ment was  sent  across  the  Gulf  into  Texas 
and  did  guard  and  camp  duty  in  tliat  state 
until  ordered  to  return  to  the  north,  where 
the  troops  were  mustered  out,  Mr.  Judy  be- 
ing honorably  discharged  in  Springfield.  Illi- 
nois, in  October,  1865.  He  was  neved  ill  or 
wounded  during  the  service  and  was  always 
found  at  his  post  of  duty,  whether  on  the 
firing  line  or  on  the  picket  line. 

After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge 
!Mr.  Judy  returned  home  and  the  following 
winter  engaged  in  teaching — a^professiou 
which  he  had  followed  for  a  few  terms  prior 
to  the  war.  Altogether  he  devoted  the  win- 
ter months  during  twentj-  years  to  that  work 
and  in  the  summer  seasons  carried  on  farm- 
ing. In  1868  he  made  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  becoming  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
acres  where  he  now  resides.  This  was  par- 
tially broken  and  fenced  and  he  continued 
the  work  of  improvement  and  from  time  to 
time  e.xtended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm. 
He  now  owns  six  hundred  and  sixtv  acres 


in  one  tract.  This  is  a  very  valuable  prop- 
erty and  upon  it  are  found  all  modern  equip- 
ments and  accessories.  He  has  remodeled 
his  residence  and  in  the  rear  of  his  home  are 
good  outbuildings  and  upon  his  place  is  an 
excellent  orchard.  The  farm  is  indeed  well 
equipped  and  each  year  Mr.  Judy  harvests 
good  crops  and  at  the  same  time  he  sends  to 
the  city  markets  about  two  carloads  of  cattle 
annually  and  seventy-five  head  of  hogs.  He 
is  quite  successful  as  a  stock-raiser  and  feed- 
er and  this  branch  of  his  business  has  materi- 
ally increased  his  income. 

On  the  19th  of  January.  1879.  in  \'er- 
milion  county,  occiu-red  the  marriage  of  our 
subject  and  Miss  Aviary  E.  Sterling,  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  who  spent  her  girlhood  days 
in  that  state  and  is  indebted  to  its  public 
school  system  for  her  educational  privileges. 
Her  father.  Samuel  B.  Sterling,  was  like- 
wise born  and  reared  there  and  married  Min- 
erva Beard,  also  a  nati\-e  of  that  state.  He 
devoted  his  attention  to  farming  in  order  to 
provide  for  his  family  and  always  lived  in 
Connecticut.  Mrs.  Judy  was  a  successful 
teacher  prior  to  her  marriage  and  she  is  now 
a  faithful  and  devoted  member  of  \\'allace 
Chapel  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church. 

]\Ir.  Judy  holds  membership  relations 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
was  formerly  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  on  national  questions,  but  in  recent 
years  has  given  his  support  to  the  Prohibi- 
tion party.  At  local  elections,  however,  he 
votes  independently  of  party  ties.  He  has 
been  elected  and  served  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  county  supervisors,  representing 
ATiddlefork  township  in  that  way  in  1887-8. 
He  was  a  member  of  some  important  com- 
mittees and  introduced  a  number  of  reso- 
lutions of  value  which  have  been  adopted 
and  have  sa\ed  to  the  countv  sums  of  money. 
He  has.  however,  never  been  a  politician  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1083 


the  sense  of  office  seeking-.  For  twenty- 
seven  years  he  was  scliool  treasurer  of  his 
township  and  is  hlHng  the  position  at  tlie 
present  time.  In  numerous  conventions  of 
his  party  Tiis  opinions  have  carried  weigin. 
He  has  ever  been  known  and  honoretl  for 
his  loyalty  to  his  honest  convictions  and  for 
his  prominence  and  fidelity  in  executing  any 
trust  reposed  in  him.  His  life  has  been  well 
spent  and  to-day  he  enjoys  the  regard  and 
friendship    of    many    of    his    acquaintances. 


J.  M.  DOUGHERTY. 

J.  AI.  Dougherty  has  long  and  acti\-eh- 
been  connected  with  business  affairs  in  Ver- 
milion county  and  is  now  engaged  in  dealing 
in  lumber  and  in  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  native  timber.  He  is  well  known  as  a  re- 
liable business  man  anil  is  also  one  of  the 
honored  early  settlers  of  the  county,  dating 
his  residence  here  since  1856.  He  now  lives 
in  the  city  of  Danville  and  is  familiarly 
called  Joe  by  his  numerous  friends. 

Mr.  Dougherty  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Ohio  county, 
that  state.  September  16,  1843.  His  father, 
William  Dougiierty,  was  born  in  Dearborn, 
Indiana,  August  11,  1825,  while  the  grand- 
father, Joseph  Dougherty,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia.  The  family  comes  of  Irish  line- 
age, the  first  representative  of  the  name  in 
America,  ha\-ing  emigrated  from  the  north- 
ern part  of  Ireland  to  Virginia  at  an  early 
epoch  in  the  history  of  this  country.  Jnse])!] 
Dougherty  served  as  a  soldier  of  the  Mexi- 
can war.  Emigrating  westward  he  Ijecame 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Indiana  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  dense  forest  there  he  hewed  out 
a  farm.  So  wild  was  the  country  that  he 
always  kept  his  gun  by  his  side  even  while 


working  in  order  to  protect  himself  from 
any  attack  from  Indians.  William  Dough- 
erty was  reared  to  manhood  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  pinneer  life  and  in  Indiana  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Myers,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio.  For  some  years  there- 
after he  followed  farming  in  Indiana  and  in 
1856  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  \'ennil- 
ion  county  among  the  first  settlers  of  Catlin 
township.  There  he  opened  up  a  farm  and 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  f(_ir  many 
years.  He  lost  his  wife  in  .\pril,  1899,  when 
she  had  attained  the  age  of  eighty-two  years, 
and  since  that  time  Mr.  Dougherty  has  resid- 
ed with  his  children. 

Joseph  M.  Dougherty  of  this  review  was 
a  lad  of  thirteen  years  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Vermilion  county  and  u])on 
the  old  home  farm  here  he  was  reared  to 
manhood,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
work  for  himself.  His  attention  was  given 
to  agricultural  pursuits  ;uid  to  the  lumber 
business.  He  purcha,setl  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  timber  land  near  Danville, 
cleared  this,  liuilt  upon  it  a  gtx.xl  residence 
and  opened  up  an  excellent  farm,  upon 
which  he  lived  for  sixteen  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Danville,  building  a  home  there 
and  has  since  continuously  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  lumber.  Other  departments  of  busi- 
ness acti\itv  ha\'e  also  claimed  his  attention. 
He  has  engaged  in  the  ni;inufacture  and 
burning  of  brick  ;uid  has  further  contrib- 
uted to  the  improvement  of  the  city  by  erect- 
ing a  innnber  of  business  houses  and  resi- 
dences here,  employing  a  large  number  of 
workmen.  He  has  always  continued  his 
o]ierations  in  timber  and  in  the  manufacture 
of  native  lumber,  this  proving-  to  him  a  good 
source  of  income  throughout  all  the  years. 
He  is  a  man  of  sound  business  judgment,  of 


1084 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


iinrtagging  enterprise  and  stalwart  purpose 
and  liis  efforts  have  brought  to  him  splendiil 
success,  placing"  him  among  the  sulwtantial 
residents  of  Danville. 

In  August.  1867.  in  this  county,  Mv. 
Dougherty  was  united  in  marriage  to  Gallic 
]\IcCollister,  who  died  three  years  and  nine 
months  later,  leaving  a  daughter  who  died 
when  about  four  years  of  age.  In  1872  in 
Danville,  Mr.  Dougherty  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Emily  McCoh 
lister,  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife.  Unto  them 
have  been  born  three  chldren :  M.  M.,  who 
is  now  in  the  hos])ital  service  in  the  Philip- 
l)ine  Islands,  having  been  connected  with  the 
military  interests  of  his  country  since  the 
outbreak  of  the  war  with  Spain ;  Gallic,  at 
home;  and  Belle,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the 
schools  of  Danville.  The  mother  of  these 
children  passed  away  November   12,    1895 

Politically  Mr.  Dougherty  is  a  Jefferson- 
ian  Democrat  who  takes  an  active  and  help- 
ful interest  in  the  work  of  the  party.  He 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee  for  a  number  of  years,  was  chair- 
man for  two  or  three  years  and  was  elected 
and  served  for  eight  consecutive  years  as 
assessor  and  collector  of  Danville  township, 
being  elected  in  a  district  which  usually  gives 
a  strong  Republican  majority.  This  fact 
was  a  tribute  to  his  personal  worth  and  to 
his  high  standing  among  his  fellow  men. 
who  recogiiized  his  ability  and  his  loyalty  to 
public  duty.  He  has  many  times  Ijeen  chosen 
as  a  delegate  to  county  and  state  conventions. 
Socially  he  is  a  Master  Mason.  For  forty- 
eight  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Vennil- 
ion  county  and  has  witnessed  much  of  its 
growth  and  develo])ment.  He  has  seen  the 
prairies  broken  and  fenced,  the  timber  and 
brush  cleared  away,  roads  constructed  and 
towns  and  cities  built.  He  farmed  land  ujv 
on  which  a  part  of  the  city  of  Danville  now 


stands.  In  all  the  work  of  impro\-ement  he 
has  borne  an  active  part  and  has  lived  a  life 
of  integrity  and  acti\'ity,  which  has  classed 
him  among  the  honored  residents  of  his  com- 
munity. He  is  a  modest,  unassuming  man, 
caring  not  for  notoriety,  yet  he  deserves  the 
praise  that  is  usually  given  a  self-made  man 
and  the  high  regard  which  is  accorded  him 
bv  his  friends. 


ALBERT  WOLGOTT. 

Albert  \\'olcott  was  for  many  years  a 
representative  and  prominent  agriculturist 
of  \"ermilion  county  and  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  whose  many  excellent  qualities  en- 
deared him  to  his  friends  so  that  when  he 
was  called  to  his  final  rest  his  death  was 
deeply  and  widely  regretted.  He  was  born 
on  the  4th  of  April.  1839,  in  Ghenango  coun- 
ty. New  York.  His  father  died  when  the 
subject  of  this  review  was  only  seven  years 
of  age  and  his  mother  passed  away  several 
years  later.  Albert  ^^'olcott  was  the  young- 
est of  nine  children,  eight  brothers  and  a 
sister.  He  remained  in  the  Empire  state 
until  about  nineteen  years  of  age.  when  he 
sought  a  home  in  the  west,  locating  first 
in  Logan  county,  Illinois.  There  he  re- 
mained for  eleven  years  and  during  that 
time  he  went  to  the  front  as  a  defender  of 
the  L'nion  cause  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
in  1862  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
participated  in  a  number  of  important  en- 
gagements and  was  always  found  at  his  post 
of  duty,  faithfully  upholding  the  honor  of 
the  old  tl'ig.  When  the  war  was  over  and 
the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services  he 
was  mustered  out  on  the  12th  of  July.  1865, 
and  immediately  returned  to  his  home. 

^Ir.    W'olcc^tt   had    become   activelv   en- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1085 


gaged  in  farming'  in  Loo-an  Odunly.  lllinciis. 
and  resuming  his  agricultural  labor  there  he 
continued  his  farm  work  until  February. 
1876.  when  he  remo\-ed  to  \'ermilion  county, 
settling  in  Grant  township.  Here  he  \niv- 
chased  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  land  and  with 
characteristic   energy    liegan    its   cultivation 

» 

and  impni\ement.  The  work  of  developing 
his  farm  he  carried  on  vigorously  and  untir- 
ingly until  he  had  made  his  fields  rich  and 
producti\-e. 

In  Logan  county,  Illinois,  on  the  Tjlh  of 
December.  1867.  Mr.  Wolcott  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary  Parker,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsyhania  and  was  taken  to  Ohio 
in  her  infancy.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Ellen  (Schuff)  Clouse,  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state.  Mrs.  Wolcott  was 
reared  in  Ohio  until  thirteen  veai  s  of  age.  at 
which  time  she  accompanied  her  i)arents  01 : 
their  removal  to  Jasper  county.  Indiana. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  she  ga\-e  her  hand 
in  marriage  to  Ezra  Parker,  who  died  in 
Logan  county,  Illinois,  and  suV)sei|uently  she 
became  the  wife  of  Mr.  \\"olcott.  Her  first 
husband  was  a  farmer  by  occu])atirin.  fol- 
lowing agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death. 
Her  father,  who  was  an  invalid  for  some 
years,  followed  saddle-making  but  later  re- 
turned to  the  farm  where  the  sons  ot  the 
family  lived  and  wdiere  he  spent  his  remain- 
ing days.  In  his  family  were  eight  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living,  namely  ;  Will- 
iam C  .\ndrew  [..  Mrs.  Esther  A.  Lakins 
and  Mrs.  Ann  Wolcott.  The  marriage  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  was  blessed  with 
four  children,  of  whom  three  are  living: 
Mrs.  Emma  Ranson.  a  resident  of  Danville: 
Mrs.  Viola  McCoy,  a  resident  of  Hoopeston  : 
and  Ernest,  wiio  married  Minnie  ]\Iahoney 
and  is  living  on  a  farm. 

Mr.  Wi^lcott  was  a  memlier  of  the  Grand 


,\rni\-  111  the  Repulilic  and  also  of  the  Mod- 
ern \\\H)ilmen  Cami).  He  attended  the 
Ba]:)tist  church  and  took  a  \cry  deep  an.l 
acti\-e  interest  in  churcli  work,  although  he 
was  never  a  member,  l)ut  regularly  attended 
the  ser\-ices  and  lal^ored  earnestly  in  the 
Sunday-school,  while  to  the  supi)orl  of  the 
cause  of  Cliristianitv  he  was  a  liberal  con - 
tril^utor.  His  wife  holds  membership  in  the 
Bai)tist  church  and  is  a  zealous  Christian 
woman.  Mr.  WDlcott  continued  his  farm- 
ing operations  until  March.  ]8(/).  when  he 
removed  to  Hoopeston  but  was  not  long  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  his  new  home  for  there  he 
died  on  the  30th  of  (October.  1897.  Because 
of  his  progressive  citizenship  and  active  aid 
in  measures  for  th.e  general  good,  because  of 
his  trustworthiness  in  business  and  his  fidei- 
it\'  in  pri\-;Ue  life  Albert  Wolcott  was  nuni- 
l.iered  among  the  leading  and  valued  resi- 
dents of  his  portion  of  the  countv  and  his 
loss  was  deeplv  mourned  not  oidv  bv  his  im- 
mediate family,  hut  by  a  \'erv  large  circle  of 
friends. 

Mrs,  Wolcott  had  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Logan  county  left  her  by  her  first 
husband.  She  sold  this  on  removing  to  \''er- 
milion  county  and  ]nu'chased  eighty  acres 
three  and  one-half  miles  from  Hoopeston, 
pnjpertv  which  she  still  iiwns  and  which  is 
now  \'erv  \'aluable.  .Xt  the  ])resent  time  she 
resides  on  East  Honeywell  a\cnue.  in  the 
home  ])urchased  in  \H^)(^.  With  her  lives 
her  daughter.  Mrs.  Viola  McCoy,  and  her 
husband,  together  with  their  four  children, 
Charles  .\..  Fay.  Ernest  and  Edna.  Mrs. 
Wolcott  is  widely  known  in  Hoopeston  am' 
the  surrounding  portions  of  X'ermilion  coun- 
tv as  a  ladv  of  many  excellent  cpialities  of 
heart  and  mind  and  the  circles  of  her  friends 
is  almost  co-e.Ktensivc  with  the  circle  of  her 
acquaintances. 


io86 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


BEXJAMIX  PETERSON. 

Benjamin  Peterson,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  on  section  ".  Butler  town- 
ship, near  the  village  of  Potomac,  has  to-day 
valnahle  and  extensive  landed  possessions. 
his  home  farm  aggregating  four  hundred 
acres.  During  the  sixty  years  he  has  lived 
in  the  state  of  Illinois  wonderful  indeed  have 
heen  the  ch;uiges  that  ha\e  occurred  and  the 
])rogress  that  has  been  made,  for  through 
these  six  decades  this  great  commonwealth 
has  emerged  to  take  its  place  as  the  leader  in 
many  industrial  and  commercial  lines  in  the 
nation. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  naitve  of  Ohio,  his 
hirth  having  occurred  in  \'inton  county,  on 
the  1st  of  May.  1836.  His  father.  Cornel- 
ius Peterson,  was  born  in  ]Maine.  where 
his  people  located  at  a  very  early  day  and 
there  he  was  reared.  When  a  young  man 
he  went  westward,  locating  first  in  Ohio, 
his  home  being  in  \'inton  county.  There  he 
was  married  to  Selinda  Lane,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  that  county.  There  Mr.  Peter- 
son cleared  and  developed  a  tract  of  land. 
opening  up  a  good  farm,  but  in  1840  he 
sought  a  home  in  Illinois,  settling  in  \'ermil- 
ion  county,  near  Higginsville.  Here  he 
again  broke  a  tract  of  land,  building  upon 
it  a  good  house  and  l)arn  and  developing  his 
farm  until  it  was  a  rich  and  productive  tract. 
Subsequently,  however,  he  sold  that  land 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  Butler  township. 
In  1859  again  he  turned  the  first  furrows  in 
his  fields,  carrying  on  the  work  of  improve- 
ment and  cultivation  until  his  land  was 
made  to  yield  golden  harvests  for  the  labor 
he  bestowed  upon  it.  It  was  upon  his  farm 
that  he  spent  his  last  days.  In  his  family 
were  three  sons  and  seven  daughters,  all  of 
whom  reached  mature  years,  but  only  three 


of  the  number,  our  subject  and  two  sisters, 
are  now  living. 

Benjamin  Peterson,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  review,  was  reared  to  manhood 
upon  the  old  family  homestead  in  \'ermilion 
county.  His  school  privileges  were  very 
limited  because,  owing  to  the  unsettled  con- 
dition of  this'  portion  of  the  state,  a  public 
school  system  had  not  been  established.  He 
remained  with  his  father  throughout  the 
period  of  his  manhood  and  after  arriving  at 
\ears  of  maturity  he  carried  on  the  home 
farm.  In  1869  he  pinxhased  forty  acres 
of  land  where  he  now  resides.  This  was 
raw  and  unimproved  but  the  breaking  plow 
had  soon  turned  the  surface  and  in  course 
of  time  the  L'ukI  was  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  Subsequently  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  additional,  upon  which 
his  buildings  are  now  located.  This  was  also 
destitute  of  improvements  when  it  came  into 
his  possession,  being  still  in  its  primitive 
condition.  He  has  erected  a  good  residence, 
built  substantial  barns  and  other  necessary 
outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and 
stock  and  has  planted  an  orchard  and  shade 
trees.  He  has  tiled  and  fenced  his  land  and 
all  modern  eciuipments  are  found  on  this 
valuable  farm,  'i'o  his  property  he  has  added 
again  and  again  until  now  he  has  four  hun- 
dred and  nine  acres  in  one  body.  It  is  very 
valuable  and  each  year  a  splendid  harvest 
adds  materially  to  the  capital  which  he  has 
already  acquired. 

In  Blount  township.  \'ermilion  coimty, 
Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in  marriage,  on 
the  29th  of  October,  i860,  to  Lydia  Pilking- 
ton.  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  but  w^as  reared 
in  this  county.  She  died  in  ]\Iay.  1886,  leav- 
ing six  children  :  Clara,  now  the  wife  of  W. 
J.  Buchanan  of  Butler  township;  William 
E.,  who  is  a  farmer  of  North  Dakota  ;  Flora, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


10S7 


the  wife  of  Morton  P.  Ferr,  of  Hoopeston; 
Jolm  v..  a  resident  of  Kankakee;  Myrtle,  the 
wile  of  John  McGinness  of  Iowa;  LiUie, 
the  wife  of  Oscar  Anderson,  a  farmer  of 
Butler  township.  On  the  ist  of  August, 
i88g,  Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Mrs.  Margaret  Henderson,  a  widow,  who, 
by  her  former  marriage,  had  three  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

Politically  'Sir.  Peterson  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  his  lirst  vote  was  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1S60.  He  has  never 
waxered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  party  since 
that  time,  but  has  never  desired  office  as  the 
reward  for  his  party  fealty,  content  to  do 
his  duty  as  a  private  citizen.  While  serving 
as  a  member  of  the  school  board  he  has  done 
effective  service  in  behalf  of  education.  He 
has  also  tilled  the  position  of  overseer  of 
highwavs.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  earnest 
and  zealous  members  of  the  United  Brethern 
church,  in  which  he  has  long  held  offices, 
being  one  of  the  trustees  at  the  present  time. 
A  self-made  man,  his  life  record  speaks 
clearly  of  industry,  perseverance,  economy 
and  honesty.  He  started  out  in  the  business 
world  with  no  capital  yet  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward  and  is  to-day  the 
owner  of  a  very  \aluahle  farm  in  the  county 
of  his  adoption.  Throughout  almc)St  his 
entire  life  Mr.  Peterson  has  resided  in  this 
portion  of  the  state.  The  people  of  the 
twentieth  century  can  scarcely  realize  what 
privations  and  hardships  were  endured  by 
the  early  settlers.  It  was  not  uncommon  to 
see  a  herd  of  deer  making  their  way  over 
the  prairies  and  wolves  were  frequently  shot 
and  many  kinds  of  wild  game  were  here  in 
great  numbers,  but  all  have  disappeared  l)e- 
fore  the  approach  of  the  white  men,  who 
have  claimed  the  land  for  the  purpose  of 
cultixation  and  ha\-e  made  the  di^t^ict  to 
bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  Mr.  Peter- 
45 


son  has  turnctl  many  acres  of  sod  and  has 
seen  the  farmer  impro\c  his  lands  while  the 
townsman  has  built  up  enterprises  and  in- 
dustries in  villag-e  and  city  until  Vermilion 
county  has  become  a  rich  agricultural  and 
commercial  center.  He  himself  worked  up- 
on three  farms  in  order  to  make  them 
cultivable  and  for  his  life  of  industry  and 
eiUeri)rise  he  deserves  credit.  His  mind  is 
stored  with  many  interesting  reminiscences 
of  pioneer  times,  when  the  homes  of  the 
settlers  \\ere  widely  scattered  but  when 
hospitality  reigned  supreme  and  many  pleas- 
ures were  enjoyed  that  are  not  known  at 
the  present  day.  He  can  tell  the  tale  of 
Danville's  development  and  he  rejoices  in 
what  has  been  accomplished  in  that  town  and 
city.  He  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  work 
of  progress  and  as  an  honored  pioneer  he  de- 
serves prominent  mention  in  this  volume. 


JUDGE    J.VCOB    \V.  WILKIN. 

The  name  of  Judge  Jacob  W.  \\'ilkin  is 
inseparably  associated  with  the  history  of 
jurisprudence  in  Illinois  and  no  man  has 
been  more  respected  in  the  state  and  none 
more  highly  deser\-e  the  honor  that  has  l)een 
bestowed  upon  hiiu.  He  is  now  serving  as 
one  of  the  supreme  judges  of  the  common- 
wealth and  his  ability  makes  him  one  of  the 
most  capable  jurists  that  has  ever  graced 
the  court  of  last  resort.  The  Judge  was 
born  in  Licking  county.  Ohio,  in  June,  1837, 
and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Burner) 
Wilkin,  natives  of  Virginia.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  they  removed  to  Ohio,  set- 
tling in  Licking  county  and  in  1845  they 
became  residents  of  Crawford  county.  Illi- 
nois, where  the  father  engaged  in  farming. 
Prior  t(_>  his  arrival  in  this  state,  however, 


ioS8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


he  had  followed  contracting  and  building. 
His  life  record  covered  eighty-one  years, 
while  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five,  both  dying  in  Marsliall. 
Clark  connty.  where  they  were  living  re- 
tired. In  their  family  were  nine  children. 
six  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  four 
are  yet  living,  but  the  Judge  is  the  only  one 
who  resides  in  Danville.  One  brother  and 
a  sister  are  living  in  Robinson,  Crawford 
county,  the  brother,  H.  O.  Wilkin,  is  filling 
the  position  of  circuit  clerk  there.  The  sis- 
ter, Mrs.  Mary  M.  Coulter,  is  a  widow.  The 
other  brother.  Rev.  M.  T.  Wilkin,  is  a  min- 
ister of  the  Methodist  church,  now  preach- 
ing in  Urbana,  Illinois. 

When  a  lad  of  eight  years  Judge  Wilkin 
was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents  and 
attended  school  in  Crawford  county.  He  aft- 
erward became  a  student  in  McKendree  Col- 
lege in  St.  Clair  county.  Illinois,  and  was 
thus  pursuing  his  literary  education  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out.  Deeply  interested 
in  the  questions  which  involved  the  coutitry 
in  the  struggle  and  most  loyal  to  the  Union 
cause,  he  offered  his  services  to  the  govern- 
ment, enlisting  in  ^larshall.  Clark  county. 
as  a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirtieth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
under  Colonel  Nathaniel  P.  !Miles,  the  regi- 
ment being  assigned  to  the  Thirteenth  Army 
Corps.  With  his  command  the  Judge  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  preceding  the  siege 
of  Vick.sburg  and  in  the  campaign  which 
was  followed  by  the  surrender  of  that  south- 
ern stronghold.  He  was  on  detached  ser\- 
ice  at  General  Grant's  headquarters  during 
the  siege  and  he  was  also  in  the  Red  Ri\er 
campaign,  during  which  he  participatetl  in 
the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads  and  other 
engagements.  He  also  aided  in  the  siege  of 
Spanish  Fort,  in  the  campaign  against  Fort 
Blakelv   and    in    other   movements   of   the 


army  in  that  district  of  the  south.  He  had 
enlisted  in  the  spring  of  1862,  was  mus- 
tered in  in  August  of  the  same  year  and  in 
the  fail  of  1865  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge,  having  been  in  the  army  for  more 
than  three  years.  He  joined  his  company 
as  a  private  but  was  soon  afterward  com- 
missioned its  captain  and  when  mustered 
out  held  the  rank  of  major  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Tlurlieth  Illinois  Regiment,  which 
had  pre\-iously  been  consolidated  with  the 
Seventy-seventh  Regiment.  With  his  com- 
mand he  was  mustered  out  at  Alobile  and 
received  his  discharge  at  Springfield.  Illi- 
nois. 

Following  his  return  to  civil  life  Judge 
Wilkin  resumed  the  study  of  law  under  the 
direction  of  Judge  Schofield,  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  Illinois  bar  and  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state  In  1866  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  he  began  practice  in  ^Marshall.  Clark 
county.  As  a  partner  of  his  former  pre- 
ceptor he  practiced  from  1867  until  1873, 
and  in  the  latter  year  the  dissolution  of  the 
business  relationship  was  brought  about  by 
the  election  of  Judge  Schofield  to  the  su- 
preme bench.  Judge  Wilkin  was  then  alone 
in  ]iractice  until  1879.  when  he  was  elected 
circuit  judge  of  the  fourth  circuit,  compris- 
ing the  counties  of  Clark,  Edgar,  Coles, 
\'ermilion,  Douglas,  Moultrie,  ]^Iacon, 
F'iatt  and  Champai.gn.  He  continued  to  re- 
side in  Marshall,  Illinois,  until  1S85,  when 
he  was  re-elected  circuit  judge  and  was  as- 
signed to  the  a]ipellate  court  of  the  fourth 
district,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Dan- 
ville. In  June,  1888.  he  was  elected  to  the  su- 
preme Ijench  succeeding  Judgejohn  M.  Scott, 
of  McLean  county  and  in  1897  was  re- 
elected so  that  he  is  now  serving  as  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  a  second  term.  When  first 
elected  he  became  an  associate  of  his  former 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1089 


preceptor.  Judge  Schofield.  wlio  was  also 
upon  tlie  bencli  and  continued  a  member  of 
the  su]3reme  ciurl  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  February,  1893.  A  man  of  un- 
impeachable character,  of  unusual  intellect- 
ual enddwnients,  with  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  the  law,  patience,  urbanity  and 
industry.  Judge  Wilkin  took  to  the  bench  the 
very  highest  qualifications  for  this  most  re- 
sponsible office  in  the  system  of  the  state 
government;  and  his  record  as  a  judge  has 
been  in  hannony  with  his  record  as  a  man 
and  lawyer,  distinguished  by  unswerving  in- 
tegrity and  a  masterful  grasp  of  e\ery  prob- 
lem that  has  presented  itself  for  solution. 
The  Judge  has  great  respect  for  the  dignity 
of  judicial  place  and  power,  and  no  man  ever 
presided  in  a  court  with  more  respect  for  his 
environments  than  does  Judge  Wilkin.  As 
a  result  of  that  personal  characteristic  the 
proceedings  are  always  orderly  upon  the  part 
of  ex'ery  one — audience,  bar  and  the  otTicers 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest.  His  opin- 
ions are  fine  specimens  of  judicial  thought, 
always  clear,  logical,  and  as  brief  as  the  char- 
acter of  the  case  will  permit.  He  never  en- 
larges beyond  the  necessities  of  the  legal 
thought  in  order  to  indulge  in  the  drapery  of 
liteniture.  His  mind,  during  the  entire 
peri' 1(1  uf  his  course  at  the  bar  and  on  the 
bench  has  been  directed  in  the  line  of  his  pro- 
fession and  his  duty. 

In  September,  1865.  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Jtidge  Wilkin  and  Miss  .-Mice  E. 
Constable,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Charles  H. 
Constable  and  unti)  them  were  Ijorn  four 
chiltlren.  of  whom  one  died  in  infancv.  The 
others  are:  Harry  O.,  John  Schofield  and 
Jessie  B.  The  sons  are  both  in  Oregon.  In 
the  early  spring  of  1883  Mrs.  Wilkin  died. 
her  remains  lieing  interrefl  in  Marshall  ceme- 
tery. In  the  tall  of  1885  the  Judge  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 


Sarah  E.  Archer,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Will- 
iam C.  Whitlock.  of  Marshall,  Illinois.  By 
her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son.  William 
W.  Archer,  who  is  now  a  practicing  attorney 
of  Chicago. 

The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the  First 
Methodist  Episcojxd  church  of  Danville  and 
is  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican  and  served  as  a  Grant 
elector  in  1872.  To  a  man  of  broad  mind 
who  has  made  a  close  study  of  social  and 
economic  questions  as  well  as  of  the  political 
history  of  his  country,  the  subject  of  educa- 
tiou  is  always  a  matter  of  interest  and  for 
many  years  Judge  Wilkin  served  as  a  trustee 
of  the  Southern  Illinois  Normal  School. 
Fraternally  he  is  a  prominent  Mas(^n,  be- 
longing to  the  lodge,  chapter  and  command- 
ery  of  Damille  and  of  the  consistory  of  Chi- 
cago. He  is  also  identified  with  the  (irand 
.\rmy  of  the  Republic  and  with  the  Loyal 
Legion  of  Chicago.  A  gentleman  of  pleas- 
ing and  courteous  manner  he  is  not  less  es- 
teemed for  his  social  worth  than  his  pro- 
fessional abilitx'  and  he  is  to-dav  numbered 
among  the  distinguished  residents  of  the 
state  because  of  his  well  rounded  character, 
his  e\Tnly  balanced  mind  and  splendid  in- 
tellectual attainments. 


GEORGE  S.  COLE. 

At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  George  S. 
Cole  wore  the  blue  uniform  of  the  nation  and 
valiantly  fought  on  southern  battle-fields  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Cnion.  He  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  thrifty  and  active 
business  men  of  Danville,  but  is  now  living 
a  retired  life,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest. 
He  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  native  sons 
of  this  citw  his  birth  bax'ing  occurred  here 


I090 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


January  25.  1836.  His  father,  Peleg  Cole, 
was  born  in  Xorth  Bennington,  \*ermont. 
January  9,  1804,  and  prior  to  his  marriage 
came  to  the  west  settling  in  Vermilion  county 
in  1 83 1.  Here  he  was  married  to  Eliza 
Glusha.  who  was  also  born  in  North  Benning- 
ton, her  natal  day  being  September  11,  181 1. 
Peleg  Cole  was  one  of  the  first  business  men 
of  this  city  and  his  energy-  and  activity  con- 
tributed in  no  small  degree  to  the  busi- 
ness upbuilding  of  this  place.  He  also 
entered  some  land  from  the  govern- 
ment and  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
few  years.  He  died  in  Prairie  du  Chien, 
Wisconsin,  November  6,  1855,  '^\'lien  in 
the  ])rime  of  life,  having  gone  to  that 
place  on  a  business  trip.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  until  March  i.  1869,  when  she. 
too,  was  called  away.  There  were  but  two 
children  in  the  family  who  grew  to  mature 
years,  the  sister  being  Mary  E.,  now  the 
w^ife  of  J.  D.   Kilpatrick,  of  Danville. 

In  this  city  George  S.  Cole  was  reared 
and  educated  and  in  September.  1862.  he  re- 
sponded to  his  country's  call  for  aid  to  crush 
out  the  rebellion  in  the  south,  enlisting  in 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  in  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland  and  was  first  under  fire  at 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  having 
been  a  soldier  at  that  time  for  over  three 
weeks.  Later  he  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  Chattanooga  and  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  in  which  he  fought  almost  con- 
tinuously for  sixty  days.  He  also  aided  in 
the  capture  of  Jonesboro  and  of  Atlanta  and 
was  with  Sherman  on  the  celebrated  march 
to  the  sea.  Later  he  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Benton ville  and  subsequently  marched 
through  Richmond  to  Washington,  where 
he  participated  in  the  grand  review,  which 
was  the  most  noted  military  pageant  ever 


known  on  the  American  continent,  thousands 
of  the  soldiers  marching  by  the  grand  stand 
upon  which  stood  the  president  to  review 
the  victorious  army.  Air.  Cole  thein  returned 
to  Chicago  and  was  mustered  out  and 
honorably  discharged  on  the  9th  of  June, 
1865. 

Immediately  afterward  our  subject 
joined  his  family  in  Danville.  He  had  been 
married  here  on  the  26th  of  April,  i860,  to 
Elizabeth  W'aples,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
million county,  a  daughter  of  \\'illiam  Wa- 
ples.  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  locality, 
having  come  to  Illinois  from  the  vicinity  of 
Zanesville,  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Cole  was  reared  and  educated  in  this  state 
and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  four  children  :  Charles  P.  and  \V. 
W..  who  are  living  in  Omaha.  Nebraska: 
Ralph,  a  business  man  of  Danxille:  and 
Nellie  A.,  at  home. 

Mr.  Cole  had  become  identified  with 
business  interests  of  Danville  prior  to  the 
Civil  war  and  has  been  connected  with 
various  lines.  At  different  times  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  liver}-  business  and  in  dealing 
in  saddlery,  harness  and  hardware.  For  a 
quarter  of  a  century  he  was  an  active  repre- 
sentative of  trade  interests  here,  but  for 
some  years  he  has  lived  retired,  enjoying  a 
well  merited  rest.  He  has  bought  lots  and 
built  three  good  residences  in  Daiiville  and 
has  thus  helped  to  improve  the  town.  In 
politics  Air.  Cole  is  known  as  an  earnest  and 
stalwart  Democrat,  following  the  political 
footsteps  of  his  father,  while  his  sons  have 
also  followed  the  example  of  their  father  in 
this  respect.  He  has  voted  for  each  presi- 
dential nominee  of  the  Democratic  part}' 
with  the  exception  of  the  time  when  he  was 
in  the  army  and  gave  his  support  to  Abraham 
Lincoln.  When  a  young  man  he  was  elected 
and   served  as  constable  and   was  assistant 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 09 1 


United  States  assessor  of  internal  rexenue 
during  the  administration  of  Andrew  John- 
son. He  never  was,  liowever,  a  pohtician 
in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  preferring"  to 
give  his  attention  to  Iiis  business  interests. 
He  and  liis  wife  are  members  of  the  First 
Presln'terian  churcli  of  Danville.  His  entire 
life  has  been  passed  in  this  city  which  has 
since  developed  almost  from  a  country  cross- 
roads village  until  it  has  become  one  of  the 
leading  metropolitan  centers  of  this  great 
commonwealth.  In  its  impro\'eiuents  and 
progress  he  has  manifested  a  deep  interest 
and  has  given  hearty  co-operation  to  many 
measures  for  the  general  gooc]. 


PERRY  FRAZIER. 


Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  busi- 
ness career  Perrv  Frazier  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  agricultural  and  commercial  in- 
terests of  \'ermilion  county.  Init  at  the 
present  time  is  practically  living  a  retired 
life  in  the  city  of  Georgetown,  where  he 
was  born  November  13,  1838.  His  parents 
were  Abner  and  INIary  (INIillican)  Frazier, 
of  whom  more  extended  mention  is  made  in 
the  sketch  of  John  Frazier  on  another  pag'e 
of  this  volume. 

During  his  Ijoyhood  and  youth  our  sub- 
ject Ijecame  thoroughlv  familiar  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  at  an  early  age  took 
charge  of  his  fathers  farm.  During  the 
first  year  it  was  under  his  management  he 
raised  fiftv  head  of  fine  hogs,  which  was  a 
very  unusual  number  for  that  time,  and  he 
continued  to  operate  the  farm  with  good  suc- 
cess until  his  marriage.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  wedded  ]\Iiss  Eliza  J.  Patty, 
a  daughter  of  Eli  and  Catherine  (Hoover) 
Pattv.  natives  of  Indiana.     ^Ir.  Frazier  then 


rented  the  In mie  place  for  several  years,  when 
on  account  of  his  wife's  failing  health  he 
removed  to  Butler.  Bates  county.  Missouri, 
where  he  conducted  a  meat  market  for  two 
years.  His  wife  gradually  declined  instead 
of  recovering  as  they  had  hoped,  and  soon 
after  selling  his  market  she  died  and  he 
brought  her  remains  liack  to  Georgetown  for 
intenuent.  She  left  two  sons :  Xdrman  W., 
now  a  resident  of  Cayuga.  Indiana:  and 
Jay  M..  who  is  mentioned  below.  The  wife 
of  the  f(irmer  is  now  deceased  and  his 
children.  Lucile,  Lester  and  Rose,  now  make 
their  home  with  his  parents  and  brother. 

On  his  return  to  \'ermilion  county.  Mr. 
Frazier  again  rented  his  father's  farm,  re- 
maining there  for  fourteen  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  J.  ALiore.  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Hannah  ]\[oore.  who  li\"ed  near  Georgetmvn. 
AFrs.  Frazier  died  on  June  24,  looi.  and 
our  subject  now  makes  his  home  in  George- 
town, occupying  a  pleasant  residence  only 
a  half  mile  north  of  the  scjuare  on  the  Dan- 
\-ille  &  Georgetown  electric  line.  Upon  the 
])lace  is  a  large  barn,  office  and  considerable 
fruit  of  all  kinds.  Besides  his  home  Mr. 
Frazier  owns  considerable  other  pniperty, 
including"  thirteen  acres  in  the  Heights  of 
Georgetown,  east  of  the  trolley  line,  which 
is  not  yet  platted.  He  has  eighteen  acres 
west  of  the  line,  which  has  teen  laid  off  in 
town  lots,  averaging  si.xty  by  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet,  with  a  street  in  front  forty 
feet  wide  and  an  alley  in  the  rear  ten  feet 
wide.  He  also  has  forty-one  and  a  half  acres 
on  section  30,  Georgetown  townshii). 

Mr.  Frazier  has  always  been  a  hard 
working  man  and  in  his  undertakings  has 
met  with  a  fair  degree  of  success,  which  now 
enables  him  to  lay  aside  active  labor  and 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  ease  and 
quiet,  enjii\-ing  the  comforts  which  former 


1092 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


toil  lias  brought  to  liim.     He  holds  member- 
ship in  the  Friends  church  at  Georgetown 
and  is  held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem 
bv  all  who  know  them. 


F.  C.  V.  FARES. 


F.  C.  \'.  l-'ares  is  one  of  the  popular  and 
well  known  residents  of,  Danville,  where  he 
has  resided  for  twenty-two  years.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  traveling  salesman, 
representing  a  tlour  house  in  this  city.  He 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of 
November.  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Frank  V. 
and  Kate  (Waggoner)  Fares,  the  fomier  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
On  coming  to  the  new  world  the  father  set- 
tled in  Cincinnati  and  subsequeitly  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Evansville,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  conducted  a  bottling  factory, 
bottling  pop,  soda  water  and  other  soft 
drinks.  There  he  resided  until  his  death. 
His  wife  also  passed  away  in  Evansville. 

Mr.  Fares  of  this  review  pursued  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  Cincinnati  and 
Evansville.  accpiring  a  good  knowledge  of 
the  branches  of  English  and  German  learn- 
ing, which  fit  one  for  the  duties  of  business 
life.  He  afterward  turned  his  attention  to 
merchandising,  being  connected  with  the 
dry-goods  trade  in  Cincinnati  for  several 
years.  Subsequent!}-  he  went  to  Evansville, 
Indiana,  and  there  he  conducted  a  dry-goods 
store  until  his  remmal  to  Danville.  On  lo- 
cating in  this  city  he  accepted  a  position  as 
salesman  in  a  well  known  dry-goods  house* 
remaining  in  that  employ  for  six  years, 
after  which  he  accepted  the  position 
of  manager  of  the  firm  of  Abdilla 
&  Brown,  acting  in  that  capacity  for 
four  years.    He  was  next  assistant  secretary 


and  phvsical  director  for  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  Danville  for  a  short 
period  and  in  1893  he  went  upon  the  road 
as  a  traveling  salesman  for  the  flour  house. 
In  this  business  he  has  since  continued  and 
is  very  popular  among  the  many  customers 
whom  he  has  secured  because  of  his  obliging 
manner,  unfailing  courtesy  and  reliable 
business  methods.  His  business  allows  him 
to  make  a  visit  to  his  home  once  a  month. 

Mr.  Fares'  family  reside  at  No.  611 
Douglas  avenue.  He  was  married  in  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana,  in  1885,  to  Miss  ]\Iary 
Pnrdv.  a  native  of  that  city,  lx5rn  in  1856, 
and  a  daughter  of  Major  George  H.  and 
Rachel  B.  ( Soule)  Purdy,  the  former  a 
native  of  ^lassachusetts  and  the  latter  of 
Terre  Haute.  During  the  early  part  of 
their  married  life  they  resided  near  Roches- 
ter, Xew  York,  and  then  removed  to  Terre 
Haute.  Indiana,  where  ]\Iajor  Purdy  secured 
a  position  as  manager  in  a  packing  house, 
being  thus  employed  until  after  the  inaug- 
uration of  the  Civil  war.  He  then  enlisted 
in  the  L'nion  army  with  the  rank  of  captain, 
served  for  three  years  as  a  major  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  his 
home  in  Terre  Haute,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  commission  business  until  his  retirement 
from  business  life.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
still  reside  in  that  city,  where  he  is  widely 
known  as  a  pioneer  settler  and  an  honorable 
man,  prominent  in  public  affairs  and  exert- 
ing considerable  influence  in  behalf  of  the 
city's  welfare.  The  Soule  family  was  also 
established  in  Terre  Haute  at  an  early  day 
and  is  well  known  in  that  city. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flares  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children,  Robert  P., 
born  December  2,  18S6.  and  Helen,  bom 
June  28,  1888.  Both  :Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fares 
hold  membership  in  the  Baptist  church  of 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1093 


Damillc,  taking  an  acti\e  pan  in  its  work, 
contributing  liberally  to  its  support,  and  at 
the  present  time  Mv.  Fares  is  serving  as  one 
of  its  trustees.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican. ne\"er  faltering  in  his  allegiance 
to  the  ])arty.  Socially  he  is  identified  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal  Circle,  of 
Dan\ille.  and  w ith  the  Traveling  Men's  Pro- 
tective Association.  His  deference  for  the 
opinion  of  others,  his  kindliness,  his  geniality 
and  his  gentiine  personal  worth  have  made 
him  a  favorite  with  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  his  wife,  too,  enjoys  the  esteem  of  all 
who  know  her. 


JAY  M.  FRAZIER. 

Jay  M.  h'razier  is  one  of  the  leading- 
young  business  men  of  Georgetown,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
meeting  with  excellent  success.  He  has 
recently  purchased  fifty-two  acres  of  land, 
a  ])art  of  which  lies  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  the  town,  paying  for  this  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  per  acre.  The  tract 
is  one  of  the  finest  adjoining  the  village  and 
it  has  already  dotibled  in  value  since  it  came 
into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Frazier.  He  gave 
the  right  of  way  along  this  tract  to  the  Dan- 
ville and  Paxton  electric  line,  believing  it 
would  greatly  aid  in  the  upbuilding  and 
aihancement  of  the  city.  He  expects  to  plat 
and  build  u])on  a  part  of  his  late  purchase. 
He  has  erected  many  houses,  which  he 
subseqtientlv  sold  on  payments,  and  at  the 
present  writing,  in  190J.  has  several  in 
course  of  construction.  He  is  also  erecting 
a  large  and  well  appointed  greenhouse  near 
his  residence  and  will  soon  be  ready  to 
fm'uish  all  kinils  of  fiowers  and  shrubs  to 
order.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  energetic  busi- 
ness man.  thoroughly  progressive  and  up-to- 


date,  and  well  deserves  the  success  that  is 
attending  his  efi:orts.  * 

In  1892  ]\Ir.  Frazier  married  Miss  Grace 
Parker  of  Georgetown,  and  they  reside  on 
the  home  place  with  his  father.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Friends  church.  In  politics 
Mr.  Frazier  is  a  RepiU)lican  and  is  now  serv- 
ing as  a  member  of  the  \illage  l)oard  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  bis  constituents. 


jA.Mi:S  M.  GARNER. 

James  M.  (jarner.  who  for  a  third  of  a 
century  was  an  active  and  entcrjirising 
farmer  in  Illinois  but  is  now  living  retired  in 
Sidell,  was  born  in  Clinton  county.  Ohio,  on 
the  loth  of  August,  1818.  The  family  is  of 
Fng-lish  ancestry,  having  been  established  in 
X'orth  Carolina  at  an  early  <lay.  Ca])tain 
James  Garner,  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  England  and  determin- 
ing to  become  a  resident  of  tlie  new  world 
crossed  the  Atlantic  upon  one  of  the  old 
time  sailing  \essels  and  became  a  resident  of 
North  Carolina  when  the  work  of  imjjrove- 
ment  and  progress  in  that  state  was  in  its 
infancy.  He  became  the  owner  of  an  exten- 
sive plantation  and  a  large  number  of  slaves, 
and  was  a  prominent  man  of  his  locality. 
The  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  John 
Fushe  Garner,  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
,'nii]  James  Garner,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  also  born  in  that  state.  There  he  was 
reared  and  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  on 
life's  journey  he  chose  Mary  Moon,  a  native 
of  North  Carolina  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Moon,  who  was  likewise  born  in  the  same 
state,  also  of  Engli.sh  lineage.  James  Gar- 
ner emigrated  from  North  Carolina  to  Ten- 
nessee. :uid  about  181 1  Ijecame  a  resident  of 
Ohio,  settling  in  Clinton  county,  which  was 


I094 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


then  a  vast  wilderness.  Tlie  entire  journey 
■was  made  l\v  wagon  and  he  took  with  him 
eight  head  of  horses  and  eleven  cattle,  but  all 
of  his  cattle  were  stolen  while  in  Kentucky. 
His  horses  died  soon  after  reaching  Ohio 
and  he  then  traded  his  wagon  for  another 
horse.  For  some  years  he  found  it  very  diffi- 
cult to  provide  for  his  family  in  the  new 
home,  for  pioneer  conditions  existed  and 
many  hardships  and  trials  were  to  be  borne. 
He  had  only  one  neighbor  living  within  ten 
miles  of  him.  After  reaching  Clinton  coun- 
tv  he  purchased  some  land  from  which  he 
cleared  away  the  trees  and  thus  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest  he  hewed  out  a  farm.  After 
gaining  a  start  he  returned  to  Tennessee, 
made  some  collections  upon  old  debts  and 
disposed  of  some  property  there.  He  thus 
secured  about  four  hundred  dollars  in  silver. 
A\'ith  this  amount  he  returned  to  Ohio  and 
it  was  probalily  his  great  size  and  strength 
that  prevented  him  being  robbed  or  mur- 
dered for  his  money.  He  was  more  than 
six  feet  in  height  and  weighed  over  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds.  Mr.  Garner  spent 
his  remaining  days  in  Clinton  county  and  as 
the  years  passed  he  was  enabled  to  add  more 
and  more  of  the  comforts  of  the  older  east 
to  his  pioneer  home  and  in  course  of  time 
became  well-to-do.  Both  he  aiid  his  wife 
died  in  Clinton  county,  but  he  survived  her 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  their  family  were 
seven  sons  and  seven  daughters,  and  with 
one  exception  all  reached  adult  age,  although 
James  M.  and  a  sister  are  the  only  ones  now 
living. 

James  M.  Garner  grew  to  manhood  in 
Clinton  county  upon  the  old  family  home- 
stead, remaining  with  his  father  until  his 
death,  when  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  old  home  place  and  suc- 
ceeded to  the  ownership  of  the  property. 
There  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  un- 


til 1869  when  he  came  to  the  west.  He  was 
married  in  Clinton  county  in  1840,  to  Miss 
^lartha  A.  Seal,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
Highland  county.  Her  father.  Robert  Seal, 
was  an  early  settler  of  the  Buckeye  state,  re- 
moving to  Ohio  from  Virginia. 

In  1869  Mr.  Garner  sold  his  farm  in 
Clinton  county  and  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
first  in  Douglas  county,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land. 
This  he  broke  and  fenced,  placed  many  rods 
of  tiling  upon  the  farm,  built  good  barns 
and  a  comfortable  residence,  planted  an  or- 
chard and  a  grove  of  forest  trees,  and  in  fact 
continued  the  work  of  improvement  until  his 
property  had  greatly  risen  in  ^•alue  and 
formed  one  of  the  attractive  features  of  the 
landscape.  He  also  engaged  in  raising, 
feeding  and  fattening  stock  for  the  market, 
and  was  classed  among  the  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock-raisers  of  his  community. 
There  he  continued  his  work  until  1897 
when  he  sold  his  farm  and  purchased  resi- 
dence property  in  Sidell.  where  he  has  since 
lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well  earned  rest. 

In  1863,  while  still  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Garner 
was  called  upon  to  luourn  the  loss  of  his  first 
wife.  By  that  marriage  nine  children  had 
been  born,  of  whom  five  are  yet  living: 
John,  a  resident  of  South  Dakota:  William 
Eldi'idge.  who  is  also  living  in  that  state; 
Thomas  Jefferson,  of  Califomia;  Romeo, 
who  resides  in  Tuscola,  Illinois ;  and  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  O.  D.  Loomis,  of  Cham- 
paign county.  Illinois.  Of  the  four  who 
passed  away  two  had  reached  mature  years. 
Rachel  Ellen  was  married  and  left  three  chil- 
dren, while  ]\lary  Emma  died  when  a  young 
ladv.  ^Ir.  Garner  was  married  a  second 
time  in  Indiana,  in  the  town  of  Galveston, 
}ilrs.  Rebecca  Lightfoot,  nee  Walker,  becom- 
ing his  wife.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
was  reared  in  the  Hoosier  state  and  for  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1095 


number  of  years  she  tra\cle(l  life's  journey 
with  Mr.  Garner,  but  in  the  fall  of  1897  she 
was  called  to  her  final  rest.  There  were 
four  children  by  this  union :  Etta,  the  wife 
of  J.  R.  Xeece,  of  Tolona,  Illinois;  Cora, 
the  wife  of  L.  C.  Eenefiel,  of  Sidell ;  Effie, 
the  wife  of  F.  S.  Smithson,  of  BroaiUands, 
Illinois ;   and  Iva,  a  young  lady  at  home. 

!Mr.  Garner  probably  cast  his  first  A'ote 
for  a  presidential  candidate  for  William 
Henry  Harrison  in  the  year  1840,  and  was 
an  old  line  Whig  until  the  dissolution  of  the 
party,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new 
Republican  party.  He  voted  for  Fremont  in 
1856  and  for  each  presidential  nominee  of 
the  Republican  party  since  that  time.  He 
was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  and  still  adheres  to  that  religious 
belief.  He  has  known  what  it  is  to  live  up- 
on the  frontier  both  in  Ohio  and  in  Illinois, 
and  has  assisted  in  the  arduous  task  of  im- 
proving the  wild  land  in  both  states. 
Through  a  third  of  a  century  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Vermilion  county,  during  which 
time  he  has  formed  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance and  all  who  have  been  brought  in  con- 
tact with  him  recognize  in  him  traits  of 
character  which  are  worthy  of  commenda- 
tion antl  emulation. 


D.   M.   SHANKLAXD. 

D.  M.  Shnnkland,  who  is  now  serving 
as  one  of  the  ;ddermen  of  Hoopeston.  was 
born  in  Warren  county,  Indiana,  in  1853. 
He  is  a  son  of  J-  C.  Shankland,  who  died 
when  our  subject  was  fifteen  years  of  age. 
The  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Nancy  Stone,  passed  away  in  1877.  In  their 
family  were  seven  children,  but  only  three 
are  now  living,  namelv:     Samuel  \'. ;    Ada 


J.,  the  wife  of  Curtis  Franks:  and  D.  M, 
In  1863  Mr.  Shankland  of  this  sketch 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
Iroquois  county,  a  settlement  being  made 
along  its  southern  biirder.  There  he  was 
reared,  living  in  that  Ideality  when  it  was 
still  a  pioneer  district  and  when  deer  roamed 
over  the  prairies.  He  remembers  seeing  as 
many  as  thirty-two  head  in  a  single  drove 
cross  his  father's  farm.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  for  several  terms,  walking  a 
distance  of  four  miles  to  and  from  school. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney Mr.  Shankland  chose  Eva  Foxworthy, 
a  most  estimable  lady  who  has  been  a  faith- 
ful compam'on  and  helpmate  on  life's  jnur- 
ney.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in 
Iroc[uois  comity,  in  1880.  and  the  lady  was 
I)orn  in  \'ermilion  cmnUy  in  1861.  Her 
mother,  Mrs.  Martha  Foxworthy.  is  still 
living  in  Hoopeston.  In  her  family  were 
the  following  children:  Wallace,  Addison, 
Reed,  George.  Ross.  Dale  and  Eva.  the  last 
named  l)eing  the  only  daughter. 

Two  years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shankland  removed  to  northwestern 
Nebraska,  taking  with  them  about  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars,  but  they  made  a  mis- 
take in  going  too  far  west,  where  little  rain 
fell  and  their  attempt  to  establish  a  home  in 
that  country  and  gain  prosperity  proved  un- 
successful. ^Ir.  Shankland  homesteaded 
some  tracts  of  a  half  section  and  remained 
in  the  west  for  seven  years,  but  finding  that 
he  could  not  gain  prt)sperity  there  he  re- 
turned to  Hopeston  in  1888  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  work  of  drilling  wells, 
putting  in  tubular  wells,  windnn'lls.  tanks 
and  piping.-  He  now  has  a  two-horse  power 
well  driller  for  his  drill  wells  and  em])loys 
usually  about  four  men.  His  work  extends 
to  Tippecanoe  and  Benton  counties,  Indiana, 
and  his  ser\ices  are  in  demand  during  the 


1 096 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


greater  pr.rt  of  the  time.  He  is  now  receiving 
a  liberal  patronage  ami  his  business  is  gain- 
ing greatly  both  in  volume  and  inii)ortance. 
He  thoroughly  understands  the  work  in 
principle  and  in  detail,  and  there  is  no  one 
more  competent  in  his  line  than  is  Mr. 
Shankland. 

The  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
was  blessed  with  two  children,  luit  they  lost 
one  child,  Merle,  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 
Their  daughter  Delia  is  now  employed  in 
the  telephone  exchange.  Both  our  subject 
and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Ameri- 
can Home  Circle,  of  which  he  is  a  guardian. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  he  is  now- 
serving  for  the  fourth  term  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  aldermen  of  Hoopeston.  \\'hile 
in  Nebraska  he  was  assessor  for  three  terms. 
He  and  his  wife  have  a  pleasant  home  on 
Thompson  avenue  where  they  also  own  three 
lots.  All  that  Mr.  Shankland  possesses  has 
been  acquired  through  his  enterprise  and  well 
directed  labor  and  he  deserves  much  credit 
for  what  he  has  accomplished.  He  is  quite 
widely  known  throughout  the  county,  and 
especiallv  in  Ilciopeston  he  has  manv  friends. 


WILLIAM  REILLY. 

William  Reilly.  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
isle,  has  resided  in  various  portions  of  Amer- 
ica as  well,  not  only  in  the  Laiited  States 
but  also  in  Xova  Scotia,  but  since  i860  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Danville,  where  he  is 
now  living  a  retired  life.  He  was  born  on 
the  Emerald  isle,  a  son  of  Edward  Reilly, 
who  was  a  farmer  of  Ireland  and  spent  his 
entire  life  there.  The  subject  of  this  review 
was  but  fourteen  years  of  age  when  with  his 
six  brothers  he  sailed  for  the  new  world, 
first  locating  in  Worcester.  Massachusetts, 
where  for  a  short  time  he  was  employed  at 


the  blacksmith's  trade.  Lie  afterward  went 
to  Boston,  where  he  followed  blacksmithing 
for  four  years  and  then  removed  to  White 
Fountain,  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  for  two  years.  Remov- 
ing then  to  IMaine  he  was  for  a  year  em- 
plo}ed  on  a  rock  ledge  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  made  his  way  to  St.  John's, 
Nova  Scotia,  where  for  three  years  he  was 
employed  as  foreman  of  a  stone  quarry  and 
for  four  years  was  engaged  in  stone  work 
near  St.  John's  when  he  left  the  northeast, 
seeking"  a  home  in  Illinois,  locating  in  Dan- 
ville where  he  resided  for  three  years,  devot- 
ing his  attention  to  his  old  trade  of  black- 
smithing.  Attracted  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  he  then  went  to  the  Pacific 
coast  antl  for  a  year  worked  in  the  mines, 
but  again  he  returned  to  Danville  and  was 
employed  as  a  coal  miner  in  this  locality  and 
in  the  Grape  creek  mines  near  Dan\ille  for 
several  years,  ^^'ith  the  money  he  had  ac- 
quired through  his  own  labors  he  then  pur- 
chased coal  mines  near  Danville,  operating 
these  for  several  years,  when  he  entered  into 
a  contract  with  the  Chicago  Coal  &  Coke 
Company  to  take  charge  of  its  mines  at  Grape 
Creek,  acting  as  foreman  there  for  five  years, 
when,  on  account  of  illness,  he  retired  from 
the  position.  He  then  purchased  coal  land 
at  Grape  Creek  in  order  that  his  sons  might 
continue  in  the  mining  business  and  this 
property  'Sir.  Reilly  still  owns,  although  he 
is  now  living  retired  from  business  cares. 

In  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  Mr. 
Reilly  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ellen 
Sweeny,  a  native  of  County  Donegal.  Ire- 
land. Five  children  have  been  born  unto 
them.  Edward,  v.ho  married  Minnie  Mc- 
Reynolds.  is  residing  in  Dan\-ille  and  is  man- 
ager of  Kelly  ]Mine  No.  2.  Annie  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Sherr.  a  machinist  of  Dan- 
ville.    Cornelius  is  a  miner  of  this  citv.   Will 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1097 


P.  has  been  employed  as  a  mail  carrier  of 
this  city  for  more  than  thirteen  years. 
George  is  a  molder  in  the  machine  shops  of 
this  city.  They  have  also  reared  two  adopt- 
ed daughters.  Lizzie  and  Maw  l)oth  of  whom 
are  residents  of  Danville. 

When  Mr.  Reilly  arrived  in  this  city  he 
boarded  at  what  was  known  as  the  old  Mc- 
Cormick  House,  hut  finally  erected  a  home 
on  Elizabeth  street,  in  which  he  lived  for 
several  vears,  removing"  thence  to  his  present 
home  at  Xo.  410  Buchanan  street,  where  he 
is  now  hving-  in  honorable  retirement  from 
business.  He  owns  one  cjuarter  of  a  block 
on  this  street  and  is  also  the  owner  of  a 
fruit  orchard  of  two  acres  at  the  edge  of 
Danville  and  one  and  one-half  acres  of  land 
near  there,  together  with  four  building  lots 
in  the  same  district  of  the  city  and  other 
property  here.  yir.  Reillv  is  one  who  from 
a  humble  financial  position  has  steadily 
worked  his  wa_\-  upward  until  he  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  men  of  aftluence  of  his 
adopted  county.  Since  1856  he  has  earnest- 
ly and  unfalteringly  supported  the  Republic- 
an party  and  he  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church  of  Danville.  The 
hope  that  led  him  to  leave  his  native  land 
Avhen  a  boy  of  fourteen  years  that  lie  might 
eniny  the  better  business  opportunities  of  the 
new  world  has  been  more  than  realized,  for 
here  he  has  prospered  until  to-day  he  may 
well  be  classed  among  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  \'ermilion  countv. 


JABEL   B.   TRENT. 

Jabel  E.  Trent,  now  tleceased,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Danville.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  pursued  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  at  the  age 


of  nineteen  years  came  to  the  west  settling 
in  Danville  where  he  began  working  at  the 
builders'  trade.  He  also  learned  and  fol- 
lowed the  brick  mason's  trade  and  assisted 
in  Ijuilding  and  plastering  some  of  the  first 
brick  buildings  in  this  city.  He  was  also 
employed  by  the  government  as  a  land  agent. 
He  afterward  worked  at  his  trade  again  and 
when  he  had  .'iccumulnted  a  comfortable  com- 
petence in  that  way  he  turnetl  his  attention 
to  real-estate  business  which  he  followed 
during  the  latter  part  (.)f  his  business  career, 
handling  considerable  property  much  of 
which  he  owned.  He  continued  to  reside  in 
Danville  until  his  demise  and  was  accounted 
a  worthy  and  representative  citizen. 

Mr.  Trent  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Wealthy  A.  Rogers,  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren. Samuel,  who  married  Ellen  Hannas, 
is  now  deceased.  Annis  is  the  wife  of  F. 
M.  Preston,  of  Hoopeslon.  James  is  living 
on  a  farm  in  \'ermilion  county.  John  is  a 
physician  residing  in  Indiana.  Susan  .\.  is 
the  deceased  wife  of  Edwin  Fox.  J(^)sephine 
is  the  wife  of  William  U.  Burgett  and  is 
mentioned  later  on.  Jal>el  carries  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  this  county.  The  father 
died  May  27,  1857,  and  the  mother,  surviv- 
ing him  for  about  twenty  years,  passed  away 
January  i,  1877.  Mr.  Trent  was  always 
actively  interested  in  politics  and  \-oted  with 
the  Democratic  party.  He  held  memlier- 
ship  in  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Danville  and 
both  he  and  liis  wife  were  consistent  and 
dexoted  meniljers  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
])al  church.  Actively  identified  with  the  up- 
building of  the  city  in  the  years  of  its  early 
develo])ment,  he  took  a  heli)ful  interest  in 
e\er)thing  pertaining  to  the  general  good 
and  was  numbered  among  the  prominent 
and  influential  men  here. 

|osc])hine  Trent,  the  x'oungest  daughte" 


1098 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  our  subject,  was  married  to  William  Cave 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  one  son. 
James,  who  married  Miss  Alesia  Bloble  and 
now  resides  near  iiis  mother.  He  is  a  mail 
carrier  of  this  cil\.  After  the  death  of  her 
first  liusband  Mrs.  Cave  became  the  wife  of 
William  U.  Burgett,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a 
son  of  George  \\'ashington  Burgett,  of  Wa- 
bash, Indiana.  In  the  year  1875  he  came 
to  Danville  where  he  began  working  at  the 
caqienter's  trade,  which  he  has  follcnved  con- 
tinuously since,  also  devoting  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  blacksmithing.  He  now  resides 
at  No.  521  Bowman  avenue,  and  Mrs.  Bur- 
gett is  also  the  owner  of  other  property  near 
licr  residence. 


JOHN  H.  DUKES. 

A  prominent  and  influential  resident  of 
A\'estville,  where  lie  has  taken  an  important 
part  in  the  public  policy  of  the  town  and  in 
movements  and  measures  for  the  general 
welfare,  John  H,  Dukes  commands  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  the  community. 
He  was  l)(}rn  in  Georgetown  township,  .\u- 
gust  7,  1856.  His  grandparents  were  Ste- 
phen and  Rachel  (Lewis)  Dukes,  the  form- 
er a  native  of  \'irginia  and  the  latter  (if 
Tennessee.  They  came  to  this  county  in 
1822  and  settled  at  Brooks  Point,  just  east 
of  W'estville.  Their  eldest  son,  Ellis  Dukes, 
was  born  January  25,  1828.  He  married 
Nancy  F.  Bowen,  who  was  Iiorn  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  August  7,  1826.  Through- 
out his  entire  active  business  career  he  fol- 
lowed farming  and  was  a  Republican  in 
politics,  holding  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  also  serving  as  school  treasurer 
for  twenty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
character,  ever  fulfilling  his  duties  in  strict 


accord  to  what  he  thought  was  right  and 
winning  the  respect  of  his  fellow  townsmen 
by  his  upright  conduct.  He  died  March  6, 
1879.  His  wife  in  early  life  held  member- 
ship in  the  New  Light  church  and  afterward 
in  the  Methodist  church,  dying  in  that  faith 
on  September  27th,  1875.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children :  Asa,  who  was 
born  September' 26,  1853,  and  died  January 
8,  1859:  Mary  C,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Henry  Robinson  and  died  November  30, 
1878,  lea\-ing  her  husband  and  one  child  to 
mourn  her  loss :  Dolly  ]\Iay,  now  living  at 
Coyville.  Kansas;  Robert  N.,  born  July  10, 
1854,  wdio  is  a  farmer  residing  near  Custer, 
Wood  county,  Ohio:  John  H. ;  W.  C,  a 
resident  of  Georgetown,  this  county;  and 
Rachel  Frances,  the  widow  of  Henrv  (filbert, 
who  was  a  prosperous  farmer. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  John  H.  Dukes 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Lizzie,  daughter 
of  Mahlon  and  Margaret  (Falls)  Finley, 
both  natives  of  \'irginia.  They  were  mar- 
ried there  and  at  first  removed  to  Indiana, 
and  then  in  1824  to  A'ermilion  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  as 
follows;  .\mos  \\"illiam.  who  was  killed 
liy  lightning  near  West\'ille:  Catherine,  the 
wife  of  John  Hogan.  of  Indianapolis,  Indi- 
ana ;  America,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Brady. 
of  Catlin :  David  A.,  who  lived  in  Westville 
and  died  October  8,  1890:  Eliza  Ann.  the 
widow  of  Daniel  Suycott,  a  merchant  tailor 
of  Rossville;  Charlotte,  the  wife  of  G.  W. 
Hooten,  a  lumberman  of  Danville,  Illinois; 
Arminta,  the  widow  of  Peter  S.  Burke,  a 
lawyer  of  Yakima,  Washington :  E.  G.  Fin- 
ley,  of  Catlin,  one  of  the  most  extensive 
stock  raisers  of  this  county;  Alary  E..  the 
widow  of  John  B.  Cooley.  a  farmer  of  Mart- 
insville. Clark  county.  Illinois;  H.  C.  Fin- 
ley,  a  farmer  resiiling  near  Alount  Carmel, 
Illinois;    Henrietta,  wife  of  Frank  White,  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1099 


farmer  of  Cr.tliii ;  H.  C.  ihe  twin  lirotlier  of 
Henrietta:  ]\Iargaret,  wife  of  Gns  Sainnel- 
son,  a  farmer  of  Oakwood  township ;  and 
Mrs.  Lizzie  Dukes,  who  is  the  yonn^'est  of 
the  fourteen  cliiUh-en.  The  cliildren  all  had 
good  common-school  educations.  The  home 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dukes  has  been  blessed 
witli  two  children :  America  B..  born  Feb- 
ruary 22.  1879.  is  well  educated  and  refined, 
being  a  graduate  of  music.  Alfred  Lewis, 
born  March  17.  1881,  has  also  received  a 
good  education  in  many  branches  including 
music. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dukes  at  first  located  in  \\'ood  county,  Ohio, 
wliere  he  rented  land  tVir  three  years  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
then  came  back  to  \'ermilion  county  and 
rented  his  father's  farm  for  two  years,  when 
he  i^urchased  a  farm  adjoining  \\'est\ille 
and  there  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1892.  On  this  farm  he  opened  the  first 
tile  manufactory  in  \'ermilion  county,  which 
he  operated  for  two  years  and  then  sold  to 
his  uncle.  John  Dukes.  That  year  he  was 
elected  commissioner  of  highways  of  George- 
town township,  on  the  hard  road  issue.  He 
held  tiie  office  until  1899,  when  he  was  de- 
feated by  a  Democrat,  Luther  A.  Clingan. 
During  the  time  of  the  coal  boom  in  this 
locality  he  sold  his  farm  to  the  Kellv  Coal 
Company  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
trading.  He  was  among  the  first  trustees 
who  organized  the  village  of  Westville.  He 
has  always  been  a  stalwart  Republican  ami 
is  now  representing  his  township  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Rei)ul)Iican  central  committee. 
He  enjoys  a  wide  acijuaintance  throughout 
the  state,  and  none  know  him  but  to  respect 
and  honor  him.  He  is  a  member  of  Mitchel- 
son  Lodge,  Xo.  ^jt,.  K.  P.,  of  Westville. 
Mrs.  Dukes  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.     Their  daughter  is  a  member  of  the 


Rathljone  Sisters  ami  the  son  is  president  of 
the  Teamster's  Union.  Xo.  114,  of  West- 
\ille.  Mr.  Dukes  owns  his  present  residence 
which  is  situateil  on  a  lot  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  feet.  The  house  is  an  eight-room 
residence,  only  two  blocks  ivom  the  post- 
office.  I\Ir.  Dukes  also  has  five  dwellings 
in  AN'estville  which  he  rents,  and  a  business 
corner  opposite  the  Big  Four  depot  which 
rents  for  sixty  dollars  a  month,  also  two 
houses  and  lots  in  Georgetown  and  some 
vacant  lots.  He  has  two  houses  and  lots  in 
Danxille  and  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Te.xas  county,  Missouri.  A  self- 
made  man.  Mr.  Dukes  has  l)een  very  success- 
ful in  his  Im^^iness  \-entiuTS.  This  is  due  to 
his  keen  discrimination  and  his  ability  to 
make  judicious  investments  of  his  capital. 
He  has  a  fine  library  \alued  at  several  hun- 
dretl  tlollars.  and  his  home  life  is  pleasantly 
I)assed  with  his  family  and  friends.  He  is 
a  sulistantial  business  man  of  his  community 
and  mucii  of  the  improvement  and  develop- 
ment of  the  town  is  due  to  his  "efforts  to- 
ward promoting  its  moral,  intellectual  and 
material   welfare. 


REV.  W.  L.  CAMPBELL. 

Re\-.  W.  L.  Campbell,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Georgetown,  and  is  now  pastor  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  churches  in 
Liberty,  Illinois,  and  Cayuga,  Indiana,  is 
a  native  of  Vermilion  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Eh\ood  township,  July  30, 
i8.|.j.  His  i)arcnts  were  Enos  and  Jenny 
Barr  (Cloyd)  Campbell,  the  fomier  born 
August  12.  1800,  and  the  latter  in  1805. 
Their  early  home  was  near  Jonesboro  in 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  whence  they 
removed  to  ^'ermilion  countv,  Illinois,  set- 


I  lOO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tlinc  in  Klwood  township  in  1833.  In  their 
family  were  twelve  children,  four  born  in 
Tennessee  and  the  others  in  this  county. 
Nine  of  the  number  are  still  living.  James, 
tlie  eldest,  died  in  infancy  prior  to  the  re- 
moval of  the  family  to  Illinois.  Catherine 
first  married  John  Patterson,  a  farmer  of 
Elwood  township,  who  died  in  1857.  leaving 
one  child.  \\'illiam  P.,  and  about  four  years 
later  his  widow  became  the  wife  of  Jacob 
M.  Kendall,  who  lived  on  a  farm  in  Elwood 
township  until  1893  and  then  removed  to 
Ridgefann,  where  he  lived  retired  until  his 
death  in  1900.  Mrs.  Kendall  is  still  living 
there.  E.  C.  Kendall,  the  eldest  son,  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  was  next  interested  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  was  subsequently  a  railway  mail 
clerk,  after  which  he  went  upon  the  road  as 
a  traveling  salesman  for  the  >\'ebster  Gro- 
cery Company  of  Danville.  He  married 
Jennie  Cooper  and  died  in  Danville  in  Jan- 
uary, 1902.  John  M.  married  Ollie  Harvey, 
a  daughter  of  ^^'illiam  Harvey,  then  of 
Ridgefarm  but  now  in  Mississippi,  and  he  is 
successfully  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing at  Ridgefarm.  Joseph,  who  married 
Kate  Foster,  followed  farming  for  several 
years  but  for  the  past  ten  years  has  engaged 
in  the  grain  business  at  Ridgefarm.  Jacob 
M.,  a  general  merchant  of  Dana,  Indiana, 
married  Zula  Southern,  a  daughter  of  John 
Southern  of  Ridgefarm.  Alexander,  a  resi- 
dent of  Georgetown,  married  Elizabeth  Pat- 
terson of  Elwood  township  and  now  owns 
property  in  both  Farmridge  and  Georgetown. 
James  P.  Campbell,  who  died  in  Georgetown 
in  January,  1895,  married  Sarah  Patterson 
and  has  five  children,  of  whom  Jacob  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years ;  and  Florence 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  His  second 
daughter  married  Nelson  Moore,  of  George- 
town and  ten  years  later  died,  leaving  four 


children.      His    youngest    son,    Enos,    is   a 
lilacksmith     of     Georgetown.      His     other 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  Josiah  Thomp- 
son, of  Chicago,  who  is  head  clerk  for  a  large 
steel  manufacturing  company,  at  a  salary  of 
twelve    hundred    dollars    per    year.      Mary 
Campbell    wedded    Hiram    Patrick,    whose 
home  is  near  Cayuga,  Indiana,  and  to  them 
were  born  ten   children,   of   whom   six  are 
still  living,  two  sons  being  married,  while 
two  other  sons  and   two  daughters  are  at 
home  with  their  parents.     Elizabeth  Camp- 
l)ell   became  the   wife  of  William   Patrick. 
now   a   resident   of  Denver,   Colorado,   and 
seven  children  blessed  their  union,  the  sur- 
viving memlsers  of  the  family  being  Mrs. 
Charles  Cook,  whose  husband  is  now  living 
retired   in   Ridgefarm,   Illinois,   having  left 
his  large  farm  some  seven  years  ago :    Enos, 
a  leading  member  of  the  lire  department  ot 
Denver:   Nannie,   wife  of  John   McCarthv, 
a  well-to-do  lianlware  merchant  of  that  city; 
Lou,  a  successful  teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Denver:    and  Lene,  wife  of  Frank  James,  a 
tlrug  clerk  of  Chicago.     Druzilla  Campbell 
married  I'ilghman  A'an  Duyn,  a  resident  of 
Dana,  Indiana,  and  they  have  four  sons  and 
two  daughters.     The  father  and  three  of  the 
sons  are  blacksmiths  and  the  other  son  is  a 
tinner.     One  of  the  daughter  is  married  and 
the  other   is   single.     W.    L.    Campbell,   of 
this  review,  is  the  next  of  the  family.     A.  C. 
Campbell  lives  in  Fremont,  Nebraska,  with 
his  wife  and  three  daughters,  all  single.    He 
and   one   daughter   are   engaged    in    selling 
musical  instruments.     The  eldest  is  a  trained 
nurse,    commanding    high    wag"es,    and    the 
youngest  is  still  in  school.     A.  R.  Campbell, 
who  is  a  photographer  by  profession,  now 
has    charge   of   the   Collett    Home    for   or- 
phans, situated  two  miles  east  of  Cayuga, 
Indiana.     He  is  married  and   has  one  son 
and    one    daughter.      Lou    Campbell,    the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I  lOI 


youngest  of  the  family,  marrietl  \\  .  C  Ci^ok, 
a  fanner  lixing  near  Quaker,  Indiana,  and 
they  ha\-e  two  sons,  one  married  antl  the 
otiier  single.  Mr.  Cook  is  a  very  successful 
man.  owning  a  large  farm,  and  is  engaged  in 
raising  standard  bred  stock. 

\V.  L.  Campbell,  of  this  review,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and  in 
early  life  learnetl  the  carpenter's  Iraile.  which 
he  has  followed  more  or  less  throughout  his 
entire  business  career,  having  built  fourteen 
houses  in  Georgetown.  Among  them  is  a 
twelve  room  house  for  ^Nlr.  Pritchard,  ami 
one  each  for  ^Ir.  Robb  and  ]\Ir.  Kilgore. 

On  the  20th  of  Xo\ember,  1866.  Mr. 
Campbell  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jennie  Poole,  whose  parents  were  John  T. 
and  Alary  (  Xewman)  Poole,  of  Terre  Haute, 
Indiana.  Her  father  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing and  also  the  cooperage  business  and  was 
one  of  the  first  temperance  organizers  of  his 
time.  .After  the  country  became  involved 
in  Ci\il  war  he  entered  the  service  in  i86j  as 
(juartermaster  sergeant  and  remained  at  the 
front  until  hostilities  ceased.  Unto  Air.  and 
Airs.  Campbell  were  bcirn  five  children,  all 
of  whom  are  now  grown,  namely :  Oscar 
K.  married  Alabel  Drury  and  resides  in  Gib- 
bon, Nebraska,  where  he  carries  on  business 
as  a  barber  and  dealer  in  grain.  I-'raternallv 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  at  that  place.  C.  A.,  the  second  son, 
is  employed  in  a  sugar  factor\-  in  Loveland. 
Colorado.  Alinnie  is  the  wife  of  E.  L. 
Hilierly.  a  successful  lavv\er  and  real  estate 
dealer  of  Tacoma.  Wasbingtun.  (iertrude 
is  now  with  her  parents.  William  .\lbert.  a 
graduate  of  the  Vermilion  Academy,  was 
studying  law  when  he  succumbed  to  con- 
sumption wliich  followed  a  hemorrhage 
some  eighteen  months  previous,  and  he 
passed  away  Alarch  3.  i8g8. 

In  his  social  relations  Air.  Campbell  is  a 


member  of  Ridgefanu  Lodge.  Xo.  632,  F.  & 
A.  AI..  of  which  ortler  three  of  his  brothers 
also  belonged.  His  daughter.  Airs.  Hiberly, 
is  a  member  of  lien  Hur  Loilge  of  Tacoma, 
Washington,  and  is  connected  with  the 
Friends  church,  as  was  alsn  her  bnnher  W'ill- 
iam  A.,  while  another  brother  is  a  menilier 
of  the  Cumberland  I'resbyterian  church,  and 
tlie  thinl  nf  the  Methodist  church.  Aliss 
Gertrutle  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  clnncli 
and  the  Royal  Circle  of  Georgetown.  In 
politics  Air.  Campbell  is  a  Prohibitionist  and 
takes  a  dee])  interest  in  the  tenii)erance  cause. 
-\t  five  different  times  he  held  the  oflice  of 
assessor  of  Eugene  township,  \'ermilion 
county.  Indiana,  serving  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned. Being  a  good  penmen  his  books 
were  alwax's  neatly  kept. 

At  the  age  of  forty-two  years  Air.  Camp- 
bell was  converted  and  joined  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  cliurch.  Three  years  later 
he  became  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  and 
being  licensed  to  preach  the  same  year  he  at 
once  entered  upon  his  ministrial  labors,  tak- 
ing a  regadar  ecclesiastical  course  of  study 
in  the  church  of  his  denomination.  At  the 
age  of  fifty-three  he  was  set  apart  and  or- 
dained and  has  since  engaged  in  jireaching 
within  the  bounds  of  the  I'Aister  Presbytery, 
deh\ering  aliout  two  hundred  sermons  each 
year.  He  lias  also  preached  two  hundred  and 
forty  funeral  sermons,  has  married  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  couples ;  taken  about  two 
hundred  .and  sixt\'  members  into  the  church; 
t)rdained  fourteen  elders  and  twelve  deac- 
ons. Between  the  ist  of  .April.  1901,  and 
the  Tst  of  April.  190-',  he  delivered  forty- 
two  funeral  sermons  and  seven  since  that 
time.  He  now  has  charge  of  two  congrega- 
tions, one  at  Cayuga,  Indiana  and  the  other 
at  Liberty,  Illinois,  and  is  an  untiring  worker 
in  the  Master's  vinevard.      Mis  life  is  exem- 


I  I02 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


plary  in  all  respects  and  he  ever  supports 
those  interests  which  are  calculated  to  uplift 
and  benefit  humanity,  while  his  own  liigh 
moral  worth  is  deserxing  of  the  highest 
commendation.  He  and  his  family  are 
among  the  most  esteemed  and  influential  citi- 
zens of  the  eastern  part  of  Vermilion  county 


WILL  H.  YORK. 


Will  H.  York  has  for  some  years  past 
been  a  resident  of  Hoopeston.  but  recently 
was  apjjointed  to  the  position  of  turnkey  in 
the  county  jail  and  therefore  expects  to 
UKike  Danville  his  home,  at  least  through  the 
succeeding  four  years,  which  will  cover  his 
incumbency  in  that  postion.  Air.  York  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  on  the 
26th  of  May,  1865.  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
Isabel  (Washburn)  York.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Ohio  and  for  twenty-five  years 
engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Wayne- 
town,  Indiana,  in  which  place  our  subject's 
birth  occurred.  He  lias  a  brother  and  two 
sisters :  John,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Knox,  of  Hoopes- 
ton, and  Mrs.  Lucy  Brant,  of  Veedersburg. 
Indiana.  In  Waynetown.  Indiana,  Will  H. 
York  pursued  liis  education  and  when  about 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  entered  a  drugstore 
in  Waynetown  as  a  clerk,  being  employed  in 
that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years.  Leav- 
ing his  native  city  in  1891  he  went  to  Chica- 
go where  for  four  months  he  was  employed 
in  the  Lakeside  restaurant.  In  the  fall  of 
1891  he  came  to  Hoopeston  and  for  four 
years  thereafter  was  employed  in  the  Illinois 
Canning  factory  as  a  liox-maker  and  at  gen- 
eral work.  In  1896  he  was  appointed  night 
watch  for  the  city,  acting  in  that  capacity 
until  1898  when  he  was  put  on  the  day  force. 
In  1900  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  b\- 


James  Sloan,  for  Grant  township,  and  in 
August,  1 90 1,  he  captured  a  man  who  had 
escaped  from  the  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  peni- 
tentiary, and  for  whom  a  reward  of  fifty 
dollars  was  offered.  In  1902  he  was  ap- 
pointed turnkey  of  the  county  jail  under  H. 
H.  Whitlock,  for  a  term  of  four  years. 

yiv.  York  was  married  in  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  in  1895.  to  Miss  Maggie  Hoffman, 
the  wedding  being  celebrated  on  the  loth  of 
June,  of  that  year.  She  was  born  in  New 
York  city.  May  6,  1870,  and  when  nine  years 
of  age  was  adopted  by  R.  T.  Aliskimens,  of 
Hoopeston.  She  has  one  brother,  Conrad 
Hoffman,  of  this  city.  By  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  three  children : 
Richard,  born  April  25,  1896;  Jean,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  months ;  and 
Dorothy,  born  May  24,  1900.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  Mr.  York  has  always  been  a  stanch 
Republican,  earnest  and  unfaltering  in  sup- 
port of  the  party,  and  he  is  er[ually  faithful 
and  loyal  in  the  performance  of  his  duties 
as  a  public  official. 

He  belongs  to  Hoopeston  Lodge,  No. 
709,  A.  F.  i^  A.  ;M..  the  Modem  Woodmen 
of  America  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Foresters,  also  of  Hoopeston. 


J.  S.  CHRISTMAN. 


J.  S.  Christman.  vice-president  of  the 
Commercial  Trust  &  Savings  Bank  of  Dan- 
ville, Illinois,  was  born  in  Warren  county, 
Indiana,  ;ind  in  1876  moved  from  Indianap- 
olis. Indiana,  to  Illinois.  He  was  employed 
by  W.  J.  Henderson  &  Company,  general 
merchants  of  Rossville,  Illinois,  for  a  period 
of  three  years;  in  1879  began  farming  and 
stock-raising;  later  on  began  a  banking  busi- 
ness with  W". T.Cunningham  under  the  name 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 103 


of  the  Citizens  Bank  at  Rossville  and  has 
continued  fanning  operations  to  the  present 
time.  In  1890  the  Citizens  Bank  was  re- 
organized as  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Rossville,  with  Samuel  Collison,  president : 
T.  Collison,  vice-president ;  and  George  E. 
Grays,  cashier;  and  Mr.  Christman  is  serv- 
ing on  the  board  of  directors. 


])osit  vault  in  the  county.  The  estahlisii- 
ment  of  the  institution,  including  the  remod- 
eling of  the  building,  the  in.stallation  of  the 
safety  vaults  and  the  securing  of  the  oftice 
fixtures,  cost  thirteen  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  dollars,  and  is  by  far  the  best 
equipped  bank  in  the  county.  Success  has 
crowned  the  efforts  of  the  concern  since  its 
opening,  as  its  statement  for  the  first  fi\-e 
weeks  was  as  follows : 


THE  COMMERCIAL  TRUST  &  SAV- 
INGS BANK. 

The  Commercial  Trust  &  Sa\ings  Bank 
of  Danville  was  organized  December  27, 
1902,  with  the  following  officers:  W.  T. 
Cunningham,  president ;  J.  S.  Christman, 
vice-president;  T.  F.  Christman,  cashier; 
John  L.  Hamilton,  vice-president;  and  S.  G. 
Wilson,  general  counsel.  The  board  of  di- 
rectors is  composed  of  James  A.  Cunning- 
ham. F.  ]\I.  Gundy,  S.  G.  Wilson,  J.  S. 
Christman,  O.  P.  Clark,  Richard  Clipson. 
J.  W.  Plasten,  Ora  Green,  W.  T.  Cunning- 
ham. G.  Maier,  T.  F.  Christman  and  Charles 
A.  Feor.  The  bank  was  cajaitalized  for  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 

This  institution  was  organized  December 
27,  1902.  and  took  possession  of  its  present 
quarters,  January  22,  1903,  in  the  building 
at  No.  28  ^'ermilion  street,  which  was  re- 
modeled for  this  purpose.  Tlie  institution 
was  organized  with  an  independent  and  orig- 
inal idea  of  banking,  making  a  specialty  of 
of  the  savings  and  trust  deT)artments  and 
paying  three  and  a  half  per  cent,  interest  on 
accounts.  It  is  ecjuipped  with  the  latest  iin- 
pro\ed  burglar-proof  Corlcss  safe,  unique 
in  design  and  style:  also  c(]uii)])ed  with 
a  splendid  burglar-proof  safety  deposit 
vault,  containing  four  hundred  private  box- 
es.   This  is  without  doubt  the  only  safety  de- 

46 


RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $  96,183.00 

Overdrafts   1 15.00 

Bonds  and  securities 15,000.00 

Banking  house  furnishings 13,668.00 

Due  from  banks 58,016.00 

Cash  and  sight  exchange 26,598.00 

$209,580.00 

I.I.Mill.lTIES. 

Capital  stock $100,000.00 

Undivided  profits .' 313.00 

Time  deposits 16,688.00 

Demand  deposits 92,579.00 


$209,580.00 

This  is  a  remarkable  showing  which  ar- 
gues well  for  the  future.  The  trust  depart- 
ment of  this  institution  has  been  established 
for  the  purpose  of  handling  estates,  etc. 
There  is  also  a  burglar  proof  insurance. 


CHARLES  SNIDER. 

Charles  Snider,  whose  borticidtin-al  in- 
terests are  bringing  to  him  a  credital)le  and 
gratifying  competence,  is  a  representative  of 
one  of  the  old  and  honored  pioneer  families 
of  Vermilion  county.  More  than  seventy 
years  ago  his  father,  John   Snider,  built  a 


1 104 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


log  c.'ibin  upun  tlie  I'arm  wlierc  our  subject 
now  resides.  It  was  in  that  pioneer  liome 
tiiat  Charles  Snider  was  bom  on  the  13th 
of  December,  1843,  his  parents  being  John 
antl  ^hlry  (Blount)  Snider,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  JMus- 
kingum  county,  Ohio,  her  father  being 
Charles  Blount,  for  whom  the  township  in 
\'ermilion  county  was  named.  The  father 
of  our  subject  removed  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Ohio  with  his  parents  and  then  emigrated 
to  this  state,  making  the  trip  on  horseback 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three  small 
children.  He  arrived  here  in  1824  and  es- 
tablished his  home  in  the  midst  of  the  forest. 
He  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land  and 
built  the  log  house  which  is  still  standing. 
The  country  was  then  the  haunt  of  the  In- 
dians who  held  their  meetings  and  also  made 
sugar  near  the  log  cabin  home  of  the  Snider 
family.  The  entire  district  was  scarcely  fit 
for  the  habitation  of  white  men,  for  the  land 
was  full  of  sloughs  and  ponds.  There  were 
large  herds  of  deer  and  many  kinds  of  smal- 
ler game  which  furnished  the  early  settlers 
with  meat.  Mr.  Snider  lived  to  rear  his 
family  and  see  the  country  develop  from  the 
wild  region  of  the  frontier  into  a  splendidly 
improved  district.  His  life  history,  with  all 
its  pioneer  experiences,  if  written  in  detail 
would  till  a  volume,  and  even  then  the  young- 
er generation  could  not  fully  realize  what 
hardships  and  trials  were  endured  by  the 
pioneer  settlers.  To  them  they  owe  a  debt 
of  gratitude  that  can  never  be  repaid,  for 
they  laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for 
the  present  development  and  progress  of  the 
county.  John  Snider  assisted  in  felling  the 
trees,  in  clearing  the  land  and  aided  in  or- 
ganizing the  township.  He  was  born  in  the 
year  1797  and  passed  away  November  13, 
1849.  Plis  \vife  survived  him  for  several 
years  and  died  in  the  '70s.     Our  suljject  was 


the  seventh  of  their  nine  children,  only  four 
of  whom  are  now  living:  Mrs.  Isaac  Nor- 
man, a  widow  who  resides  in  Livingston 
county,  Illinois;  John  B.,  of  Blount  town- 
ship; Charles,  of  this  review;  and  Mrs. 
James  H.  Gilland,  a  resident  of  Kansas.  The 
deceased  are  Asa,  Ellen,  Hannah,  Samuel 
and  Wesley.  Samuel  died  during  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion. 

Charles  .Snider  pursued  his  education  in 
a  subscription  school  held  in  a  log  building, 
supplied  with  the  usual  slab  benches  and 
with  greased  paper  windows.  He  assisted 
in  clearing  the  home  farm,  performing  the 
arduous  labors  of  field  and  meadows  through 
the  summer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
season  he  pursued  his  studies.  He  continued 
to  work  on  the  home  farm  until  after  the 
Civil  war  began.  He  was  only  about  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  when  on  the  loth  of  Au- 
gust, 1862,  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
government,  enlisting  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Thirty-fifth  Illinois  Infantr^^  under 
the  command  of  Captain  William  Timmons 
and  Colonel  William  P.  Chandler.  The 
regiment  was  sent  to  St.  Louis  and  then  to 
Kentucky,  and  he  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga.  Mission 
Ridge  and  Peach  Tree  Creek.  At  the  last 
named  he  was  wounded,  losing  his  left  index 
finger.  He  also  participated  in  a  large  num- 
ber of  skirmishes  and  served  for  three  years. 
The  regiment  then  returned  to  Springfield;- 
Illinois,  where  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  mustered  out  on  the  20th  of  June,  1865. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  participated  in  the 
grand  review  at  Washington,  D.  C,  the 
most  celebrated  military  pageant  ever  seen 
on  the  western  hemisphere. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Snider  re- 
sumed farm  work  and  stockraising,  and  in 
order  to  have  a  home  of  his  own  he  was  mar- 
ried on  the  23d  of  October,  1865,  the  lady 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1105 


(it  his  clidicc  lieing  .Miss  Mart^arcl  AUliands, 
wlio  was  l)(irn  in  Catliii  tnwnslii]).  June  27. 
1845,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Albert  and  Alar- 
tlia  (Willheig'ht)  Allliands,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Ilhnois,  but  both  are  now  deceased. 
I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider  wore  Ixirn  nine 
chhdren :  Genrge  W'.,  who  has  departed 
this  life;  Nellie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Charles  Baile\-  and  died  leaving  three  chil- 
dren :  James,  who  is  living  on  the  home  farm 
and  married  Emma  Hilleary,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children.  Goklie,  Otis  and  (Jlenn; 
lohn.  deceased:  Ollie.  who  became  the  wife 
of  George  Reeder  and  died  leaving  a  daugh- 
ter, Daisy;  William,  Charlie,  Julia  and  Dan- 
iel all  of  whom  liave  passed  away.  The 
third  child,  James,  is  the  only  surviving  one 
of  the  nine  children,  and  he  rents  his  father's 
farm.  All,  however,  reached  adult  age  with 
the  exception  of  the  two  youngest.  Mrs. 
Snider  departed  tliis  life  ?vlarch  11,  1894. 
She  was  a  devoted  and  lo\-ing  wife  and 
mother  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 

Mr.  Snider  continued  farming  on  the  old 
liomestead,  but  is  now  practically  living  re- 
tired. He  helped  to  clear  about  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  here  and  has  witnessed 
manv  changes  in  the  county,  in  the  modes  of 
hfe  and  the  methods  of  farming.  His  first 
plow  was  a  single  shovel,  and  a  single  line 
harness  was  used.  He  planted  corn  by  hand 
was  often  assisted  in  this  way,  and  he  cut 
the  grain  with  a  cradle.  The  first  trading 
])oint  of  the  family  was  Chicago,  and  later 
they  traded  at  Perrysville,  Tndiatia,  our  sub- 
ject hauling  his  grain  to  that  place.  There 
were  few  luxuries  enjoyed  by  the  early  set- 
tlers, and  sometimes  they  were  denied  the 
comforts  of  life,  but  as  the  years  passed  and 
the  country  became  more  thickly  settled  such 
comforts  were  more  easily  obtained  and  the 
hardships  of  the  frontier  were  done  away 
with.      Mr.   Snider  never  had  a  tailor-made 


suit  of  clothes  until  after  he  was  grown,  the 
family  doing  all  the  spinning  and  weaving, 
after  which  the  clothes  were  made  by  the 
mothers  and  daughters.  The  shoes  were  al- 
so made  at  home  by  a  traveling  shoemaker 
and  each  mcinl)cr  of  the  family  had  but  one 
pair  a  year.  Johnnycakc  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal articles  of  diet,  and  was  made  by  plac- 
ing it  upon  a  smooth  board  which  was  then 
set  before  the  fire  to  bake.  Other  articles 
of  food  were  cooked  in  the  pots  and  kettles 
which  hung  from  the  crane  over  the  fire- 
l)lace.  The  first  cookstove  owned  In'  the 
family  was  called  a  step-stove,  the  legs  being 
eighteen  inches  high.  Mr.  Snider  has  also 
helped  to  dip  candles  before  the  time  when 
candle  molds  came  into  use.  He  can  also 
remember  how  punk  was  picked  from  the 
timber  and  how  flint  and  tow  were  used  in 
striking  a  fire.  As  the  years  have  passed  all 
of  these  pioneer  conditions  have  given  way 
before  the  advancement  of  civilization,  and 
Mr,  Snider  has  kept  abreast  with  the  prog- 
ress of  the  times.  He  to-d;iy  owns  forty- 
three  and  one-half  acres  of  valuable  land  on 
which  he  is  making  a  specialty  of  the  raising 
of  fruit,  including  peaches,  apples  and  plums. 
He  is  practically  retired  from  farm  hfe,  but 
yet  lives  upon  the  old  home  place  where  he 
was  born.  He  has  served  as  road  super- 
visor for  two  terms  and  as  school  director 
for  about  three  terms,  and  he  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp  at  Snider.  He  is 
justly  regai"ded  as  one  of  the  sub.stantial  citi- 
zens of  his  township  and  well  deserves  honor- 
able and  prominent  mention  in  the  history  of 
the  Past  and  Present  of  \^ermilion  County. 


ANDREW   J.    SIHREE. 
.\ndrew'  J.  Sibrel,  one  of  the  jiractical  and 
thrifty  farmers  of  Vermilion  county,  own- 
ing three  valuable  tracts  of  land,  all  in  P>utlcr 


iio6 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


townsliip,  now  makes  liis  home  on  section 
15,  near  the  village  of  Rankin.  In  Fehruary. 
1867,  he  arrived  in  Illinois  and  has  since 
been  a  resident  of  this  county.  He  was  born 
in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  August  4,  1840. 
His  father,  Frederick  Sibrel,  was  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1791  and  was  a 
son  of  Nicholas  Sibrel,  who  became  one  of 
tiie  early  settlers  of  that  county.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  valiantly  aiding  in  the 
struggle  for  American  independence.  Fred- 
erick Sibrel  was  reared  in  his  native  county 
and  was  there  maried  to  Miss  Anna  Pence 
a  native  of  Adams  county,  Ohio.  Through- 
out his  active  business  life  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits,  save  when  he  respond- 
ed to  his  country's  call  for  aid.  having 
been  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  181 2  and  again 
in  the  wars  with  the  Creek  Indians.  He 
resided  for  many  years  in  Brown  and  Adams 
counties,  Ohio,  but  in  later  life  he  became  a 
resident  of  Illinois,  settling  here  in  1873. 
He  spent  his  last  years  among  his  children, 
dying  in  \'erniilion  county  in  1881,  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  nearly  ninety  years.  His  wife 
had  passed  away  in  Ohio  in  1871.  In  their 
family  were  three  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living,  the  subject  of  this  review  being  the 
youngest.  The  father  was  twice  married 
and  by  his  first  union  he  had  seven  children, 
but  only  one  of  that  family  survive. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  A.  J.  Sibrel 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
assisting  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm.  To 
some  e.xtent  he  attended  the  common  schools 
but  his  education  has  largely  been  acquired 
through  reading,  observation  and  experience. 
He  was  married  in  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
October  31,  1861,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Pence, 
a  native  of  that  county,  reared  and  educated 
there.  Her  father.  Benjamin  Pence,  was 
also  bom    in   Ohio,   and   his   wife  bore   the 


maiden  name  of  Drucilla  Brady.  She  was  a 
relative  of  Captain  Brady,  the  noted  Indian 
fighter. 

In  1862  Mr.  Sibrel  left  his  young  wife 
and  went  to  the  field  of  battle,  joining  the 
Seventieth  Ohio  Infantry  as  a  member  of 
Company  K.  The  regiment  was  attached  to 
the  anny  of  the  Tennessee  and  the  first  battle 
in  which  he  participated  was  at  Shiloh.  He 
was  also  in  the  engagement  at  Corinth  and 
in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  including  tfie 
siege  and  capture  of  the  city.  Later  he  was 
in  the  second  battle  of  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
where  he  narrowly  escaped  death.  A  six 
pound  shot  pierced  his  clothing  and  carried 
away  the  picture  of  his  wife  and  child  from 
the  pocket  of  his  blouse,  but  he  w-as  not 
wounded.  Later  he  returned  to  \'icksburg 
and  afterward  went  to  Memphis  and  was  in 
the  battle  of  Chattanooga.  From  there  the 
command  was  ordered  to  Knoxville  to  re- 
lieve Burnsides  and  later  took  part  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  including  the  battle  of 
Resaca  and  other  important  engagements, 
ending  with  the  capture  of  the  city  of 
Atlanta.  With  Sherman's  celebrated  army 
Mr.  Sibrel  marched  to  the  sea  and  his  di- 
\ision  under  General  Hazen  charged  upon 
and  captured  Fort  Mc.\llister.  After  the 
capture  of  these  places  Mr.  Sibrel's  company 
presented  him  with  a  fine  sword,  which  he 
still  retains  and  prizes  ^erv  highly.  He 
aided  in  the  capture  of  Savannah  and  sub- 
sec]uently  marched  through  Richmond  and 
on  to  Washington,  where  he  participated  in 
the  grand  review  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to  Louis- 
\ille,  Kentucky,  and  from  there  to  Little 
Rock.  Arkansas,  where  after  doing  guard 
duty  for  a  while  ;\Ir.  Sibrel  was  mustered 
out  on  the  4th  of  August,  1865.  Returning 
home  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp 
Deiinison.  August  26.  1865.     He  joined  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 107 


army  as  a  i)ri\-ate.  was  prdiiidted  to  the  rank 
of  tirst  serg-eant  ami  later  to  that  of  first 
lieutenant,  ser\-ing  in  that  capacity  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
army  for  three  years  and  eight  months  and 
was  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty.  He 
spent  no  time  in  the  hospital  and  during  his 
furlough  he  veteranized.  l"or  he  had  resolved 
to  see  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  tinal  tri- 
umph of  the  union  arms. 

When  this  splendid  result  was  accom- 
])Iislied  Mr.  Sibrel  returned  to  his  Ohio 
home,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
year  and  early  in  the  spring  of  1867  he  came 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Vermilion  county.  For 
a  time  he  leased  a  tract  of  land,  which  he 
l)roke  and  fenced,  opening  up  a  good  farm. 
Later  he  purchased  a  part  of  that  place  and 
also  added  other  lands,  until  he  had  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon  which 
he  made  excellent  improvements.  Subse- 
(juently  he  sold  a  part  of  that  and  made  other 
purchases  and  to-day  he  owns  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  the  old  home  place,  a 
second  farm  of  eighty  acres  and  the  farm  of 
forty  acres  upon  which  he  resides,  and  all 
of  this  land  is  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  well  improved  with  .substantial 
buildings.  He  commenced  life  in  Illinois  a 
poor  man.  but  he  has  worked  earnestly  and 
long  and  his  labors  lia\e  been  the  means  of 
bringing  to  him  s])lendid  success.  His 
property  interests  are  now  valuable  and  re- 
turn to  him  a  good  income  and  he  is  ac- 
counted one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists 
of  Butler  township. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sibrel  has 
Iieen  blessed  with  six  children:  Minnie  L., 
now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Corbin  of  Oklahoma: 
Arthur  F.,  wlio  is  married  and  follows 
farming  on  his  father's  land:  Andrew  J., 
who  is  married  and  operates  the  old  home 
])lace:  Charles  K..  who  is  married  and  li\es 


in  OklahouKi :  lalia  1..  who  is  the  wife  of 
(iranville  Martin,  of  Oklahoma;  and  Oscar 
\\'..  who  is  married  and  resides  with  his 
]i,u'ents.  They  als(j  lost  sc\cral  children : 
Celia  E.,  who  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of  four 
vears:  Sherman,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years:  one  that  died  in  infancy;  Cora,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years:  and  Hallie 
Daisv.  who  died  at  the  age  of  se\'cntecn 
years. 

Mr.  Sibrel  cast  his  first  presidential  \-ote 
for  General  George  B.  McClcllan.  while  in 
the  army  in  1864  and  lias  always  been  a 
stalwart  Jackson  Democrat,  \-oting  for  each 
presidential  nominee  of  the  party.  At  local 
elections.  lio\\e\er.  he  is  independent,  cast- 
ing his  ballot  for  the  men  and  measures  that 
he  believes  will  best  promote  the  general 
good.  He  was  elected  and  served  for  si.--: 
vears  as  commissioner'  of  highways,  for  three 
years  as  township  collector,  and  for  lour 
years  he  was  postmaster  of  Rankin  under 
President  Cleveland's  second  administration. 
He  has  served  altogether  for  nine  years  as 
a  member  of  the  county  board  of  su])ervisors. 
acting  in  that  capacity  during  the  last  ]ieriod 
for  six  consecutive  years.  He  has  fre(|ueiitly 
i)een  a  delegate  to  county,  congressional  and 
state  conventions  of  his  party  and  he  has 
alwavs  been  found  a  ca])al)le  officer,  proinjit 
and  loval  in  the  dispatch  of  iiis  duties.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  i"ree 
Methodist  church  at  Sugar  Grove,  lie  is 
serving  as  one  of  its  officers  and  has  been  a 
lav  delegate  to  six  or  more  of  the  annual 
conventions  of  the  church  and  was  sent  to 
Chicage  as  a  delegate  during  the  convention 
from  October  12  to  26,  1898.  Mr.  Sibrel 
has  long  w^itnessed  the  growth  and  progress 
of  the  county  and  at  all  times  has  been  deeply 
interested  in  what  it  has  accomi)lished  along 
lines  of  inipr()\einent.  The  (|iialities  which 
made  him  a  good  soldier  have  also  made  him 


iio8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


a  good  citizen  and  he  is  justly  accounted  one 
of  the  representative  men  of  Butler  town- 
ship. 


JOHN  J.  CAMPBELL. 

John  J.  Camphell.  a  prominent  and  well 
known  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Vermilion 
county,  was  born  March  i,  1854,  in  Newell 
township  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 
his  father's  farm.  He  is  a  son  of  Corydon 
H.  Campbell,  who  was  born  in  Seneca  coun- 
ty, New  York,  December  19,  1825.  The 
paternal  grandparents  of  our  subject  were 
John  and  Elmira  (Hewett)  Campbell. 
Corydon  Campbell  in  early  life  largely  li\ed 
in  the  west  where  he  was  engaged  in  driving 
stock,  and  in  1S40  he  went  to  Missouri 
wdiere  he  remained  for  seven  years.  In  the 
meantime  he  bought  and  drove  hogs  to  the 
Cherokee  Nation  of  the  Indian  Territory  and 
returned  with  cattle  to  Milwaukee.  Wis- 
consin, taking  herds  through  from  the 
Nation  to  Milwaukee.  For  many  years 
he  devoted  his  attention  largely  t(j 
the  breeding  of  blooded  stock  and  he 
was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  judges  of 
stock  in  his  porti(5n  of  the  country,  while  his 
reputation  as  a  breeder  extended  over  hun- 
dreds of  miles.  He  w-as  particularly  well 
known  to  the  farming  and  stock-raising  class 
and  his  business  interests  becaiue  extensive. 
A  man  of  literary  tastes  he  always  read  ex- 
tensively and  was  well  posted  on  general  sub- 
jects as  well  as  upon  matters  relating  to  his 
particular  line  of  business.  He  had  a  great 
liking  for  and  was  a  breeder  of  fine  grades 
of  shorthorn  cattle  and  owned  excellent 
herds  of  this  stock  during  his  pioneer  resi- 
dence in  \"ermiiion  county.  While  con- 
trolling and  carrying  on  an  extensive  busi- 
ness he  also  found  time  and  opportunity  to 


devote  to  the  general  good  and  was  identi- 
fied with  the  ui)building  of  .schools  and 
churches  here,  in  fact  was  ever  ready  to 
further  any  movement  calculated  to  promote 
the  general  welfare.  Corydon  Campbell  has 
been  three  times  married.  He  first  wedded 
Julia  A.  Howard,  on  the  nth  of  November, 
1S49,  ^"<^1  o"  t'lc  1st  of  August,  1850.  he 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
w-ife.  On  the  22d  of  November,  1852,  he 
wedded  Mary  A.  Brittingham.  who  died 
March  13,  1869,  and  on  the  ist  of  January. 
1870,  he  wedded  Sarah  E.  Currant.  In  his 
declining  years  Corydon  Campbell  has  lived 
a  retired  life.  There  is  probadly  no  man  in 
Vermilion  county  more  widely  known,  for 
from  pioneer  times  to  the  present  he  has 
taken  an  active  and  helpful  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  its  development  and  prog- 
ress. Many  men  have  called  upon  him  for 
counsel  and  his  advice  has  been  freely  given. 
He  has  been  a  faithful  and  helpful  neighbor 
and  citizen  and  the  qualities  of  his  manhood 
have  been  such  as  to  commaid  him  to  the 
confidence  and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  associated.  His  life  history,  if 
written  in  detail,  would  make  a  most  read- 
able chapter  not  free  from  exciting  incidents 
for  during  his  residence  in  the  southwest  he 
had  many  experiences  beyond  the  ordinary 
ones. 

John  J.  Campl^ell  is  the  eldest  of  three 
sons,  the  others  being  Joseph  B.  and  Ben- 
jamin. Having  acquired  a  common  school 
education,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he  entered 
college  at  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  where  he 
spent  one  year.  He  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  his  own  account  for  sixteen  years, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Danville  and  be- 
came connected  with  the  grocery  trade,  in 
which  he  was  ver}-  successful.  For  four 
years  he  conducted  this  business,  after  which 
he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Newell  township, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 109 


residing  for  some  time  in  iiis  attractive  home 
there,  a  well  appointed  brick  residence  in 
which  he  was  snrrounded  with  all  the  com- 
forts of  life.  His  farm  consisted  of  four 
hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  of  the  best 
improved  land  in  Vermilion  county  and  on 
it  are  substantial  and  commodious  buildings. 
Like  his  father  Mr.  Campbell  is  an  excellent 
judge  of  stock  and  is  well  read  on  the 
subject.  His  opinions  regarding  stock  are 
seldom  if  ever  at  fault  and  he  has  been 
extensively  interested  in  dealing  in  shorthorn 
cattle  of  the  Bates  and  Pomoto  breeds.  He 
is  also  very  fond  of  fine  horses  and  has  some 
excellent  specimens  of  the  Cleveland  Bays. 
In  partnership  with  his  brothers  he  conducts 
a  large  meat  business  in  Danville,  the  only 
packing  house.  They  are  carrying  on  an  ex- 
tensive wholesale  trade  on  West  North  street. 
Our  subject  is  also  interested  in  other  enter- 
prises in  Danville,  owning  a  fourth  interest 
in  the  Dan\-ille  Democrat,  which  is  one  of 
the  popular  and  largest  circulated  news- 
papers of  the  county. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Catherine  Gernand,  who  was  born  October 
17,  1856,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Lena 
(Homan)  Gernand,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  became  pioneer 
settlers  of  Vermilion  county,  at  which  time 
they  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  a  mile 
north  of  Danville,  where  the  father  is  still 
living.  The  mother  passed  away  October  16, 
1863.  ?^Irs.  Campbell  was  educated  in  Dan- 
ville and  there  reared  to  womanhood.  She 
is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  three  children  and 
has  become  the  mother,  of  four  children : 
Charles  G.,  who  married  Miss  Nellie  Dale, 
a  daughter  of  John  \V.  Dale,  of  Danville; 
Stella  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Dick,  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  Indiana;  and  Nellie  A.  and  Nettie 
at  home. 

Mr.     Campbell     is    a    member    of    the 


Masonic  fraternity  and  in  his  political  views 
is  a  Democrat.  He  is  pre-eminently  a  man 
of  affairs  and  his  life  is  typical  of  the  pro- 
gressi\-e  and  growing  spirit  of  the  west. 
l'"rom  his  boyhood  down  to  the  present  he 
has  been  active  in  business  affairs,  making 
the  most  of  his  opportunities,  utilizing  every 
advantage  and  thus  progressing  on  the  road 
to  wealth  and  afduence. 


ADDISON    E.    CODDINGTON. 

The  field  of  jiolitical  and  military  life  is 
limited.  Its  honors  can  be  won  liy  few,  lint 
the  opportunities  of  business  are  limitless 
and  the  man  of  strong  purpose  and  laudable 
ambition  whose  business  methods  are  honor- 
able and  principles  are  correct  can  steadily 
advance  until  he  finds  himself  among  the 
leading  representatives  of  trade  interests  in 
the  comnnmitv  in  which  he  makes  his  home. 
Such  has  been  the  course  of  Addison  E. 
Coddington.  He  was  born  in  Jeffersonville, 
Indiana,  August  15,  1858,  and  comes  of  one 
of  the  early  American  families  that  was 
founded  in  the  new  world  in  colonial  days. 
The  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  William 
Coddington,  who  was  governor  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  the  descendants  of  his  family  are 
now  \ery  numerous. 

Robert  Coddington,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  l)orn  in  Bath,  Steuben  county. 
New  York,  August  14,  1824,  and  at  an  early 
day  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  with  his  par- 
ents, who  died  in  that  city.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  began  earning  his  own  livelihood 
and  ahliough  his  educational  privileges  were 
somewhat  meager  and  his  financial  advan- 
tages were  naught,  he  possessed  ambition 
and  industry  and  upon  that  foundation  he 
bnilded  his  success.  Frir  a  few  vcars  he  was 


I  I  lO 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


employed  in  i)acking-  Iiouses.  living  first  in 
(^incinnati  and  afterward  in  St.  Louis.  In 
i860  lie  Isecanie  a  representative  of  tlie  retail 
grocerv  l)usiness.  in  wliicli  lie  continued  un- 
til 1868,  when  lie  became  a  wholesale 
grocer  and  in  1873  established  the  first 
wholesale  grocery  house  in  Danville.  As  the 
)-ears  advanced  he  built  up  an  extensive  busi- 
ness which  not  only  proved  of  value  to  him- 
self, but  greatly  added  to  the  progress  and 
commercial  prosperity  of  this  city.  The 
enterprise  was  conducted  under  the  firm 
name  of  R.  Coddington  &  Companv  until 
1889,  when,  on  account  of  failing  heaith, 
Mr.  Coddington  went  to  the  west,  locating 
in  Kearney.  Nebraska,  while  his  partners, 
Peyton  &  Palmer,  succeeded  in  the  business. 
Mr.  Coddington,  however,  continued  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  trade  in  Kearney  until  his 
death  in  April,  1900.  In  early  manhood 
Robert  Coddington  had  married  Miss  Eliza 
Northan,  a  native  of  Jefifersonville,  Indiana, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  five  children  : 
Addison  E. ;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Barnett,  of  Chicago, 
Illinois ;  Robert,  who  married  Ida  Cummings 
and  lives  with  his  mother;  Mrs.  Hollings- 
worth,  who  is  also  with  her  mother;  and 
Emma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 
Robert  Coddington  was  a  man  of  marked 
business  ability  and  great  personal  worth. 
Along  the  lines  of  consecutive  endeavor  he 
won  prosperity  and  his  name  was  ever  a 
synonym  for  straightforward  dealing  in  all 
business  transactions. 

Addi.son  E.  Coddington  obtained  a  com- 
mon school  education  in  Jeffersonville,  Indi- 
ana, and  completed  the  high-school  course 
there.  When  he  put  aside  his  text  books  he 
entered  his  father's  wholesale  grocery  house 
and  has  since  been  identified  with  this  line 
of  commercial  activity.  He  was  with  his 
father  in  Kearney  but  on  account  of  failing 
heakh    returned    to    Danville  and    with   his 


knowledge  of  the  business  he  entered  the 
present  firm  and  now  manages  the  extensive 
trade  of  the  Danville  Wholesale  Grocery 
Companv,  of  which  he  is  the  president.  This 
firm  is  rq^resented  by  four  traveling  sales- 
men upon  the  road  and  two  men  who  look 
after  the  city  trade.  The  building  occupied 
by  the  company  is  located  on  the  south  side 
of  tlie  Wabash  &  Cairo  division  of  the  Big 
Four  Railroad  tracks  and  on  the  west  is  a 
side  track  from  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad  so  that  excellent  shipping 
facilities  are  afforded.  There  is  also  a 
frontage  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
feet  on  North  street.  The  favorable  lo- 
cation of  the  house  saves  the  company  a 
large  amount  of  drayage  and  the  contents 
of  a  dozen  cars  can  be  handled  in  a  few 
hours.  The  liuilding  is  a  modern  structure, 
equipped  throughout  with  every  conven- 
ience for  facilitating  the  work.  The  busi- 
ness has  reached  extensive  and  profitable 
proportions  and  the  practical  experience  of 
Mr.  Coddington  and  his  marked  business 
enterprise  have  been  the  controlling  factors 
in  the  success  of  the  house. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1885,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Addison  E.  Codding- 
ton and  Miss  Fannie  Brown,  of  Crawfords- 
ville,  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the 
prominent  families  of  that  place.  Her 
father,  John  S.  Brown,  engaged  in  pork 
packing  at  an  early  day  and  later  devoted 
his  energies  to  general  merchandising,  in 
which  he  continued  until  1880,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  retired.  He  married  Miss 
Anna  Blair,  also  of  Inthana  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  two  children,  but  the 
son  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Coddington,  who  was 
the  younger,  was  born  November  6,  1859, 
and  obtained  her  education  in  the  home 
schools  of  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  She  is 
now   the   mother  of   four   children :    Helen 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 1 1 1 


Blair,  who  is  lunv  a  stiuleiU  in  the  Damille 
high  school;  .Addison.  Clara  Brown  and 
Mary  \'ance,  all  yet  nnder  the  parental 
roof. 

A  prominent  Mason.  Mr.  Coddington. 
has  attained  the  llnrl\-seciind  degree  of  the 
Scottish  rite,  belonging  to  Oriental  Consis- 
tory and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine.  He  votes  the  Republican  ticket  and 
with  his  family  attends  iJie  services  of  the 
Episcopalian  church.  Success  is  an  innate 
attribute  in  the  individual  and  no  matter 
in  how  much  fantastic  theorizing  one  may 
indulge  regarding'  success,  the  fact  stated 
always  stands  un(|uestioned.  It  is  true  that 
Mr.  Coddington  entered  u])on  a  business  in 
early  life  that  was  already  established,  but 
an  understanding  of  business  principles,  a 
power  of  callable  management  and  of  keen 
discernment  cannot  l_)e  inherited.  .  These 
must  be  developed  through  experience  and 
labor  and  the  effort  which  he  put  forth 
mastered  business  principles  and  to  control 
capably  the  interests  which  he  had  charge 
resulted  in  making  him  one  of  the  foremost 
representatives  of  trade  circles  now  living 
in  Danville.  His  worth  in  commercial  life 
is  widelv  acknowledged  and  the  means 
w^hich  he  employed  in  seciu'ing  success  are 
such  as  may  profitably  be  followed  by  all 
who  desire  adxancemcnt  in  commercial 
lines. 


DANIEL  BROWN. 


.\mong  the  men  whose  lalxjr  long  con- 
tinued and  well  applied  has  brought  to  tiiem 
a  competence  sufficient  to  enal)le  them  to 
now  rest  from  further  toil  is  numl>ered 
Daniel  Brown,  of  Hoojjeston.  He  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1837.     His  father,  George  Brown,  was  like- 


wise a  native  of  that  state  and  was  of  Irish 
descent.  His  birth  occurred  here  in  179.S 
and  he  passed  away  in  1866.  His  wife,  wiio 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rachel  Karr,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1790  and  she,  too, 
was  of  Irish  lineage.  In  the  family  of  this 
worthy  coui)le  were  originally  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  our  subject  is  the  youngest. 
Me  now  has  but  one  surviving  lirother, 
"  Cieorge  W.  Bnnvn,  a  resident  of  Indianap- 
olis, and  the  sisters  have  all  passed  away. 

Daniel  Brown  was  quite  young  when 
he  accompanied  his  [)arcnts  on  their  rcmo\-- 
al  from  Pennsylvania  to  Clark  county, 
Ohio.  The  father  followed  farming  near 
Springfield  and  our  subject  provided  for  his 
own  support  during  a  part  of  his  residence 
in  that  locality  by  chopping  wood  ior 
twenty-five  cents  per  cord.  When  he  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  the  family  remo\'ed  to 
McLean  coimt}',  Illinois,  arriving  in  April. 
1856.  Two  years  later  Daniel  Brown  left 
home  and  made  preparations  for  having  a 
home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Sarali 
E.  Tucker,  whose  ])e()ple  were  Virginians. 
Her  grandfather,  Stephen  Tucker,  was  a 
slaveholder  of  the  Old  Dominion,  but  in  the 
'40s  he  freed  his  slaves  and  removed  to 
Ohio.  Some  of  the  freednicn,  however, 
accompanied  him  rmd  remained  with  him  in 
the  free  state.  The  frnnily  was  a  very 
prominent  one  in  Virginia.  The  fatlier  was 
a  stage  driver  in  Ohio  at  an  early  day  and 
later  he  came  to  Illinois,  but  after  a  few 
years  he  returned  to  (")hio  where  he  died. 
His  first  wife  passed  away  when  Mrs. 
lirown  was  but  two  years  of  age.  She  was 
born  in  Zrmesville,  Ohio,  in  1838.  Her  pa- 
rents had  but  two  children  and  the  sister  of 
Mrs.  Browm  is  now  deceased.  y\fter  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  her  father  married 
Miss  Sar.ah  E\ert. 

.\t  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Brown 


I  I  [2 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


liad  but  six  dollars  in  money,  and  yet 
through  the  forty  years  of  iiis  married  life- 
lie  has  never  purchased  a  single  article  on 
credit.  In  the  year  1870  he  Ccune  to  Ver- 
milion county,  before  a  railroad  was  built. 
and  later  he  assisted  in  grading  the  Muncie 
&  Bloomington  road,  now  the  Lake  Erie 
&  Western  Railroad.  In  1870  he  purchased 
land  near  East  Lynn  for  thirteen  dollars 
per  acre.  It  was  covered  with  wild  prairie 
grass  and  the  unbroken  jirairie  extaided 
from  his  place  to  Hoopeston.  He  became 
the  owner  of  eighty  acres  which  he  im- 
proved, developing  a  good  farm  four  miles 
west  of  Hoopeston,  and  there  he  now  has 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
land.  Removing  to  East  Lynn  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  and  stock  business  for 
twelve  years,  meeting  with  excellent  suc- 
cess in  his  undertakings.  He  then  worked 
at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  was  engaged  in 
the  construction  of  bridges  throughout  this 
part  of  the  couiUy.  In  the  fall  of  1894 
he  removed  to  Hoopeston,  purchasing  prop- 
erty on  East  ]\Iain  street  at  the  comer  of 
Third  street.  Here  he  has  done  some  carpen- 
try ^york,  but  largely  looks  after  his  farm- 
ing interests,  his  farm  being  rented  and  re- 
turning to  him  a  fair  income. 

The  marriage  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
was  celebrated  in  Bloomington,  IlHnois,  in 
1858,  and  has  been  blessed  with  two  daugh- 
ters, Martha  J.  and  Alaggie.  Both  were 
well  educated  and  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching  prior  to  their  marriage.  The 
former  is  now  the  wife  of  Nicholas  Dold, 
a  tailor  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  the 
latter  is  the  wife  of  E.  R.  Cole,  who  is 
deputy  clerk  of  the  courts  at  Crown  Point, 
Indiana. 

For  about  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Brown 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
and  through  a  long  period  served  as  deacon 


of  the  church  at  East  Lynn.  In  politics 
he  is  a  stalwart  Prohibitionist,  and  he  has 
served  as  assessor,  collector  and  highway 
commissioner  in  Fountain  Creek  townshii). 
Iroquois  county.  His  life  has  been  an 
honorable  and  upright  one  and  in  his  his- 
tory there  are  no  chapters  which  he  wishes 
to  disguise.  On  account  of  his  health  he 
spent  the  winters  of  1901-02  in  Florida.  He 
is  now  living  retired  in  Hoopeston.  where 
he  and  his  wife  occupy  a  very  pleasant 
home  in  the  midst  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 


WILLIAM  M.  McMILLIN. 

William  AI.  AIcMillin  is  a  farmer  and 
is  a  respected  citizen  of  Blount  township, 
where  he  has  lived  from  early  pioneer 
times,  watching  with  interest  the  progress 
and  development  of  the  county  as  it  has 
merged  from  frontier  conditions  to  take  its 
place  among  the  leading  counties  of  this 
grerit  commonwealth.  Mr.  McMillin  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  October  27, 
1822,  his  parents  being  William  and  Eliza- 
beth McMillin.  They  came  to  the  west 
when  our  subject  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
traveling  overland  in  a  covered  wagon  and 
arriving  in  1831.  Few  roads  had  been  made 
and  the  country  was  new  and  unbroken. 
The  forests  were  still  the  haunt  of  deer 
and  prairie  wolves  and  there  were  many 
wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chickens.  The 
father  altered  land  in  Vermilion  county, 
securing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  30,  Blount  township.  He  then  be- 
gan working  and  in  course  of  time  trans- 
formed the  fields  into  productive  tracts  of 
land.  Mr.  McMillin  of  this  review  when 
but  a  boy  ran  barefooted  over  the  prairies 
both   in   summer  and  winter.     He  assisted 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 1 13 


in  tlie  arduous  task  of  tleveloping  a  new 
farm  and  shared  with  the  family  in  all  the. 
hardships  of  life  on  the  frontier.  There 
were  six  children  but  only  two  are  now 
liviiii^',  the  ybunger  brother  of  our  subject 
being  Z.  L.  McMillin,  a  retired  farmer. 
The  father  made  the  first  plow  used  here, 
it  having-  a  wooden  mold  board,  llis  next 
one  had  a  single  sliovel.  and  the  grain  was 
cut  with  a  sickle  until  the  cradle  came  into 
use.  Such  ^\•ere  the  crude  farming  imple- 
ments with  which  the  pioneers  reclaimed 
the  land  anil  made  it  productive.  Our  sub- 
ject many  times  assisted  his  mother  in  dip- 
ping candles,  and  flax  furnished  the  gar- 
ments for  summer  wear,  while  the  sheep 
furnished  the  wool  that  was  spun  for  the 
winte;i-  clothing.  William  McMillin  in 
those  early  days  hauled  grain  and  apples 
to  Chicago,  camping  out  at  night  by  the 
wayside.  The  present  metropt)litan  city, 
now  the  second  in  size  in  the  Union,  was 
then  but  a  village  and  Danville  was  a  little 
hamlet,  containing  only  a  few  buildings. 
The  father  furnished  the  timber  that  was 
used  in  constructing  the  first  courthouse. 
He  owiied  an  old  sawmill  and  gristmill  in 
addition  to  his  farm,  operating  these  as  well 
as  cultivating  the  fields. 

William  McMillin  attended  scho(il  in  an 
old  log  building,  furnished  with  slab 
benches,  and  an  immense  fire  place  occu- 
pied one  entire  end  of  the  building.  The 
first  house  in  which  he  lived  was  a  log 
cabin.  The  first  frame  house  which  bis 
father  built  stands  on  the  east  side  of  the 
bridge  on  the  roail  leading  to  our  subject's 
home  and  the  old  original  roof  is  still  there. 
The  father  was  among  the  prominent  and 
influential  residents  of  Vermilion  county  at 
an  early  day  and  our  subject  assisted  in  the 
work  of  cultivating  and  improving  the 
fields,    while    in    the    winter   mmuhs    he   at- 


tended school.  In  his  twentieth  year  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself. 

He  has  been  three  times  married,  his 
present  wife  having  borne  the  maiden  name 
of  Nancy  Snyder.  His  first  wife  was 
Catherine  Swimford  and  his  second  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  Martin. 
By  that  marriage  there  were  three  children  : 
James;  Nora,  now  the  wife  of  Johnson 
Knight;  and  Nancy,  the  wife  of  Orin 
Knight. 

Throughout  the  greater  ])art  of  his  busi- 
ness career  Mr.  McMillin  has  carrieil  on 
general  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock- 
raising  but  he  has  now  deeded  his  land  to 
his  wife  and  children  and  he  is  largely  living 
retired.  He  .served  as  school  director  for 
a  number  of  years  and  in  his  early  hfe  he 
gave  his  political  support  to  the  Whig 
party,  while  at  the  present  time  he  votes 
with  the  Republican  party.  The  fanii  up- 
on whicii  he  is  now  living  was  purchased 
by  his  father  for  three  dollars  per  acre.  It 
is  a  valuable  tract  of  land  an<l  is  si)lendi(lly 
cultivated,  l)eing  equipped  with  all  modern 
accessories.  Mr.  JMcMillin  had  four  hun- 
dred acres  and  his  agricultural  possessions 
were  not  only  extensive  but  valuable.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  in  the 
Christian  church  and  are  peojile  of  sterling 
worth,  ever  loyal  to  the  truth  and  to  the 
right. 


EDWARD  McCUSKER. 

T'rominent  among  the  energetic,  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  men  of  Dan- 
ville is  Edward  McCusker,  member  of  the 
well  known  firm  of  King  &  McCusker, 
wholesale  dealers  in  fruit,  produce  and 
fancy  groceries.  Mr.  McCusker  was  born 
in    I'awtucket.    Rhode    Island,    on    the   29th 


1 1 14 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


of  January,  1855.  His  father  ami  mother 
were  Ix)rii  in  Ireland  and  came  to  tliis 
country  in  childhood.  "This  remote  con- 
nection witli  Ireland."  says  Mr.  McCusker. 
"dates  about  half  way  back  to  the  time  of 
the  Mayflower,  and  almost  deprives  me  of 
any  right  to  claim  to  be  'Irish,'  though  the 
Irish  aggressive  character  is  a  thing  which 
any  man  may  rightfully  be  proud  of  pos- 
sessing." When  our  subject  was  a  small 
boy  the  family  removed  to  W'illiamsport, 
Indiana,  where  his  father  engaged  in  dray- 
ing  for  some  time,  and  "Ed,"  as  he  is 
familiarly  called,  was  one  of  the  draymen, 
or  rather  a  drayboy. 

Edward  McCusker  acquired  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  schools  of  Will- 
iamsport,  supplemented  largely  by  night 
study  and  reading  later  on  in  life.  Starting 
out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  he  came  to  Danville,  Illinois,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Charles  Moran  as  a 
clerk  in  the  grocery  store  at  No.  140  East 
JMain  street,  remaining  with  him  until  the 
spring  of  1881,  when  in  partnership  with 
M.  E.  King,  he  bought  out  his  employer. 
each  putting  in  one  thousand  dollars.  Of  this 
sum  Mr.  AlcCusker  had  to  borrow  the  most 
part,  but  within  a  year  the  success  of  the 
firm  enabled  him  to  pay  back  the  loan. 
The  firm  of  King  &  McCusker  changed  the 
business  from  a  grocery  to  a  wholesale 
produce  and  commission  house  within  the 
first  year.  But  during  the  first  ten  years  of 
its  existence  the  firm  carried  on  a  retail  as 
well  as  a  wholesale  Ijusiness,  and  for  the 
past  decade  have  given  their  attention 
wholly  to  the  wholesale  trade,  and  their 
business  now  is  second  to  few^  hou.ses  of 
the  kind  in  the  state. 

In  1886  Mr.  Cusker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ellen  Maher,  of  Toledo, 
Ohio,    and    to    them    have   been    born    five 


children    as    follows:    Leo,    Robert,    Helen, 
Paul   and   IIerl>ert. 

Politically  Mr.  McCusker  is  now  a 
Democrat,  though  up  to  1892  he  supported 
the  Republican  party  and  for  some  years 
he  served  as  secretary  of  the  Republican 
county  central  committee,  taking  a  very 
active  and  influential  part  in  local  politics. 
He  is  popular  in  social  as  well  as  political 
and  business  circles,  being  a  prominent 
members  of  many  fraternal  societies.  Re- 
ligiously he  is  a  member  of  St.  Patrick's 
Catholic  church  of  Danville.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cusker belongs  to  that  class  of  men  whom 
the  world  terms  self-made,  for  he  came  to 
this  county  empty-handed,  and  has  con- 
quered all  the  obstacles  in  the  path  to  suc- 
cess. He  is  to-day  the  owmer  of  consider- 
able real  estate  besides  his  business  property, 
ha\ing  purchased  residence  properties 
which  he  improves  and  then  sells  or  rents, 
thus  augmenting  his  income  in  no  small 
degree.  In  business  afifairs  he  has  steadily 
prospered  and  has  not  only  secured  for  him- 
self a  Imndsome  competence,  but  by  his 
eft'orts  has  materially  advanced  the  interests 
of  the  community  with  which  he  is  associ- 
ated. He,  therefore,  ranks  among  Dan- 
ville's most  valued  and  public  spirited 
citizens. 


L.  A.  CHESLEY. 


Many  there  are  who  claim  that  the  suc- 
cessful man  is  he  wbo  is  favored  by  fortune 
or  by  friends,  and  to  those  who  thus  voice 
harping  criticism  and  lack  of  appreciation 
be  it  said  that  history  has  again  and  again 
proven  what  the  poet  has  expressed,  "There 
is  a  tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,  which,  taken 
at  the  flood  leads  on  to  fortune."  Op- 
portunity comes   to  all   and  it  is   the  man 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1  115 


who  recogiiizes  that  the  present  and  n<jt  the 
future  holds  his  opportunity,  that  advances 
in  the  world  of  industrial  or  commercial 
activity.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  L.  A. 
Chesley  started  upon  his  business  career 
empty-handed  hut  with  resolute  purpose 
and  strong"  determination.  These  (]ualities 
have  been  a  foundation  upon  which  he  has 
builded  his  success,  and  Dan\ille  honors 
him  as  one  of  its  native  sons. 

He  was  born  in  this  city,  March  2, 
1863,  the  son  of  a  distinguished  father, 
Robert  V.  Chesley,  who  was  very  promi- 
nent here  at  an  early  day  and  who  is  rep- 
resented elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  son 
attended  the  public  schools  until  he  had 
entered  the  high  school,  when  he  was 
obliged  to  put  aside  his  text  books.  His 
father  had  intended  that  he  should  Ijecome 
a  lawyer,  but  death  changed  his  plans,  and 
when  left  fatherless  L.  .\.  Chesley  found 
it  necessary  to  provide  for  his  own  support. 
He  was  then  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  at 
whicli  time  he  entered  upon  rm  ai)i)rentice- 
ship  to  his  uncle,  William  Reynolds,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  jeweliy  business.  He 
found  after  a  year  that  his  work  was  too 
confining  and  he  then  entered  the  employ 
of  Villers  Brothers,  proprietors  of  a  large 
general  store,  acting  as  their  bookkeeper. 
Two  years  later  he  took  charge  of  the  office 
of  Owens  &  Pixley,  clothiers,  with  whom 
he  remained  for  three  years  and  at  the  end 
of  that  time  he  liecame  manager  of  the 
white  goods  deparlment.  for  the  firm  of 
Carson,  Pirie.  Scott  &  Company,  of  Chi- 
cago, Illinois.  He  remained  with  that  house 
for  a  year  and  a  half  ;ind  then  returning  to 
Danville  he  entered  the  employ  of  the 
Stewart  J'Oundry  &  Machine  Company, 
becoming  bookkeeper.  As  time  passed  he 
ac(|uired  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the 
Inisiness.    and    his    ability   being   recognized 


by  Mr.  Stewart,  he  was  more  and  more 
largely  trusted  with  the  control  of  the 
enterprise  until  he  practically  had  the  en- 
tire management  of  the  extensive  plant  and 
its  operations.  Since  -then  the  success  of 
the  business  has  been  due  in  no  small  degree 
to  his  efforts  and  to-day  he  is  the  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  company  which  in 
1891  was  reorganized  and  incc^rporated. 
At  that  time  Mr.  Chesley  became  a  part 
owner  and  has  since  been  very  active  in 
control  of  the  industry  which  in  size  and 
importance  is  second  to  none  in  Danxille. 
During  all  the  subse(|uent  years  the  busi- 
ness has  had  a  steiidy  but  marvelous  growth, 
requiring  annually  the  addition  of  shop- 
room,  men  and  machinery.  Its  output  has 
reached  mammoth  propt)rtions  and  is  sent 
to  many  parts  of  the  world.  Mr.  Chesley 
has  also  made  extensive  real  estate  invest- 
ments and  has  a  splendid  home  and  other 
valuable  property  in  his  native  city. 

On  January  9,  1884,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  L.  A.  Chesley  and  Miss  Helen 
.Stewart,  a  daughter  of  William  Stewart, 
the  founder  of  the  Stewart  Foundry  & 
Machine  (."ompany. 

To  Mr.  Chesley  and  wife  three  children 
have  been  born :  Frederick  Goulding,  Will- 
i.am  .Stew;irt  and  Helen  D.,  all  attending" 
the  Danville  high  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Chesley  is  a  Republicm 
and  fraternalh'  he  is  connected  with  the 
Benes'olent  &  Protective  Order  of  Elks  and 
also  with  the  Mo(k'rn  Wooilmen  of 
America.  lie    attends    the    Presbyterian 

church  and  is  deq)ly  interested  in  every- 
thing ])ertaining  to  general  ])rograss  and 
improx'emcni.  A  man  of  strong  intellect- 
uality, he  seems  to  have  inherited  much 
of  the  oratorical  power  and  abilit\-  of  his 
honored  father,  who  was  m.niiy  times  as- 
sociated in  the  conduct  of  some  of  the  most 


1 1 16 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


notable  law  cases  for  \'ennilion  county. 
Of  Mr.  Cliesley  it  can  truthfully  be  said 
that  he  is  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes. 
His  life  has  been  guided  and  his  wealth 
acquired  by  his  individual  efforts  iuid  in- 
dustry. Upright  and  honorable,  his 
faithful  adherence  to  principle  commands 
the  respect  of  all.  He  is  a  man  of  broad 
views,  is  liberal  and  charitable,  and  accords 
to  all  the  perfect  right  of  freedom  which 
he  reserves  for  himself.  He  has  proved 
himself  in  all  life's  relations,  earnest,  up- 
right and  honest,  a  good  man  and  a  citizen 
of  whom  any  community  might  justly  be 
proud. 


THOMAS  J.  GEORGE. 

Thomas  J.  George,  who  resides  on 
section  5,  Catlin  township,  was  born  in 
Bath  county,  Kentucky,  October  18,  1837. 
a  son  of  Henry  George,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  is  of  English  descent,  while 
the  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Ann  Sharp  and  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  About  1850  they  removed 
from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  and  the  father 
became  a  very  prominent  and  influential 
citizen  there,  holding  a  number  of  official 
positions,  including  that  of  sheriff  of  Tip- 
ton county.  He  was  likewise  assessor  and 
collector  for  a  number  of  years  and  had 
considerable  influence  in  public  affairs  in  his 
locality.  In  the  family  were  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity, 
while  sc\en  are  now  living,  namely:  Moses, 
of  Vermilion  county;  Thomas  J.;  Millard; 
Aim.  now  Mrs.  Kinneman  of  Indianapolis; 
Benjamin  ]'"ranklin  of  Indianapolis ;  Mrs. 
Susan  Jackson,  of  Tipton,  Indiana;  Joseph 
■Marshall,    also    of    Tipton;    Persly,    Mary 


Ann,  Elizabeth  Dale  and  Henry,  all  of 
whtim  are  deceased. 

In  the  year  1S56,  when  nineteen  years 
of  age,  Th(5mas  J.  (jeorge  walked  from 
Tipton  county,  Indiana,  to  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  miles, 
which  he  covered  in  three  days.  Arriving 
here  he  found  plenty  of  deer,  turkeys  and 
other  wild  game  and  there  were  also  many 
prairie  and  timber  wolves,  which  he  would 
frequently  chase  down  on  horseback.  He 
began  working  by  the  month  and  for  two 
years  was  employed  at  farming  and  in  a 
sawmill.  He  was  afterward  engaged  in 
making  slats  and  posts  for  a  few  years. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey  he  chose  Rebecca  Durham,  an 
orphan  girl,  their  marriage  occurring  De- 
cember 22,  1858.  They  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  rented  land  and  later  Mr. 
George  pmxhased  forty  acres  of  timber 
land  which  he  cleared  but  never  lived  upon 
that  property.  He  added,  however,  to  his 
landed  possession  from  time  to  time  and  he 
now  owns  three  hundred  and  seventy-two 
acres  of  well  improved  land  all  situated  in 
Catlin  township,  his  home  being  on  section 
5.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  eight  acres 
in  Blount  township.  His  first  home  was 
a  ])lank  house  fifteen  feet  square,  provided 
with  one  window  and  one  door  and  an  out- 
side chimney  made  of  mud  and  sticks.  In 
that  he  lived  for  ten  years  and  there  he  and 
his  wife  reared  their  family  of  four  children. 
Later  their  home  was  a  log  cabin  situated 
on  the  site  of  their  present  residence.  In 
1874  Mr.  George  built  his  substantial  and 
attracti\e  home  and  he  is  now  living  in 
practical  retirement  from  labor,  the  active 
work  of  the  farm  being  perfonned  by 
others. 

In  1 89 1  Mr.  George  was  called  upon  to 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


117 


mmini  the  loss  of  liis  first  wife  wlm  <liecl 
on  the  nth  of  May  of  that  year,  at  the  a,^e 
of  forty-nine  years,  nine  months  and  nine 
days,  her  birtli  having-  occurred  Septemljer 
2.  1841.  She  Iiad  l)cen  to  him  a  iwxst 
faithful  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  and  had  greatly  assisted  him  in 
accpiiring  a  competence.  By  that  marriage 
there  were  the  following  children:  Millard, 
the  wife  of  John  White  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty; Mrs.  M.  E.  Amis;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hallat  of  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty: Thomas  H.,  who  married  Rachel  Sims 
and  lives  upon  the  home  farm;  Bertha,  the 
wife  of  Oscar  West  of  this  county;  Hemy, 
Olive  and  Dora,  all  deceased;  and  one  that 
died  in  infancy.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
George  chose  Virginia  Kestler,  who  was 
then  a  widow.  They  had  four  children  of 
wdiom  Grover  and  Cleveland,  twins,  and 
Helen  are  still  li\-ing,  Init  Nellie  is  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  George  ser\-ed  as  school  trustee  for 
nine  years  and  as  school  director  for  twenty- 
nine  years.  He  assisted  in  erecting  the 
schools  of  this  district  and  also  aided  in 
building  nearh'  all  of  the  chttrches  in  this 
part  of  the  county.  From  pioneer  times  he 
has  resided  here  and  his  memoiy  goes  back 
to  the  day  when  the  single  shovel  plow  was 
used  in  the  fields  and  when  com  was 
])lantcd  by  hand,  while  grain  was  cut  with  a 
rea])-hook  and  afterward  with  a  cradle.  Mr. 
George  owned  the  first  drop  rake  in  this 
county  and  the  first  self-binder  in  the 
neighborhood  and  people  would  come  five 
miles  to  see  the  latter  machine  operated. 
For  his  first  forty  acres  of  land  he  paid 
two  and  one-half  dollars  per  acre,  but  farm 
land  in  this  section  of  the  state  is  now  very 
valuable.  He  raised  nnich  stock,  including 
horses  and  cattle,  making  a  specialty  of  the 
shorthorn  and  Durham  cattle.     He  now  has 


forty  head  of  horses  and  cattle  and  lifty 
head  of  hogs.  His  farm  is  splendidly 
equipped  with  all  modern  improvements 
and  is  \ery  rich  and  productive.  All  that 
he  possesses  has  been  ac(|uired  through  his 
own  labors  and  not  only  have  great  changes 
occurred  in  the  county  but  also  in  his 
financial  condition  for  he  came  to  this  lo- 
cality empty-handed  and  to-day  he  is  num- 
bered among  its  prosperous  citizens. 


SPENCER   CLINE. 


No  history  of  Vermilion  county  would 
be  comi)lete  witliout  the  record  of  S])encer 
(-"line,  who  for  many  years  assisted  materi- 
ally in  the  impixivement  and  upbuilding  of 
the  count\'  as  a  representative  of  its  agri- 
cultural interests.  He  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, August  13,  1812,  and  was  of  Ger- 
man and  Scotch  extraction.  His  jiarents, 
John  D.  C.  and  Catherine  (Shumate) 
Cline,  came  to  this  county  in  1829,  when 
the  work  of  progress  and  improvement  had 
scarcely  been  begun  and  often  would  attend 
the  Indian  meetings  here.  The  father  was 
a  potter  by  trade  and  frequently  made  trips 
as  far  north  as  Wisconsin  in  order  to  dis- 
])ose  of  his  wares.  He  also  traveled  along 
the  Sangamon  river,  selling  his  goods. 

Spencer  Cline  acquired  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  state  and  when  a 
young  man  of  seventeen  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Vermilion  county,  where  he 
lived  until  called  to  his  final  rest.  F!e  as- 
sisted in  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a 
new  farm  and  the  hardships  and  trials  in- 
cident to  life  on  the  frontier  became 
familiar  to  him  through  actual  experience. 
He  was  married  in  1840  and  then  began 
farming  and    stock-raising  on   his   own   ac- 


iii8 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


count,  living  on  section  26,  Blount  town- 
ship— the  old  homestead  on  which  his  par- 
ents had  lived  and  died.  The  house  which 
still  stands  here  is  now  about  seventy-two 
years  old  and  in  it  the  \v'idow  of  our 
subject  is  yet  living  and  expects  to  spend 
her  remaining  life  here.  After  coming  to 
Illinois  Spencer  Cline  knew  no  other  home. 
On  the  8th  of  October,  1840,  he  wedded 
Rachel  Shephard,  who  was  of  Scotch 
lienage  and  a  daughter  of  Louis  and  Celia 
(McCreary)  Shephard,  both  natives  of 
Burke  county,  North  Carolina.  Mrs.  Cline 
was  born  in  the  same  state,  December  24, 
1819,  and  attended  school  there.  Subse- 
(juently  her  parents  removed  to  Terre 
Haute,  Indiana,  where  she  continued  her 
education,  remaining  there  until  she 
reached  womanhood.  She  was  eighty- 
three  years  of  age  in  December,  1902,  and 
is  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  ladies,  whose 
memory  forms  a  connecting  link  between 
the  primitive  past  and  the  progressive 
present. 

Spencer  Cline  assisted  in  clearing  the 
old  home  farm.  The  land  here  was  entered 
by  his  father  from  the  go.vernment  and  not 
a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improve- 
ment made  upon  the  place.  All  of  the  pio- 
neer conditions  of  Vermilion  county  were 
familiar  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cline. 

Danville  contained  but  two  stores  and 
a  Baptist  cluirrh  when  Mrs.  Cline  came  to 
Vermilion  county.  The  milling  was  done 
at  Covington,  Indiana,  and  the  country  was 
all  covered  with  timber  or  stretched  away 
as  an  unbroken  i)rairic  for  miles.  The 
meals  were  largely  cooked  in  great  iron  pots 
or  kettles  which  were  hung  from  the  crane 
tliat  extended  over  the  fire  place.  Bread 
and  pies  were  baked  in  a  skillet  which,  was 
covered  over  and  then  coals  placed  upon  it 
The  johnny  cake,  a  frequent  article  of  food 


at  that  time,  was  baked  upon  a  board  placed 
before  the  fire.  Mrs.  Cline  still  has  in  her 
possession  an  old  timepiece  called  a  spring 
clock,  which  is  more  tlian  seventy  years 
old. 

L'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born 
ten  children,  seven  of  whom  reached  ma- 
ture years,  while  three  are  now  living: 
David  C. ;  Lewis,  who  married  Eliza  Demoss 
and  had  five  children,  their  home  being  in 
Blount  township;  and  Margaret,  the  wife 
of  John  P.  Stuckey,  by  whom  she  had  nine 
children,   se\'en  of  whom  are  yet  living. 

Mr.  Cline  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
March  27,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine 
years  and  five  months.  He  was  long  a 
consistent  memljer  of  the  Christian  church 
and  Mrs.  Cline  has  been  a  member  of  the 
church  for  about  forty  years.  She  is  still 
living  in  the  old  log-cabin  home  and  has 
twenty  acres  of  ground  around  her  place. 
This  is  largely  planted  to  blackberries, 
pears,  peaches  and  apples  and  the  sale  of 
her  fruit  brings  her  a  good  income.  In  the 
early  days  she  spun  and  wove  her  own 
clothing,  spinning  wheels  being  used  ex- 
tensively in  the  time  of  her  girlhood,  but 
as  the  years  passed  and  cities  grew  and 
brought  with  them  the  ready  made  materi- 
als from  the  factories  and  looms  of  the 
east.  Her  husband,  Mr.  Cline,  was  at  one 
time  a  member  of  a  party  that  walked  to 
Chicago  to  help  dig  the  cellar  for  the  first 
brick  house  erected  in  that  city.  He  fre- 
quently made  trips  to  Chicago  with  ox 
teams  and  returned  with  s:dt  and  pro- 
visions. 

David  C.  Cline,  who  still  lives  upon  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  was  born  September 
12,  1854,  in  the  log  house  in  which  his 
grandparents  and  his  father  lived  and  died, 
pursued  his  education  in  the  district  schools 
and   from  an  earlv  age  he  assisted  in  the 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 1 19 


work  of  llie  home  farm.  lie  coiitinuecl  to 
attend  the  schools  in  the  winter  months 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
was  allowed  the  privilege  of  attending 
throughont  the  year  until  he  attained  his 
majority.  Since  that  time  he  has  given  his 
attention  exclusively  to  agricultural  and 
horticultural  pursuits  and  is  now  engaged 
in  the  raising  of  all  kinds  of  fruit  and 
vegetables  for  the  city  markets.  In  this  lie 
has  been  quite  successful,  establishing  a 
large  trade,  and  his  business  has  brought 
to  him  a  comfortable  income.  In  politics 
he  is  independent,  voting  not  for  party  but 
for  men  and  measures,  and  for  nine  years 
he  has  serx'ed  his  district  as  school 
director. 


HENRY  S.  FRANCE. 

Henry  S.  I'"rance,  who  owns  and  op- 
erates a  farm  of  about  two  hundred  acres 
on  section  7,  Butler  township,  has  a  rich 
and  valuable  tract  of  land  pleasantly  located 
a  mile  and  three-quarters  from  Rankin. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  old  settlers  of 
the  state,  dating  his  residence  in  Illinois 
from  1861,  \vhile  his  home  has  been  in 
\'erniilion  county  since  1875.  Mr.  b'rance 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  liis  birth  having  oc- 
curred near  Zanesville.  Muskingum  county, 
on  the  25th  of  Noveml>er,  1838.  His 
father,  Jacob  France,  was  a  son  of  John 
France,  who  was  of  German  parentage  and 
the  family  was  established  in  Virginia  at 
an  early  day  in  colonial  history.  Jacob 
France  was  lx)rn  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
of  Virginia  and  was  there  reared.  Wlien 
a  young  man  he  went  to  Ohio  and  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Logan  county.  Later 
he  became  a  resident  of  Muskingum  county. 

where  he  was  married  to  Phebe  Slack,  who 
47 


was  born  in  Bucks  cijunty.  r'cnns\l\';uiia, 
and  was  reared  in  Philadelphia.  Her  father, 
John  Slack,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Pennsylvania  and  owned  land  which  is 
now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  .After 
his  marriage  Jacolj  I'rancc  carried  on  farm- 
ing in  Muskingum  count)',  Ohio,  and  there 
reared  his   family  and  spent  his  last  days. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
Henry  S.  France  we  present  to  our  readers 
the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  V'cnuilion  counl\-.  He 
was  reared  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  attended  the  common  schools,  re- 
maining with  his  father  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  In  1861  he  started 
westward,  thinking  that  he  might  have 
better  business  opportunities  in  Illinois, 
where  settlements  were  not  so  thick.  .\c- 
cordingly  he  located  in  Marshall  county, 
where  he  \vas  employed  as  a  farm  hand  by 
the  month  for  about  a  year.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  which  he  cultiwiled  tor  a 
year,  after  which  he  went  west  to  Cali- 
fornia and  Nevada,  spending  some  time  in 
A'irginia  City,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
searching-  for  the  precious  metal.  When 
about  twelve  months  had  pas.sed,  however, 
he  returned  to  Ohio  spending  the  winter 
of  1864-5  <^*^  '''^  "'•'  ''ome  in  that  state. 
In  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  again 
took  up  his  abode  in  Marshall  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  reited  a  farm  for  three  years. 

Afr.  Fr.ance  also  returned  to  Ohio  for 
his  bride  and  was  married  in  Muskingum 
county  on  the  ^d  of  January,  1867,  to  Miss 
Martha  J.  Dugan,  a  native  of  that  state, 
reared  and  educated  there.  After  their 
marriage  the  young  cou])le  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, beginning  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
rented  farm  in  Marshall  county.  After 
one  year,  however,  they  removed  to  La 
Salle    county,     where    Mr.     France    again 


I  I20 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


leased  a  tract  of  land.  Later  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  not  a 
furrow  having  been  turned  or  an  improve- 
ment having  been  made  on  the  property. 
This  he  broke  and  fenced,  developing  a  good 
farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for  five  years, 
when  he  sold  that  land  at  a  substantial  ad- 
Aance  in  price.  He  then  came  to  \'ermillion 
county  and  bought  eighty  acres  where  he 
now  resides.  There  had  been  some  impro\'e- 
ments  matle  upon  the  place  and  locating 
thereon  he  took  up  the  work  of  further  de- 
veloping and  improving  his  new  property. 
The  following  year  he  purchased  an  ad- 
joining tract  of  one  hundred  and  eleven 
acres  and  he  now  has  a  farm  of  nearly  two 
hundred  acres.  He  has  since  erected  a  good 
neat  residence  and  has  recently  completed 
a  fine  new  barn.  He  has  other  substantial 
outbuildings  upon  his  place,  a  good  orchard 
and  fine  shade  trees.  His  splendid  orchard 
contains  many  varieties  of  fruits  and  is  a 
material  source  of  income  to  him.  He  has 
tiled  and  fenced  his  place  and  to-day  the 
France  farm  is  one  of  the  valuable  prop- 
erties of  Butler  township  and  the  owner  is 
numbered  among  the  substantial  residents 
of  the  community.  All  this  is  due  to  his 
enterprise  and  strong  determination,  for 
when  he  came  to  the  west  he  was  a  poor 
man  with  no  capital  and  all  that  he  now  en- 
joys is  the  result  of  his  enterprise  and 
earnest  labor. 

The  home  of  }»Ir.  and  Mrs.  France  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children :  Marietta, 
the  wife  of  George  Sloan,  a  substantial 
farmer  of  Butler  township,  by  whom  she 
has  two  children,  Gracie  and  Bessie;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  John  Brenner,  who  owns 
a  farm  in  White  county.  Indiana,  but  is 
now  living  in  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  and 
b\-  whom  she  has  two  sons,  Ray  and  Floyd ; 
Cora,  the  wife  of  George  Stormer.  a  resi- 


dent farmer  of  Butler  township,  \'ermilion 
county,  by  whom  she  has  two  children. 
Earl  and  Burgess;  and  Bertha,  who  is  still 
with  her  parents. 

Politically  a  Democrat  where  national  is- 
sues are  involved,  Mr.  France  cast  his  first 
ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  i860  and 
has  since  \oted  for  each  presidential  nomi- 
nee for  the  party.  In  local  elections,  how- 
ever, he  is  independent  and  he  has  never 
been  an  o.'ifice  seeker,  preferring  to  give  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  farm  and 
his  business  interests.  He  is  a  friend  of 
education,  believing  in  good  schools,  and 
while  serving  on  the  school  board  he  did 
effective  service  in  behalf  of  the  advance- 
ment of  the  educational  standard  of  this 
locality.  He  and  his  wife  are  devoted  and 
consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  he  belongs  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  of  Rankin.  For 
forty-one  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois  and  for  twenty-six  years  of  \'er- 
milion  county  and  has  been  identified  with 
the  wonderful  transformation  which  has 
occurred  here,  as  the  prairies  have  been 
broken  and  farms  fenced,  as  towns  have 
been  built  and  as  the  work  of  improvement 
and  de\-elopment  has  been  carried  on. 


FRAXK    H.    VAX    ETTEX. 

Prominent  in  political  circles  Frank  H. 
\^anF.tten  has  wielded  a  wide  influence  in 
Danville  and  his  name  is  connected  with  the 
unwritten  histor}-  which  tells  of  the  im- 
provement and  development  of  the  city 
through  legislation  eftected  by  the  board  of 
aldermen.  He  was  bom  in  Fort  Plain, 
}iIontgomery  county.  Xew  York.  August 
24.   1S57.     His  father.  Peter  H.  \'anEtten, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


I  121 


was  a  native  of  Poi"tlainl\ille.  Xew  York, 
and  wedded  Mar\-  P.iish.  who  was  also  liorn 
in  the  Empire  state.  They  were  married  at 
Fort  Plain  and  tliere  took  up  their  abode, 
the  fatlier  engaging'  in  general  cuntracting 
at  that  place  untif  i860,  when  he  moved 
to  Portlandville,  and  from  there  he  re- 
moved to  Schenevus,  New  York.  He  then 
became  agent  for  the  .\merican  Express 
Company  and  resided  there  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1880.  His  political  sup- 
port was  given  to  the  Democracy.  His 
first  wife  died  in  1865,  and  in  1869  he 
wedded  Catherine  Seiver,  also  a  nati\e  of 
the  Empire  state  antl  now  a  resident  of 
Troy,  New  York.  By  the  first  marriage 
there  were  four  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living,  namely:  George,  who  is  agent 
for  the  Boston  &  Maine  Railroad  Company 
at  Townsend.  Massachusetts;  I'rank  H.; 
and  Charles,  who  is  in  business  at  Bucyrus, 
Ohio.  i>y  the  second  union  there  were  three 
children:  Minnie,  who  departed  this  life 
in  March,  1903,  in  Troy,  New  York;  Isaac, 
who  is  connected  with  the  ^^'ireless  Tele- 
graph Coiupany,  at  Sagahonac.  Lung 
Island :  and  Nettie,  who  resides  with  her 
brother  Isaac. 

In  the  schools  of  Portlandville  and 
Schene\-us,  New  York,  Frank  H.  VanEtten 
])ursued  his  education  and  in  the  year  1S73 
began  work  in  the  employ  of  the  Delaware 
&  Hudson  River  Railroad  Company,  in  the 
capacity  of  operator  at  Coopersto\\m  Junc- 
tion. He  remained  in  the  service  of  the 
company  for  four  years.  He  next  became 
connected  with  the  Montreal  Telegraph 
Company  at  Plattsburg.  New  York,  where 
he  resided  for  three  years  and  then  came  to 
Decatur,  Illinois,  with  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road Company  in  the  capacity  of  chief 
clerk  in  the  employ  of  the  master  mechanic. 
For  one  year  he  filled  that  jiosition  and  then 


spent  six  luonths  in  the  transpnrtatinn  de- 
p:u'tment  at  that  ])iiint.  In  1S84  he  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  was  made  train  dis- 
patcher for  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  Company.  In  1888  the  train  dis- 
patcher's office  was  removed  to  Danxille  and 
from  1888  until  1892  he  was  chief  dis- 
patcher and  superintendent  of  telegraph  at 
Danville.  Through  the  six  succeeding"  years 
he  was  dispatcher  and  in  1899  was  re-a]i- 
pointed  superintendent  of  telegraph,  a  po- 
sition which  he  has  since  retained.  His 
capability  and  accuracv  in  business,  system- 
atic methods  and  dispatch  winning  for  him 
the  approval  of  those  whom  he  represents. 
On  the  17th  of  February  1886,  in  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  \'anEtten  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Adah  Zillah  Chilton,  who  was 
born  in  Nenia.  Ohio,  September  13th  1865, 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  .\nne 
Turner  Chilton,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  England.  Mr.  Chilton  was  Ijorn 
and  raised  in  Durham  county,  England,  his 
liimie  was  Lady  Close.  He  wedded  Jane 
Anne  Turner,  of  Sunderland,  who  was  the 
only  child  of  Stafford  Turner,  apothecary, 
and  half-sister  to  Thomas  Di.xon.  who  had 
jjerhaps  the  widest  circle  of  literary  acquaint- 
ances of  any  man  in  the  north  of  England, 
among  them  being  Charles  Kingslev.  F.  D. 
Maurice.  Thomas  Carlyle.  Max  ]\Iuller, 
John  Stuart  Mill,  Joseph  ^Nlazini.  Henry 
Lord  Brougham.  Bishop  Colenso.  Walt 
Whitman,  George  Long.  J.  Muir,  W.  R. 
Scott.  W.  M.  Rossetli.  Professor  Legros, 
Tom  Taylor.  Francis  P.  Colibe.  Affram 
Black.  J.  G.  Wilkinsen.  W.  A.  .\lcott  and 
other  highly  distinguished  indixiduals.  Mr. 
Dixon  was  one  of  the  most  ])hilanthnipic. 
liberal  minded,  genial  and  best  known  of  his 
country,  he  took  great  interest  in  furthering 
local  art  and  was  c<jnspicuous  for  the  assist- 
ance he  rendered  free  libraries  and  museums. 


I  122 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


AiUDiig  libraries  assisted  .was  the  Chicago 
Free  Library  after  the  fire  of  1871.  After 
bis  death  Iiis  bust  was  made  and  placed  in  the 
Atheneum  in  Sunderland.  England.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Chilton  were  married  in  Sunder- 
land. Diu-ham  county,  in  the  Sunderland 
Street  Episcopal  Church  in  1847  and 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1851,  locating 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  They  later  moved  to 
Springfield  and  then  to  Xenia,  Ohio.  There 
they  remained  until  1871,  when  they  went 
to  Chicago,  living  there  until  Mr.  Chilton's 
death,  which  occurred  in  1898.  Airs.  Chilton 
still  resides  in  Chicago  and  in  their  family 
were  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  still 
living.  Mr.  Chilton  was  a  Republican  in  his 
political  affiliations.  The  home  of  Mr.  and 
Airs.  Van  Etten  has  been  blessed  with  two 
sons:  Frank  C.  born  in  Chicago.  November 
12,  1887;  and  Theodore  C,  bom  in  Danville. 
August  23,  1892.  Mrs.  \"an  Etten  takes 
sreat  interest  in  n:usic  and  art  and  is  devoted 
to  her  church  work  and  home. 

.A  Republican  with  firm  faith  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party.  Air.  \'an  Etten  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  its  leading  members  in  Dan- 
ville. In  1893  ^1^  ^^"^s  elected  a  member  of 
the  city  council  and  served  for  three  terms. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  liuilding  committee 
when  the  city  building  was  erected,  and 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  streets  and 
alleys  when  the  stone  arch  on  East  Alain 
street  was  built.  He  favored  every  move- 
ment which  he  believed  would  promote  the 
material  advancement  and  substantial  up- 
building of  Danville.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Republican  city  central  committee  and 
his  labors  have  been  effective  and  beneficial 
in  aiding  party  work  here.  In  1881  he  was 
made  a  Mason  in  Afton.  Xew  York,  and  has 
since  taken  the  Royal  Arch  degrees.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Alodern 
Woodmen  and  Court  of  Honor  fraternities, 


a  member,  trustee  and  one  of  the  buiUling 
committee  of  the  Third  Church  of  Christ 
now  under  construction.  He  owns  realty 
in  this  city  in  addition  to  bis  own  pleasant 
home  at  the  corner  of  Seminary  and  Gil- 
bert streets  and  is  widely  known  here  as  a 
man  whose  personal  worth  and  business 
ability  commend  him  to  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been  as- 
sociated. 

•-•-» 

FRED    BUY. 

Fred  Buy  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war,  who,  at  the  country's  call  for  aid, 
oft'ered  his  services  to  the  Union  and  fought 
for  its  defense.  He  is  now  living  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Blount  township,  where  he  owns 
atid  operates  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres — a  splendiilly  improved 
property  equipped  with  all  modern  acces- 
sories and  conveniences.  Air.  Buy  is  one  of 
the  citizens  that  Germany  has  furnished  to 
the  new  world,-  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
the  fatherland  October  2t„  1844.  When  he 
was  eleven  years  of  age  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  the  new  world,  crossing  the  At- 
lantic in  1857.  They  settled  first  in  Xew 
York  and  the  following  year  came  to  Ver- 
milion county.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
now  deceased,  the  former  having  passed 
away  September  7,  1870,  while  the  latter 
died  in  December,  1885.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  of  whom  two  are 
li\-ing,  the  sister  of  our  subject  being  Airs. 
Kroul.  the  wife  of  Herman  Kroul.  of  Dan- 
ville. 

Under  the  parental  roof  our  subject  was 
reared  to  manhood  and  assisted  in  the  devel- 
opment of  his  father's  farm.  He  was  thus 
engaged    until    1863,    when    he   oft'ered    his 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1  123 


ser\'ices  to  the  o-o\ernment  as  a  defender  of 
the  L'nion  and  joined  the  boys  in  bhie  of 
C(<mpany  E,  One  Hunch^ed  and  Thirty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry,  nnder  the  command  of 
Captain  Laferty.  This  regiment  was  as- 
sigiied  to  ^.lissonri  and  after  serving  for 
one  hnndred  days  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, but  still  the  war  continued  and 
with  patriotic  spirit  he  once  more  enlisted, 
becoming  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Forty-nintli  Infantry  in  Danville.  He 
thus  served  for  another  year  or  until  the 
cessation  of  hostilities.  During  most  of  the 
time  he  was  on  garrison  duty  in  guarding 
bridges  and  in  1865  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

\Mien  the  country  no  longer  needed  his 
services  Mr.  Buy  returned  to  his  home  and 
was  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  grocery  store 
for  a  time.  In  August,  1867,  he  wedtled 
Mary  .'-Ueubc.  who  like  her  husband  was  ed- 
ucated in  public  schools  of  this  county. 
.-\fter  his  marriage  Mr.  Buy  engaged  in  the 
grocerv  business  on  his  own  account,  suc- 
cessfully conducting  his  mercantile  interests 
until  1 88 1.  The  following  year  he  pur- 
chased his  present  home  on  section  36, 
151c  Hint  townshi]).  and  here  he  has  engaged 
m  farming  and  stock-raising.  The  land  was 
all  wild  and  unimproved  at  that  time  but 
he  cleared  the  place,  planted  trees  and  has 
made  it  a  \aluable  tract  of  land.  He  has 
tiled  and  drained  it,  erected  good  buildings 
and  has  secured  all  modern  equii)mcnts  un- 
til to-dav  evervthing  abmit  his  place  is  neat 
and  thrifty  in  appearance,  indicating  his 
careful  supervision  and  his  farm  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  best  of  the  locality.  Whatever 
success  Mr.  Buy  has  achieved  is  due  en- 
tirelv  to  his  own  efiforts.  He  began  life  by 
working  l)y  the  month  in  a  woolen  factory 
for  eight  ilollars  ])er  month  and  afterward 


was  emiiloyed  as  a  clerk  for  one  hundred 
diillars  \)C\-  year  and  his  board.  Through 
his  energy  and  determination,  however,  he 
has  acc[uired  a  competence  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years  he  began  business  on  his 
own  account.  By  the  exchange,  purchase 
and  sale  of  land  he  has  added  materially  to 
his  income  and  during  the  past  six  years  he 
has  li\-cd  [jractically  retired  from  farm  work, 
nmst  of  his  land  being  now  rented. 

Mrs.  Buy  has  been  to  her  iiusband  a 
faithful  companion  and  helpmate  in  life's 
journey.  They  were  neighljors  in  the  fa- 
therland and  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
same  ship.  They  have  become  the  parents 
of  eight  children  :  Ed,  a  grocery  merchant 
of  Danville,  who  married  Lou  White:  Mrs, 
Jeimie  Kock,  of  l)an\-ille:  Carl,  at  home; 
William,  who  married  Gertie  Grinis  and  is 
conducting  a  meat  market  in  Danville; 
Harry,  who  married  Myrtle  Walters;  Lula, 
who  married  Carl  Walker,  of  Danville: 
Mamie  and  Alice,  both  at  home.  The  chil- 
dren have  been  provided  with  good  educa- 
tional prix'ileges,  thereby  fitting  them  for 
life's  practical  duties.  In  his  ])olitical  views 
Mr.  Buy  is  a  Republican  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  memliers  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  Tliey  are  most  highly  esteemed 
people,  well  known  in  the  ct)inmunily  where 
they  ha\e  long  resided  and  Mr.  Buy  is  as 
trr.e  and  Inyal  to  his  duties  of  citizenship  as 
he  was  when  lie  followed  the  Nation's  starry 
lianner  upon  the  battlefields  of  the  south. 


STEPHEN  A.  D.  ROGERS, 

Stephen  A,  D.  Rogers,  a  retired  farmer 
and  a  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
f)f  Danville  townshi]),  is  now  living  in  the 


1 124 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


city  of  Danville,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  the  township  on  the  i6th  of  November, 
i,S5<S.  n  son  of  John  B.  and  ;\Ialinda  (Moss) 
Rogers,  the  former  a  native  of  Xew  Hamp- 
shire and  the  latter  of  Illinois.  Samnel 
Rogers,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  also  born  in  the  Old  Granite  state 
and  on  lea\^ing  Xew  England  he  came  with 
his  family  to  the  west,  settling  in  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  in  1832.  He  took  up  his 
abode  on  a  farm  ti\e  miles  southeast  of  Dan- 
ville and  there  he  engaged  in  the  tilling  of 
the  soil  throughout  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  -John  B.  Rogers  was  also  a  farmer  of 
Danville  township,  following  that  pursuit 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  was  quite 
prominent  in  local  public  affairs  and  his 
fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
aliility,  called  him  to  serve  in  the  various 
township  offices.  He  died  September  7, 
1900,  having  for  a  short  time  survived  his 
wife,  who  passed  away  August  16.  1899. 

Mr.  Rogers  of  this  review  was  their  only 
child  and  in  the  district  schools  of  Danville 
township  he  pursued  his  education,  while 
through  nuich  of  the  period  of  his  youth  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  being  thus  employed  until  he  had  saved 
enough  to  purchase  a  small  farm  of  his  own. 
He  became  the  owner  of  a  little  tract  of  land 
on  section  23,  Danville  township,  and  fur- 
ther completed  his  arrangements  for  having 
a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  in  1882 
to  Miss  Katie  E.  Wait,  who  was  born  in  this 
county,  September  15,  1857.  Her  father, 
A\'illiam  Wait,  was  also  born  in  this  county 
and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  its  oldest 
families.  He  now^  resides  on  a  f;irm  in  Dan- 
ville township  which  has  been  his  home 
throughout  his  entire  life,  covering  a  period 
of  seventy  years.  He  wedded  Margaret 
Moudy.     Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  have 


been  born  two  children :  ^^lyrtle,  lx)rn  in 
December,  1882;  and  Grace,  born  in  ]\Iarch, 
1885. 

Mr.  Rogers  continued  to  engage  in  farm- 
ing through  many  years  and  as  opportunity 
oilered  he  added  to  his  land  from  time  to 
time  until  his  farm  now  comprises  over  two 
hundred  acres.  It  is  a  very  rich  and  valti- 
able  tract  and  to  its  cultivation  our  subject 
devoted  his  energies  until  1898.  when  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  city  of  Danville. 
Each  day,  however,  he  drives  to  his  farm, 
but  merely  supervises  it,  taking  no  active 
part  in  its  work.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  owns  a  nice  home  at  Xo.  621 
Wayne  street  and  he  well  deserves  mention 
as  one  of  the  representatives  of  a  prominent 
pioneer  family  and  as  a  citizen  of  worth  in 
the  county  where  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed. 


WILLIAM  WOLTER. 

William  Wolter  is  now  practically  living 
a  retired  life  in  Danville,  but  is  still  the  owner 
of  extensive  business  interests  connected 
with  a  wholesale  creamery  enterprise.  He 
was  born  on  the  23d  of  April,  1856,  in  the 
city  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christopher  and  Elizabeth  (Alpar)  Wolter, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, whence  in  the  year  1853  they  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  America,  taking  up  their 
abode  in  Cleveland.  The  father  was  a  tailor 
by  trade  and  followed  his  chosen  vocation 
in  Ohio  until  1865,  when  he  again  traveled 
westward  and  this  time  became  a  resident  of 
Danville,  but  he  had  previously  joined  the 
L'nion  army  and  for  one  year  served  as  a  de- 
fender of  the  stars  and  stripes.  After  com- 
ing to  the  west  he  carrieil  on  agricultural 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 125 


pursuits  in  Danville  township,  purchasing  a 
small  tract  of  land  after  having  purchased  a 
house  and  lot  in  the  city  of  Danville. 

William  \\'olter.  whose  name  introtluces 
this  review,  was  a  lad  of  nine  summers  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  \'ermilion  coun- 
ty. He  pursued  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  Danville  and  after  he  left  the  schoolroom 
he  ga\-e  his  attention  to  farming.  He  also 
drove  a  team  for  a  few  seasons  on  railroad 
grading,  and  subsequently  he  embarked  in 
the  dairy  business  for  his  father,  conducting 
the  enterprise  for  nine  years  with  good  suc- 
cess. On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
began  business  on  his  own  account  antl  has 
since  been  identified  with  this  line  of  indus- 
trial activity,  carrying  on  a  wholesale  trade. 
Thnjughout  his  entire  business  career  Air. 
Wolter  has  l(.illowed  farming,  first  purchas- 
ing land  in  Danville  township,  east  of  Com- 
mercial street.  He  has  bought  and  sold 
farms  in  different  parts  of  the  county  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  acres  lying  partly  in  X'ermilion  county 
and  partly  across  the  boundary  line  in  Indi- 
ana. All  this  is  under  a  high  state  of- culti- 
vation antl  devoted  to  pasturage  purposes, 
and  the  property  returns  to  him  a  good  in- 
come, while  his  dairy  business  is  also  a 
source  of  profitable  investment.  His  home 
in  Danville  is  located  at  No.  614  Wayne 
street. 

On  the  1 2th  of  February,  1884,  Mr. 
Wolter  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louisa  Hauswaldt,  a  native  of  Eugene,  In- 
diana, and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Caroline  Hauswaldt,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Germany,  the  father  having  been 
born  in  Saxony  and  the  niothcr  in  West- 
phalia. The  father  came  to  America  in  1853 
landing  in  St.  Louis,  whence  he  removed  to 
Eugene,  Indiana.    Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haus- 


waldt were  born  four  children,  two  of  whom 
are  now  Ii\ing,  the  sister  of  I\Irs.  Wolter  be- 
ing Mary,  the  wife  of  Fred  Wolter,  a  brother 
of  our  subject.  The  father  was  a  cabinet- 
maker by  trade  and  in  early  life  followed 
that  pursuit  hut  later  dex'oted  his  attentit)n 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  are  now  deceased.  The  marriage  of 
W'illi.ini  Wolter  and  Louisa  Hauswaldt  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children,  namely, 
l*"rank,  William.  Nellie  and  Herbert. 

The  family  attend  the  German  Lutheran 
church  and  Mr.  Wolter  is  a  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks 
and  the  American  Home  Circle,  while  in  his 
political  views  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
giving  an  earnest  support  to  the  party  and 
its  princiijles.  He  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  and  also  as  judge  of 
elections.  Well  known  in  Vermilion  county 
where  he  has  resided  from  his  early  boyhood 
days  his  life  record  has  demonstrated  the 
power  of  industry,  diligence  and  keen  dis- 
crimination in  the  active  aft'airs  of  life,  for 
placing  his  dependence  upi)n  these  qualities 
Mr.  Wolter  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up-, 
ward  and  is  today  the  possessor  of  an  ex- 
cellent business  and  property  interests  as  a 
result  of  his  indefatigaljle  enteri)rise. 


PETER  LARSON. 


Peter  Larson  is  a  sulistantial  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  of  Vermilion  county,  living  on 
section  17,  Butler  township,  where  he  owns 
and  cultivates  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  His  home  is  conveniently  lo- 
cated within  two  and  one-half  miles  of  Ran- 
kin so  that  the  advantages  of  the  town  are 
easily  accessible.     Mr.  Larson  is  a  native  of 


II26 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Sweden,  born  July  2,  1847,  and  in  the  coun- 
try of  liis  nativity  he  was  reared  to  manhood 
upon  a  farm.  He  was  educated  in  his  native 
tongue  hut  his  e(hication  in  English  has  been 
entirely  sel f-acc|uired. 

He  came  to  the  new  world  in  1870,  when 
a  young  man  of  twenty-three  years,  and  pro- 
ceeding at  once  across  the  country  U>  Illinois 
located  in  Champaign  county.  He  first  be- 
gan work  as  a  farm  hand,  however,  in  Doug- 
las county  and  for  two  years  he  was  engaged 
in  feeding  cattle.  He  afterward  served  as 
foreman  for  T.  D.  McKey,  a  banker  of  Han- 
over, who  owned  three  thousand  acres  of 
land.  Of  this  j\Ir.  Larson  had  charge  for 
four  years  and  then  he  began  farming  on  his 
own  account,  renting  land  for  five  years  to 
the  extent  of  seven  hundred  acres.  Then 
with  the  capital  which  he  had  accjuired 
through  his  industry  and  enterprise  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Ayers  township,  Champaig'n  county.  This 
was  raw  and  unimproved  but  he  broke  and 
fenced  it,  built  thereon  substantial  buildings 
and  made  a  very  valuable  farm.  Later  he 
bought  sixty-five  acres  in  Homer  township, 
conducting  both  places,  and  he  erected  a  fair 
set  of  buildings  on  it.  There  he  carried  on 
his  agricultural  pursuits  until  1897.  Li  the 
previous  year  he  purchased  his  present  farm 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  iipon 
which  good  improvements  are  found.  He 
has  erected  a  large  and  attractive  farm  resi- 
dence, has  laid  many  rods  of  tiling  and  has 
■  divided  his  place  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  by  well  kept  fences.  He  has  also  planted 
fruit  trees  and  made  other  valuable  impro\-e- 
ments  and  in  connection  with  the  raising  of 
grain  he  is  extensively  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  raising  of  full  blooded  Aber- 
deen cattle,  hax'ing  a  herd  of  twenty-three 
he.id.  including  a  fine  .Aberdeen  bull,  which 


he  has  owned  for  three  years.  He  also  fat- 
tens cattle  for  the  market  and  sells  about  one 
car-load  of  cattle  and  two  car-loads  of  hogs 
annually.  He  is  one  of  a  company  of  ten 
who  are  engaged  in  breeding  and  dealing  in 
pure  blooded  Percheron  and  Shire  horses 
and  they  now  own  two  pure  blooded  import- 
ed stallions,  which  they  purchased  in  1901. 
He  is  an  excellent  judge  of  stock  and  this 
branch  of  his  business  is  proving  very  profit- 
able and  is  constantly  growing. 

In  1S79  in  Champaign  county,  Mr.  Lar- 
son was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah 
Pearson,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Sweden.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children  :  Stewart,  who  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Butler  township; 
Sam,  who  assists  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm ;  Oscar,  Minnie  and  John,  who  are  also 
under  the  parental  roof.  They  likewise  lost 
two  children  :  Charlie,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years ;  and  Thomas  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  months. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations 
Mr,  Larson  voted  for  Tilden  in  1876  and  has 
supported  each  presidential  nominee  of  the 
party  since  that  time.  He  is  not  bound  by 
party  ties,  however,  at  local  elections  nor  is 
he  bitterly  partisan.  In  Champaign  county 
he  was  elected  and  served  as  commissioner 
of  roads  but  he  has  never  been  a  politician  in 
the  sense  of  office  seeking,  having  always 
preferred  to  devote  his  energies  to  his  farm- 
ing interests  and  other  business  affairs.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  esteemed  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  church,  having  been 
reared  in  that  faith.  He  belongs  to  Rankin 
Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M.,  but  joined  the  order  in 
Champaign  county.  He  is  likewise  identified 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
Although  he  has  resided  in  Vermilion  county 
for  a  comparatively  brief  period  he  has  al- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 127 


ready  I)ecoiiie  widely  known  and  his  exten- 
sive business  affairs  class  him  among  the  en- 
terprising, prominent  and  successful  farm- 
ers and  stock-raisers  of  this  portion  of  the 

state. 

»  » » 

JOHNSON  F.  KNIGHT. 

Among  the  early  settlers  and  veterans 
who  fought  for  the  Union  in  the  dark  days 
of  the  Civil  war  is  nvmibered  Johnson 
Knight,  who  is  living  upon  a  farm  on  section 
25,  Blount  township,  where  he  owns  and 
operates  ninety-four  acres  of  well  improved 
land.  His  l)irth  occurred  near  I'ortersville. 
Pennsylvania,  November  22,  1843,  '^'^'i  o" 
the  paternal  side  he  is  of  English  lineage, 
while  on  the  maternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent.  His  father,  Washington  G. 
Knight,  was  joined  in  wedlock  there  to  Mary 
.Ann  Graham  and  both  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Their  marriage  was  celebrated  by 
Rev.  H.ampton,  a  Baptist  minister.  During 
the  earlv  boyhood  of  our  subject  the  parents 
removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Kentucky, 
settling  in  1 'endleton  county.  The  father 
was  a  millwright  by  trade  and  made  that  his 
principal  business,  although  he  followed 
farming  to  some  extent.  In  1861  he  re- 
m')\-ed  from  Kentucky  to  \'crmilion  coun- 
tv,  Illinois,  and  built  a  mill  in  Danville  and 
another  in  Alyersville.  By  his  first  mar- 
riage he  had  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  the  living  being:  Jobn.son  V.\ 
Mrs.  Annie  Straitcr.  of  Ross  township; 
Orin,  of  Blount  township ;  Oswald,  of  Dewey 
county,  Oklahoma;  and  Mrs.  Lillie  Ely,  of 
Russell  county,  Kansas.  Those  who  have 
passed  away  are:  Stewart  T.,  who  died  in 
1865;  Mrs.  E.  Shoemaker,  who  died  in 
1864;  and  .Mrs.  .\niclia  McMillan,  who  dieil 


in  1876.  The  mother  of  this  family  passed 
away  in  1866. 

Johnson  F.  Knight  received  but  limitefl 
privileges  yet  he  has  profited  by  the  oppor- 
tunities for  reading  and  investigation  which 
have  come  to  him.  From  the  age  of  eight- 
een years  he  has  been  dependent  entirely 
upon  his  own  resources  and  during  the 
greater  part  of  bis  life  he  has  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits,  working  as  a  farm 
hand  in  his  earlv  years.  When  the  Civil  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A.  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  under  Captain  Rawlson  and 
Colonel  Harmon.  The  regiment  went  to 
Cincinnati  and  then  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  General  Cook's 
brigade.  The  first  engagement  in  which  Mr. 
Knight  participated  was  at  Perrysville  and 
later  he  was  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
Missionary  Ridge,  Dalton,  Resaca  and  the 
capture  of  Rome,  Georgia.  He  also  partici- 
pated in  a  number  of  skirmishes  and  was  in 
the  hotly  contested  engagement  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  where  the  regiment  lost  very 
heavily.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek  in  front  of  .vtlanta  and  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Atlanta  on  the  ist  of  September.  He 
was  also  in  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  North 
Carolina,  and  during  the  .Atlanta  campaign 
he  was  under  fire  one  hundred  days.  He 
participated  in  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea, 
the  battle  of  Averysboro,  North  Carolina, 
and  the  grand  review  in  W^ashington,  being 
mustered  out  on  the  9th  of  June,  1865. 

Mr.  Knight  had  come  to  Illinois  in  i86r, 
starting  from  Cincinnati  on  the  14th  of  Feb- 
ruary of  that  year,  and  arriving  .at  Danville 
on  the  10th  of  March.  It  required  about 
three  and  a  half  weeks  to  make  the  trip  and 
he  then  settled  in  Blount  tf)wnsbii),  working 
out  as  ;i  fai'in  hand  until  after  the  inaugura- 


1I2S 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tiou  of  the  Civil  war.  Tiie  parents  came  by 
way  of  the  W'abasli  Railroad  and  the  father 
purchased  a  farm  here,  mostly  covered  with 
timber.  ]\ir.  Knight  of  this  review  assisted 
in  clearing-  part  of  his  father's  land  and  after 
his  rettu-n  from  the  war  went  to  work  upon 
the  old  home  farm,  receiving  three  hundred 
dollars  per  _\-ear  for  his  services.  The  m.oney 
thus  earned,  together  with  what  he  had 
saved  in  the  army,  enabled  him  to  begin  life 
for  himself.  He  purchased  a  small  farm  and 
later  he  aikled  to  his  landed  possessions  so 
that  as  the  years  passed  he  became  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  valuable  property.  He  has  al- 
ways been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  the  rais- 
ing of  a  high  grade  of  Poland  China 
hogs.  The  farm  is  well  tiled  and  drained 
and  there  are  good  pasture  lands  upon  the 
place.  He  also  has  a  nice  orchard  and  makes 
a  specialty  of  the  production  of  pears  and 
cherries.  He  has  resided  upon  his  present 
farm  on  section  25  since  1876  and  its  highly 
improved  condition  is  due  to  his  enterprising 
efforts. 

On  the  iith  of  September.  1867,  Mr. 
Knight  was  united  in  marriage  to  Susan  Mc- 
Millan, who  was  born  in  Blount  township 
in  1849  'ii^'l  ^^"'^s  educated  in  this  county. 
Thev  had  four  children:  Washington  G. ; 
one  who  died  in  infancy;  Charles  M.,  who  is 
living  in  Ohio :  and  Eldora,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  months  and  seventeen  days.  The 
mother  died  March  19,  1875,  and  for  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Knight  chose  Nora  E.  Mc- 
^lillan,  by  whom  he  has  four  children:  Vic- 
tor. Orrin,  Daisy  B.  and  Mabel. 

Mr.  Knight  has  served  as  school  director 
for  many  years  and  takes  great  interest  in 
the  cause  of  education,  doing  everything  in 
his  power  to  ]iromote  the  welfare  and  raise 
the  standard  of  the  schools.     He  has  also 


ser\-ed  as  commissioner  of  highways  for  two 
terms  and  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to 
the  conventions  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
is  a  leader  of  his  party  in  this  locality  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee.  He  also  belongs  to  Kenesaw 
Post,  No.  TJ,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Danville.  Mr. 
Knight  is  a  self-made  man,  whose  prosperity 
has  been  the  legitimate  outcome  of  earnest 
ptu'pose  and  indefatigable  energy  and  to-day 
he  is  numbered  among  the  respected  and  rep- 
resentative farmers  of  this  community. 


OSCAR    F.    MAXON. 

High  ideals  and  strong  principles  ha\e 
ever  been  salient  features  in  the  life  work  of 
Oscar  F.  Maxon,  of  Danville,  and  have  been 
manifest  in  his  business  dealings  as  well  as 
in  all  other  relations  with  his  fellow  men. 
W'idelv  known  in  this  citv,  the  respect  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  is  tend- 
ered him.  l}ecause  of  a  loyal  devotion  to  all 
the  princqiles  in  which  he  believes.  Mr. 
Maxon  is  now  successfully  controlling  an 
extensive  loan  business  and  through  forty 
years  he  has  been  a  factor  in  the  business  in- 
terests and  public  life  of  the  city. 

A  n.ative  of  New  York,  he  was  born  in 
Great  Bend,  Jefferson  county,  in  1837,  his 
birthplace  being  one  of  the  typical  log  cabins 
of  an  early  day  in  a  frontier  region.  His 
father,  Paul  Stillman  Maxon,  was  a  native 
of  Rhode  Island  and  after  arriving  at  years 
of  maturity  he  married  Lucy  Ann  Morris,  a 
native  of  Saratoga  county.  New  York.  The 
father  was  a  miller  by  trade  and  was  also  an 
excellent  mechanic.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  strong  New  England  characters  and 
li\ed  useful  and  u])right  lives,  which  com- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 129 


iiiaiuled  for  them  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  their  fellownien.  Their  last  days  were 
passed  in  Danville  and  both  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years.  They  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living. 

After  ac(|uiring  his  early  etlncation  in 
the  public  schools  Oscar  F.  jNlaxon  entered 
Lowville  Academy,  at  Lowville.  New  York, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  a  year  he  left  that 
institution  to  accept  a  clerkship  in  the  bank 
of  Low\-ille.  He  gained  much  experience  in 
business  during  his  connection  with  that  en- 
terprise, covering  a  period  of  twelve  years. 
In  1863  he  came  to  Illinois,  making  his  way 
to  Danville,  where  he  secured  a  position  in 
the  office  of  the  county  clerk,  but  his  previous 
training  in  banking  made  him  desirous  of 
again  entering  that  field  of  labor  and  he  se- 
cured employment  with  J.  C.  Short  &  Com- 
pany, oi  Dan\  ille,  acting  as  cashier  and  man- 
ager of  their  bank  during  its  existence.  He 
afterward  turned  his  attention  to  the  real- 
estate  business,  in  1880,  and  has  developed 
a  large  loan  business,  his  energy  and  his  ad- 
vancement in  these  lines  bringing  to  him  de- 
sirable and  well  merited  prosperity.  He  was 
also  the  secretary  and  the  treasurer  of  the 
Paris  &  Danville  Railroad  Company  before 
it  became  a  part  of  the  Big  Four  system.  He 
is  also  a  director  in  the  Equitable  Building  & 
Loan  Association,  of  Danxille. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1865,  Mr. 
Maxon  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Theodocia  M.  ^'ale,  a  daughter  of  the  Ke\'. 
Calvin  Yale,  of  Alartinsburg,  Xew  York. 
who  was  a  pioneer  Presbyterian  minister 
and  dex'oted  fifty  years  of  his  life  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry.  He  passed  away  at  the  very 
advanced  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maxon  have  Ijeen  born  four 
children  :     Robbins  ^'aIe,  who  is  a  graduate 


of  the  ITiiversitv  of  Illinois  and  now  a  civil 
engineer  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company;  Oscar 
F.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  Rush  Medical 
College,  of  Chicago,  and  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  Springlield,  Illinois; 
Harold  Allen,  who  died  3ilarch  28,  1900,  in 
his  twenty-fifth  year;  and  Edward  M.,  who 
is  yet  at  home  in  Danville. 

From  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  Mr.  Ma.xon  has  been  a  believer  in  its 
principles  and  be  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  Lincoln.  When  ([uestions  of  na- 
tional importance  are  involved  he  is  a  strong 
partisan,  btit  at  local  elections,  when  there 
is  no  issue  before  the  people,  he  votes  re- 
gardless of  partv  lines,  considering  only  the 
capaliility  of  the  candidate.  In  the  year 
1866  both  Mr.  Maxon  and  his  wife  became 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  with 
which  they  are  still  identified.  Mr.  Maxon 
has  been  very  active  in  church  work  and  has 
held  every  office  within  the  gift  of  the  peo- 
ple of  his  church.  I'or  many  years  he  served 
as  a  trustee  and  is  now  a  ruling  elder,  put- 
ting forth  every  effort  in  his  power  to  extend 
the  influence  and  promote  the  growth  of  the 
organization.  He  has  contributed  liberally 
to  its  support  and  has  been  willing  to  make 
sacrifice  of  his  personal  interests  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  cause,  which  is  very  dear  to  his 
heart.  With  firm  faith  in  its  teachings,  his 
life  lias  long  been  imbued  with  his  Christian 
belief  and  his  conduct  has  been  guided  by  its 
humanitarian  rules. 


•     SYLVESTER  PARLE. 

It  is  astonishing  to  witness  the  success  of 
voung  men  who  have  emigrated  to  America 
without  capital  and  through  their  own  un- 


1 1 30 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


aided  efforts  have  arisen  to  positions  of 
prominence  and  affluence.  The  readiness 
with  wliich  tliey  adapt  themselves  to  circum- 
stances and  take  advantage  of  opportunities 
offered  brings  to  tlicm  success  and  wins  them 
a  place  among'  the  leading  men  of  the  com- 
munity in  wliich  they  reside.  Such  a  one  is 
Sylvester  Parle,  now  an  extensive  coal 
operator  at  Vermilion  Heights,  Danville. 

Air.  Parle  was  born  in  Ireland,  Decem- 
ber 23.  1840,  a  son  of  Richard  Parle,  who 
is  still  living  in  that  country  and  who  has 
made  farming  his  life  work.  To  a  limited 
extent  our  subject  attended  the  national 
sciiools  of  Ireland  diu'ing  his  boyhood  and 
finally  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
new  world.  Accordingly  he  and  his  brother 
crossed  the  briny  deep  but  Patrick  enlisted 
during  the  Civil  war  and  was  killed  in  the 
[tattle  of  Vicksburg. 

After  coming  to  the  United  States  Syl- 
vester Parle  at  once  sought  employment  and 
for  sometime  worked  at  whatever  he  could 
find  to  do,  where)))-  he  might  earn  an  honest 
dollar.  On  the  19th  of  May,  1857,  he  ar- 
ri\ed  in  \  ermilion  county.  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated on  what  was  known  as  the  old  Sullivan 
place  near  the  village  of  Homer,  which  was 
all  wild  land  covered  with  tall  prairie  grass. 
Our  subject  broke  the  first  soil  and  made  the 
first  improvements  upon  that  farm,  continu- 
ing its  cultixation  for  tliree  years.  The  fol- 
lowing year  was  spent  in  Piatt  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  on  his  return  to  Vermilion  county 
he  settled  near  Tilton,  where  he  worked  on 
different  farms  and  at  various  other  pursuits 
for  sexxral  years,  but  finally  removed  to  Dan- 
ville and  became  connected  with  the  coal 
business,  first  as  a  common  laborer  in  the 
mines  of  Tilton  and  South  Danville,  work- 
ing on  commission  only.  When  the  mines 
at   those  places   were   consolidated    he   was 


made  foreman  of  the  same  and  had  charge 
of  the  same  for  over  ten  years  or  until  1884, 
when  he  came  to  Vermilion  Heights,  Dan- 
ville, and  began  work  in  tlie  mines  there  on 
commission.  Later  he  leased  these  mines 
and  after  operating  them  in  that  way  until 
1889  he  purchased  them  and  is  now  sole 
owner.  He  is  also  interested  in  other  mines 
in  the  county  and  is  the  owner  of  some  fine 
farms  in  Catlin  and  Danville  townships.  He 
now  devotes  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
the  management  of  his  coal  mines  at  Ver- 
milion Heights,  where  he  employs  ten  or 
twehe  men  all  the  year  round,  and  he  sup- 
plied mostly  the  local  trade  at  Danville,  al- 
though he  ships  coal  to  some  extent. 

Politically  Mr.  Parle  is  a  Democrat  but 
at  local  elections  he  supports  the  men  whom 
believes  best  qualified  for  ofiice  regardless 
of  party  lines.  Several  times  he  has  been 
offered  political  positions  but  has  always  re- 
fused, preferring  to  devote  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Danville  and  wherever  known  they 
are  held  in  high  regard.  The}'  have  a  beauti- 
ful home  at  Vermilion  Heights  which  was 
recently  erected  by  Mr.  Parle  near  his  mines. 
His  life  record  is  one  well  worthy  of  emula- 
tion in  many  respects  and  contains  many 
valuable  lessons  of  incentive,  showing  the 
possibilities  that  are  open  to  young  men  who 
wish  to  improve  every  opportunity  for  ad- 

vancenient. 

*  «  » 

SAMLTEL  HART. 

Samuel  Hart,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  was  born  in  Vermil- 
ion county,  November  18,  1856,  a  son  of 
William  ami  Sarah  E.   (Dougherty)   Hart, 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1131 


\\hi>  were  fanning-  people  residing  in  War- 
ren connty.  Ohio,  and  arrived  in  V^ermilion 
county  on  the  15th  of  Augnst,  1833.  John 
I  lart,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  became 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  portion  of 
the  county,  where  in  tlie  '20s  he  entered  land 
from  the  g'overnment  on  section  33,  Oak- 
wood  township.  The  Indians  were  far  more 
numerous  than  the  white  settlers  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  state  at  that  time  and  the  most 
far-sighted  could  not  have  dreamed  that  this 
wild  region  would  soon  be  transformed  into 
a  rich  agricultural  district.  Mr.  Hart  was 
a  carpenter  by  trade  and  his  son  William  also 
followed  the  same  pursuit.  The  latter  was 
one  of  three  children,  the  others  being  Mar- 
tha and  Thomas,  the  latter  a  resident  of  Oak- 
wood  township. 

Samuel  Hart  accpiired  a  common-school 
education,  pursuing  his  studies  in  a  log 
schoolhouse  such  as  was  common  iluring  the 
period  of  his  early  boyhood.  He  remained 
in  school  for  about  six  years,  or  until  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  although  in  the  meantime 
he  had  begun  to  earn  his  own  living.  When 
only  a  youth  of  ten  years  he  worked  by  the 
month  upon  a  farm,  receiving  his  board  and 
also  a  colt  or  a  cow  in  remuneration  for  his 
services.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  began 
feeding  cattle  and  followed  that  pursuit  for 
\  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
'  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  renting  a 
tract  of  land,  ^\'hen  his  lalxirs  had  brought 
to  him  sufficient  capital  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  on  section  3.  Oakwood  township. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  grandmother,  Mrs. 
Nancy  (Ireland)  Hart,  he  inherited  a  small 
l)()nion  of  her  farm  but  with  this  exception 
.all  that  he  possesses  has  been  made  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  has  long  been 
successfully  identified  with  farming  and 
stock-raising  in  \'ermilion  county.     He  now 


owns  fiiur  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land, 
all  well  tilled  and  improved  with  modern 
equipments  and  substantial  buildings.  He 
handles  cattle  and  hogs  on  an  extensive  scale, 
making  large  shipments,  and  he  now  has 
n])on  his  place  about  h\e  hundred  head  of 
stock. 

On  the  1 0th  of  October,  1879.  Mv.  Hart 
married  Miss  Sydney  Lowman,  a  daughter 
of  (jeorge  and  Mary  Lowman,  and  the 
ycningest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children,  her 
l)iiih  having  occiu'red  in  Oakwood  township 
in  i8t)0.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hart  have  been 
born  se\-en  children:  C.eorge  L.,  at  home; 
Mertie,  the  wife  of  Lester  Thompson,  of 
Oakwood  township,  by  whom  she  has  one 
child;  Herbert.  Sydney,  Minnie.  Sylvia  and 
Ruth,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Hart  gives  his  allegiance  to  the  Re- 
publican party  and  is  identified  with  several 
civic  societies,  including  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Eagle  and  the  I'raternal  Army,  of  Fithian. 
His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county 
and  from  the  time  when  he  began  to  earn  his 
own  living  as  a  f.arni  hand  at  the  age  of  ten 
vears  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward 
and  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and 
successful  agricultiH'ists  in  this  part  of  the 
state. 


D.  M.  JUVINALL. 

D.  M.  Juvinall  is  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing young  business  men  of  Danville,  con- 
ducting a  loan  and  real-estate  agency  in  the 
Illinois  Printing  Company  building.  He 
is  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  western  prog- 
ress and  advancement  and  his  marked  en- 
ergy, perseverance  and  laud.able  ambition 
are  bringing  to  him  creditable  success.      He 


1152 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza  J.  (Abbott) 
Juvinall.  pioneers  of  \'ennilion  county. 
His  paternal  grandparents,  Andrew  and 
Mary  (James)  Juvinall,  were  both  natives 
of  Ohio  and  cast  in  their  lot  among  the 
first  white  settlers  of  \ermilion  count}'. 
arriving  here  in  1827  when  the  red  men  were 
still  very  numerous,  this  being  sometime 
Ijefore  the  Black  Hawk  war  and  before  the 
original  inhabitants  of  the  land  were  driven 
westward  by  the  encroaching  civilization  of 
the  Caucasian  race. 

D.  M.  Juvinall  was  the  fourth  child  in 
his  father's  famil}'  and  was  born  in  \*ermil- 
ion  county.  October  31,  1873.  Upon  the 
home  farm  he  was  reared  and  in  the  district 
schools  he  pursued  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion, Avhich  was  supplemented  b}-  two  years 
of  study  in  the  schools  of  Danville.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  began  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  on  his  own  account  in 
Pilot  townshi]).  He  always  kept  a  good 
grade  of  stock  and  in  his  agricultural  pur- 
suits he  was  quite  prosperous.  In  August. 
1902,  however,  he  left  the  farm  and  turned 
his  attention  to  his  present  business,  deal- 
ing in  cattle,  placing  loans,  and  buying  and 
selling  real  estate.  He  has  secured  an  ex- 
tensive clientage  and  does  considerable  busi- 
ness outside  of  tlie  state.  He  is  a  very  wide- 
awake, energetic  young  business  man  and 
carries  forward  to  a  successful  completion 
whatever  he  begins. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1892.  Mr  Juvin- 
all was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Helen 
Goodv\-ine,  a  native  of  this  county,  born  Au- 
gust 16,  1874,  and  educated  in  the  district 
schools.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John  Good- 
wine,  of  Potomac,  who  was  a  pioneer  set- 
tler of  the  countv-.  The  home  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children,  but  Dora  L.  died  in  infancv. 


The  others  are  Reggie  C.  and  Reuel  G., 
aged  respectively  seven  and  six  years.  The 
parents  are  active  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist church,  with  which  Mr.  Juvinall  has 
been  identified  for  ten  years.  He  has  served 
for  about  three  terms  as  trustee  of  the 
church  in  Pilot  township.  For  a  long  per- 
iod he  has  been  connected  with  missionary 
work  and  has  done  much  for  the  uplifting 
of  his  fellow  men  and  contributed  liber- 
ally to  the  support  of  th.e  gospel.  He  is  in- 
terested in  everything  pertaining  to  the  wel- 
fare and  progress  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives  and  is  one  of  the  standard 
bearers  of  the  Republican  party,  having  firm 
faith  in  its  principles.  Living  an  honor- 
able, upright  life,  reliable  in  business  and 
faithful  in  friendship,  Mr.  Juvinall  is  num- 
bered among"  the  prominent,  popular  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Danville. 


GEORGE  F.  HILLEARY. 

George  F.  Hilleary.  who  is  now  living 
on  section  2ic:'  Blount  township,  where  he 
owns  and  controls  a  rich  tract  of  land,  was 
born  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  September  7, 
1S40,  his  parents  being  Henry  and  Sarah 
(Boylen)  Hillear_\-.  The  father  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1812  and  the  mother's  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  same  state  in  18 16.  The  form- 
er was  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children  born 
unto  Osborne  ami  Ellen  (Hollenback)  Hil- 
learv',  nati\"es  of  \'irginia.  In  the  year  1830 
the  grandparents  with  their  family  emigrated 
westward  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  and  settled 
on  section  30.  Blount  township.  They  made 
the  journey  overland  in  a  covered  wagon 
called  a  "prairie  schooner."  and  it  required 
some  weeks"  travel  before  they  reached  their 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1  133 


destination.  Here  the  father  entered  eighty 
acres  of  land  from  the  government  and  he 
also  purchased  from  a  settler  a  tract  of  tim- 
herland,  all  of  which  he  cleared  w  ith  the  aid 
ol  his  sons.  His  hrst  home  was  a  log  cahin 
in  w'nich  was  a  puncheon  floor  and  at  one  end 
(if  the  huilding  was  an  immense  fireplace 
frum  which  the  smoke  made  its  egress 
through  a  clay  and  stick  chimney.  The 
family  raised  their  own  sheep  which  they 
sheared  and  then  spun  and  wo\'e  the  wnol 
into  cloth  from  which  were  made  the  gar- 
ments of  the  family.  The  suhject  of  this 
review  has  seen  his  mother  spin  flax  to  make 
thread.  The  grandparents  of  our  suhject 
both  died  in  Pdount  township.  .Ml  of  their 
nine  children  reached  mature  years.  In  his 
youth  the  father  of  our  subject  assisted  in  the 
de\'e'oi)ment  of  the  home  farm  and  after  ar- 
ri\ing  at  years  of  maturity  he  bought  a  traci 
of  land  on  section  3.  He  afterward  entered 
eighty  acres  of  timberland  and  in  the  midst 
of  the  forest  he  built  his  home.  Subseciuent- 
ly,  however,  he  sold  that  proeprty.  He  was 
a  cooper  by  trade  and  for  some  years  en- 
gaged in  Llie  manufacture  of  barrels  in  ad- 
dition to  farm  work.  In  Fulton  county.  Illi- 
nois, he  wedded  Sarah  Boylen,  and  unto  this 
union  were  born  four  children,  of  whom 
only  two  reached  years  of  maturity,  Helen 
dying  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  Our 
subject  is  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  fam- 
il\'.  The  father  died  in  1854  and  the  mother 
passed  away  in  April,  1864,  while  Helen 
Hilleary  died  in  tiie  same  month. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of 
George  V.  Hilleary  we  present  to  our  read- 
ers the  life  record  of  one  who  is  widely  and 
fa^-orably  known  in  this  county.  He  attend- 
ed the  subscription  scliools,  the  temple  of 
learning  being  a  log  building  furnished  with 
slab  seats,  while  a  jilank  ])laced  upon  pins 


driven  into  the  wall  served  as  a  writing  desk. 
The  huge  fireplace  occupied  one  entire  end 
of  the  room,  ami  greased  paper  served  in- 
steatl  of  glass  in  the  windows.  .\lr.  Ililleary 
was  a  student  in  that  school  for  nineteen 
days  and  after  attaining  his  majority  he  at- 
tended the  district  schools.  His  educational 
I)ri\ilcges,  howexer,  were  somewhat  limited, 
but  reading  antl  observation  ha\'e  made  him 
a  well  infiirmed  man.  During  the  summer 
months  he  workeil  upon  the  farm,  attending 
school  through  the  winter,  .\fter  he  put 
aside  his  text  books  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention was  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1865,  ]\Ir.  Hil- 
leary was  married  to  Aiiss  Sarah  Hilleary, 
who  was  born  in  this  county,  July  30,  1845, 
a  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine  (King) 
Hilleary.  who  were  natix'es  of  Ohio  and  be- 
can^iC  pioneer  settlers  of  ibis  section  of  Illi- 
nois. In  their  family  were  eight  children. 
The  marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  blessed  with  fi\e  chiklren.  and  the 
family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken  by  the 
hanil  of  death.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  j.  T. 
Snider,  of  Blount  township,  and  they  have 
three  children.  Oscar  1-.  married  Miss 
Warren,  by  whom  he  has  three  children,  and 
their  home  is  on  section  28.  Blount  town- 
ship. W.  B.,  a  resident  farmer  of  the  same 
township,  married  Miss  (uUteridge.  Bertha 
is  the  wife  of  John  Disard.  of  Oakwood 
tiiwnshi]).  by  whom  she  has  two  children. 
John  O.,  the  youngest  of  the  famil\'.  is  at 
home. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hilleary  settled 
on  section  4.  Blount  township,  where  he  be- 
gan farming  on  his  own  account,  using  a 
single  shovel  plow  to  cultivate  his  land.  He 
cut  hi-;  grain  with  a  sickle,  bound  his  wheat 
bv  h;md  and  rdso  planted  his  corn   in   that 


XI34 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


wav.  He  wciil  lu  mill  on  horseback,  taking 
■with  him  a  sack  of  corn,  which  he  would 
have  ground  and  then  return  home  with  the 
meal.  He  remembers,  too,  when  candles 
were  made  Ijy  dipping  the  wick  into  melted 
tallow  and  then  allowing  it  to  cool.  This 
process  was  repeated  again  and  again  until 
the  candle  had  become  of  sufficient  size,  and 
later  candle  molds  brought  into  use.  Mr. 
Hilleary  also  remembers  seeing  the  tires 
made  with  flint  and  tow,  and  when  they  had 
no  su4)]ily  of  those  materials  they  would  have 
to  go  to  a  neighbor  to  borrow  some  fire. 
Everything  was  primitix'e.  not  only  farm  im- 
plements, but  the  methods  of  life.  The 
cooking  was  done  over  a  fireplace,  the  pots 
and  kettles  hanging  from  an  iron  crane,  tlie 
1)rea(l  and  pies  baked  in  a  skillet  which  was 
covered  with  coals.  Mr.  Hilleary  w-ell  re- 
members the  first  cook  stove  used  in  the 
family.  Prairie  wolves  were  many  times 
killed  and  there  were  large  herds  of  deer 
roaming  at  will  over  the  prairies,  while 
prairie  chickens,  turkeys  and  other  wild 
game  were  to  be  had  in  abundance.  Chi- 
cago was  the  trading  point  at  a  very  early 
day,  but  as  the  years  passed  the  work  of 
progress  and  improvement  was  carried  on 
and  at  the  present  time  Vermilion  county 
not  only  ranks  as  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
cultural counties  of  this  great  common- 
wealth, but  in  its  midst  stands  one  of  the 
metropohtan  centers  of  the  state,  although 
Mr.  Hilleary  can  remember  when  the  hazel 
brush  grew  upon  the  site  of  Danville.  When 
the  town  contained  Ijut  few  houses  he  has 
hauled  corn  to  Danville,  selling  it  for  fifteen 
cents  per  bushel.  Now  lie  has  a  splendid 
farm  improved  with  all  modern  equipments, 
including  fine  macliinery.  There  are  good 
Ijuildings  upon  his  place  and  a  splendid 
orchard    furnishing   liim    large   supplies    of 


apples  and  pears.  He  also  raises  blackber- 
ries on  an  extensive  scale  and  his  corn  crop 
yields  aliout  forty  bushels  per  acre.  Mr. 
Hilleary  has  held  a  number  of  offices  includ- 
ing that  of  assessor  and  in  this  capacity 
ser\ed  nine  terms,  or  ten  years.  He  was  also 
supervisor  four  years  and  school  director 
about  fifteen  years,  and  at  the  present  time 
is  serving  as  supervisor.  A  citizen  of  worth, 
no  puljlic  trust  reposed  in  him  has  ever  been 
betrayed  in  the  slightest  manner  or  degree. 
He  is  ever  loyal  to  the  good  of  the  commun- 
ity, active  in  support  of  its  best  interests  and 
has  been  closely  identified  \\ith  the  upbuild- 
ing of  schools  and  churches.  He  holds 
membership  in  the  Methodist  church  with 
which  his  family  are  also  connected,  and  he 
is  now  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees. 


O.  B.  GRAVAT. 


Vermilion  county  owes  much  to  the  ef- 
forts and  lab(_irs  of  Oscar  B.  Gravat,  and 
no  history  of  this  portion  of  the  state  would 
be  complete  without  the  record  of  his  life. 
Pie  was  the  first  to  introduce  fruit-raising  as 
an  industry  into  this  portion  of  Illinois,  and 
to  demonstrate  the  possibilities  of  this  sec- 
tion as  a  horticultural  district.  In  this  way 
he  has  aided  both  directly  and  indirectly 
in  promoting  the  material  prosperity  of  his 
community.  At  the  same  time  he  has  had 
marked  influence  upon  the  moral  develop- 
ment and  has  l>een  the  friend  of  every  move- 
ment and  measure  calculated  to  promote  the 
general  good.  He  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Blount  township  and  resides 
on  section  14  where  he  has  a  farm  of  eighty - 
five  acres,  all  well  improved.  He  was  born 
in  this  towuiship,  June   16,   1841,  and  is  a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1135 


son  of  Aliraham  B.  and  Mary  M.  (Potter) 
Gravat,  the  former  a  native  of  New  Jersey 
and  the  latter  of  New  York.  The  fatlier 
made  the  journey  westward  overlantl  in  an 
old-time  "prairie  schooner,"  and  arrived 
here  when  the  land  was  wild  and  tmbrokai. 
There  was  not  a  house  or  a  fence  for  miles 
around  and  the  country  was  full  of  prairia 
wolves,  deer,  wild  turkeys  and  prairie  chick- 
ens. He  has  shot  wild  turkeys  upon  his 
own  place.  The  father  of  our  subject  en- 
tered three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land,  fourteen  miles  west  of  the  home  of 
our  subject,  paying"  twenty-five  cents  per 
acre  for  his  property.  He  began  improving 
this  but  his  health  failed  and  he  sold  out. 
This  land  is  worth  to-day  one  himdred  dol- 
lars per  acre.  J.^ter  he  purchased  a  portion 
of  the  present  farm  of  our  subject,  paying- 
six  dollars  per  acre.  In  the  early  days  he 
went  to  Perrysville  and  to  Covington,  Indi- 
ana, to  mill,  and  he  hauled  grain  and  apples 
to  Chicag-Q  across  a  country  which  was 
broken  up  by  many  sloughs  and  ponds.  It 
was  necessary  to  ford  the  river  for  no 
bridges  had  been  built,  and  to  camp  out  at 
night.  He  sold  his  corn  for  only  teti  cents 
per  bushel.  In  those  early  days  the  greater 
part  of  the  land  was  still  unclaimed,  al- 
though a  squatter  had  settled  here  and  there. 
The  first  home  of  the  Gravat  family  wias  a 
log  cabin,  and  the  barn  was  also  made  ni 
logs  and  harl  a  threshing  floor.  The  cloth- 
ing was  entirely  homemade  and  many  times 
our  subject  has  assisted  in  preparing  the 
flax  in  the  summer  and  the  wool  in  the  win- 
ter and  indeed  has  taken  his  turn  at  the  spin- 
ning wheels.  He  has  assisted  in  running 
off  spindles  with  swifts,  and  from  the  swift 
to  the  reel.  His  father  used  flint  and  tow 
in  making  a  fire  in  the  early  days  and  used 
grease  lamps  and  candles   for  illuminating 

48 


purposes.  O.  B.  Gravat  frequently  ^issisted 
in  making  candles  and  has  oftentimes  at- 
ten.ded  church  when  the  little  house  of  wor- 
ship was  lighted  by  candles  and  when  the 
preacher  would  go  around  with  snuffers  in 
order  to  brighten  the  light.  The  old  crane 
hung  over  the  fireplace  and  many  a  night 
Mr.  Gravat  has  studied  by  the  light  of  the 
fire.  The  early  settlers  would  also  tell  the 
time  of  day  by  a  mark  on  the  door,  the  hour 
being  estimated  by  the  shadow.  He  well 
remembers  the  first  clock  that  was  used  by 
his  father,  the  same  being  purchased  from 
a  peddler.  The  girls  in  those  early  days 
would  go  to  church,  carrying  their  shoes 
and  when  they  neared  the  building  would 
sit  dfjwn  upon  a  log  and  put  them  on,  and 
after  the  service  would  again  take  them  off, 
thus  practicing  economy.  Mr.  Gravat's 
father  haule<l  the  timber  to  build  the  first 
courthouse  of  Danville.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising man  and  was  among  those  who  as- 
sisted in  making  the  county  what  it  is  to- 
day. He  married  in  this  county  and  dietl 
about  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  while  his 
wife,  sur\'iving  him  for  some  years,  passed 
away  June  4,  1879.  In  their  family  were 
six  children:  R.  P.,  of  Oklahoma:  Mrs. 
Helen  English,  a  widow  of  Danville;  O.  B. ; 
Mrs.  Gelina  Straw,  of  Vermilion  county; 
John,  deceased;  and  Cynthia,  who  has  also 
passed  away. 

O.  B.  Gravat  received  but  a  common- 
.school  education,  but  has  largely  devoted  his 
time  to  the  reading  of  good  Ix3oks,  being 
a  man  of  literary  tastes.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-three  he  was  ordained  as  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  church,  but  has  never  be- 
coine  a  regular  minister,  although  he 
preached  at  one  church  for  four  years.  For 
over  thirty-three  years,  however,  he  has 
given  mucli  time  to  Christian  work,  filling 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


many  pulpits  in  the  absence  of  regn^ilar  past- 
ors. His  attention  has  been  hirgely  given  to 
farming  and  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  rais- 
ing stock  and  fruit.  I'or  a  quarter  of  a 
centun-  he  lias  devoted  much  attention  to 
horticulture  and  has  found  it  a  very  profit- 
able business.  To-day  lie  enjoys  the  credit 
of  raising  the  best  strawberries  that  enter 
the  Chicago  markets.  He  produced  one 
berry  that  measured  seven  inches  in  circum- 
ference and  they  averaged  from  four  to 
seven  inclies.  He  also  raises  blackberries 
in  large  quantities,  having  as  high  as  fifteen 
acres  planted  to  that  fruit.  He  brought 
the  first  grape  root  from  Missouri  to  this 
localitv  and  his  neighbors  laughed  at  him  for 
his  pains,  saying  that  fruit  could  not  be 
raised  in  this  country,  but  he  experimented 
with  this,  and  finding  that  it  could  be  raised 
and  that  excellent  qualities  could  be  pro- 
duced, he  entered  the  business  and  has  since 
carried  it  on  with  excellent  success.  He 
sold  the  first  quart  box  of  strawberries  ever 
placed  upon  the  Danville  market.  He  now 
devotes  his  attention  entirely  to  strawberries, 
raspberries,  pears,  peaches,  and  blackberries, 
and  because  of  size,  quality  and  flavor  his 
fruits  find  a  very  ready  sale  upon  the  market 
and  bring  to  him  an  excellent  financial  re- 
turn. When  he  first  began  selling,  all  fruit 
was  measured  out  in  quart  tins.  Mr.  Gravat 
certainly  deserves  great  credit  as  a  pioneer 
in  this  industry  in  \'ermilion  county,  his 
labors  proving  of  marked  benefit  to  his  fel- 
low men  who  have  followed  his  example 
and  devoted  their  energies  to  horticulture. 
He  now  has  an  established  trade  which  is 
bringing  to  him  an  excellent  income. 

When  Mr.  Gravat  took  up  his  present 
home  he  began  clearing  his  place  and  hauled 
the  lumber  for  the  erection  of  buildings. 
He  first    built    a  plank    house,  sixteen  by 


twenty  feet,  and  therein  kept  bachelor's  hall 
for  a  year.  He  was  then  married  to  Miss 
Caroline  Lankenship.  who  lived  for  only 
about  a  year  thereafter.  On  the  26th  day 
of  August,  1873,  '^"^  wedded  Sarah  Cheno- 
weth,  who  was  born  in  Fairfield  county, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth 
(Ladly)  Chenoweth,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Buckeye  state  and  came  to  this  county 
at  an  early  day  in  a  covered  wagon  drawn 
by  ox-teams.  It  took  them  three  weeks  to 
make  the  trip  from  Missouri,  and  they  set- 
tled at  Myers\ille.  Both  !Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chenoweth  now  reside  in  Danville,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children :  Mrs.  'M.  ].  Thomas, 
of  Fairchild  county.  Ohio;  Mrs.  Gravat; 
Mrs.  Dora  E.  Swisher,  of  Danville;  Sher- 
man G.,  of  Blount  township,  and  four  who 
have  passed  away.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gravat 
are  parents  of  the  following  children :  Char- 
He.  who  married  Gertrude,  a  daughter  of 
I.  O.  Fairchild,  and  has  one  daughter,  Lu- 
cile;  Ira.  Harley,  Ollie,  Howard.  Dessie, 
Ora.  Mabel  and  Clyde,  all  at  home;  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Gravat  is  familiar  with  pioneer  ex- 
periences and  can  relate  many  interesting 
incidents  concerning  early  life  in  Vermilion 
county.  He  was  often  engaged  in  hunting 
coons,  climbing  the  trees  for  them.  He  as- 
sisted in  felling  the  forests  and  breaking  the 
prairie,  working  with  a  single  shovel  plow. 
He  also  cut  grain  with  the  sickle  and  after- 
ward with  the  cradle.  In  early  days  he  was 
a  great  hunter  and  frequently  sold  coon  skins 
at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  apiece.  His 
ministerial  career  has  been  of  a  pioneer  kind. 
He  would  hold  meetings  and  then  return 
home  and  chop  wood,  after  which  he  would 
again  go  to  the  place  of  worship  to  preach. 
He  has  often  walked  five  miles  to  keep  a  min- 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1137 


isterial  ajipointineiit  and  in  tlie  early  days 
his  wife  would  frequently  ride  with  him  to 
church  on  horseback,  buggies  being  then  al- 
most unknown  in  this  locality.  Like  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Gravat  has  long  been  a  de- 
voted and  consistent  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  He  has  jjreached  many  funeral 
sermons  in  this  county  and  he  is  widely 
known  and  respected  for  his  fidelity  to  his  be- 
lief and  his  exemplary  life.  He  served  as  a 
school  director  for  many  years  and  has  been 
trustee  for  nine  years.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  Prohiliitionist.  the  cause  of  temiJer- 
ance  finding  in  him  a  warm  and  earnest 
friend.  Mr.  Gravat  has  always  been  loyal 
to  the  support  of  what  he  believed  would 
u])lift  his  fellow  men  and  promote  moral 
advancement :  in  business  affairs  has  ever 
been  found  honest  and  reliable,  as  well  as 
enterprising;  and  in  all  life's  relations  he  has 
e\er  Ijeen  true  to  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him.  His  example  is  indeed  well  worthy  of 
emulation  and  those  who  know  him  enter- 
tain for  him  high  regard. 


SAMUEL  MOORE,  M.  D. 

Four  years'  connection  with  the  medi- 
cal fraternity  of  Danville  has  been  sufficient 
to  demonstrate  to  the  residents  of  this  city 
that  Dr.  Samuel  Moore  is  well  equipped  for 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  that  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  principles  of  medicine  is  com- 
prehensive and  accurate  and  that  his  love  of 
scientific  research  is  supplemented  by  a  deep 
human  sympathy,  without  which  the  medi- 
cal practitioner  can  never  hope  to  gain  the 
best  results  or  the  highest  honors  in  his 
profession.  Dr.  Moore  is  yet  a  young  man 
but  few  have  undertaken  the  work  to  which 


he  is  dex'oting  his  energies,  better  qualified 
for  the  archu.ius  and  difficult  duties. 

The  Doctor  was  born  at  Coot  Hill,  in 
County  Cavan,  Ireland,  November  9,  1871, 
a  son  of  Hugh  and  Margaret  ( Roundtree) 
Moore,  who  were  natives  of  the  same  local- 
ity and  were  tliere  married.  The  father 
devoted  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Ireland  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1887,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in 
1898,  They  were  members  of  the  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  church  and  in  their  family 
were  seven  sons  and  six  daughters,  while 
eleven  of  the  family  are  yet  living,  namely : 
Alexander,  who  is  a  rector  of  the  Episcopal- 
ian church  and  resides  at  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land; Sarah,  the  wife  of  James  Mahood, 
of  County  Cavan,  Ireland ;  Jane,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  William  Wilson  and  after 
his  death  married  Thomas  McCulloch,  of 
County  Cavan ;  Mar}',  who  spent  some  time 
in  Germany,  then  li\ed  for  twelve  years  in 
France  and  is  now  a  high  school  teacher  of 
London,  England ;  James,  who  married 
Elizebeth  Reynolds  of  County  Ferman- 
agh, Ireland,  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, near  Coot  Hill,  Ireland;  Harriet,  the 
wife  of  James  Moore,  of  County  Cavan; 
William,  who  is  a  professor  in  Trinity  Col- 
lege of  Dublin;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  J. 
Stephenson,  of  Lancastershire,  County 
Monagan,  Ireland ;  Samuel ;  Hugh,  who  is 
chief  of  the  Cape  Colony  police  in  South 
Africa  and  was  in  the  English  army  in  the 
Boer  war;  Robert,  who  is  a  veterinarv  sur- 
geon connected  with  Trinity  College,  of 
Dublin ;  and  two  who  passed  away — John, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  months;  and 
Anna,  who  was  a  twin  sister  of  Jane  and 
died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

In  the  maternal  line  Dr.  Moore  can  trace 
his  ancestry  back  through  several  genera- 


II38 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


tions.  His  mother  was  a  daugliter  of  Alex- 
aiKler  Rouiultree,  of  Comptown.  County  Ca- 
van,  Ireland,  and  a  g-randdaughter  of  Jack 
Roundtree,  of  County  Cavan,  while  her 
great-grandfather  was  Charles  Roundtree, 
who  was  born  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland 
about  17TO.  In  1730  he  removed  to  Kill- 
igriffe  in  County  Meath.  His  wife  was 
Mollie  Coleman,  of  the  same  place.  The 
Doctor  has  relatives  in  various  parts  of  the 
workl  and  several  of  the  family  have  been 
quite  prominent  in  Cape  Colony. 

Nature  may  endow  one  with  mental 
capacity  or  possibilities,  but  specific  knowl- 
edge must  be  acquired  through  personal  ef- 
fort and  the  man  who  gains  prominence  in 
any  of  the  "learned  professions"  is  he  who 
labors  for  it.  Through  close  application 
Dr.  Moore  has  become  a  man  of  scholarly 
attainments.  His  education  was  begim  at 
Tullvrin.  an  endowed  schcwl  at  Coot  Hill, 
where  he  remained  until  thirteen  years  of 
age.  when  he  entered  school  in  County 
West  Meath.  Ireland,  where  he  spent  three 
years.  For  two  years  he  was  a  student  in 
the  Santar  school  of  Dublin — a  school  of 
the  Incorporated  Society  of  Ireland.  In 
•conjunction  with  this  he  spent  one  year  in 
the  Royal  University  of  Ireland.  He  won 
lunnerous  hrst-class  certificates  of  the  dif- 
ferent divisions  of  the  science  and  art  de- 
partment of  South  Kensington.  London. 
England,  reaching  the  fifth  stage  in  mathe- 
matics, with  honor  in  the  first  three 
and  the  fifth ;  also  received  certificates 
for  work  done  in  the  departments  of 
sound,  light  and  heat,  physical  geography, 
mathematics,  magnetism  and  electricity. 
He  also  took  the  three  courses — junior,  mid- 
dle and  senior — of  the  intermediate  educa- 
tion before  the  Board  of  Ireland,  winning 
the  honors  in  mathematics  in  all  three  di- 


visions, and  also  received  the  honors  in 
mathematics  in  the  Royal  University  of 
Ireland  and  honors  in  the  different  grades 
of  the  church  education  and  society  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  church  of  Ireland. 

In  1889  Dr.  Moore  came  to  America, 
landing  in  New  York  and  working  for  a 
time  in  various  capacities  in  that  city  antl 
in  Philadelphia,  attending  business  college 
in  the  latter  city  at  night  until  1894.  He 
then  entered  Park  College,  in  Parksville, 
Missouri,  where  he  remained  for  a  year 
pursuing  a  literar\-  course,  after  which  he 
entered  the  University  Medical  College  at 
Kansas  City,  Missouri,  where  he  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  1898.  Entering  upon 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Vemiilion  county, 
Illinois,  he  lias  for  four  years  remained  in 
I)ractice  here  and  his  constantly  increasing 
practice  already  extends  over  a  large  part 
of  the  countn,'  and  embraces  many  of  the 
best  homes  of  Danville.  He  is  thoroughly 
conversant  with  modem  methods  of  pro- 
ceedure  in  the  treatment  of  diseases  and  is 
continually  broadening  his  knowledge  by 
individual  research. 

The  Doctor  was  married  November  5, 
1902,  at  Xo.  1738  North  Twenty-first 
street,  in  Philadelphia,  to  Miss  May  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  W'icklow.  County  Wick- 
low,  Ireland,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and 
Elizabeth  (Summers)  Smith,  who  were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  County  \\'ick- 
low  and  in  1889  came  to  Philadelphia.  In, 
early  life  a  blacksmith,  years  of  labor  marked 
his  transition  into  a  retired  capitalist.  He 
lived  for  two  years  in  this  country^  and  died 
December  29.  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine 
\ears,  and  his  widow  still  resides  in  Phila- 
delphia. In  their  family  were  the  following 
named:  Letitia.  the  wife  of  William  G. 
M;iN\vell.   of   Dublin.    Ireland;   Edward    B., 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


"39 


\\ho  died  in  1896;  Mrs.  Moure:  Myrtle  K., 
of  Philadelphia ;  Jeremiah  Matthew,  who 
was  married  May  31.  iyo2,  to  Mary  AU- 
Caffery,  of  Philadelphia:  and  Geors^e  C"., 
an  engraver  of  I'ittshnrg'.  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Moore  holds  memhership  in  the 
Modern  Woodmen  Camp,  the  t'onrt  of 
Honor,  the  Fraternal  Trihnne,  the  l\o\al 
Circle,  and  the  Fraternal  Army.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  an  avowed  Repnhlican,  and  he  he- 
loncfs  to  the  First  Presbyterian  chnrch  of 
Danville,  while  his  wife  holds  memhership 
in  the  First  Episcopal  clinrch.  He  is  ex- 
;nniner  for  various  fraternal  and  insurance 
societies  and  in  the  line  of  his  ])rofession 
he  is  connected  with  the  \'ermilion  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  State  ]\ledical  So- 
ciety. Xot  yet  in  the  prime  of  life  he  has 
already  attained  marked  success  in  his 
chosen  calling,  uhich  argues  well  for  the  fu- 
ture. 


ROBERT  H.  SMITH. 

Robert  H.  Smith,  one  of  the  luost  ex- 
tensi\e  and  prosperous  farmers  and  land 
owners  of  \'crniilion  county,  was  born  May 
22,  185S,  in  this  county,  a  son  of  John 
Smith,  whose  birth  occurred  in  England 
The  mother  of  our  subject  l)ore  the  maiden 
name  of  Adaline  Moorehc<'i(l  and  was  Imrn 
in  \'irginia.  They  were  married  in  X'ermil- 
ion  county  and  Ijecame  the  parents  of  four 
children,  of  whom  Robert  was  the  third. 
The  father  had  come  to  -\merica  in  1836. 
He  was  only  twelve  vears  of  age  when  he 
landed  in  this  country  and  in  England  imd 
in  the  United  States  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  thus  acquiring-  his  education. 
For  a  year  he  resided  in  New  "N'ork  and  then 
came  to  \'ermilion   county,   Illinois,   where 


he  remained  for  a  year,  after  which  he 
a,gain  spent  a  \car  in  the  lunpire  .state,  re- 
luming to  this  counlv  in  1843.  lie  was 
then  al)out  liftecn  years  of  age,  but  he  pos- 
sessed great  strength  of  character  and  de- 
termination, as  is  shown  bv  the  trips  he 
m;idc  to  and  from  \'ermilion  countv  and 
the  business  ability  he  manifested  in  various 
ways.  On  returning  here  in  1843  he  lo- 
cated in  .Midillefork  township  and  soon  af- 
terwards ])urchased  forty  acres  of  land  for 
which  he  paid  one  dollar  and  a  half  per 
acre.  It  was  all  raw  land,  not  a  furrow 
having  been  turned  or  an  improxciuent  made 
upon  it,  but  he  at  once  began  to  break  it 
and  |)laced  it  uufler  cultivation  and  from 
time  to  time  he  added  to  his  farm  as  his  capi- 
tal increased  until  he  owned  more  than  five 
thousand  acres.  He  was  instrumental  in 
])lacing'  under  cultivation  and  improving  as 
much,  if  not  more,  land  than  anv  other  one 
man  in  this  jiart  of  the  county  and  thus  he 
was  an  imjiortant  factor  in  tlie  upbuilding 
of  his  section  of  tlie  state.  In  the  early 
clays  he  endured  many  hard.ships  and  diffi- 
culties but  he  persevered  in  his  work,  al- 
though he  had  to  haul  his  grain  long  dis- 
tances to  market  and  then  receive  but  small 
])ay  for  his  products.  He  brought  the  first 
])low  to  the  locality  and  he  used  oxen  in 
breaking  prairie.  His  first  home  was  a  log 
ca.bin.  of  small  size  and  in  it  he  and  his  es- 
timable wife  reared  their  family,  living  in 
that  way  for  many  years  until  his  financial 
resources  permitted  him  to  construct  a  more 
comniodions  dwelling,  which  house  is  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  James  Leonard. 
.\bout  three  years  prior  to  his  death  he 
erected  a  residnce  in  Potomac  and  there 
s])ent  his  remaining  days.  For  fifty  years 
he  was  a  devoted  meitiber  of  the  Methodist 
church,  took  an  active  interest  in  relig^ious 


1 140 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


work  and  contributed  liberally  to  the  support 
of  the  church  and  the  extension  of  its  in- 
fluence. In  political  views  he  was  a  Repub- 
lican and  he  served  as  school  director  and 
as  steward  of  the  church.  He  was  about 
twenty-three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  and  of  this  union  were  born 
four  children:  Martha  J.,  who  became  tlie 
wife  of  William  Kuykendall ;  Allen  G. ; 
Robert  H.  and  Laura  J.,  who  is  the  wife 
of  L.  S.  Hoklerman.  The  mother  died  in 
1886  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years  and  the 
father  passed  away  February  11.  1902,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  The  county 
certainly  owes  to  him  a  debt  of  gratitude 
f(jr  what  he  accomplished  in  its  behalf  in  the 
way  of  reclaiiuing  the  wild  land  for  pur- 
poses of  civilization  and  in  opening  up  this 
district  to  development,  progress  and  im- 
provement. 

Robert  H.  Smith  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  his  town- 
ship and  there  the  period  of  his  youth  was 
passed,  assisting  his  father  until  about 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
farming  on  his  own  account.  He  marrie(l 
November  6,  1889,  to  Miss  Alice  F.  Sev- 
erns,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank 
Severns.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Ohio.  In  their  family  were  seven  children 
and  the  father  died  in  Ohio  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years,  while  the  mother  is  still 
living  in  that  state.  He  was  a  dealer  in 
agriculural  implements  and  also  carried  on 
farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  mar- 
ried in  Celina,  Ohio,  and  unto  them  have 
been  born  four  children  ;  Adeline :  Leota  ; 
John  Franklin,  who  was  born  January  8, 
1888,  and  died  November  i.  1902;  and 
Martha  Lucile. 

Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  busi- 
ness career  Mr.  Smith  has  been  engaged  in 


the  raising,  buying  and  selling  of  stock. 
It  has  been  his  principal  occupation  and  his 
efforts  have  been  attended  with  a  high  de- 
gree of  success.  In  1901  he  purchased  land 
to  the  extent  of  four  hundred  acres  located 
in  Pilot  township.  This  he  afterward  sold 
and  purchased  four  hundred  acres  just  op- 
posite his  home.  Upon  this  is  a  good  race- 
track, which,  in  addition  to  four  acres  of 
land,  he  sold  to  his  brother.  He  also  owns 
one  thousand  acres  in  this  county,  which  he 
inherited  froiu  his  father.  In  the  controll- 
ing of  his  business  affairs  and  in  enlarging 
his  operations  he  shows  excellent  business 
ability  and  it  is  therefore  but  the  legitimate 
result  of  liis  IalK)rs  that  he  is  continually  in- 
creasing his  capital. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  stalwart  Republican  in 
politics  and  believes  firmly  in  the  principles 
of  his  party,  which  he  labors  earnestly  to 
introduce  into  the  active  affairs  affairs  of 
life.  His  beautiful  home,  which  was  built 
of  brick  at  a  cost  of  eleven  thousand  dol- 
lars, was  erected  in  1896  and  is  one  of  the 
most  attractive  residences  of  the  countv. 


GEORGE  W.  PURNELL. 

George  \\'.  Purnell,  who  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  on  Logan  avenue,  Danville, 
but  for  more  than  twenty  years  was  one  of 
the  active  and  thrifty  farmers  of  Oakwood 
township,  owning  and  operating  two  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  acres  of  valuable  land, 
dates  his  residence  in  Vermilion  county 
from  December,  1871.  He  was  born  in 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  February  13, 
183.1.  His  father,  Samuel  Purnell,  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  was  born  in  November, 
1797.  and  came  of  English  ancestry.     \Vhen 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1141 


a  child  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Kentucky  and  was  there  reared 
to  manhood.  In  that  state  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Price,  a  native  of  Fleming  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  order  to  provide  for  his  family 
he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  and  also 
carried  on  carpentering  and  shoemaking. 
Several  children  were  added  to  the  house- 
hold during  the  residence  of  the  family  in 
Kentucky.  In  1838  Mr.  Puruell  took  his 
wife  and  children  to  Fountain  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  entered  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment, his  patent  bearing  the  signature  of 
Martin  Van  Buren,  then  president  of  the 
United  States.  I\Ir.  Purnell  cut  down  the 
trees,  cleared  the  land  and  thus  opened  up 
a  good  farm  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness. 
There  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  His  wife  survived  him  to 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-one  years,  dying 
about  1888.  George  \V.  Purnell  is  one  of 
a  family  of  five  sons  and  four  daughters  and 
with  the  exception  of  one  son  all  reached  ma- 
ture years.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  yet  living,  the  brother  of  our  subject  be- 
ing Francis  M.  Purnell,  of  Fountain  county, 
Indiana. 

George  W.  Purnell  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  home  farm  and  received  but 
limited  school  privileges,  attending  only  dur- 
ing the  wuiter  months,  while  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  year  he  worked  in  field  and 
meadow,  as  the  work  of  plowing,  planting 
and  harvesting  progressed.  He  is  almost 
entirely  self-educated  and  is  likewise  a  self- 
made  man.  After  his  father's  deatli  he 
boitght  out  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in 
the  old  homestead  and  further  improved  the 
land  and  developed  a  farm.  He  cleared  one 
hundred  acres  of  heavy  timber  land  and 
built  a  neat  and  substantial  house.     He  also 


]5lante(l  fruit  trees  and  cultivated  his  fields, 
making  a  valuable  farm,  which  he  continued 
to  cultivate  until  1871.  He  then  sold  the 
old  homestead  and  came  to  Illinois,  .settling 
in  X'ermilion  county,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  two  lunulred  and  forty-seven  acres, 
lying  in  Oakwood  township.  He  began  to 
further  improve  this  property,  built  a  good 
residence,  fenced  and  tileil  the  place  and 
made  other  substanti;d  improvements,  and 
now  his  fields  yield  to  him  golden  harvests 
in  return  for  his  labors,  b'or  twenty  years 
he  successfully  continued  to  cullixale  bis 
farm,  thereby  acciuiring  a  comfortable  com- 
petence which  now  enables  him  to  live  re- 
tired. Leaving  his  farm  he  resided  for  three 
years  in  Muncie  and  in  1899  came  to  Dan- 
ville, where  he  purchased  a  neat  and  sul> 
stantial  residence  in  which  he  is  now  living 
retired. 

]\Ir.  Puruell  has  lieen  twice  married.  In 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in  1854.  he  wed- 
ded Nancy  Henry,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  was  reared  in  Bracken  county.  She 
died  in  Oakwood  township.  Vermilion  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  1893.  Of  the  six  children 
born  unto  them  four  are  yet  living :  Joseph 
Sanuiel,  a  farmer  of  this  county:  Elijah  A., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  Mun- 
cie: John  F...  a  business  man  of  Danville; 
and  William  F.,  a  dentist  of  Petersburg,  In- 
diana. Emma  J.,  the  first  Ijorn,  died  in 
childhood  and  F.ldora  !•"..  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  In  Mtmcie.  in  1896,  Mr.  Purnell 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Tenebaugh,  a 
widow,  who  was  born  in  this  county  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Maxwell  Scott,  who  came 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  pioneer  times.  She 
was  reared  and  educateil  in  X'ermilion 
county  and  first  gave  her  hand  in  marriage 
to  I.  P.  Tenebaugh,  also  an  early  settler  of 
Illinois,  who  came  here  from  Virginia. 


1 142 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Politically  Mr.  I'urnell  is  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, having  supported  that  party  since 
lie  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  John 
C.  Fremont  in  1856.  He  lias  never  sought 
or  wanted  oflice.  preferring  to  give  his  time 
to  his  farm  and  business.  He  did  serve, 
however,  for  a  few  years  as  commissioner 
of  highways  and  was  township  school  trus- 
tee fov  nine  years.  He  and  his  wife  are  act- 
ive members  of  the  Christian  church  of 
Danville  in  which  he  is  serving  as  a  dea- 
con, taking  a  helpful  part  in  tlie  church 
work  and  doing  everything  in  his  power 
to  extend  the  growth  and  influence  of  the 
church.  His  life  history  illustrates  in  a 
marked  degree  what  may  be  accomplished 
by  well  directed  efforts  and  a  strict  adher- 
ence to  correct  business  principles. 


R.    R.    \\'ORTHlNGTON,   M.  D. 

Dr.  K.  R.  W^orthington,  who  in  the  suc- 
cessful practice  of  his  profession  in  Indian- 
ola  is  giving  evidence  of  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  his  work  and  of  the  accurate 
application  of  medical  principles  to  the 
needs  of  suffering  humanity,  was  born  at 
l-'ern  Leaf,  Mason  county,  Kentucky, 
August  15,  1S52,  and  is  a  son  of  General 
and  Sally  (Runyon)  \\^orthington,  both  of 
whom  were  nati\es  of  Kentucky  and  were 
there  married.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  also  engaged  in  speculating  in  hogs 
and  tobacco.  He  gave  his  political  support 
to  the  Whig  party  and  several  times  rep- 
resented his  district  in  the  state  legislature. 
In  addition  to  this  he  held  a  number  of 
township  and  county  offices.  He  was  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  prominent  and  influ- 
ential  residents    of    his  part   of   the   state, 


leaving  the  imjiress  of  his  individuality  f(jr 
good  upon  public  progress  and  iinprove- 
ment.  .\n  exemplary  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Church  of  Christ,  he  commanded  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  wdiom  he 
came  in  contact.  He  died  in  1862  and  is 
still  sur\ived  by  his  widow,  who  resides  in 
Mason  count)'.  Kentucky.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children,  but  only  two  are  liv- 
ing— the  Doctor  and  Love,  now  the  wife  of 
John  R.  Thompson,  of  Mason  county,  Ken- 
tucky. 

Dr.  W'orthington  attended  the  Franklin 
Seminary,  of  Mason  county,  and  afterward 
became  a  student  in  Minerva  College.  Tak- 
ing up  the  study  of  medicine  he  matriculated 
in  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio,  in  wdiich  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1874.  He 
then  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Catlin, 
where  he  practiced  for  a  short  time,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Indianola  where  in 
connection  with  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  he  is  also  conducting  a  pharmacy. 
His  success  has  come  to  him  in  recognition 
of  his  merit  and  his  thorough  understand- 
ing of  the  work  to  which  he  devotes  his  en- 
ergies. He  is  examiner  for  many  lodges 
and  insurance  societies  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Medical  Association  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty. As  his  financial  resources  have  increased 
he  has  made  judicious  investments  in  real 
estate,  and  now  owns  some  good  city  prop- 
erty in  Indianola. 

On  the  23d  of  December.  1879,  in  this 
l)lace.  Dr.  W'orthington  was  married  to 
Miss  Laura  Lavine  McMillan,  who  was 
born  in  X'ermilion  county,  February  i,  i860. 
Her  father,  AV'illiam  McMillan,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  March  14,  1810,  and 
wedded  Mary  Jane  Hill,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Crawford,  Pennsylvania,  in  1834. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


•'43 


They  were  iiiarricil  in  Wasliingtnn  ci>unly. 
ill  tlie  Keystone  state,  September  i,  1843. 
Mr.  ^[cMillan  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  also  conducted  a  hotel.  In  1856 
he  removed  to  \'ernii!ioii  county.  Polit- 
ically he  was  a  Democrat,  and  t'lllcd  the  of- 
fice of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  he  belonged 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mrs.  W'orthing- 
ton  was  one  of  a  family  of  si.K  children:  J. 
T.,  a  lumber  merchant  of  Danville;  J.  A.  of 
Indianola;  Ortie  Lissie,  the  wife  of  Simon 
Snyder,  who  is  living  near  Philo,  Illinois : 
Mrs.  W'orthington ;  Sanford,  who  died  in 
infancy;  and  William  H.,  of  Indianola. 
Unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  W'orthington  have  I)een 
born  four  children :  Samuel  Lester,  who  is 
teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Indianola; 
Chester  A.,  who  is  attending  school;  Anna 
Love  and  Hazel.  The  Doctor  belongs  to 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  Vot- 
ing with  tbe  Democracy  he  has  served  in 
some  ofticial  positions,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education,  the  mayor  of 
Indianola  and  county  supervisor,  holding 
each  position  for  several  terms  and  discharg- 
ing his  duties  with  marked  fidelity,  so  that 
over  the  record  of  his  pulilic  career  there 
falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion  of 
evil.  A  leading  member  of  the  Church  of 
Christ,  he  is  serving  as  one  of  its  elders. 


E.  B.  WILI.ISOX. 

E.  B.  Willi.son,  who  has  served  as  po.st- 
master  of  Indianola  since  1896,  was  born 
in  \'ermilion  county,  June  7,  1854,  a  son 
of  E.  B.  Willison,  whose  Ijirth  occurred  in 
Maryland  in  1804.  The  father  engaged  in 
farming  and  carpentering,  his  home  being 


line  mile  sdulliwest  of  indianola  where  he 
entered  land  from  the  government,  living 
there  from  1850  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
March  8,  1882,  In  politics  he  was  an  earn- 
est Rei)ublican  and  ca|)al)ly  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  while  in  the  Baptist  church,  in 
which  he  was  a  member,  he  held  the  office  of 
deacon.  He  was  twice  married  and  by  his 
first  union  had  three  children,  of  whom  two 
are  _\et  li\ing:  James,  a  resident  of  Okla- 
homa; and  Coyel,  who  is  living  in  Wichi- 
ta, Kansas.  By  the  second  marriage  tliere 
were  five  children:  Nancy,  the  wife  of 
Robert  Mclntyre,  of  Van  Buren,  Arkansas ; 
E.  B. ;  Joseph,  of  Burton,  Kansas;  Eleanor, 
of  Cambridge.  Kansas;  and  Deborah,  the 
wife  of  William  liowdery,  of  Watonga, 
Oklahoma. 

}{.  B.  Willison  began  his  education  in  the 
Willison  schoolhouse  which  stood  on  his  fa- 
ther's land,  and  later  entered  the  Wesley 
school.  He  usually  attended  school  for 
about  three  months  during  the  winter,  while 
in  the  summer  season  he  worked  upon  the 
home  farm.  He  was  married  October  24, 
1876.  at  Ridgefarm.  to  Miss  Martha  Ellen 
Lough,  who  was  born  in  West  Virginia,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Williams) 
Lough.  Her  parents  were  married  and  lo- 
cated in  West  Virginia  and  at  the  time  of 
the  Civil  war  came  to  Ridgefarm,  Illinois. 
Here  the  father  purchased  land  and  later 
traded  his  farm  for  town  property  in  Ridge- 
farm where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death.  In  his  younger  years  he  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  and  in  his  political  belief  was 
a  Republican.  His  wife  passed  away  in 
1900.  when  living  with  our  subject.  Mrs. 
Willison  was  of  a  family  of  two  sisters  and 
three  brothers:  Fannie,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Ilendcr.soii,  of  Nebraska;  John  and  Charles, 


1144 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


who  reside  in  Nebraska ;  Calvin,  wlio  is  liv- 
ing in  Sidell,  Illinois,  and  Mrs.  Willison. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  \\'illison  re- 
moved to  the  home  of  Thomas  Roach,  there 
li\ing  uniil  the  following  spring  when  he 
took  up  his  abode  upon  the  old  family 
homestead  which  has  since  been  his  place  of 
residence.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  and  five  acres  of  city 
property  in  Indianola,  also  a  general  store. 
He  likewise  is  proprietor  of  a  large  depart- 
ment store  at  Sidell  and  has  a  business 
block  at  the  corner  of  ]^Iain  and  Franklin 
streets  in  Danville  He  also  has  a  house  and 
lots  on  Roljinson  street  in  that  city  and  his 
landed  possessions  include  one  hundred  ami 
sixty  acres  in  Camden  county,  Kansas,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Georgia.  In 
his  business  undertakings  .Mr.  Willison  has 
prospered,  ^^'hatever  he  begins  he  carries 
forward  to  successful  completion,  and  he  is 
a  man  of  resourceful  business  ability.  He 
recognizes  not  only  the  possibilities  of  the 
moment,  but  also  the  opportunities  of  the 
future,  and  has  so  conducted  his  labors  as 
to  win  creditable  and  gratifying  success.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican  and  in 
September,  1896,  he  was  appointed  post- 
master, in  which  capacity  he  has  since 
served.  He  was  formerly  supervisor  of 
Carroll  township,  although  it  is  a  Demo- 
cratic stronghold,  and  he  occupied  that  posi- 
tion for  several  terms, — a  fact  which  indi- 
cates his  personal  popularity  and  the  trust 
reposed  in  him  l)y  his  fellow  townsmen. 
He  has  filled  other  minor  offices,  all  of 
which  have  found  in  him  a  worthy  incum- 
bent. 

Mr.  \\'illison  and  his  wife  are  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children:  Zula  is  the  wife  of 
George  Cole,  of  Indianola,  and  they  have 
one  daughter,  Thelma.     The  other  members 


of  tile  family  are.  Floy,  ]\Iary,  Blaine,  Gol- 
die,  Eskie  and  Joy.  The  parents  hold  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  church,  giving  to  it 
a  generous  support  and  taking  an  active  part 
in  its  upbuilding,  and  for  ten  years  'Sir. 
Willison  has  been  superintendent  of  the 
Sundav-school. 


GEORGE     HARRISON. 

George  H^.rrison,  who  resides  near 
Hope,  Illinois,  was  bom  in  Yorkshire, 
England  in  1822.  His  father  was  a  shep- 
herd in  that  country  for  more  than  a  half 
century.  In  early  life  the  subject  of  this 
review  engaged  in  farming  work  and  for 
six  years  hauled  goods  from  the  wharf  to 
the  city  of  Barnsley.  England.  In  1845  '""^ 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Rachel  Murga- 
troyd.  also  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  torn  in 
1824.  They  remained  in  England  for  about 
six  years  after  their  marriage  and  then 
sought  a  home  in  the  new  world,  crossing 
the  Atlantic  in  the  sailing  vessel  "Levi  Ha- 
sen,"  which  carried  four  hunilred  and  thirty 
passengers  and  was  se\-en  weeks  and  four 
days  upon  the  voyage.  Captain  Knapp  being 
in  command.  At  length  their  anchor  was 
dropped  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  and 
M^r.  and  Airs.  Harrison  made  their  way  to 
Dunkirk,  that  state,  where  they  lived  for 
sixteen  years,  his  attention  being  given  to 
hauling  wood  and  to  farriiing. 

The  year  1867  witnessed  the  arri\al  of 
Mr.  Harrison  in  Vermilion  county.  He 
purchased  land  in  Pilot  township  on  section 
34,  and  here  he  yet  owns  one  hundreil  and 
ten  acres.  He  lived  upon  that  farm  until 
1807,  when  he  removed  to  the  home  of  his 
widowed  daughter,  who  lives  on  section  35. 

In  the  familv  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1 145 


were  ten  children,  of  whom  six  still  sur\i\e: 
G.  H.,  now  a  resident  of  Gifford,  lllinciis: 
Uretta,  who  is  the  widow  of  Jesse  Collison 
and  with  her  Mr.  Harrison  is  living;  Thom- 
as, of  Kankakee;  Sophia,  the  wife  of  James 
Stuckey,  of  Pilot  township;  Rachel,  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Keys  ;  and  Dina,  the  wife  of 
Charles  Douglas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harrison 
also  have  fifteen  grandchildren  and  fnur 
great-grandchildren  and  one  of  their  grand- 
children operates  the  old  home  farm.  Both 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  long  been 
earnest  members  of  the  Christian  church 
and  in  politics  he  has  been  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican since  the  organization  of  the  part\-. 
For  six  terms  he  served  as  school  director 
and  the  cause  of  education  has  ever  found  in 
him  a  worthy  frienil.  The  country  was  wild 
and  unimproved  when  he  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  there  being  only  two  houses  within 
sight  of  his  home.  Plenty  of  wild  game  was 
to  be  had  and  there  was  no  market  or  trad- 
ing ])lace  nearer  than  Danville  and  Rantoul. 
With  the  work  of  improvement  and  pro- 
gress Mr.  Harrison  has  been  active  and  has 
ever  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  general 
good  and  the  upbuilding  of  his  community. 
He  is  now  eighty  years  of  age  and  his  wife 
seventy-eight  years  old  and  this  venerable 
cou])lc  are  respected  and  esteemed  by  all 
with  whom  they  have  been  brought  in  con- 
tact for  their  lives  have  ever  been  lionorable 
and  upright. 


ALFRED    ALLISON. 

Alfred  Allison  is  a  respected  citizen  of 
Danville  whose  life  work  jjroves  what  arc 
the  business  possibilities  offered  in  Vermil- 
ion county  to  men  of  laudable  ambition  and 
strong,    honorable    purpose.      He    has    at- 


tained a  place  aiuong  the  wealthy  citizens  of 
this  portion  of  the  state  ami  his  advancement 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  Mr.  Al- 
lison was  born  in  Harrison  county.  Ken- 
tuck}-.  June  24,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  Otho 
Allison,  who  was  a  farmer  and  also  a  miller. 
In  an  early  day  he  removed  from  Indiana])- 
olis,  Indiana,  his  son  Alfred  being-  at  that 
time  only  a  year  old.  When  the  son  was 
three  years  old  the  father  came  to  Vermilion 
county,  Illinois,  with  his  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife,  eleven  sons  and  two  daughters. 
Five  of  this  number  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Mrs.  Daniels,  George,  Phomas  Jefferson, 
William  Phili])  and  Isaac.  L^pon  coming 
to  this  count}-  the  father  entered  a  claim  of 
one  hnudred  and  twenty  acres,  live  miles 
from  Danville,  in  Xewell  township.  This 
comprised  eighty  acres  of  ]-)rairie  land  and 
forty  acres  of  timlocr  land  and  it  was  still 
in  the  condition  in  which  it  came  from  the 
hand  of  nature,  for  not  a  furrow  had  been 
tin-ned  or  an  improvement  made  upon  the 
place.  Danvdle  at  that  time  had  not  been 
laid  out  and  when  it  was  started  there  was 
a  contest  for  the  county  seat,  Danville  win- 
ning by  a  \ote  of  three,  this  being  due  to  the 
fact  that  it  was  situated  on  the  \"ermilion 
river  which  many  thought  wouUl  prove  an 
advantage.  During  his  boyhood  days  Al- 
fred .\llison  accompanied  his  father  on  a 
trip  to  Chicago  where  they  saw  the  Indians 
paid  off  after  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  also 
saw  the  first  brick  building  ever  erected  in 
Jiat  citv.  .\  picture  of  his  surroundings  in 
pioneer  ilays  would  present  the  early  his- 
tory of  Vermilion  county.  He  has  seen  as 
many  as  sixteen  yoke  of  oxen  hauling  one 
wagiMi  across  the  swamps.  Then  the  land 
was  crossed  and  re-crossed  by  sloughs  which 
made  the  n^ads  almost  im])assal)le.  The 
menibers    of    the    fan-iilv  wore  home-made 


1 146 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


clr.iliiiio-  and  they  first  lived  in  a  little  log^ 
cabin  which  was  situated  at  the  edge  of  the 
limber.  The  food  was  cooked  over  the  fire- 
place and  the  smoke  made  its  egress  through 
a  chimney  built  on  the  outside  of  the  house. 
The  barn  was. also  built  of  hewed  logs. 
Fii^es  were  made  without  the  use  of  matches, 
for  that  now  seemingly  essential  article  of 
tiie  household  bad  not  then  been  invented. 
The  spinning  wheel  was  found  in  every  home 
and  the  members  of  the  Allison  family  spun 
and  wove  tlax  and  made  their  own  thread 
and  clothing.  They  also  manufactured  rope 
which  was  used  for  lines  in  driving  the 
horses.  The  first  plow  which  Mr.  Allison 
remembers  had  a  wooden  moldboard  and 
the  corn  was  cultivated  with  a  single  shovel, 
(irain  was  cut  with  a  sickle  and  afterward 
the  cradle  came  into  use,  and  at  the  time  of 
earlv  spring  planting  corn  was  dropped  by 
hand  and  covered  with  a  hoe.  The  school 
was  held  in  a  log  cabin  which  Mr.  Allison 
attended  during  the  winter  months  wdiile 
in  the  summer  he  labored  in  the  fields. 

On  the  i8tb  of  January,  1844,  when  m 
his  nineteenth  year,  Alfred  Allison  was  mar- 
ried to  Cornelia  N.  Clapp,  who  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  was  to  him  a  faithful 
companion  aufl  helpmate  on  life's  journey 
for  many  years,  but  her  death  occurred  Feb- 
ruarv  13,  1900.  In  the  meantime,  however, 
they  had  celebrated  their  golden  wedding, 
living  together  for  fifty-six  years.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eleven  children  :  Otho, 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Missouri ; 
Mary,  the  deceased  wife  of  George  Woods; 
Louis,  of  Dakota;  George  L.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  li\ed  in  Missouri;  George,  who  is 
also  married  and  lives  in  that  state;  Barbara, 
the  wife  of  Cicero  Allison,  of  Alvin.  Illi- 
nois ;  Emma,  the  wife  of  Aleck  Patrick,  who 
for  eight  rears  has  served  as  countv  sher- 


ifl"  in  Nebraska;  .Mfred  J.,  who  lives  in  Al- 
vin, and  married  Miss  Price,  a  daughter  of 
the  man  who  carried  the  first  mortar  used 
in  the  erection  of  the  first  brick  house  in  Chi- 
cago; Thomas  Jefferson,  who  is  married 
and  lives  in  Danville;  Daniel,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  is  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel  in  Al- 
vin; and  Lloyd  P.,  also  of  this  county.  All 
the  children  recei\ed  liberal  literary  educa- 
tional privileges  and  were  also  provided 
with  instruction  in  music.  Some  of  the 
sons  ha\'ing  been  away  from  home  for  sev- 
eral years,  upon  their  return  a  grand  re- 
union of  the  family  was  held  and  it  proved 
a  most  enjoyable  occasion.  Mr.  Allison  has 
been  a  second  time  married,  having  on  the 
14th  of  January,  1903,  in  Danville,  wedded 
Mrs.  Emma  Rice,  a  daughter-in-law  of  J.  J. 
Rice,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Pilot  township, 
\'ermilion  county. 

J""or  many  years  Mr.  Allison  was  an  act- 
ive factor  in  the  agricultural  and  stock-rais- 
ing interests  of  this  portion  of  Illinois.  He 
began  his  domestic  life  in  a  log  cabin  and 
thus  lived  until  he  could  secure  better  ad- 
vantages. He  drove  oxen  to  the  breaking 
plow,  felled  the  forest  trees  and  cleared 
away  the  brush,  this  work  largely  occupy- 
ing his  attention  for  about  eleven  years.  At 
first  he  was  the  owner  of  four  yoke  of  cat- 
tle, but  be  perse\'ered  in  his  work  until  his 
labors  had  brought  him  capital  sufficient  to 
pay  for  ninety-one  acres  of  land.  This  he 
improved  and  from  time  to  time  he  added  to 
it  until  he  owned  se\en  hundred  acres  com- 
]jrised  within  a  number  of  valuable  farms 
located  in  difl'erent  parts  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty and  some  were  situated  upon  the  state 
line.  Eventually  he  sold  three  hundred 
acres  of  his  land  for  twelve  thousand  dollars 
and  later  he  purchased  the  Braden  farm  a 
half  mile  from  Alvin.     There  he  engaged  in 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


114; 


general  fanning  and  stock-raising,  making 
a  specialty  of  keeping  only  high  grade 
stock.  He  vas  always  a  lover  of  fine  horses 
and  has  ever  owned  some  excellent  speci- 
mens of  the  noble  steed.  He  now  owns  a 
thoroughbred  stallion  and  he  bred  nine  hun- 
dred and  sixty-four  colts  in  eight  years, 
traveling  in  that  time  sixteen  thousand  sev- 
en hundred  and  eighty-four  miles  in  a  cir- 
cuit. He  has  Ijred  as  high  as  one  hundred 
and  eightv-eight  colts  in  one  season.  Aft- 
er li\ing  upon  his  farm  near  Alvin  for  some- 
time he  remo\ed  to  Alvin  and  he  now  makes 
his  home  in  Uanville.  He  owns  city  prop- 
erty here  and  he  also  has  eleven  acres  three 
miles  north  of  Danville.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  .Mlison  has  ever  been  a  stalwart 
Republican  from  the  organization  of  the 
party.  His  life  is  indeed  honorable  and 
many  of  his  sterling  traits  of  character  are 
worthy  of  emulation.  He  has  never  used 
liquor  or  tobacco  and  has  never  gambled. 
He  has  lived  in  peace  with  his  fellow  men 
and  is  modest  and  retiring  in  disposition. 
Wherever  he  has  gone  there  has  he  won 
friends  by  reason  of  his  genuine  worth  and 
now  in  his  old  age  he  has  a  wide  accjuaint- 
ance  and  all  who  know  him  esteem  him 
highly.  He  numbers  his  friends  among  the 
young  and  old,  rich  and  poor  and  he  cer- 
tainly deserves  mention  in  this  volume. 


REV,  DANA  SHERRILL,  A.  M.,  B.  D. 

This  well  known  and  honored  citizen  of 
Hoopeston.  who  is  now  practically  living 
a  retired  life,  was  born  in  Lisbon.  Kendall 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  5th  of  June.  i<S4_>. 
his  parents  being  Lewis  and  Emeline 
(Moon)    Sherrill.  both  of  whom  were  na- 


ti\es  of  New  York,  though  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Kendall  county,  this  state.  The 
mother  died  in  November  following  the 
birth  of  our  subject,  and  the  father  was 
again  married  in  1849,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  j.uiette  (iillillan.  by  whom  he  had 
three  chiklren,  namely:  Charles,  a  farmer 
of  Lisbon;  Mary,  wife  of  Norman  S.  Shu- 
feldt,  also  an  agriculturist;  and  Ida  J.,  wife 
of  I.  V.  Crj'der,  a  farmer  and  stock-rai.ser. 
The  father  died  July  16,  1897,  and  his 
second  wife  departed  this  life  in  August, 
1899. 

Dana  Sherrill,  the  only  child  of  the  first 
union,  attended  the  academy  at  Lisbon,  Illi- 
nois, and  later  entered  the  preparatory  de- 
partment of  I'eloit  College,  W'isainsin,  in 
1850,  and  had  about  completed  the  course 
when  the  Civil  war  br(}ke  out.  Not  content 
to  remain  in  school  when  he  believed  his 
services  were  needed  at  the  front,  he  laid 
aside  his  text  books,  and  on  the  jd  of  Jul\-. 
1861,  enlisted  for  three  years  in  Company 
D.  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
with  which  he  served  for  three  months  long- 
er than  his  term  of  enlistment.  He  was  un- 
der the  command  of  Captain  W.  1'.  Pierce, 
Colonel  Nicholas  Greusel  :md  (ieneral 
Sheridan  most  of  the  time.  His  first  en- 
gagement was  at  Pea  Riilge,  Arkansas,  un- 
der the  command  of  Generals  Curtis  and 
Seigel,  after  which  the  regiment  was  sum- 
moned to  the  relief  of  (jcneral  Hallock  in 
the  siege  of  Corinth.  The  summer  of  i86_^ 
was  spent  in  Missi.ssippi.  and  Mr.  Sherrill 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Perryville  and 
Stone  River  and  the  Tullahoma  campaign, 
followed  by  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the 
first  day's  fight  at  Chattanooga  and  the  cap- 
ture of  Orchard  Knob.  He  was  also  in  the 
charge  of  Missionary  Ridge  under  Sheri- 
dan, then  went  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville, 


1 148 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


and  was  later  in  the  Atlanta  campaig^i.  be- 
ing a  member  of  Gordon  Granger's  corps 
and  in  charge  of  the  forage  department. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville  and 
finally  discharged  at  Lotiisville  in  the  fall  of 
1864  with  a  war  record  of  which  he  may  be 
justly  proud. 

Returning  to  Beloit.  Wisconsin,  Mr. 
Sherrill  took  up  the  regular  course  and  was 
graduated  in  1870  with  the  degree  of  A.  M- 
Ha\ing  determined  to  enter  the  ministry  he 
next  took  a  three  years'  course  at  the  Chi- 
cago Theological  Seminary,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1873  and  was  afterward 
granted  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Divinity. 
His  first  pastoral  charge  was  at  Forrest. 
Li\-ingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he  had 
previously  acted  as  supply  while  in  the  sem- 
inary at  Chicago,  and  had  also  filled  the 
pulpit  of  the  Congregational  church  at 
Chebanse,  Illinois.  In  1881  he  became  con- 
nected with  the  American  Missionary  Asso- 
ciation, being  appointed  superintendent  of 
church  and  school  work  with  headquarters 
at  Savannah.  Georgia,  where  he  remained 
six  years,  founding  schools  and  churches 
through  the  south  and  looking  after  the 
erection  of  church  buildings  and  school- 
houses.  Returning  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of 
1887,  he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Marshall,  Clark  coun- 
ty, where  the  following  six  years  were 
passed,  and  for  two  years  he  was  pastor  of 
the  church  of  the  same  denomination  at  Ma- 
zon.  Grundy  county,  Illinois.  On  account 
of  ill  health  he  then  removed  to  Hoopeston, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home,  doing 
incidental  church  work  and  assisting  the 
Home  Missionary  Society,  though  he  has  no 
regular  charge.  He  often  fills  pulpits,  how- 
ever, in  the  absence  of  the  regular  pastor.* 
For  the  past  five  years  he  has  spent  the  win- 


ter months  in  Daytona,  Florida,  where  he 
also  has  a  home.  Besides  his  city  property 
he  owns  six  hundred  acres  of  farm  land  in 
the  vicinity  of  Hoopeston  and  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois, 
renting  both  places. 

]\lr.  Sherrill  was  married  at  Saratoga, 
Illinois,  December  21,.  1873,  to  Miss  Lou- 
vicea  Ayres,  who  was  born  in  Fairfield 
county,  Connecticut,  in  1842,  and  is  a  sis- 
ter of  Frederick  H.  Ayres,  who  is  repre- 
sented on  anotlier  page  of  this  volume. 
They  ha\'e  a  very  pleasant  home  on  East 
Penn  street,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Sherrill  in  1894,  and  which  is  the  abode  of 
hospitality  and  good  cheer.  By  his  ballot  he 
supports  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  he  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Hoopeston, 
in  which  he  has  filled  the  offices  of  com- 
mander and  chaplain.  He  is  a  man  of  high 
intellectuality,  broad  human  sympathies  and 
tolerance  and  is  imbued  with  fine  sensibil- 
ities as  well  as  clearly  defined  principles,  and 
he  enjoys  the  respect,  confidence  and  high 
regard  of  all  who  know  him. 


ALLEX    T.  CATHERWOOD. 

While  Allen  T.  Catherwood  never  at- 
tained to  prominence  in  the  political  world 
or  sought  to  figure  before  the  people  in  the 
light  of  a  public  official,  there  has  probably 
never  been  a  private  citizen  of  Hoopeston 
wh.o  has  exerted  a  stronger  or  more  bene- 
ficial influence  than  the  subject  of  this  me- 
moir on  account  of  his  calm,  clear  and  un- 
biased judgment,  his  honorable  purpose,  his 
clear  insight  into  the  afifairs  of  the  present 
and  the  possibilities  of  the  future  and  his 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


"49 


unfaltering  fidelity  to  what  he  believed  to 
be  right.  So  devoted  was  he  to  the  public 
welfare  of  the  town  that  no  measure  for  the 
general  good  ever  sought  his  aid  and  co- 
operation in  \ain.  He  held  friendship  in- 
violable and  the  relations  of  the  home  were 
to  him  a  sacred  trust. 

Allen  Thompson  Catherwood  was  born 
in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  December  i6, 
1842,  the  eighth  child  in  a  family  of  ten 
children  born  to  James  Catlierwood  and 
Lydia  Tussey,  who  was  a  lineal  descendant 
of  the  Von  Springers.  He  was  about  thir- 
teen years  of  age  when  liis  father  died,  leav- 
ing his  mother — a  woman  of  no  ordinary 
strength  and  purity  of  character — with  a 
large  family  of  children  and  in  straitened 
circumstances.  For  two  years  she  remained 
in  Ohio,  and  that  Allen's  young  mind  was 
busy  was  attested  by  the  old  legal  friend 
who  predicted  of  the  "silent  one"  much  that 
his  early  manhood  fulfilled. 

In  1858  Mrs.  Catherwood  came  with 
her  family  to  Shelby  county.  Illinois,  where 
she  had  wild  land  to  be  improved.  Here 
the  growing  youth  formed  a  friendship  that 
was  an  education  in  independence,  energ}-, 
sincerity  and  helpfulness  to  others  which 
honored  him  who  gave  and  him  who  re- 
ceived. This  friend  was  Thomas  Pouting, 
the  pioneer  in  bringing  Texas  cattle  to  the 
Chicago  markets  and  who  was  a  stanch 
friend  ever  after  and  a  man  strong  in  his 
loyalty  to  what  he  thought  right.  Of  him 
Mr.  Catherwood  gained  his  business  train- 
ing and  developed  that  keen  insight  and 
quick  sympathy  with  human  nature  in  var- 
ied conditions,  which  were  afterward  so 
large  a  factor  in  his  success.  It  was  of  Mr. 
Pouting  that  Mr.  Catherwood  learned  the 
cattle  business  and  for  a  number  of  years 
he  was  connected  with  that  business  in  the 


west,  being  among  the  first  to  drive  and  later 
to  ship  cattle  to  the  Chicago  markets.  In 
1876  he  became  a  resident  of  \'ermilion 
county,  settling  uixm  a  farm  near  Hoopes- 
ton.  Shortly  afterwanl  purchasing  a  gro- 
cery store  in  Hoopeston  in  connection  with 
Xathan  \\"illiams.  he  successfully  conducted 
it  for  some  years,  for,  though  he  had  no 
previous  experience  in  merchandising,  he 
possessed  practical  common  sense,  keen  dis- 
cernment and  enterprise  and  these  qualities 
always  win  prosperity.  As  a  stock-dealer 
he  also  controlled  extensive  trade  transac- 
tions until  he  ceased  his  purchases  and  sales 
of  stock  in  order  to  devote  his  energies  to 
the  grain  business. 

One  of  the  strongest  elements  in  his  suc- 
cessful career  was  his  recognition  of  oppor- 
tunity. He  seemed  to  know  just  when,  how 
and  where  to  establish  an  enter])rise  so  that 
it  would  become  a  profitable  source  of  in- 
come, and  his  business  affairs  were  usually 
of  sucli  a  character  that  they  promoted  pub- 
lic prosperity  while  contributing  to  his  in- 
di\idual  success.  He  was  instrumetal  in 
founding  many  of  the  leading  industries  of 
Hoopeston.  including  the  Hoopeston  Can- 
ning Factory,  of  which  he  was  part  owner 
and  general  manager  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1880  S.  S.  McCall  had  organized  the 
Illinois  Canning  Company  but  after  two 
years  the  enterprise  met  with  failure.  Some 
of  the  leading  citizens  of  Hnoijeston,  includ- 
ing J.  S.  Mcl-'erren.  William  Moore,  Cyrus 
Hartwell,  A.  T.  Catherwood,  .\.  H.  Trego, 
J.  A.  Cunningham,  A.  Honeywell  and 
Thomas  Williams,  then  leased  the  property 
in  1883  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
sugar  and  in  canning  corn.  The  following 
year  Mr,  Catherwood.  Mr.  Trego  and  Mr. 
McFerren  took  the  factory,  which  they  con- 
ducted until  they  organized  anil  established 


1 1  50 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


the  Hoopestoii  Canning  ^'actory  in  1884. 
Mr.  Catlierwood  assumed  the  management 
and  under  liis  capable  control  the  business 
was  conducted  with  excellent  success  until 
1891,  when  he  retiretl.  The  enterprise, 
which  was  begun  on  a  small  scale,  gradually 
increased  until  the  volume  of  business  trans- 
acted l\v  the  Hoopeston  Canning  Company 
had  reached  extensive  proportions  and  the 
factory  had  become  a  paying  investment, 
returning  splendid  dividends  to  the  stock- 
holders. This  was  largely  due  to  the  man- 
agement and  splendid  business  ability  of  Mr. 
Catherwood. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Catherwood 
was  also  connected  with  the  grain  trade, 
buying  and  selling  largely  on  the  line  of  the 
Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad,  owaiing 
large  elevators  at  different  points  and  form- 
ing partnerships  in  many  of  the  towns  in 
which  he  conducted  his  transactions  as  a 
grain  merchant.  He  ow'ued  a  large  grain 
farm  near  Ambia,  Indiana,  in  company  with 
Mr.  Williams  and  he  never  lost  his  interest 
in  agriculture  or  the  promotion  of  the  wel- 
fare of  the  farming  class. 

In  October,  1873,  Mr.  Catherwood  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cornelia  Hart- 
w^ell,  of  Hoopeston,  who  is  an  aunt  as  well 
•as  a  sister-in-law  to  Mrs.  Mary  Hartwell 
Catherwood,  the  author.  Unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Catherwood  were  born  six  children,  of 
whom  three  are  still  living :  Robert  was 
married  June  4,  1902,  to  Miss  Lucy  Cotton 
Morris  and  is  practicing  law  in  Chicago ; 
Maude  Hartwell  and  Naomi  are  with  their 
mother  and  the  latter  is  studying  voice  cul- 
ttu"e  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Catherwood  was  called  to  various 
public  offices  and  in  matters  pertaining  to 
the  general  good  he  was  helpful  and  gen- 
erous.     He  served   as  alderman   of  Hoop- 


eston for  several  terms  and  was  made  the 
chairman  to  investigate  the  different  plans 
of  waterworks,  with  the  view  of  selecting 
the  best  for  Hoopeston.  He  believed  that  a 
sanitary  .system  of  waterworks  would  great- 
ly lessen  the  possibility  of  an  epidemic  of 
contagious  disease  and  to  this  end  he  gave 
special  attention  to  the  matter.  He  visited 
various  places  of  the  country  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  and  after  the  board  reached  a  de- 
cision, practically  embodying  his  ideas,  he 
was  given  the  general  supervision  of  the 
construction  of  the  waterworks  system  and 
with  the  assistance  of  his  partner,  Mr.  Tre- 
go, he  carried  the  work  forward  to  success- 
ful completion.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  in 
the  Masonic  fraternity  he  attained  the 
Knight  Templar  degree.  On  account  of 
failing  health  he  disposetl  of  his  business 
interests,  retaining  only  his  lands  and  other 
realty  and  prior  to  his  death  he  spent  one 
winter  in  California  and  one  in  Morida.  He 
passed  away  in  the  spring  following  his 
California  visit,  in  June,  1892,  leaving  to 
his  wife  and  children  a  legacy,  which  after 
eleven  years  ha\e  passed  meets  them  still 
in  the  unfolding  and  fruition  of  his  thought- 
ful plans  for  their  comfort  and  guidance. 


CHARLES    C.  WILLIAMS. 

Charles  C.  Williams  needs  no  special  in- 
troduction to  the  readers  of  this  volume  be- 
cause he  is  a  native  son  of  Vermilion  coun- 
ty and  also  because  he  is  a  well  known  rep- 
resentative of  business  interests,  having  ex- 
tensive landed  possessions  and  carrying  on 
stock-dealing  on  a  large  scale.  He  was  born 
September    i,    1861,    about   a   mile   and    a 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1151 


(juarter  iiortliwest  of  Hoopeston,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Lovina  (McFarland)  Will- 
iams, who  are  represented  on  anotlier  page 
of  this  work. 

In  the  common  scliools  of  tlie  locahty 
Ciiarles  C.  W'ilHams  acquired  his  prelimi- 
nary education,  which  was  supi)lemented  liy 
study  in  Hoopeston  and  also  in  Lebanon, 
Ohio.  He  was  thus  well  equipped  to  meet 
the  practical  and  responsible  duties  of  a  busi- 
ness career.  When  about  twenty  years  of 
age  he  became  connected  with  the  dry-goods 
trade,  continuing  the  Inisiness  for  about  a 
year,  after  which  he  went  to  the  west,  locat- 
ing in  Omaha,  Nebraska.  He  remained  for 
about  fourteen  years  in  that  city  and  during 
six  years  of  that  time  was  connected  with 
the  Standard  Oil  Company,  having  charge 
of  its  office  work  in  that  cit}-.  He  afterward 
entered  into  business  relations  with  John  A. 
Creighton,  one  of  the  leading  capitalists  of 
Nebraska,  whom  he  represented  as  general 
manager  and  cashier.  His  business  experi- 
ence in  the  west  was  broad  and  of  a  varied 
nature,  and  well  qualilied  him  for  the  re- 
sponsible duties  which  he  assumed  upon  his 
return  home. 

In  1X94  Mr.  W  illiams  returned  to  Hoop- 
eston and  entered  upon  the  work  of  .settling 
up  tiic  Hoopes  estate,  as  the  successor  of  his 
father,  who  had  Ijeen  appointed  one  of  the 
executors.  In  this  labor  C.  C.  Williams  was 
associated  with  J.  A.  Cunningh.-nn  and  so 
continued  until  the  tinal  settlement  of  the 
estate.  l"oll(jwing  this  Mr.  W'iliams  as- 
sumed tiie  management  of  his  fatiier's  prop- 
erty and  with  him  he  owns  three  thousand 
acres  of  land,  .and  owns  individually  twelve 
hundred  acres,  all  well  im])r(i\ed  .and  con- 
stituting a  very  \-aluable  proper!}-.  He  is 
extensively    engaged    in    farming   and    also 

raises    stock     for     the    market    and    both 
49 


br.anches  (.)f  the  business  return  him  a  very 
gratifying  annual  income. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1891,  Mr.  Will- 
iams was  married  to  Miss  Anna  S.  Dillon, 
a  native  of  Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Dilliin,  one  of  the  early  pliysicians  of  this 
state.  During  the  early  girlhood  of  his 
daughter  he  removed  to  Decatur,  Illinois, 
w  here  she  was  educated.  By  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  one  child,  Leland 
T..  who  was  born  June  15,  1892.  Mrs. 
Williams  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church 
and  ,\Ir.  Williams  holds  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks.  In  his  political  views  he  is 
a  Democrat  and  by  Governor  Tanner  lie  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  from 
the  state  of  Illinois  to  the  Omaha  Exposi- 
tion. His  life  has  been  that  of  a  typical 
.\nierican  business  man,  watchful  of  o[)por- 
tunities,  enterprising  and  with  the  force  of 
character  th.at  enaljles  him  to  so  direct  liis 
eftorts  th;it  what  he  undertakes  shall  reach 
a  successful  comi)letion. 


REV.   MELCHIOR    AUER. 

There  is  something  akin  to  poetic  justice 
in  the  f.acl  that  this  gcntlem;in,  an  ado])ted 
son  of  j\merica  wlm  proxed  his  loyalty  to 
the  country  in  the  dark  days  of  the  Civil 
w.ir,  should  now  be  connected  with  the  Sol- 
diers' Home  in  Danxille,  exercising  a  strong 
moral  inilnence  there  in  behalf  of  iiis  old 
conn'adcs  who  wore  the  blue  umform  of  tiie 
nation.  Mr.  Auer  came  from  .a  Land  noted 
tor  the  br.awry  ;uid  \'alor  of  its  sons,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Switzerland,  June 
25.  1841.  His  father,  Melchior  .\uer,  was 
the   village  miller   in   his   native  town   and 


1 1 52 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


married  Elizabeth  Ne4.ikoni.  who  was  also 
a  native  of  Switzerlaiul.  In  their  family 
were  se\en  children,  the  snhjecl  of  this  re- 
view being  the  sixth  in  order  of  l)irth.  Only 
two  of  the  family,  however,  are  now  living, 
the  brother  of  onr  subject  being  Conrad 
Alter,  \Aho  is  likewise  a  resident  of  Danville. 
It  wa.s  in  the  year  of  1848  that  the  parents 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  and  made 
their  way  to  St.  Louis.  Missouri,  where  they 
remained  until  the  fall  of  1851.  when  they 
came  to  Illinois.  Our  subject  was  a  lad  of 
eight  summers  at  the  time  of  the  emigration 
to  the  new  world  and  remained  under  the 
parental  roof  until  after  the  oud>reak  of  the 
Civil  war,  with  the  exception  of  about  three 
years  spent  in  Pike  county,  Illinois,  work- 
ing as  a  farm  hand,  by  which  he  acquired 
the  money  to  pay  for  his  education.  With 
his  brother,  John  G.  Auer.  he  later  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  shoemaker's  trade. 
He  had  been  deeply  interested  in  the 
attitude  of  the  south  over  the  (juestion 
of  slavery  and  its  right  to  withdraw 
from  the  Union  and  feeling  that  the 
national  go\ernment  at  Washington  should 
be  supreme  he  resolved  to  enter  the  army  as 
a  defender  of  the  l.'nion  cause.  In  1861. 
therefore,  he  joined  Company  D.  First  Mis- 
souri Ca\alry,  with  which  he  served  for 
three  years  and  one  month,  taking  part  in 
the  Iwttles  of  Black  Water,  Pleasant  Hill 
and  Xewtonia,  Missouri,  together  with  other 
engagements. 

After  his  retin-n  from  the  war  Rev. 
Auer  ])ursued  a  preparatory  course  of  study 
and  then  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  Un- 
iversity at  Bloomington,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1870.  Having  prepared  for  the 
ministry  his  first  charge  was  in  the  West 
Jacksonville  circuit.  After  spending  six 
years  in  the  ministrv  he  entered  the  Garrett 


Biblical  Institute  at  Evanston,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Di\inity.  Fie  served  as  pastor 
of  se\eral  churches  and  in  the  fall  of  1894 
he  came  to  N'crniilion  county,  making  his 
home  at  J^ossville  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  afterward  lived  at  Fairmount  and  on  the 
i6lh  of  Decemiier,  i8gg,  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  position  in  connection  with 
the  Dan\ille  branch  of  the  National  Sol- 
diers' Home, 

Re\-.  .\uer  was  united  in  marriage  to 
^liss  Alice  Pugh  on  the  3d  of  September, 
1 8/^.  The  lady  was  born  in  Shelbyville, 
Illinois,  November  10,  1852,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  Pugh.  She  acquired  her 
education  in  the  Shelbyville  Seminary  and 
in  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  by  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  three  children ; 
Edgar  C,  who  is  in  Honduras,  Central 
America;  Charles  M.,  who  is  now  in  De- 
troit, ^Michigan ;  and  William  N.,  at  home. 
Dora,  a  niece,  has  made  her  home  with  them, 
as  a  daugh.ter,  since  infancv. 

Rev.  .\uer  \otes  with  the  Republican 
party  and  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  of  the  L'nion  Veterans 
Legion.  For  thirty-two  years  he  has  beeti 
a  member  of  the  Illinois  Conference  and  at 
present  he  is  serving  as  chaplain  in  chief  of 
the  l'nion  \'eterans  Legion.  Almost  his 
entire  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  work  of 
extending  the  cause  of  Christianity  so  that 
all  men  shall  be  Christ's  followers.  His  in- 
fluence has  been  widely  and  effectiveh-  felt 
and  wherever  he  has  gone  his  earnest  pur- 
pose, his  strong  and  logical  utterances  and 
his  de\'Otion  to  his  cause  have  made  their 
impression  upon  his  hearers  for  the  better- 
ment of  m.ankind.  Since  coming  to  the  Sol- 
diers' Home  in  Danville  he  has  organized 
a  temperance  club  and   for  three  years  he 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


"53 


ser\-C(l  as  its  president.  He  is  a  man  of  deep 
luinian  sympathy,  always  readv  to  extend 
a  lieli)ing  hand  to  those  in  need  of  material 
or  moral  assistance  and  in  his  position  he  has 
won  in  marked  dej^rce  the  contidence,  re- 
sj)ecl  and  lo\'c  of  the  old  soldiers. 


G.  M,  HA^■|.^'.  D.  I),  s. 

The  splendidly  ecpiipped  dental  office  of 
Dr.  Ilanly  is  evidence  of  his  success  and  his 
prominence  in  his  profession.  His  suite  of 
rooms  constitutes  one  of  the  finest  dental 
offices  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  is  snp- 
])!ied  with  e\"ery  modern  apjiliance  known  to 
the  profession  that  is  of  value  in  facilitating- 
work  in  his  line.  The  Doctor  deserves  great 
credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished,  as 
from  an  early  day  he  has  heen  dependent 
uijon  his  own  resources  and  he  is  not  only 
a  self-made  man.  hut  a  self-educated  man 
as  well,  and  in  a  profession  where  advance- 
ment depends  upon  individual  merit  he  has 
gained  a  position  of  ])restige. 

'J"he  Doctor  was  born  July  2".  1857.  in 
South  Carolina,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Hanly. 
His  father  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  anrl 
after  arriving  at  years  of  matm'ity  wedded 
Emcline  Clack,  who  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  became  the  parents  of  three 
sons,  of  whom  J.  B.  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years,  while  X.  V..  is  now  liv- 
ing at  Gibson  Citv,  Illinois.  'i"he  father  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Southern  Railroad 
Com])any  as  a  landscape  and  scenic  painter, 
working  in  the  shops  at  Marion.  South  Car- 
olina. .\t  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  joined 
the  Confederate  army  and  was  killed  in  the 
service. 

When  but  a  child  Dr.  11,-mly  went  to 
Marietta,  Ohio,  with  his  mother.  She  is 
still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy 


years,  making  her  home  with  her  son.  In 
1901  the  Doctor  Ijuried  his  grandmother. 
Mrs.  ]\Jaria  E.  Black,  who  was  then  in  the 
ninety-eighth  year  of  her  age.  On  leaving 
the  south  Mrs.  Hanly  went  to  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  and  .sub.sequently  to  Madison.  Wis- 
consin, where  the  Doctor  was  reared.  When 
only  about  eight  years  old  he  was  bound  out 
to  an  old  German  farmer,  who  died  ei.ghteen 
months  later.  Our  subject  afterward  fol- 
lowed various  pursuits  in  order  to  provide  for 
the  su])pfirt  of  himself  and  his  mother.  Am- 
bitious, industrious  and  energetic,  he  had 
managed  to  complete  a  course  in  a  business 
college  and  in  a  private  school  at  the  time 
he  was  si.xteen  years  of  age.  doing  chores 
and  also  cooking  for  his  teacher  in  order  to 
pay  for  his  tuition.  He  afterward  followed 
carpentry  work  for  two  years  and  then,  de- 
termining to  make  the  profession  of  den- 
tistry his  life  work,  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  began  studying  with  a  dentist  of  Mazo 
Manie.  Wisconsin,  with  whom  he  remained 
for  twenty-five  months. 

1  )uring  that  time  Dr.  Hanly  gained  a 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  practice 
of  dentistry  anrl  then  entered  into  partner- 
shi])  relations  with  O.  T.  Taylor,  of  Wane- 
ka.  Wisconsin,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
about  fom-teen  months  at  that  place.  To- 
gether they  then  removed  to  Wahpeton. 
\orth  Dakota,  where  lhe\-  ])racticed  for  two 
years  and  then  dissolved  partnership.  In 
t88-'  Dr.  Flanly  began  business  alone  and 
not  onlv  grn'ned  success  as  a  member  of  the 
dental  fraternity,  but  also  prospered  in 
many  speculations  and  investments  in  that 
state.  He  purchased  equities  and  trafficked 
in  land  until  he  had  nearly  two  thousand 
acres.  He  also  owned  store  buiiilings  and 
si.\  residences  besides  a  stock  of  drugs  in 
Wahpeton  and  in  the  last  named  enterprise 


IIS4 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


lie  was  associatcil  witli  liis  hrother.  He  re- 
mained in  North  Dakota  from  tlie  winter  of 
1879  until  1890.  wlien  lie  came  to  Hoopes- 
ton.  arriving-  in  tliis  city  on  Cliristmas  eve 
of  that  year.  He  had  partially  disposed  of 
his  interests  before  leaving  the  north,  retain- 
ing, however,  his  city  property,  which  he  has 
since  S(jld.  He  brought  with  him  to  this 
place  about  four  thousand  dollars  and  has 
since  realized  about  eight  thousand  dollars 
upon  the  property  which  he  held  in  North 
Dakota. 

On  locating  in  Hoopeston  Dr.  Hanly 
purchasetl  a  lot,  on  which  he  built  a  resi- 
dence at  a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars.  La- 
ter he  bought  two  acres  more  and  in  1899 
he  purchased  fifteen  acres  adjoining,  on 
wiiich  he  built  four  g(X)d  residences.  On 
the  /ih  of  December,  1901,  he  suffered  con- 
siderable loss  in  the  fire  which  destroyed  the 
McFerren  block,  his  total  loss  amounting 
to  twenty-four  hundred  dollars,  on  which 
he  had  luit  seven  hundred  dollars  insurance. 
Ibis  fire  occurred  while  he  was  absent  on 
a  visit  to  Indianapolis,  but  within  twent}'- 
four  hours  after  the  fire  he  had  re-opened 
his  oftice  in  the  Hamilton  &  Cunningham 
Bank  block  and  thus  with  only  a  few  hours" 
interruption  he  was  continuing  his  profes- 
sion, in  which  he  has  met  with  the  most 
marked  success.  When  the  new  McFerren 
block  was  completed,  on  the  15th  of  May, 
1896.  he  removed  to  that  building,  where 
he  has  a  suite  of  three  rooms.  He  fitted  up 
his  office  at  an  expense  of  twenty-five  hun- 
dred dollars  and  there  are  no  better  equipped 
dental  apartments  in  the  state  outside 
the  city  of  Chicago.  He  uses  all  the  latest 
ai)pliances  and  facilities  for  carrying  on  his 
practice  which  has  reached  very  large  pro- 
portions, his  patronage  coming  to  him  from 
a  wide  territory.     In  addition  to  his  other 


interests  here  the  Doctor  owns  a  lot  ami 
training  barns  adjoining  the  city  park. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  have  always  been  lovers 
of  fine  horses.  The  Doctor  has  owned  some 
very  valuable  stuck.  He  to-day  owns  a  brood 
mare  which  has  foaled  five  colts,  and  Hazel 
H.,  the  two-year  old,  has  made  a  half-mile 
in  one  minute  and  four  seconds  and  a  mile 
in  two  miiuites  and  twenty-fi\e  seconds.  Her 
full  sister,  Pansie,  after  ninteen  days"  driv- 
ing, made  a  record  of  2  :30.  Dr.  Hanly  also 
has  two  other  colts  that  are  very  prominent. 
The  mare  is  Iw  Albert,  and  the  two  colts 
were  sired  by  Jay  A\'ood,  by  Nutwood. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1883,  in  Wah- 
]ieton.  North  Dakota,  Dr.  Hanly  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  •\'iola  L.  Corry,  who 
was  born  in  Broomville,  near  Tiffin,  Ohio, 
December  6,  1862.  a  daughter  of  Usel  and 
Alary  (Eastman)  Corry,  both  of  wdiom  are 
nati\es  of  Greene  county.  New  York.  The 
father  conducted  a  sawmill  and  also  carried 
on  farming.  In  1893  he  came  to  Hoopeston 
and  in  connection  with  O.  P.  Chamberlain 
owns  the  Independent  Telephone  System  of 
this  place,  having  constructed  the  plant 
which  he  now  conducts.  Mrs.  Hanly  has 
two  brothers  and  one  sister :  Ed,  Mrs.  O. 
P.  Chamberlain  and  W.  I.,  all  of  whom  are 
residents  of  Hoopeston.  Like  her  huband 
she  is  very  fond  of  fine  horses  and  is  an  ex- 
cellent judge  of  the  noble  speed.  She  also 
takes  nnich  interest  in  fine  poultry  and  has 
been  identified  with  various  poultry  associa- 
tions, before  which  she  has  read  papers  bear- 
ing on  the  subject  in  its  different  branches. 
The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  no  children, 
but  his  mother  is  a  member  of  the  household 
and  from  her  the  Doctor  has  never  been 
separated.  He  pri)\ided  for  her  support 
in  his  early  boyhood  and  they  have  always 
lived  together. 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


IIS5 


111  l)is  political  affiliations  the  Doctor  is 
a  Dcni.icrat  and  lias  served  as  a  delegate  to 
county  and  congressional  coinentions.  On 
tlie  J!st  of  April,  1903.  lie  was  elected  alder- 
man from  the  second  ward  of  l[oo])eston, 
o])posing  a  strong  candidate  011  the  hnsiness 
men's  ticket.  Sociall}^  he  is  connected  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity  and  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  In  his  voiitli 
he  had  many  hardships  and  ditficnlties  to 
overcome,  bnt  with  persistent  pnrpose  he 
surmounted  all  obstacles  in  his  path.  He 
has  a  genial  teniijcrament  and  a  disposition 
which  enables  him  to  meet  conditions  of  life 
without  worry.  He  has  alwavs  managed  to 
take  things  easily,  which  is  h\-  far  the  best 
method.  At  the  same  time  he  has  been 
quick  to  note  an  opportunit)-  and  to  imi)ro\e 
it.  and  through  his  marked  ability  in  his 
profession  and  his  judicious  in\estments  in 
property  he  has  become  one  of  the  success- 
ful men  of  Vermilion  countv. 


TOHX    W.   FOX. 


jcihii  W.  I'D.x  is  now  living  on  section 
29,  Middlefork  township,  abnut  fnur  miles 
from  Potomac,  where  he  owns  a  good  farm, 
but  the  care  and  cultivation  of  his  land  he  is 
lea\'ing  to  others  while  he  is  enjoving  a 
richly  merited  rest  from  labor.  Since  1872 
his  home  has  been  within  the  borders  of  this 
state  and  since  the  spring  of  1875  he  has 
resided  in  X'ermiliun  couiitw  lie  was  born 
near  Zanesxille.  in  .Muskingum  county. 
Ohio,  .\ugust  4.  1839.  and  is  a  son  of  Reese 
l-'ox.  whose  l>irth  iiccurred  in  Chester  coun- 
i\,  I'cnnsyhania.  in  1808.  J  he  grandfa- 
ther, Joseph  Fox.  was  likewise  born  in  the 
Keystone  state  and  came  of  a   family  of 


Welsh  and  Scotch  ancestry  that  was 
founded  in  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  epoch 
in  its  history.  There  Reese  Fo.k  was  reared 
aiul  married  to  I'hehe  Wilson,  a  native  of 
Chester  county,  PennsyKania.  Soon  after 
his  marriage  he  remo\ed  westward  to  Ohio, 
becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
.Muskingum  count)-.  By  traile  he  was  a 
shoemaker  and  followed  that  jiursuit  for  a 
few  years  in  Zaiiesxille.  Later  he  purchased 
land  and  impro\-e(l  a  farm  upon  which  he 
reared  his  family  and  s])ent  his  last  days, 
]iassing  away  in  1887,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  se\enty-iiinc  years.  His  wife  survived 
him  for  a  few  years  and  then  she  tot>  was 
called  to  her  final  home.  John  \V.  was  the 
youngest  and  the  only  son  in  their  family 
of  four  children,  ;dl  of  whom  reached  adult 
age.  The  eldest,  Mrs.  l^lizabeth  Mercer,  is  ' 
now  a  widow  living  in  Muskingum  county. 
Ohio.  ]\Jrs.  Maria  Pierce  is  also  a  widow 
living  in  that  county  and  Mrs.  Sybilla  Pey- 
ton has  likewise  lost  her  husband  and  makes 
her  home  in  Muskingum  county. 

It  was  in  that  count}-  that  John  W.  Fox 
was  reared  upon  the  old  homesteail  farm 
while  in  the  district  schools  he  obtained  his 
education,  remaining  with  his  father  there 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age.  In  1861  he 
donned  the  blue  uniform  of  the  northern 
army  and  joined  Company  1),  of  the  Sev- 
ent_\-eighlh  Ohio  \'oluiiteer  Infantry,  which 
was  assigned  to  (hit\-  in  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland.  I  Ic  thus  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Shiloh,  Raymond-,  Champion  Hill, 
Jackson  ;ind  the  siege  and  capture  of  \'icks- 
burg,  after  which  he  was  granted  a  thirty 
d;i_\s'  furlough,  which  he  spent  at  home  vis- 
iting friends.  On  the  cxpiratifin  of  that 
period  he  rejoined  his  regiment  ;it  Kenesaw 
}*Iountaiii  and  participated  in  the  hard 
fought  battle  there.     He  was  likewise  in  the 


1 156 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Atlanta  campaign  where  the  regiment  suf- 
fered severely,  losing  about  one  thousand  of 
its  number  in  a  few  hours.  Mr.  Fox  also 
took  part  in  tlie  siege  of  Atlanta  and  later 
went  with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea, 
taking  part  in  a  hotly  contested  engagement 
on  a  big  rice  plantation  near  Savanah,  that 
being  the  last  engagement  in  whicii  he  par- 
ticipated during  the  Civil  war  as  his  term  of 
enlistment  had  expired.  He  was  sent  home 
by  way  of  Xew  York  city  and  honorably 
discharged  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  in  January, 
1865.  After  his  return  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  for  a  few  years. 

Mr.  Fox  was  married  in  his  old  home 
neigiiborhood  in  Muskingum  county.  Au- 
gust 17.  1865,  to  Eliza  Ann  McDonald,  who 
was  Iiorn  in  that  coimty  and  reared  and  edu- 
cated there.  Her  father.  Joseph  McDonald, 
was  a  nati\e  of  Pennsylvania  and  in  his 
childhood  was  taken  to  the  Buckeye  state 
where  he  remained  during  the  period  of  his 
minority  and  iov  many  years  after  his  mar- 
riage. His  wife  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Jane  HuiUer  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  Aft- 
er their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fox  began 
their  domestic  life  on  a  farm,  renting  for 
about  a  year,  after  which  they  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  on  which  they  lived  until  1872. 
In  that  year  our  subbject  sold  his  property 
in  r)!i!o  and  remo\ed  to  Illinois,  where  he 
again  o])erated  rented  land  for  four  years. 
He  then  purchased  his  present  property  com- 
prising one  hundred  annd  seventy  acres,  on 
section  29,  Middlefork  township,  and  with 
characteristic  energy  began  to  cultivate  and 
improve  the  fields  and  as  the  demand  has 
arisen  he  has  erected  a  large  and  substantial 
residence  and  good  out  buildings  and  has 
otherwise  improved  his  property  until  it  is 
\aluable  as  well  as  attractive  in  appearance. 
I  le  has  planted  shade  trees  around  his  home. 


has  a  good  orchard  and  his  land  is  well 
drained  by  tiling.  He  has  also  fenced  his 
property  and  thus  divided  it  into  fields  of 
convenient  size  and  each  year  he  annually 
harvests  good  crops  and  also  sends  a  large 
number  of  cattle  to  market. 

Mrs.  and  Mrs.  Fox  have  one  son  living, 
Reese  Otto,  who  is  married  and  carries  on 
the  home  farm.  He  has  two  living  chikh'en 
— Nellie  Gertrude  and  Frances.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  also  lost  a  daughter,  Ret- 
tie  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of  John  Entli- 
cott  and  both  are  now  deceased.  They  left 
a  daughter,  Bessie,  who  makes  her  home 
with  her  grandparents.  In  his  political  ad- 
herence Mr.  Fo.x  is  a  Republican,  where 
national  issues  are.involved.  At  local  elec- 
tions, where  the  object  is  to  secure  men  cap- 
able of  attending  to  the  business  of  town 
or  county,  he  \otes  independently.  He  has 
])referred  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to 
farm  work  rather  than  seeking  ofifice  and 
thus  he  has  never  been  prominent  in  polit- 
ical circles.  He  has  served,  however,  on  the 
school  board  for  a  number  of  years  and  has 
been  effecti\e  in  his  work  in  behalf  of  educa- 
tion. His  wife  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  both  are  highly  es- 
teemed people  of  the  community  and  have 
long  been  identified  with  Vermilion  county. 
They  enjoy  the  warm  regard  of  main- 
friends  and  Mr.  Fox  well  merits  the  retire- 
ment from  labor  which  he  is  now  enjoying, 
as  through  former  years  of  business  activ- 
it_\-  h.e  won  a  comfortable  competence. 


F.  X.  ODBERT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  1".  X.  Otlliert  was  born  April  15, 
1857,  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


1157 


in  W'aynesburg  College.  He  studied  medi- 
cine in  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  of 
Philndcli)hia,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  grad- 
uated in  the  class  of  1880.  He  came  to  In- 
(iiant>Ia  immediately  after  his  graduaitiou 
and  began  practice  here. 

Dr.  Odbert  was  married  March  30,  1887, 
to  Alice  Bradway,  of  Fairmonnt,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Nellie  C,  now  thir- 
teen years  of  age.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. In  his  church  relations  the  Doctor  is  a 
Methodist,  and  fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  F.Iks  and  the  Masonic  Lodge.  For  twelve 
years  he  has  been  a  meml^er  of  the  board  of 
pension  examiners.  The  Doctor  enjoys  a 
gootl  practice  in  Indianola,  which  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  skill  in  his  chosen  profession,  and 
he  is  regarded  as  a  substantial  and  worthy 
citizen  of  the  communitv  in  which  he  lives. 


\\1LLI.\M  G.  CATHC.\RT. 

Among  the  younger  men  of  Vermilion 
county  who  have  achieved  success  in  the 
business  world  is  the  subject  of  this  review, 
whii  was  born  in  the  town  of  Natrona, 
Mason  county,  Illinois,  h'ebruary  8,  1869,  a 
son  of  John  M.  and  Sarah  J.  (Alexander) 
Cathcarl.  both  of  whom  were  nati\-es  of 
County  Tyre  me,  Ireland.  John  M.  Cath- 
cart  was  born  in  that  county,  March  u, 
1842,  in  the  town  of  Pomeroy.  His  father, 
Gabriel  Cathcart.  was  likewise  a  native  of 
Comity  Tyrone  as  was  his  wife.  G.ibricl 
Cathcart  was  one  of  the  landed  proprietors 
of  his  community  and  lielonged  to  one  of  the 
old  f;nnilics  of  Ireland.  lie  and  bis  wife  al- 
wavs  made  their  home  in  Ireland,  although 
thev  \isitcd  their  son  several  times.  He 
lived   to   the   ripe   old   age  of   eighty-seven 


years,  while  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  sixty. 

John  M.  Cathcart  was  second  in  a  fam- 
il\-  of  seven  children  born  to  his  parents  and 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity  received  a  fair 
education.  He  early  began  a  business  ca- 
reer, howe\er,  being  but  si.xteen  years  of 
age,  and  for  two  years  ran  a  family  grocery 
store,  (jn  the  isl  day  of  March,  i860,  he 
sailed  from  Queenstown  and  landed  in  New 
York  after  a  voyage  of  thirteen  days,  which 
was  a  remarkably  short  time  for  that  period. 
Coming  directly  west  Mr.  Cathcart  located 
in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  being  employed 
the  first  summer  on  a  farm  near  Alexander 
Station.  He  thus  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
how  farming  w.'is  conducted  in  .America  and 
the  next  year  rented  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres.  He  continued  to  rent  in  Morgan  and 
Logan  counties,  Illinois,  for  several  years 
and  became  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
stock-raising.  In  1866  Mr.  Cathcart  made 
his  first  purchase,  locating  on  a  farm  of  three 
hundred  and  twentv  acres  in  Mason  county, 
Illinois.  This  place  he  broke  and  improved 
and  resided  n])on  it  for  seveiUeen  years.  In 
1883  be  went  to  Nebraska  and  in  company 
with  his  brother-in-l;iw.  William  and  Jo- 
sejih  .\le\ander,  he  operated  an  extensive 
cattle  ranch  in  Webster  and  Xucklcs  coun- 
ties. He  continued  in  the  cattle  business  for 
four  vears  and  retiu'ning  to  Illinois,  he 
erected  a  grain  elevator  and  engaged  in  the 
lumlier  and  grain  business  at  Broadlands, 
Illinois.  In  i8(;i  Mr.  Cathcart  moved  to 
Sidell.  Illinois,  where  be  established  a  similar 
business,  which  he  conducted  in  connection 
with  the  Broadlands  business  up  to  1896, 
since  which  time  has  been  living  retired. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1867,  John 
M.  Cathcart  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  J.   .Mexander,  a  daughter  of  James 


iiSS 


THE    BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


Alexander  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He 
died  wlicn  Mrs.  Cathcart  wa.s  a  small  child 
and  for  years  she  made  her  home  with  her 
brothers.  \\'illiani  and  Joseph  Alexander, 
who  were  prominent  men  of  Illinois.  Jo- 
seph Alexander  is  deceased  and  William 
makes  his  home  when  in  Illinois,  with  Mr. 
Cathcart.  He,  as  was  his  hrother,  is  an  ex- 
tensive owner  of  Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Illi- 
nois farm  land.  Three  children  have  been 
Inirn  to  Mr.  C;!thcart  and  wife  as  follows: 
Florence,  the  wife  of  John  H.  Herron,  died 
May  14.  1899,  leaving-  one  child,  Alexander 
Cathcart  Herron.  a  little  lad  of  five  years. 
William  ( i.  is  the  snbject  of  this  review. 
John  is  now  serving  as  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Bank  of  Lyons,  Alexander  &  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Cathcart  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church  of  Sidell,  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  deacon.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
Mason  and  in  political  belief  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. 

William  C  Cathcart  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  schools  of  Natrona, 
Illinois,  which  he  sn])])lemented  by  an  attend- 
ance in  a  Jacksonville  high  school.  As  Mr. 
Cathcart  expresses  it  "he  had  no  youth"  for 
at  the  age  .of  fifteen  he  went  west  to  Ne- 
braska and  assumed  the  management  of 
-Alexander  and  Cathcart's  cattle  ranch  in 
Webster  county.  The  exposure  to  inclement 
weather  resulted  in  his  contracting  rheuma- 
tism very  badly  and  for  a  time  it  was  thought 
that  he  would  be  unfit  for  outdoor  life  again, 
and  partially  on  that  account  the  Bank  of 
Lyons,  Alexander  &  Company,  of  Sidell, 
Illinois,  was  organized,  and  Mr.  Cathcart 
placed  in  charge  as  cashier.  Fie  had  pre- 
\'iously  spent  six  months  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Hank  of  Paris,  Illinois,  there  famil- 
i.arizing  liimself  with  b.inkmg  and-bayk 
methods,  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the 


])resident.  .\.  J.  Baber.  He  has  been  cash- 
ier since  its  organization  in  1887  and  two 
_\'ears  later  was  admitted  to  the  firm  as  a 
partnei.  in  1896  Mr.  Cathcart.  his  brother- 
in-law.  John  H.  Herron,  and  his  father, 
John  M.  Cathcart,  established  the  Sidell 
grain  and  elevator  company  which  was  in- 
corporated in  1902  with  our  subject  as  presi- 
dent. The  firm  owns  and  oi^erates  seven 
ele\ators  beside  the  transfer  elevator  at  Mt. 
X'ernon,  Illinois,  which  has  a  capacity  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels  of 
grain.  Air.  Cathcart  is  the  president  of  two 
national  lianks  in  Indian  Territory,  the  We- 
leetka  and  the  First  National  of  Wewoka. 
Roth  banks  were  established  in  1902  and  are 
in  thriving  condition.  In  connection  with 
his  wife  Mr.  (Cathcart  owns  and  operates 
sixteen  hundred  acres  of  land,  to  which  he 
gives  his  active  super\-ision. 

The  marriage  of  William  G.  Cathcart 
and  Miss  Anna  Sconce  was  celebrated  June 
12,  1890.  She  is  a  daughter  of  James  S. 
and  Emma  (Sodowsky)  Sconce,  a  complete 
record  of  whose  li\-es  appear  elsewhere  in 
this  \-olume.  One  child  has  blessed 
the  unit>n  of  our  subject  and  his, 
wife:  Celia  S.,  born  May  9.  1893, 
is  attending  the  home  school.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cathcart  are  members  of  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  church.  F^raternally  he 
is  a  member  of  the  blue  lodge  at  Sidell  and 
the  chapter  at  Danville  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternitv  and  also  of  the  Bene\'olent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  of  Danville.  In  po- 
litical Iielief  he  is  a  stalwart  Repul)lican,  and 
has  served  as  mayor  and  trustee  of  Sidell. 
F\\v  if  anv  men  are  more  widely  known  in 
the  section  ot  the  state  in  which  he  lives  than 
Mr.  Cathcart.  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  is  but  a  just  tribute  to  the  sterling  worth 
of  the  man. 


